Help the Solicitor is on my back

[Uttingbuzz]

This time last year i was made redundant and i got a job with a director that used to work at the company also, he had set up his own business and took me on. He had a good mate who owned a big sols company and suggested i take our mutual formal employer to tribunal as the redundancy hadnt been above board. I um'd and are'd as there was no way i could afford a solicitor but my boss said he would cover the costs as he would get a deal with his mate. Anyway, i didnt sign terms and conds and only said yes to the sols when my boss reiterated he would cover the fees. The sols fees were huge before we even started and i cancelled the case when i was made redundant again from the new employer 8 weeks later. The boss still insisted he would sort the sols and if i heard anything to pass them to him. I didnt and in September i had a letter saying i owed �900, by ex boss decided he could no longer afford it either and the sols are still chasing me for this now, the latest letter saying even though i didnt sign the T&C i am still liable. And that there was never any agreement between the friends. Any advice? i cant afford the bill and never could. Of course i learn not to trust anyone now but what can i do re this bill?

[Ethel]

Who was the solicitor acting for? Just you, or the two of you?

If it was just you, was the solicitor aware of the agreement or did he believe you were hiring him and paying the bills?

[Uttingbuzz]

I dont know i was obviously too trusting of my boss that he was sorting all that with his mate (the solicitor) I was just given his fax number to send the stuff across and when he told me his fees on the phone i said i will have to check with M (my boss, his mate) as he is paying.

[Ethel]

Not signing the terms and conditions is largely irrelevant - you are deemed to have accepted them by using the solicitor's services.

Unless you have anything in writing it is going to be very difficult for you to prove that the other man should pay the bill.

You could have a case against your friend, using the doctrine of estoppel, but it is not guaranteed you would win and will incur more legal fees.

This bill will have to be paid - the solicitor will not hesitate to enforce it if you don't pay. Ask him for time to pay whilst you try and sort it out. See if you can come to an agreement with your friend about sharing the cost.

I can't understand why your friend was so keen for you to take the former employer to court. An industrial tribunal would be as effective and there is no need for a solicitor.

[LoftyLottie2]

I won my case by taking a solicitor to task through the Law Society. One of the biggest things against the solicitor concerned was that I hadn't been given a schedule of costs or signed an agreement and hadn't been informed regularly enough of each step the solicitor took.

[LoftyLottie2]

PS You need to put in writing to the solicitor concerned that you are questioning the fees and make a note of each date and time that you telephone them or they call you back. Document everything!!!

[Uttingbuzz]

Thanks for your replies, i have bitten the bullet and got them to agree to halve the costs and i will begrudgingly pay to stop the stress of them keep contacting me. We live and learn and i will continue my quest into never being shafted again!
I said i wont pay until they confirm in writing that the half cost will be classed as full and final settlement, so thats a start i guess!!!