Referral Fees

You may have seen a news story on Channel 4 News revealing hidden fees charged for HIPS.

This is the link
http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/business_money/agents+get+hips+aposhiddenapos+payments/3153672

Many estate agents make arrangements to charge solicitors a fee to refer clients for conveyancing work. These fees can range up to several hundred pounds. It can provide a tidy income but the only party to pay directly or indirectly is you!

The competition authorities have approved such fees but require full disclosure of the amount payable. As many clients do not know about them, it seems they are often hidden as Channel 4 reports.

Most lawyers see referral fees as restricting a client's free choice. How can there be free choice or competition if a client is recommended, persuaded or even required to use a certain firm, because it pays a referral fee.

Agents and lawyers can to fall into two camps.
Big firms paying referral fees to tie up large quantities of work using call centre operations where clients are just numbers. Small firms not paying referral fees depending on reputation and personal service to obtain instructions from local clients.

We do not pay and have never paid referral fees for client introductions or for HIPs.
We receive instructions and repeat work on the basis of the service we provide.
We do not encourage or permit agents to resell our HIPs or add to their cost.

Our HIP leaflets state HIP and conveyancing prices.
Our HIP prices are little more than the cost of components charged by search authorities, home inspectors, the Land Registry etc.

Simply, we provide HIPs at the best rate to obtain your conveyancing business.

Ask for a copy of our latest HIP leaflet or ask your estate agent to contact us for details.

Contact us by phoning 02392 505500 or use the request button above