Solicitors ... unfair charges

[chigwellchick]

In 1999 I went to a firm of solicitors where I used to live in Essex regarding divorce proceedings. I completed all of the necessary steps, and then sold my home, settled with my ex-husband directly out of the proceeds of sale, and then moved to Norfolk. Almost as soon as I arrived in Norfolk I became seriously ill. I heard from the Solicitors who dealt with the sale of my house, who asked if they could pay the "other" solicitors fees out of the proceeds of sale - to the tune of £800, which I agreed to.

 

I heard nothing further from my divorce solicitors. When I tried to contact them once I felt a little better I could not get hold of the person I had been dealing with. I tried and tried and could get no further than the receptionist. Eventually I spoke to somebody in their accounts department who told me the guy had left and that they didn't deal with matrimonial cases anymore. She said she'd get somebody to call me back, but no-one did.

 

My illness returned big time, and I was totally unable to deal with this at the time. When I felt a little better again, I contacted them and was told that all of their matrimonial files had been farmed out to another firm of solicitors, but didn't provide details.

 

I am still married all these years later. I had paid interim sums of money before I moved, plus the £800. It is all a bit hazy to me because even before the move I was ill, but I didn't realise it. How can I reclaim this money? I think it is absolutely extortionate to charge almost £1k when the end result is .... nothing