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Our Policy
1. We are committed to providing the highest quality legal service to all ourclients. When something goes wrong, you are entitled to complain. This willenable us to address the matter and, where appropriate, to offer a remedy andit will help us to improve our standards. You are entitled to challenge orcomplain about a bill for our fees and, if appropriate, the circumstances inwhich you may be required to pay interest on an unpaid bill. We take anycomplaint most seriously, but if you are not a client, we reserve the right tomodify and possibly to exclude the operation of this procedure in full or inpart.
2. If a complaint relates to a bill for our fees, you might also be able to apply to the court for an assessment under Part III of the Solicitors Act 1974. Ifyou would like a bill to be reviewed by the court, you must apply to the court within one month of the date the bill was delivered to you. If the bill hasbeen paid, more than twelve months has elapsed or a judgment has been obtained in respect of the costs covered by the bill, the court will not order the billto be assessed unless special circumstances apply. If the court makes an order in such circumstances, it might attach conditions to the order in respect ofthe costs of the assessment. Our entitlement to charge interest in respect of an unpaid bill may not be affected by any complaint you make to the Legal Ombudsman or any application you make to the court.
Initial steps to resolve
3. If you have any concerns about the service you receive, please contact:
(a) thepartner who has overall responsibility for your business or for the particularmatter concerned; or,
(b) if theycannot resolve matters to your satisfaction or the complaint concerns thatpartner, please contact the head of the group/department with which you aredealing, or the person indicated in your client care letter. If you are indoubt, a name(s) will be supplied on request.
4. The individual identified at paragraph 3 above will endeavour to resolve yourconcerns promptly and fairly.
5. If the matter cannot be resolved by them or, if you would prefer, please contact Tim Humpage (Tel: +44 333 366 1418) who is the UK Complaints Partner ("Complaints Partner"). If he is away for any material time or the complaint involves him, the Managing Partner will ensure that your complaint is dealt with elsewhere. Complaints in non-UK offices are the responsibility of the relevant local Managing Partner.
What will happen next
6. The Complaints Partner will endeavour to acknowledge your complaint within three working days. He will send you an acknowledgment and a copy of this Complaints Procedure.
7. We will record your complaint in a central register and open a file for yourcomplaint.
8. The Complaints Partner will investigate your complaint. This will normally involve him in one or more of the following steps:
(a) reviewing the file and any associated documents for the matter to which thecomplaint relates;
(b) interviewing and discussing the position with those concerned within the firm;or
(c) seekingany further clarification which we require from you.
If it seems appropriate, we may at this stage suggest ameeting to obtain details or to discuss matters with you.
Any information that you supply will be treated inconfidence unless agreed otherwise.
9. The Complaints Partner will then write to you to:
(a) report his findings; and
(b) make proposals for resolving your complaint.
We aim to do this within 21 days of acknowledging your complaint. If for any reason the 21 days cannot be achieved (for example,because of fee earner absences or because further information is required fromthird parties or yourself), we will explain why and endeavour to agree arevised date.
Escalating your complaint to the Legal Ombudsman
10. If you do notaccept the Complaints Partner's findings or proposals for resolving the matter,you may be able to ask the Legal Ombudsman to become involved in yourcomplaint. The Legal Ombudsman can accept complaints from individuals (actualor potential clients), small businesses if classified as a"micro-enterprise", and charities, clubs, societies, associations andtrusts with a net annual income or net asset value of less than £1 million. We will confirm his details again at that time.
11. Please notethat the time limit for referring a complaint to the Legal Ombudsman isgenerally six months from the date when we give you our final written responseto your complaint. The time limit can be checked by looking at the LegalOmbudsman’s website or by telephoning his office on 0300 555 0333. If you miss the time limit, his office may not be able to investigate your complaint.
12. If at any stage of the complaints procedure it becomes appropriate, we will notify you of your right to see another solicitor and obtain advice as to whether you have any other remedy against us. If a complaint may constitute a possible claim for compensation for negligence, we will generally have to refer the matter to our insurers. In those circumstances, this complaints procedure may not be appropriate.
The Legal Ombudsman
13. The contact details of the Legal Ombudsman are as follows:
Address:
The Legal Ombudsman
PO Box 6806
Wolverhampton
WV1 9WJ
Email: enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk
Phone: 0300 555 0333
Website: www.legalombudsman.org.uk
Professional Misconduct Complaints
14. Mezzle Limited is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, which handles complaints relating to professional misconduct. If you have any concerns about our behaviour, you can raise these with the Solicitors Regulation Authority here.
Equality and Diversity
15. Our complaints procedure is operated in compliance with the firm’s policy on equality and diversity.
