Hi All,
I'm hoping someone can help me with a question I have.
I engaged a lawyer to handle a simple arbitration in 2010 that ended in summer 2012. During that time, it should have been a matter of an initial consultation, a few mails, one arbitration and then some follow up... overall, about 10-15 of billable hours. I paid 3'000 retainer and then about another 1000 along the way.
Without going into too much detail, towards the end of the arbitration, she recommended 'giving' away 15-20% of the total amount to the other party to expedite things, which I reluctantly did to move on.
After monies were received, I sent a mail asking if there was any outstanding bill with her. No answer. 1 month later I sent another request if there was any outstanding monies. No answer. 1 month later I wrote again. No answer.
After 3 months and 3 tries for closure I assumed that, having already paid close to 4,000 for (what I assumed) 10-15 hours of work and her getting me 15-20% less than I was entitled to, all was settled. I invested what remained of the settlement last year…
In November 2013 I received a mail from the lawyer saying she’s changing firms and closing out her old accounts, saying I owe over 5,000 and she wants me to pay immediately. I pointed out it’s been a loooong time since I requested 3 times for a final bill and that I’d like to see an itemization of the work done, as I also found the calculation on work off.
She didn’t give me an itemized bill right away and started to get a little nasty. I insisted on seeing the hours and justification and, after going back and forth a few times, she finally sent it to me. She’s somehow itemized 47.1 hours, which would be 21,195CHF worth of work in her world – but she’s still keen to offer me a ‘mate’s rate’ (although it’s clear I’m NOT her mate) of just under 6,000 if I pay quickly.
My question is – is there a consumer group in GVA or CH where I inquire about her dodgy business practices, namely timeliness of billing and discrepancies in the itemized bill?
Many thanks in advance!
