johncons

Stikkord: Law Society

  • E-mail from the Ministry of Justice, 7/4/08.

    From: Ryan.Holmes@justice.gsi.gov.uk Holmes, Ryan
    To: eribsskog@gmail.com
    Date: Mon, 7 Apr 2008 16:09:19 +0100
    Subject:

    Dear Mr Ribsskog

    Thank you for your email of 19 March, addressed to the Ministry of Justice, regarding making a complaint against the Legal Services Ombudsman (LSO). The letter has been forwarded to the Legal Services Regulation and Redress Division as we are responsible for the policy relating to this matter.

    While I am sorry to hear of the difficulties you have experienced, I should explain from the outset that the legal profession is both independent and self-regulating and therefore, neither Ministers nor their officials are able to intervene in, or comment on individual cases.

    Similarly, the Legal Services Ombudsman (LSO) is independent of both the legal profession and the Government and, in order to preserve that independence, Ministers and officials are not able to comment on, intervene in, or vary her conclusions. However, with regard to your query about the complaints procedure of the LSO, if you do have a complaint about the service that the Ombudsman provides – for example, they failed to reply to your correspondence or did not answer your telephone calls – you should write to their Corporate Services Manager. She will investigate your complaint, and provide you with a response within ten working days. However, the Corporate Services Manager has no authority to review decisions taken by the Ombudsman. If you have a complaint about the Ombudsman’s report, you should address your concerns to the Ombudsman.

    If you wish to complain about the service you have received from the LSO (but not the decision – see below) you must contact your MP who will decide whether to pass the complaint on to the Parliamentary and Health Services Ombudsman (PHSP). The PHSO can look at the service you have received and, if it finds any evidence of poor service, can take action to put the matter right. There is usually a twelve month limit, from the time you were aware that there was a reason to complain, upon this kind of complaint. The Ombudsman’s powers and responsibilities are set out in an Act of Parliament (the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967) which says that complaints must be sent to them through Members of Parliament.

    There is no appeal against the LSO’s decision. However, the LSO’s decisions, like the decisions of other public authorities, are open to judicial review and you may consider taking your case to the High Court in order to have a judicial review of the LSO’s decision. It is important to bear in mind that judicial review is not an appeal procedure and is not generally concerned with the merits of the decision. Instead, it examines whether the decision reached by a public body was done in a lawful manner. Therefore, I would recommend that you seek independent legal advice should you wish to pursue this course of action.

    Additionally, you may be interested to know that the Government has brought forward legislation to overhaul the regulatory structure of legal services in England and Wales. The Legal Services Act 2007 provides for the creation of the Legal Services Board (the Board), a single oversight body, independent of both the Government and the legal professions. It will be a publicly accountable body with the power to enforce high standards in the legal sector, replacing the current maze of regulators with overlapping responsibilities. Its Chair and the majority of its members will be lay persons.

    The Act will also establish a single and fully independent Office for Legal Complaints (OLC). Its Chair and the Majority of its members will also be lay. The OLC will administer an ombudsman scheme providing a single point of entry for consistent handling of all consumer complaints about providers of regulated legal services. This will replace the current system whereby complaints against the different types of legal professionals are handled by their own representative bodies.

    I am sorry that I cannot be of more assistance, although I do hope that this information is of some use to you.

    Yours sincerely,

    Ryan Holmes
    Legal Services Regulation and Redress Division

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  • Untitled Post

    From: eribsskog@gmail.com Erik Ribsskog
    To: Simon.Williams@legalcomplaints.org.uk
    Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2007 21:26:57 +0000
    Subject: Fwd: Your e-mail (complaint about a duty solicitor)

    Hi,

    I’m refering to your e-mail from 2/10, where you are writing:

    ‘ *Q2: If not, then who is it one are supposed to complain to, about poor
    service/unprofessional* *conduct, by law-firms, in connection with the Dury
    Solicitors scheme?*

    I have looked into this matter and would suggest that you refer to this
    website:

    http://www.legalservices.gov.uk/aboutus/regions/liverpool_information.asp

    It contains information and contact details of the Merseyside Duty
    Solicitors scheme and I hope that you will find it useful.

    I should also note that the Legal Services Commission is an organisation
    wholly separate from the Law Society and, if you have any specific questions
    in relation to the procedures, you should direct them to the LSC, rather
    than our Office.’.

