Solicitors Fees and Councellors Charges

[Nicki]

We have a mortgage with Mortgages Plc and have struggled to keep up our payments through the last couple of years but have just about managed.

 

Repossesion Procedings have begun twice in the past and on both occasions a hearing date was set and then we were told it had been adjurned as we managed to make a payment.

However I have just looked at my statements and noticed that we have been charged 117.50 'councellors charge' on 2 separate occasions (we have never seen a councellor) also £56.40 'agents costs' on 2 occasions (I have no idea what this is) also £100 for 'solicitors instruction' and £483.88 'solicitors costs.' On top of this we have regularly been charged a monthly arrears fee of £45 or £50.

 

Does anyone know if any of this can be claimed back??? It just seems so unfair when we are clearly struggling to make the repayments anyway. Grrrr!

 

Thanks for listening!!!

[fool on the hill]

i am in a similar positon re charges going back 12 years ! i have just started researching how to reclaim .it can be done .look at goldlady and others on the site.

[Nicki]

Thanks for reply. I've claimed back bank and credit card charges but never mortgage charges. I'm a bit worried about rocking the boat with my mortgage company though as I don't want to lose my home!

 

Good luck!

[HomerJSimpson]

I have similar problems with Abbey. When I SAR'd them they sent me this;

 

 

 

TARIFF OF CHARGES 10/01/2006 Inc of VAT where applicable

 

FIRST STAGE BILLING ADMIN FEE £70.50 + £195.00

 

First stage billing administration fee is debited on all accounts coming into litigation, this fee covers:-

1. Receiving instruction from Debt Management (collections & recoveries)

2. Entering the case on our system.

3. Sending letter before action with attachments to borrower.

4. Allocation of account to our internal litigation dept or external solicitor.

5. Inputting mortgage account details on to our system.

6. Requesting and obtaining deeds information - can entail chasing external parties for deeds.

7. Obtaining copy of mortgage deed from deeds dept or dematerialised deed from land registry.

8. Requesting Matrimonial Homes search to confirm if caution registered with land registry.

 

 

 

SECOND STAGE BILLING ADMIN FEE £223.25

1. Preparing account for issue of summons for posession.

2. Issuing summons for posession inc particulars of claim and statement of truth with exhibits.

3. Receiving notice of hearing.

4. Sending notice of hearing date to occupiers of the property.

5. Requesting fresh matrimonial homes search for hearing.

6. Obtaining office copy entries from the land registry for the hearing.

 

 

 

THIRD STAGE BILLING ADMIN FEE £47.00

1. Instructing agents for court hearing.

2. Providing certification of service to court of the notice to occupiers.

3. Preparing history of account and case papers for agent attending hearing.

 

 

 

It would seem to me that there is not much work involved in these processes, as most information is already on Abbeys computer system.

 

Does anyone think these fees are challengable and/or ultimately reclaimable? Anyone have any similar experience?