Hi DBNO,
I am not now either, they seem to be able to make a bad situation into an extremely awful one. I think the problem being that they really do not have much power at all in enforcing the things that should be, so compensate by meddling and drawing you in to unecessary petty letters, god knows how much they get for sending a letter that they know has no clout whatsoever, all they can use as a threat is 'court action' mmmmmmmmm
And who are best placed to threaten you for payment, yep, does not bother them about court costs!!!
I really think it is about time that solicitors were regulated and monitored in a more openpublic way.
We are all told that we need a solicitor, makes you wonder sometimes. I wonder if the solicitors we are with really know what time of day it is!!!!
But Hey what the hell can we do?????

I really can't believe there are many good divorce solicitors out there - I don't believe somewhere out there there is a solicitor who will run your case as though s/he was you but with a law degree and 15 years ancillary relief experience.
I believe all divorces are DIY divorces - we all self-rep- - our settlement will depend on how well we can understand the process.
Some of us pay for solicitors in a belt and braces approach.

Meant to have added this on.......

When I was going through my divorce 1998. My ex and myself sat down and said we are not going to give sols any more than we need to, we proceeded to work out what was a fair split. I would take a lump sum, sign the house to him, leave his pension, take all the savings, house contents, and he would keep me in the house £1300pm until I could find a house. (which took 10 months) I was ok with that, he would pay all the solicitors costs. To be honest I just wanted to move on and get on with my life.
I went to a local solicitor, explained that we had agreed on what was to be done, talk about eyes out on stalks, oh no she said we cannot act for you. When I asked why she said because you are not going for his pension. What business is it of yours, we have agreed, we are only here because we have to. My ex had a well known London solicitor, expensive he was too. Ok so they would not act for me, I then went to another local sols, I got a right telling off (it was just before the pension law came in) should not have done this done that, I said to her, 'so you are going to keep me until i am 65 then?'
she said they could act, only if I signed a disclaimer, you know if my life went wrong I would not blame them, this I did. I went back with it, and she refused to act for me because there was not going to be a fight. Bloody Hell what on earth was going on.
To cut a very long miserable story, of nearly losing the house that I had found, and, I phoned my ex's solicitor told him to get his arse in gear as he would lose me the house and then I would make HIS CLIENT suffer and make it known that it was him and his slack attitude. Did a lot myself, leg work.
I HAD TO GO TO PRESTON in LANCASHIRE I was in Oxfordshire and do it all by fax and telephone, never met the guy, just information given over phone really. This guy on the end of the phone was magic, did it all quick and cheap.
So what does that tell you. Solicitors love mucky cases.
Dreadful and shameful. I am sure that there are some great solicitors out there, if they are please come forward and give us all hope.

debsn wrote:
My Solicitor then issued me with a Court Order for the recovery of this plus interest

...the problem to add to that Debs: If they win; then they will almost certainly go for their Costs. That would include their time and the Courts fees; which would seriously INFLATE the amount in dispute!

If the complaints people suggest £1500 reduction; then why not try that as an offer; and see if they'll withdraw the courts proceedure???

Hi again Sera, Yes I agree that I don't want to increase costs but I don't think £1500 is enough - her hourly charges were never confirmed in writing (which they must do) and so I'm arguing that I only want to pay the hourly rate on the Client Care letter that I signed! This means a reduction of £1600 plus compensation (currently £500) out of a total of £4100. The LCS have to come back to me with her comments by the 11th and the papers have to go in to the Courts by 22nd. The interesting bit is the Judge is the one that she refused to go in to see at the FDR (think she's upset him!)

...certainly sounds a Valid arguement. If you've signed one thing; then why should you pay more???

I used a local sol that suggested one rate; then when they considered the size of our pot; I was directed to a Partner in the firm, and charged £200 plus vat for a Grade A fee earner... (Grade A!? I can't even afford Grade A eggs these days!) Maybe something like this happened??? What was the rate you signed? and the rate you were billed???

Basically I asked for FL as she had been recommended, she was away on her (4th!!) honeymoon so her partner dealt with me. (there were only the 2 of them). On her return, FL sent the Client Care letter stating £165 per hour for her partner so when she later took over my case I assumed this was THEIR rate. I only noticed that I was being charged £210 per hour when I got a bill for £3800 for the FDR Hearing alone! The LCS have told her that she quoted £2500 as an estimate for the FDR so she must stick to it but they will not uphold the fact that she never put the higher rate in writing. I therefore want to claim back the difference of £45 per hour that I've since been charged.

What is VERY interesting is that her partner left suddenly just after I raised my complaint. She was extremely nice and very thorough - makes you wonder?