    I’ve now been in contact with The LSC, and as one can see in the e-mail from
    them, which I am forwarding with this
    e-mail, the LSC are writing:

    ‘I am not able to help you on this any further. You say that you have
    sent you resolution complaint forms to the firms in question. Either
    they have replied and you remain unhappy with the response, or they have
    not replied at all. You have raised this with the Law Society and they
    say that they are unable to assist. They have referred your compliant to
    the LSC, and we have said that we are unable to assist and are not going
    to take matters further.

    If you wish to examine the procedure for making complaints against
    firms of solicitors in greater depth, I suggest you contact the Law
    Society, as they are the body which is in charge of regulating the legal
    profession. There is nothing more I can add to this, and I am afraid
    that I shall not be answering any further email correspondence from you.’.

    So it doesn’t seem like the LSC are able to help me with this.

    So I thought I should try to refrase my question a bit, and see if maybe
    it’s possible
    for you to answer me on the question I was wondering about.

    What I’m really wondering about, is how one should go forward, if one want’s
    to
    complain formally about unproffessional conduct from a law-firm, in
    connection
    with the duty solicitor programme.

    I hope that you have the chance to have a look at this!

    Yours sincerely,

    Erik Ribsskog

    ———- Forwarded message ———-
    From: Michael Rimer
    Date: Nov 9, 2007 5:37 PM
    Subject: Re: Your e-mail (complaint about a duty solicitor)
    To: eribsskog@gmail.com

    Mr Ribsskog

    I am not able to help you on this any further. You say that you have
    sent you resolution complaint forms to the firms in question. Either
    they have replied and you remain unhappy with the response, or they have
    not replied at all. You have raised this with the Law Society and they
    say that they are unable to assist. They have referred your compliant to
    the LSC, and we have said that we are unable to assist and are not going
    to take matters further.

    If you wish to examine the procedure for making complaints against
    firms of solicitors in greater depth, I suggest you contact the Law
    Society, as they are the body which is in charge of regulating the legal
    profession. There is nothing more I can add to this, and I am afraid
    that I shall not be answering any further email correspondence from you.

    Yours sincerely

    Michael Rimer

    >>> “Erik Ribsskog” 09 November 2007 17:31 >>>
    Hi,

    well I’ve sent both of the resolution-form complaints to the
    law-firms.

    So I have certainly contacted both law-firms regarding the complaints.

    Like I’ve also explaned in earlier e-mail to yourself.

    I’m not sure if I think it’s to much to ask, to get some more
    information
    about
    the general complaint process surounding duty solicitor cases,
    involving
    unprofessional conduct from law-firms.

    As I would suspect that information surrounding the complaint-process,
    should
    be puplicly known.

    You told me to send you the e-mails if I had recieved legal aid
    founding.

    I told you that I hadn’t received any legal aid founding as of yet, but
    that
    I
    was still wondering how to forward with the complaints.

    And this I haven’t recieved any answer to.

    I think members of the puclic should be allowed to get information
    about the
    duty
    solicitor complaint process, so thats why I’m asking about this again.

    About where I can find general information about the duty solicitors
    complaint
    process, in cases like the ones I’ve mentioned.

    So I hope it’s possible for you to tell me this.

    Thank you very much in advance for your help!

