Complaints Policy
I am committed to providing a high-quality service to all clients of the practice. This includes a commitment to putting things right when they go wrong. This policy explains how I will deal with any complaint that is referred to me. Your complaint might concern the way in which you have been dealt with, the quality of the advice you have received or the amount of any invoice that you have received.
My Complaints Procedure
If you have a complaint, please let me know, whether by post to this office or by email (cevans@cetransportlaw.com). It would be helpful if you could let me know your concerns in writing, but if you would prefer not to, or if you would find it difficult to do so, please telephone me instead at (01908) 597970 or (07801) 708295.
To explain to you how long this process might take I have included my target times for each stage of the process. Where, for any reason, it is not possible to observe any of these limits I will let you know and explain why.
A summary of the times can be found in this table with the detail to follow:
What will happen next?
On receipt of your complaint, I will send you a letter acknowledging your complaint and send you a copy of this policy. I will open a file for your complaint on my system and examine the file of work that this practice has been doing for you. I will acknowledge your complaint within two days of receiving it and will complete my initial examination within 7 days.
I will then invite you to a meeting, write to you to ask for further information or alternatively, I will write to you setting out my views on the situation and proposing any redress that may be appropriate in the circumstances. I will aim to write to you with my views and any suggestions within seven days of completing my investigations.
Where I accept that I have failed to meet the high standards of the practice, I may offer an apology, a reduction of any bill outstanding or repayment in relation to any payment received.
If, by this stage, you are still not satisfied, please let me know. It would be helpful to me if you could do so within the next 21 days, but there is no obligation on you to do so. I will then arrange to review my decision in light of any comments that you make.
I will let you know the result of the review in writing to confirm my final position on your complaint and explaining my reasons
If we have been unable to settle your complaint using our internal complaints process, you have a right to complain to the Legal Ombudsman, an independent complaints body, established under the Legal Services Act 2007, that deals with legal services complaints.
You have six months from the date of our final letter in which to complain to the Legal Ombudsman. Their contact details are as follows:
Legal Ombudsman
PO Box 6167
Slough
SL1 0EH
Telephone: 0300 555 0333
Email address: enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk
Website: www.legalombudsman.org.uk
Alternatively, complaints bodies such as Small Claims Mediation exist which are competent to deal with complaints about legal services should you wish to use such a scheme. We agree to use Small Claims mediation in the event that we are unable to settle your complaint. More information can be found on their website at : https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/small-claims-mediation-service-ex730.
Alternatively, you may wish to complain to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (or ‘SRA’). Guidance in relation to when this might be an appropriate course can be found on their website.
You also have the right to complain about or challenge our bill. You can do this by notifying us directly or applying for an assessment of the bill under Part III of the Solicitors Act 1974. Please request further information if this should become appropriate during the currency of your complaint.