Have I got a compensation claim?
If you are unfortunate enough to receive negligent service or advice from a solicitor or other professional, you may have the right to make a compensation claim and we can advise you about the best way of seeking redress.
A compensation claim should be made if you have suffered a financial loss because the professional has been negligent.
Poor service does not always amount to negligence and you must suffer actual financial loss to make a compensation claim through the courts. If you have a solicitor who has contravened the rules of professional conduct that apply to solicitors, but has not been negligent, the appropriate redress is to pursue a complaint, rather than pursuing a compensation claim. The Legal Complaints Service will investigate your complaint subject to certain time limits and has the power to order the solicitor to pay you compensation of up to £15,000 and/or order your solicitor to reduce the fees charged.
Pursuing a poor service complaint, rather than a compensation claim, is often the best way of obtaining compensation when the loss suffered is quite small (less than £5,000),because this process is completely free.
Many people still think that one solicitor will not bring a claim against another negligent, or even dishonest, solicitor. There are still some solicitors who believe that this is exactly as it should be, but for our part we are quite fearless in our pursuit of other professionals, and we will always give you the best possible advice as to best way to pursue a claim. If you think that you have a compensation claim because you have received bad legal advice, then do not hesitate to contact us to see whether we can help.
If you answered yes to only some of the above questions, you may still have a compensation claim, and should contact us so we can discuss your claim further.