    Yours sincerely,

    Erik Ribssskog

    On 11/9/07, Michael Rimer wrote:
    >
    > Mr Ribsskog
    >
    > You have not raised any fresh issues in your email to me. I have
    told
    > you what you should do. In not one email have you said whether you
    have
    > raised your concerns with the firms in question. I am not able to
    add
    > anything further to what I have said already.
    >
    > Your sincerely
    >
    > Michael Rimer
    >
    > >>> “Erik Ribsskog” 09 November 2007 17:04 >>>
    > Hi,
    >
    > the involvement of the Law Society regarding these complaints, is
    also
    > being
    > dealt with
    > by the Legal Services Ombudsman.
    >
    > The cases, that the complaints are surrounding, are cases that have
    > received
    > any
    > legal aid founding to this date.
    >
    > What I’m simply saying, is that the Law Society, told me that I
    should
    > complain to you,
    > some weeks ago.
    >
    > And even if the dates for the contact with the law-firms are some
    > months
    > back, I’ve dealing
    > with each complaint regurarely.
    >
    > It’s just that I’m being passed around from one organisation to the
    > next,
    > and between
    > different people and levels in the different organisations.
    >
    > So I was just wondering how is it, that one are supposed to go
    forward,
    > in
    > general, if
    > one wants to complain about law-firms, regarding unproffesional
    > conduct, in
    > conection
    > with the duty solicitors program, regardless if any legal aid
    founding
    > has
    > been given
    > by the LSC as of yet.
    >
    > If you think I can complain to you, regardless if there hasn’t been
    > any
    > legal aid founding
    > being given by the LSC, than I can send you all the e-mails, from
    the
    > correspondence
    > with the Law Society, and the law-firms.
    >
    > Since there has been quite long-lasting processes surounding this,
    > then
    > there are quite
    > a few e-mails.
    >
    > And these e-mails are also being looked at by the LSO, like I
    > explained.
    >
    > So it would be very fine, if you could explain to me how complaints
    > about
    > unprofessonal
    > conduct, from law-firms, in connection with the duty solicitor
    > programme
    > (regardless if
    > any legal aid founding has been given as of yet), usually are being
    > reported
    > by the
    > complainant.
    >
    > It’s the general complaint-process that I was a bit curious about.
    >
    > Maybe there is an informaiton web-page on your website, explaining
    > about
    > this?
    >
    > I’m sure I’m not the first person complaining about unprofesional
    > conduct
    > like this,
    > from law-firms in connection with the duty solicitors programme.
    >
    > So I’m sure that there has to be a generall complaint-process
    rutine,
    > regarding
    > how complaint-cases like this, should be dealt with.
    >
    > It’s this information that I’m looking for, and I would be very
    > grateful if
    > it would be
    > possible for you to enlighten me regarding this.
    >
    > Thank you very much for your help in advance!
    >
    > Yours sincerely,
    >
    > Erik Ribsskog
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > On 11/9/07, Michael Rimer
    wrote:
    > >
    > > Dear Mr Ribsskog
    > >
    > > You have complained to the LSC, and I have suggested that you
    > redirect
    > > your complaint to the firms in question. I am afraid to say that
    > the
    > > way that you have expressed your complaints in word docs you sent
    me
    > is
    > > not very clear. I have read each a number of times and it is not
    > > abundantly plain what it is you wish to achieve by making a
    > complaint.
    > > Furthermore, the matters you complain of date back to May this
    year
    > and
    > > it is now November.
    > >
    > > Because it is not very clear what exactly happened or didn’t
    happen
    > > when you saw or spoke to advisers from EAD and from Morcroft, I
    > cannot
    > > see clearly whether you received advice from them which was paid
    for
    > by
    > > the LSC. Rather than reiterate your complaint, if you could scan
    any
    > > correspondence you have received from either or both solicitors,
