Debenhams Ottaway Solicitors
Debenhams Ottaway Solicitors – Serious Concerns Regarding a Financial Error
I instructed Debenhams Ottaway Solicitors (DO) to prepare a Declaration of Trust. It was subsequently discovered that the document contained a £27,000 financial error.
The correspondence provided by DO setting out the financial breakdown was correct; the error occurred when those figures were transferred into the Declaration of Trust. Unfortunately, the mistake was not identified at the time of signing, as the legal terminology made the discrepancy difficult to spot.
When I urgently contacted DO after discovering the error, I was initially told that, because I was no longer a paying client, I would need to open a new account before the matter could be discussed. I found this extremely disappointing given that I was raising an issue concerning a legal document prepared by the firm.
DO eventually acknowledged the £27,000 error and offered a refund of £1,100 from my legal bill and £500 compensation. I considered this wholly inadequate given the seriousness of the mistake and the consequences it caused. The matter was subsequently referred to their insurers, whose response I also found disappointing.
This experience caused me considerable distress and additional worry at an already difficult time. More importantly, it seriously undermined my confidence in DO and in the way they dealt with their own error.
My advice to anyone using this firm: do not assume that financial figures in a legal document are correct simply because they have been prepared by solicitors. Check, double-check and triple-check every figure against the original correspondence before signing.
A £27,000 error in a legally binding financial document is extremely serious, and my experience has demonstrated the potentially significant consequences of such a mistake.
Antwoord van Debenhamsottaway
We take all feedback seriously and are committed to maintaining high standards of client service. We understand that you have already raised your concerns with us. As this is an individual matter, it would not be appropriate for us to comment on the specifics in a public forum. We appreciate you taking the time to share your comments.