Fee charges and expenses - About - HilliersHRW Solicitors

How we calculate our charges

Our charges will be calculated mainly by reference to the time actually spent by the solicitors and other staff in respect of any work which we do on your behalf. This will include meetings with you and perhaps others, reading and working on papers, correspondence including e-mails, preparation of any detailed costs calculations, and time spent travelling away from the office when this is necessary. From time to time we may arrange for some of this work to be carried out by persons not directly employed by us. Such work will be charged to you at hourly rates not exceeding those set out below.
Routine letters and e-mails are charged as six-minute units of time and we charge for the time spent on making and taking telephone calls in six-minute units and considering incoming letters and e-mails at units of six minutes per page.

Our charges for debt collection cases are based on a percentage of the amount of the debt actually recovered (excluding any interest and/or penalties for late payment payable). Fixed costs and court fees are payable regardless of whether the debt is actually recovered. Fixed costs are set by the courts and recoverable from the debtor in any enforcement. If the debt collection case becomes contested at any time following issue of the proceedings then our charges will be calculated by reference to the time actually spent by the solicitors and other staff in respect of any work carried out on your behalf. Similarly following entering of default judgement all subsequent work including enforcement of the judgment will be charged by reference to the actual time spent on the case.

Solicitors have to pay out various other expenses on behalf of clients ranging from Land or Probate Registry fees, experts' fees, and so on. We have no obligation to make such payments unless the client has provided us with the funds for that purpose. VAT is payable on certain expenses. We refer to such payments generally as 'disbursements'. We will require a payment in advance from our client in respect of any search fees payable on your transactions.
If, for any reason, this matter does not proceed to completion, we will be entitled to charge the client for work done and expenses incurred.

Payment Arrangements for our fees

Property transactions: We will normally send you our bill following the exchange of contracts and payment is required on a purchase prior to completion; and at completion; on a sale. If sufficient funds are available on completion, and we have sent you a bill, we will deduct our charges and expenses from the funds.
Administration of Estates: We will normally submit an interim bill at regular stages during the administration, starting with the obtaining of a Grant. The final account will be prepared when the Estate Accounts are ready for approval.
Other cases or transactions: It is normal practice to ask clients to pay sums of money from time to time on account of the charges and expenses which are expected in the following weeks or months. We find that this helps clients in budgeting for costs as well as keeping them informed of the legal expenses which are being incurred. If such requests are not met with prompt payment, delay in the progress of a case may result. In the unlikely event of any bill or request for payment not being met, this firm must reserve the right to stop acting for you further.
Payment is due to us within 28 days of our sending you a bill. Interest will be charged on a daily basis at 4% over Barclays Bank Plc base rate from time to time from the date of the bill in cases where payment is not made within 28 days of delivery by us of the bill.
The common law entitles us to retain any money, papers or other property belonging to you which properly come into our possession pending payment of our costs, whether or not the property is acquired in connection with the matter for which the costs were incurred. This is known as a "general lien". We are not entitled to sell property held under a lien but we are entitled to hold property, other than money, even if the value of it greatly exceeds the amount due to us in respect of costs.

For full details of our fee tariff see Terms & Conditions.

General Enquiries: Bedford Office: 01234 858000. Stevenage Office: 01438 346000.
Email Enquiries

	Charges & Expenses Diversity	How we calculate our charges Our charges will be calculated mainly by reference to the time actually spent by the solicitors and other staff in respect of any work which we do on your behalf. This will include meetings with you and perhaps others, reading and working on papers, correspondence including e-mails, preparation of any detailed costs calculations, and time spent travelling away from the office when this is necessary. From time to time we may arrange for some of this work to be carried out by persons not directly employed by us. Such work will be charged to you at hourly rates not exceeding those set out below. Routine letters and e-mails are charged as six-minute units of time and we charge for the time spent on making and taking telephone calls in six-minute units and considering incoming letters and e-mails at units of six minutes per page. Our charges for debt collection cases are based on a percentage of the amount of the debt actually recovered (excluding any interest and/or penalties for late payment payable). Fixed costs and court fees are payable regardless of whether the debt is actually recovered. Fixed costs are set by the courts and recoverable from the debtor in any enforcement. If the debt collection case becomes contested at any time following issue of the proceedings then our charges will be calculated by reference to the time actually spent by the solicitors and other staff in respect of any work carried out on your behalf. Similarly following entering of default judgement all subsequent work including enforcement of the judgment will be charged by reference to the actual time spent on the case. Solicitors have to pay out various other expenses on behalf of clients ranging from Land or Probate Registry fees, experts' fees, and so on. We have no obligation to make such payments unless the client has provided us with the funds for that purpose. VAT is payable on certain expenses. We refer to such payments generally as 'disbursements'. We will require a payment in advance from our client in respect of any search fees payable on your transactions. If, for any reason, this matter does not proceed to completion, we will be entitled to charge the client for work done and expenses incurred. Payment Arrangements for our fees Property transactions: We will normally send you our bill following the exchange of contracts and payment is required on a purchase prior to completion; and at completion; on a sale. If sufficient funds are available on completion, and we have sent you a bill, we will deduct our charges and expenses from the funds. Administration of Estates: We will normally submit an interim bill at regular stages during the administration, starting with the obtaining of a Grant. The final account will be prepared when the Estate Accounts are ready for approval. Other cases or transactions: It is normal practice to ask clients to pay sums of money from time to time on account of the charges and expenses which are expected in the following weeks or months. We find that this helps clients in budgeting for costs as well as keeping them informed of the legal expenses which are being incurred. If such requests are not met with prompt payment, delay in the progress of a case may result. In the unlikely event of any bill or request for payment not being met, this firm must reserve the right to stop acting for you further. Payment is due to us within 28 days of our sending you a bill. Interest will be charged on a daily basis at 4% over Barclays Bank Plc base rate from time to time from the date of the bill in cases where payment is not made within 28 days of delivery by us of the bill. The common law entitles us to retain any money, papers or other property belonging to you which properly come into our possession pending payment of our costs, whether or not the property is acquired in connection with the matter for which the costs were incurred. This is known as a "general lien". We are not entitled to sell property held under a lien but we are entitled to hold property, other than money, even if the value of it greatly exceeds the amount due to us in respect of costs. For full details of our fee tariff see Terms & Conditions. General Enquiries: Bedford Office: 01234 858000. Stevenage Office: 01438 346000. Email Enquiries