I have a small flat in the UK which I was hoping to keep for my daughter. I rent it out while overseas for a small sum to keep the thing ticking over.

Two years ago a single lady ( divorced ) moved in. 12 months later, she decides to stop paying the rent as she has resigned from her job as she can get more money on the dole. No income for a year until the County Court gives me a ruling that she has to go. Notice served. Before expiry of notice, her daughter convinces her she is in the wrong and should move in with her, as it appears the resignation and the whole sorry issue is a cry for help, as she's lonely. She moves out.

Her lawyers appointed by legal aid, notice that the court order is wrong in terms of the contract by one day ( in her favour !!!!). Even though in the interim she has gone and is now happy with her family they file an appeal. Appeal not challenged ( big mistake !!! ) as she has bloody gone appologising for the trouble she caused claiming mental problems due to family stress.

Well all happy ?.............Err no. She has a year+ rent free with my loss of income coupled with the costs of loans and my brief etc................cost ....ball-park.... 10 k.

Then whammo..................The legal aid solicitor's give me a bill for costs of over six thousand pounds !!

This is for the appeal that never went to court and wait for it..........nearly a grand for the difficulty in preparing their FFFFIIIINNN bill !!!. It gets better.............A costing clerk informs me their bill is reasonable, as my solicitors appointed by the agent ( family friends ) having been charging me " A" grade fees and as I paid them, her side can claim the same. Court date now set for December for me to try to get some form of sanity int his issue. A lady decides not to fulfill her obligations because she is having family problems. Court finds in my favour, but errors in one day in her favour in the order. She apologetically leaves, cost to me so far around 18 grand ( two more upfront for coming court day ). Cost to her nothing, everyone else in the sorry tale helping themselves in spades to daughters University fund.

Have you thought of trying a little blackmail to get a discount?

Tell the lawyers you're going to ring around the tabloid newspapers. Lawyers in the UK generally seem to have a better name than elsewhere, (probably a myth propagated by the Rumpole TV show), and they may not fancy the bad publicity.

I have a small flat in the UK which I was hoping to keep for my daughter. I rent it out while overseas for a small sum to keep the thing ticking over.

Two years ago a single lady ( divorced ) moved in. 12 months later, she decides to stop paying the rent as she has resigned from her job as she can get more money on the dole. No income for a year until the County Court gives me a ruling that she has to go. Notice served. Before expiry of notice, her daughter convinces her she is in the wrong and should move in with her, as it appears the resignation and the whole sorry issue is a cry for help, as she's lonely. She moves out.

Her lawyers appointed by legal aid, notice that the court order is wrong in terms of the contract by one day ( in her favour !!!!). Even though in the interim she has gone and is now happy with her family they file an appeal. Appeal not challenged ( big mistake !!! ) as she has bloody gone appologising for the trouble she caused claiming mental problems due to family stress.

Well all happy ?.............Err no. She has a year+ rent free with my loss of income coupled with the costs of loans and my brief etc................cost ....ball-park.... 10 k.

Then whammo..................The legal aid solicitor's give me a bill for costs of over six thousand pounds !!

This is for the appeal that never went to court and wait for it..........nearly a grand for the difficulty in preparing their FFFFIIIINNN bill !!!. It gets better.............A costing clerk informs me their bill is reasonable, as my solicitors appointed by the agent ( family friends ) having been charging me " A" grade fees and as I paid them, her side can claim the same. Court date now set for December for me to try to get some form of sanity int his issue. A lady decides not to fulfill her obligations because she is having family problems. Court finds in my favour, but errors in one day in her favour in the order. She apologetically leaves, cost to me so far around 18 grand ( two more upfront for coming court day ). Cost to her nothing, everyone else in the sorry tale helping themselves in spades to daughters University fund.

Shit, limpy. That's a rough break.

Though it sounds to me like the court should be prompted to accept some of the responsability here. After all, Public Solicitors are seeking funds due to the error of a public court. Surely you've paid enough.