    > that
    > > may assist.
    > >
    > > I am not proposing to investigate your complaint any further. If
    > you
    > > are able to send me correspondence received from the solicitors in
    > > question, so as to satisfy me that they did work on your behalf
    for
    > > which they were paid from the legal aid fund, then again, I would
    > > suggest that you raise your complaint again with the firm.
    Depending
    > on
    > > what they said, I might think it appropriate to refer this the
    > relevant
    > > firm’s account manager at the Liverpool LSC office.
    > >
    > > Yours sincerely
    > >
    > > Michael Rimer
    > >
    > > >>> “Erik Ribsskog” 09 November 2007 15:26
    >>>
    > > Hi,
    > >
    > > thank you very much for your e-mail!
    > >
    > > The Law Society, told me (in e-mails I’ve forwarded to the LSC
    with
    > my
    > > previous e-mails), that
    > > if one wanted to complain (formally), about law-firms in
    connection
    > > with the
    > > duty solicitors
    > > programme, then one should complain to the LSC.
    > >
    > > So I was wondering if what you are writing to me, is that this
    isn’t
    > > right?
    > >
    > > Are you telling me, that there isn’t any formal way of complaining
    > > about
    > > profesional misconduct,
    > > against law-firms, in connection with the duty solicitors
    programme,
    > > (other
    > > than to the companies
    > > themselves).
    > >
    > > This because, I have sent Law Society resolution-form comlaints to
    > > both
    > > law-firms.
    > >
    > > But both law-firms, are saying, that I’m not a client with them,
    > since
    > > they
    > > only helped me in connection
    > > with the duty sollicitors programme, and then I have no right to
    > > complain,
    > > since I’m not a client of the law-firm.
    > >
    > > So that option is already tryed.
    > >
    > > I was wondering if there are any Governement organisations that
    one
    > > could
    > > complain about this to.
    > >
    > > And also, who could give me advice about this?
    > >
    > > Thank you very much for your help in advance!
    > >
    > > Yours sincerely,
    > >
    > > Erik Ribsskog
    > >
    > >
    > > On 11/9/07, Michael Rimer
    > wrote:
    > > >
    > > > Dear Mr Ribsskog
    > > >
    > > > If you are unhappy with the service you received with the firms
    of
    > > > solicitors you had dealings with, then I repeat, that you should
    > > write a
    > > > clear letter to the firms outlining briefly what you think they
    > > didn’t
    > > > do properly.
    > > >
    > > > I am not in a postition to be able to advise you further on
    this.
    > > >
    > > > Yours sincerely
    > > >
    > > > Michael Rimer
    > > >
    > > > >>> “Erik Ribsskog” 08 November 2007 18:15
    > >>>
    > > > Hi,
    > > >
    > > > I’m not sure if you have read the complaints thorowly enought
    > then,
    > > > because it has a been a problem with lying and breaching of
    > > > agreements.
    > > >
    > > > And giving wrong advice over the phone.
    > > >
    > > > This is unprofessional conduct, and it has been examples of this
    > in
    > > > both
    > > > complaints.
    > > >
    > > > So I was wondering if you please could tell me how I should go
    > > > forward,
    > > > if I wanted to complain about legal firm in regarding
    > unprofessional
    > > > conduct
    > > > in conection with the duty solicitior programme.
    > > >
    > > > Thank you very much for your help in advance!
    > > >
    > > > Yours sincerely,
    > > >
    > > > Erik Ribsskog
    > > >
    > > >
    > > > On 11/8/07, Michael Rimer
    > > wrote:
    > > > >
    > > > > Dear Mr Ribsskog
    > > > >
    > > > > Thank you for the further information. Your complaints are of
    a
    > > lack
    > > > of
    > > > > what you perceive as being acceptable customer service from
    each
    > > > (not
    > > > > being told who was dealing with your case, having meetings
    > > cancelled
    > > > and
    > > > > not rescheduled, being passed from one person to the next and
    > > having
    > > > to
    > > > > explain your case to each one, all of which can be frustrating
    > > when
    > > > you
