Clients who are dissatisfied or unhappy with the levels of service they receive from their solicitors are not being told of their right to complain about poor service, despite the regulatory obligation to ‘signpost’ the ombudsman scheme. That’s the conclusion reached by the Legal Ombudsman from its latest satisfaction survey. However, solicitors have questioned the findings, saying that the latest figure is hard to square with last year’s findings which concluded that 70 per cent of lawyers were in fact signposting in the required manner.
[Read more…] about Many solicitors are not advising clients of complaining rights despite regulatory obligations claims the Legal Ombudsman.News
Happy birthday, Mr Stock
Staff from Harold Stock & Co. Solicitors gathered together at a local restaurant last night to celebrate the 60-something-th birthday of the firm’s founding Partner, Paul Stock. Paul founded the firm in 1978 and was the first Solicitor to practice commercial law outside of the City centre. Paul retired as a Partner in the firm some years ago and is now employed on a Consultancy basis. He specialises in all aspects of company and commercial law and is well known and respected in this field.
[Read more…] about Happy birthday, Mr StockLocal charity seek to raise mental health awareness in Tameside
Harold Stock & Co Solicitors are very proud to support local charity, The Anthony Seddon Fund. This charity is very close to the heart of our Practice Manager, Alex Newman as she is Anthony’s big sister.
Anthony took his own life on 31st March 2013 following a long struggle with the physical, emotional and social consequences of mental illness. Anthony’s family, spurred on my his mother, Donna Thomas, were determined that his death would not be in vain and set up The Anthony Seddon Fund.
Donna Thomas, Anthony’s mother and Trustee of the charity says “We are a small charity raising funds for mental health and well-being projects in our local area of Tameside. We are passionate about helping people who are living with mental illness and its effects. We aim to raise awareness and challenge the stigma, discrimination and lack of resources endured by those with mental health issues in our community. The trustees and volunteers are all unpaid and all have lived experience of mental health issues or support family/friends who have.”
This evening sees the second “Celebration of Life” fundraising event take place at Ashton Masonic Hall. All funds raised from the event will go to supporting local mental health and well-being projects within the Tameside area. If you are unable to attend the event, but would like to make a donation to the Fund, you can do so by visiting http://www.theanthonyseddonfund.org/make-a-donation.html
St. Ann’s Colour Run 2016
A team from Harold Stock & Co took part in the St. Ann’s Hospice Colour Run on Sunday 20th March 2016 at Wythenshawe Park. We couldn’t have asked for a better day, the sun was shining and the atmosphere was fantastic. Thank you to runners: Kirsty Dunn, Jenna Hadfield, Angela Doggett and her daughter, Liz Oldham and her daughter, Sharon Newton, Sarah Lowe, Debra Woolfson and Alex Newman. A huge thank you to the paint throwers; Karen Kenyon, Dawn Atkinson, Harry Thomas and Ashley.
[Read more…] about St. Ann’s Colour Run 2016Law Society responds to the recommendation that fixed costs are needed for all personal injury claims up to £250,000
Lord Justice Jackson, the architect of the civil costs review and the present civil costs regime, recently called for fixed costs to apply to all claims valued up to £250,000. Further to his initial review which was delivered to Master of the Rolls, Lord Neuberger in 2010, L. J. Jackson has now urged government ministers to make reform an immediate priority with a view to setting fixed recoverable costs by the end of this year.
[Read more…] about Law Society responds to the recommendation that fixed costs are needed for all personal injury claims up to £250,000Harold Stock and Co. secures Conveyancing Quality Mark
We are delighted to confirm that we have once again secured membership to the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme – the mark of excellence for the home buying process. This is the 4th year in a row that we have achieved CQS accreditation.
The firm underwent rigorous assessment by the Law Society in order to continue to hold CQS status, which marks the firm out as continuing to meet high standards in the residential conveyancing process.
Law Society President Andrew Caplen said that the CQS accreditation is the hallmark of high standards and establishes a level of credibility for regulators, lenders, insurers and consumers.
“CQS is the quality mark of the home-buying sector and enables consumers to identify practices that provide a quality residential conveyancing service. With so many different conveyancing service providers out there CQS helps home-buyers and sellers seek out those that can provide a safe and efficient level of service.”
Tom Simpson, Head of Conveyancing at Harold Stock & Co. says: “We are delighted to have secured CQS status for a forth year running. Buying and selling a home can be a stressful time. By looking for a CQS firm like Harold Stock & Co. the public can seek out a firm that has proved its commitment to quality.
The overall beneficiaries will be clients who use Harold Stock & Co. when buying a home. They will receive a reliable, efficient service as recognised by the CQS standard.”
The scheme requires practices to undergo a strict assessment, compulsory training, self reporting, random audits and annual reviews in order to maintain CQS status. It is open only to members of the Law Society who meet the demanding standards set by the scheme and has the support of the Council of Mortgage Lenders, the Building Societies Association, Legal Ombudsman and the Association of British Insurers.
For a no-obligation conveyancing quote, please contact us on 0330 400 4040, by email: info@haroldstock.com or complete the Contact Us form on this page.
