Solicitors bill.

Discussion in 'Legal Issues' started by Hodge, 19th Jan, 2017.

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  1. Hodge

    Hodge Well-Known Member

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    Hi everyone,

    Couple years ago my father was keen to sell one of his investment properties and arranged a contract of sale with a solicitor.

    He never sold the investment property and took it off the market.

    Today he receives a letter from the solicitor to advise him that they're moving to a new location, and by the way here is an invoice for $125 for preparing the contract of sale 26 months ago!!

    Why wouldn't they have invoiced him years ago? We're more than happy to pay but bit stupid to invoice someone 26 months later.
     
    Hodge, 19th Jan, 2017
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  2. Joynz

    Joynz Well-Known Member

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    Sounds pretty cheap! I'd pay quickly.
     
    Joynz, 19th Jan, 2017
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  3. Terry_w

    Terry_w Lawyer, Tax Adviser and Mortgage broker in Sydney Business Member

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    They probably forgot about it.

    If there was an agreement to pay then it would still be inside the limitations period.
     
    Terry_w, 19th Jan, 2017
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  4. Hodge

    Hodge Well-Known Member

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    Don't think there was an agreement. Doesn't recall signing anything.
     
    Hodge, 19th Jan, 2017
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  5. Terry_w

    Terry_w Lawyer, Tax Adviser and Mortgage broker in Sydney Business Member

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    Perhaps it was oral?
     
    Terry_w, 19th Jan, 2017
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  6. Xenia

    Xenia Well-Known Member

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    They were probably spring cleaning due to the move and it came up on their system as a missed invoice.
     
    Xenia, 19th Jan, 2017
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  7. Hodge

    Hodge Well-Known Member

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    @Terry_w could have been. Hard to recall 2 years later.
     
    Hodge, 19th Jan, 2017
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  8. Hodge

    Hodge Well-Known Member

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    I guess so. I think a phone call first to explain would have been nice.
     
    Hodge, 19th Jan, 2017
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  9. KateAshmor

    KateAshmor Victorian Conveyancing Lawyer Business Member

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    If the solicitor incurred out-of-pocket expenses to prepare the contract (ordering all the property certificates and searches) then your father is liable for those.
     
    KateAshmor, 20th Jan, 2017
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  10. Paul@PAS

    Paul@PAS Tax, Accounting + SMSF + All things Property Tax Business Plus Member

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    $125 for a sale contract is a bargain. Maybe share the firm name and lets call it the PC special. Give them some business. I have never heard such a low fee.

    Just pay it - Its not disputed they did some work at that time ?
     
    Paul@PAS, 20th Jan, 2017
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  11. BKRinvesting

    BKRinvesting Well-Known Member

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    Exactly my thoughts.
    Dirt cheap. :)
     
    BKRinvesting, 20th Jan, 2017
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  12. Terry_w

    Terry_w Lawyer, Tax Adviser and Mortgage broker in Sydney Business Member

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    A Kate says it was probably for disbursements not for the contract preparation itself.
     
    Terry_w, 20th Jan, 2017
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  13. HUGH72

    HUGH72 Well-Known Member

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    Sounds cheap, I would just pay it.
    Don't question it otherwise you will be billed for your email correspondence, their reading and consideration of the email and their reply. And postage plus GST....:p
     
    HUGH72, 20th Jan, 2017
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  14. vbplease

    vbplease Well-Known Member

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    A phone call from a solicitors office may have been another $100 :p
     
    vbplease, 20th Jan, 2017
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  15. Jamie Moore

    Jamie Moore MORTGAGE BROKER - AUSTRALIA WIDE Business Member

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    Ha! Agreed! I got slugged for close to $800 for the same thing - and it was a solicitor I referred a heap of business to!

    Cheers

    Jamie
     
    Jamie Moore, 20th Jan, 2017
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  16. DaveM

    DaveM Well-Known Member

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    Many solicitors would charge $125 to sit in the seat in reception, be thankful :)
     
    DaveM, 20th Jan, 2017
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