    > > > > have your own legal issues as a primary concern).
    > > > >
    > > > > May I suggest that you raise your concerns with the firms
    > > directly.
    > > > It
    > > > > may assist if you shorten your accounts by summarising the
    main
    > > > points
    > > > > of complaint, in order to get the text onto a one page letter.
    > > > >
    > > > > It might be that the person who dealt with your complaint at
    the
    > > > Legal
    > > > > Complaints Service thought, as I did at first, that you were
    > > > concerned
    > > > > by the behaviour of a criminal duty solicitor. However, it
    seems
    > > as
    > > > > though it relates to an employment dispute. In any event, I
    > think
    > > > that
    > > > > you ought to be referring your concerns to the firms, as it is
    > > they
    > > > who
    > > > > ought to be listening to the points you make and considering
    > > whether
    > > > > they need to take a fresh look at their customer service.
    > > > >
    > > > > Your sincerely
    > > > >
    > > > > Michael
    > > > >
    > > > > >>> “Erik Ribsskog” 08 November 2007
    11:20
    > > >>>
    > > > > Hi,
    > > > >
    > > > > thank you very much for your answer!
    > > > >
    > > > > Well, in April, I called the Law Society about the problems,
    and
    > > > they
    > > > > adviced me
    > > > > to bring the complaints through their complaint-procedure.
    > > > >
    > > > > Now, about six months later, the Law Society tells me that it
    is
    > > the
    > > > > LSC,
    > > > > who
    > > > > should have dealt with these complaints.
    > > > >
    > > > > The complaints are regarding poor service and unprofessional
    > > > conduct,
    > > > > from
    > > > > law-firms,
    > > > > in conection with duty solicitor meetings, being set up by the
    > > CAB.
    > > > >
    > > > > I’m going to enclose a copy of the two complaints that I sent
    > the
    > > > Law
    > > > > Society.
    > > > >
    > > > > One complaint regarding the Morecrofts Solicitors firm, and
    one
    > > > > complaint
    > > > > regarding
    > > > > the EAD solicitors firm.
    > > > >
    > > > > So I’m looking forward to hearing more from you, regarding how
    I
    > > > should
    > > > > go
    > > > > forward
    > > > > with these complaints.
    > > > >
    > > > > Thanks in advance for the help!
    > > > >
    > > > > Yours sincerely,
    > > > >
    > > > > Erik Ribsskog
    > > > >
    > > > >
    > > > > On 11/8/07, Michael Rimer
    > > > wrote:
    > > > > >
    > > > > > Dear Mr Ribsskog
    > > > > >
    > > > > > Your email has been referred to me as you appear to have had
    > > some
    > > > > > difficulties in finding out where to make a complaint about
    a
    > > duty
    > > > > > solicitor who assisted you recently. I am a lawyer in the
    > LSC’s
    > > > > head
    > > > > > office legal department.
    > > > > >
    > > > > > I am not clear from your email what it is exactly that you
    > were
    > > > > unhappy
    > > > > > about the duty solicitor who assisted you. Did the duty
    > > solicitor
    > > > > see
    > > > > > you at a police station? Or did the duty solicitor see you
    at
    > > the
    > > > > > magistrates’ court? If you outlined very briefly the nature
    > of
    > > > your
    > > > > > complaint about the solicitor, i.e., what he did that you
    > > thought
    > > > > was
    > > > > > wrong, or what he didn’t do that you think he ought to have
    > > done,
    > > > > that
    > > > > > would be helpful.
    > > > > >
    > > > > > I am mindful to suggest that you make a complaint to the
    firm
    > > > > directly.
    > > > > > Usually, a complaint against a solicitor is best made to the
    > > > senior
    > > > > or
    > > > > > managing partner at the solicitor’s firm. Otherwise, the
    > > solicitor
    > > > > whom
    > > > > > you are unhappy about wont know what it is he has done
    wrong,
    > in
    > > > > your
    > > > > > view. Depending on the firm’s response, the Customer
    Service
    > > > Team
    > > > > > (whom you originally emailed about this) will be in a better
    > > > position
    > > > > to
    > > > > > say whether your complaint should be referred to the firm’s
    > > > account