Nice idea, but the smug barstewards are happy with their notority in this case, they think it will improve their client base.

Similar situations like this, that I have witnessed from my mid teens to mid thirties have made me lose a lot of respect for the law (& law enforcement), as I have watched family and friends be legally ripped of by unscroupulous people.

Probably why I hate people like Taksin & his ilk so much.

I have a small flat in the UK which I was hoping to keep for my daughter. I rent it out while overseas for a small sum to keep the thing ticking over.

Two years ago a single lady ( divorced ) moved in. 12 months later, she decides to stop paying the rent as she has resigned from her job as she can get more money on the dole. No income for a year until the County Court gives me a ruling that she has to go. Notice served. Before expiry of notice, her daughter convinces her she is in the wrong and should move in with her, as it appears the resignation and the whole sorry issue is a cry for help, as she's lonely. She moves out.

Her lawyers appointed by legal aid, notice that the court order is wrong in terms of the contract by one day ( in her favour !!!!). Even though in the interim she has gone and is now happy with her family they file an appeal. Appeal not challenged ( big mistake !!! ) as she has bloody gone appologising for the trouble she caused claiming mental problems due to family stress.

Well all happy ?.............Err no. She has a year+ rent free with my loss of income coupled with the costs of loans and my brief etc................cost ....ball-park.... 10 k.

Then whammo..................The legal aid solicitor's give me a bill for costs of over six thousand pounds !!

This is for the appeal that never went to court and wait for it..........nearly a grand for the difficulty in preparing their FFFFIIIINNN bill !!!. It gets better.............A costing clerk informs me their bill is reasonable, as my solicitors appointed by the agent ( family friends ) having been charging me " A" grade fees and as I paid them, her side can claim the same. Court date now set for December for me to try to get some form of sanity int his issue. A lady decides not to fulfill her obligations because she is having family problems. Court finds in my favour, but errors in one day in her favour in the order. She apologetically leaves, cost to me so far around 18 grand ( two more upfront for coming court day ). Cost to her nothing, everyone else in the sorry tale helping themselves in spades to daughters University fund.

Shit, limpy. That's a rough break.

Though it sounds to me like the court should be prompted to accept some of the responsability here. After all, Public Solicitors are seeking funds due to the error of a public court. Surely you've paid enough.

Nice thought my Klown-like pal, however, the Court's will say, they only issued the order on what was before them, supplied by the parties concerned and as both sides accepted the order on the day..............tough.

I suit for mal-practise against my brief a possibilty, but hard to administer from nine thousand miles away and without a 100% chance of success the costs would be huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuumongous.

That is absolutely disgusting. I have several properties and "touch wood" haven't had that happen to me.

If the court found in your favour, why can't you still chase her for the rent? Big companies would have bailiffs knocking on the door already.

Nice thought my Klown-like pal, however, the Court's will say, they only issued the order on what was before them, supplied by the parties concerned and as both sides accepted the order on the day..............tough.

I suit for mal-practise against my brief a possibilty, but hard to administer from nine thousand miles away and without a 100% chance of success the costs would be huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuumongous.

Unfortunately that's the way the legal profession (I use that term loosely) goes about it's business. They never make a mistake as it always is your responsibility to check the finest details of any documents they issue.

But if you incorrectly advise them it is also your responsibility to get the facts absolutely correct.

Also the chances of getting a lawyer to act on your behalf in a malpractice suit against another lawyer make those of seeing flying pigs in a snowball fight in hel_l seem like a racing certainty. Even if you did manage to get one his costs would make Thaksin's eyes water.

Instances like yours make me wonder why aren't the rivers and canals in the UK clogged with corpses of lawyers?

The reason is probably that the rats throw them out again.

Thanks for the kind words lads.

Word to the wise insure yourselves against such <deleted>. I let mine lapse thing like Mr Bojinglly it would never happen to me......................it did, has and continues to do so.