    > > > > > manager at the Legal Services Commission, or whether it
    should
    > > be
    > > > > dealt
    > > > > > with by the Law Society’s Legal Complaint Service.
    > > > > >
    > > > > > Kind regards
    > > > > >
    > > > > > Michael
    > > > > >
    > > > > >
    > > > > >
    > > > > > Michael Rimer
    > > > > > Legal Adviser
    > > > > > Corporate Legal Team
    > > > > > Legal Services Commission
    > > > > > 85 Gray’s Inn Road,
    > > > > > London WC1X 8TX
    > > > > >
    > > > > > DX 328 Chancery Lane
    > > > > >
    > > > > > Note: The email may contain confidential legal advice which
    is
    > > > > likely
    > > > > > to be subject to legal professional privilege and which may
    be
    > > > > exempt
    > > > > > from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. Please
    > > > contact
    > > > > the
    > > > > > author or the Commission’s Legal Director to seek
    > authorisation
    > > > > before
    > > > > > disclosing this email outside the Commission.”
    > > > > >
    > > > > >
    > > > > >
    > > > > >
    > > > > > >>> “Erik Ribsskog” 06 November 2007
    > 02:25
    > > > >>>
    > > > > > Hi,
    > > > > >
    > > > > > I can’t see that I have recieved an answer to this e-mail
    yet,
    > > > thats
    > > > > > why I’m
    > > > > > trying to send it again.
    > > > > >
    > > > > > Yours sincerely,
    > > > > >
    > > > > > Erik Ribsskog
    > > > > >
    > > > > > ———- Forwarded message ———-
    > > > > > From: Erik Ribsskog
    > > > > > Date: Oct 19, 2007 4:36 PM
    > > > > > Subject: Re: Your e-mail
    > > > > > To: Legal LSC
    > > > > >
    > > > > >
    > > > > > Hi,
    > > > > >
    > > > > > thank you very much for your answer.
    > > > > >
    > > > > > I will now try to summarise the corespondce I’ve been having
    > > with
    > > > > you
    > > > > > and
    > > > > > Simon Williams from the Legal Complaints Service.
    > > > > >
    > > > > > Simon Williams (The Legal Complaints Service) says that I
    > should
    > > > > > contact the
    > > > > > LSC to complain about
    > > > > > a duty solicitor.
    > > > > >
    > > > > > And you (The LSC) are saying that I should contact The Legal
    > > > > > Complaints
    > > > > > Service to complain about
    > > > > > a duty solicitor.
    > > > > >
    > > > > > So I’m not sure how to conclude this summary.
    > > > > >
    > > > > > Could you please confirm again who I should contact if I
    want
    > to
    > > > > > formally
    > > > > > complain about poor service
    > > > > > and uprofessional conduct from a law-firm in connection with
    > the
    > > > > duty
    > > > > > solicitors scheme.
    > > > > >
    > > > > > Because Simon Williams from The Legal Complaints Service is
    > > > writing
    > > > > > this in
    > > > > > a letter from 26/9:
    > > > > >
    > > > > > ‘Here, a meeting under the duty solicitors programme is
    > unlikely
    > > > to
    > > > > be
    > > > > > something done under a retainer
    > > > > > (that is, a relationship between solicitor and client), as
    > duty
    > > > > > solicitors
    > > > > > are those who provide assistance
    > > > > > to those who are without representation
    > > > > >
    > > > > > […]
    > > > > >
    > > > > > As you are not a client of EAD, this office is unable to
    > > consider
    > > > > your
    > > > > > complaint. I will, therefore, take
    > > > > > steps to close this file’.
    > > > > >
    > > > > > So it’s obvious that the Legal Complaints Service aren’t
    > looking
    > > > at
    > > > > > complaints against law-firms in
    > > > > > connection to the duty solicitors scheme.
    > > > > >
    > > > > > Williams, write in an e-mail from 2/10:
    > > > > >
    > > > > > ‘ *Q2: If not, then who is it one are supposed to complain
    to,
    > > > about
    > > > > > poor
    > > > > > service/unprofessional* *conduct, by law-firms, in
    connection
    > > with
    > > > > the
    > > > > > Dury
    > > > > > Solicitors scheme?*
    > > > > >
    > > > > > I have looked into this matter and would suggest that you
    > refer
    > > to
    > > > > > this
    > > > > > website:
    > > > > >
    > > > > >
    > > > >
    > > >
    > >
    >
    http://www.legalservices.gov.uk/aboutus/regions/liverpool_information.asp

    >
    > >
    > > >
    > > > >
    > > > > >
    > > > > >
    > > > > > It contains information and contact details of the
    Merseyside
    > > Duty
    > > > > > Solicitors scheme and I hope that you will find it useful.
    > > > > >
    > > > > > I should also note that the Legal Services Commission is an
    > > > > > organisation
    > > > > > wholly separate from the Law Society and, if you have any
    > > specific
    > > > > > questions
    > > > > > in relation to the procedures, you should direct them to the
    > > LSC,
    > > > > > rather
    > > > > > than our Office.’.
    > > > > >
    > > > > > So he’s saying that the LCS should deal with the complaint.
    > > > > >
    > > > > > Is this correct?
    > > > > >
    > > > > > Who could I ask for advice/help regarding this, since I’m
    > being
    > > in
    > > > a
    > > > > > way
    > > > > > ‘thrown around’ here, from one organisation to the
    > > > > > other.
    > > > > >
    > > > > >
    > > > > > Also, you are writing that:
    > > > > >
    > > > > > ‘In regards to our customer-helpline, it is more than likely
    > > that
    > > > > > there
    > > > > > was a miscommunication or misunderstanding between you and
    my
    > > > > > colleague
    > > > > > as a list of law firms can be accessed easily through a
    search
    > > on
    > > > > the
    > > > > > CLS Legal Adviser Directory.’.
    > > > > >
    > > > > >
    > > > > > So you are writing that since you have an online directory,
    > then
    > > > it
    > > > > > can’t be
    > > > > > something wrong
    > > > > > in regards to your customer-helpline’s advice.
    > > > > >
    > > > > > I can’t see that it’s an excuse for giving wrong advice
    > (giving
    > > me
    > > > > the
    > > > > > phone-numbers to law-firms
    > > > > > in Wales), I can’t see that this can be excused by you also
    > > having
    > > > > an
    > > > > > online
    > > > > > directory.
    > > > > >
    > > > > > What is the point of having a customer-helpline, if one
    can’t
    > > > trust
    > > > > > the
    > > > > > advice?
    > > > > >
    > > > > > Since like you are writing, you also have an online
    directory,
    > > so
    > > > > this
    > > > > > fact
    > > > > > means that any mistakes
    > > > > > the helpline makes, must be misunderstandings.
    > > > > >
    > > > > > I don’t see the logic in this.
    > > > > >
    > > > > > I think you must be mistaking.
    > > > > >
    > > > > > Even if you have an online directory, I don’t see how this
    > > > explains
    > > > > > mistakes
    > > > > > from your helpline.
    > > > > >
    > > > > > It’s not a valid excuse I mean.
    > > > > >
    > > > > > If I go to Tesco and say I got the wrong change back.
    > > > > >
    > > > > > Then Tesco can’t say that, of it must be a misunderstanding
    > > > because
    > > > > you
    > > > > > have
    > > > > > paid by debit-card.
    > > > > >
    > > > > > Thats the same reasoning to me.
    > > > > >
    > > > > > So it would be very fine, if you could please confirm that
    > I’ve
    > > > > > understood
    > > > > > your excuse right.
    > > > > >
    > > > > > Because in that case, I don’t think it’s a valid excuse, and
    I
    > > > would
    > > > > > please
    > > > > > like to complain about it.
    > > > > >
    > > > > > I hope that this is alright!
    > > > > >
    > > > > > Thank you very much for your answer again!
    > > > > >
    > > > > > Yours sincerely,
    > > > > >
    > > > > > Erik Ribsskog
    > > > > >
    > > > > >
    > > > > >
    > > > > >
    > > > > > On 10/19/07, Legal LSC
    wrote:
    > > > > > >
    > > > > > > Our ref: KPL/MISC/07/07/70 (5)
    > > > > > > Date: 19 October 2007
    > > > > > >
    > > > > > >
    > > > > > > Dear Mr Ribbskog,
    > > > > > >
    > > > > > > Thank you for your e-mail on 16 October 2007.
    > > > > > >
    > > > > > > You are always welcome to put forward an informal
    complaint
    > > > > regarding
    > > > > > a
    > > > > > > duty solicitor’s poor service and/or misconduct, in
    > connection
    > > > > with
    > > > > > > the Local Duty Solicitors Scheme, to the Account Manager
    of
    > > our
    > > > > > relevant
    > > > > > > regional office. They will be happy to investigate your
    > > > complaint
    > > > > > and
    > > > > > > will communicate with the duty solicitor involved to
    clarify
    > > the
    > > > > > areas
    > > > > > > of your complaint and endeavor to resolve the issue.
    > > > > > >
    > > > > > > However, it is not within our capacity or powers to
    enforce
    > > any
    > > > > > actions
    > > > > > > upon the relevant duty solicitor in regards to their poor
    > > > service
    > > > > > and/or
    > > > > > > misconduct.
    > > > > > >
    > > > > > > For complaints on the poor service and/or misconduct of
    any
    > > > > > solicitor
    > > > > > > to be dealt with formally and with enforceable actions,
    you
    > > must
    > > > > > direct
    > > > > > > your complaints to the Law Society’s Legal Complaints
    > Service
    > > > > (LCS),
    > > > > > > who are an independent complaints handling body that deals
    > > with
    > > > > all
    > > > > > > formal complaints against solicitors. Even though they are
    > > part
    > > > of
    > > > > > the
    > > > > > > Law Society, they operate independently.
    > > > > > >
    > > > > > > Further details on the LCS are available at the following
    > > > website:
    > > > > > >
    > > > > > > http://www.legalcomplaints.org.uk/home.page
    > > > > > >
    > > > > > > Both the above options are available to you and it is your
    > > > > decision
    > > > > > on
    > > > > > > where you want to direct your complaint and how it is
    > > resolved.
    > > > > > >
    > > > > > > In regards to our customer-helpline, it is more than
    likely
    > > that
    > > > > > there
    > > > > > > was a miscommunication or misunderstanding between you and
    > my
    > > > > > colleague
    > > > > > > as a list of law firms can be accessed easily through a
    > search
    > > > on
    > > > > > the
    > > > > > > CLS Legal Adviser Directory.
    > > > > > >
    > > > > > > I hope the above is of assistance to you.
    > > > > > >
    > > > > > > Yours sincerely
    > > > > > >
    > > > > > >
    > > > > > > Ka Poh Ling
    > > > > > > Central Customer Services Unit
    > > > > > >
    > > > > > >
    > > > > > >
    > > > > > >
    > > > > >
    > > > > >
    > > > >
    > > > >
    > > >
    > > >
    > >
    > >
    >
    >
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