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Peter Black and South Wales West Liberal DemocratsRepresenting Aberavon, Bridgend, Gower, Neath, Ogmore, Port Talbot, and Swansea |
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AM condemns 'cruel and immoral' solicitors who leave clients in debt
August 17, 2006 9:13 AM
The growing number of solicitors who have been touting for compensation business in the Bridgend and surrounding areas and then leave their clients with a mountain of debt have been condemned as 'cruel and immoral' by South Wales West Liberal Democrat Assembly Member, Peter Black.
BBC Radio programme 'File on Four' has recently highlighted the problem, and Mr Black too has been approached by constituents who have suffered at the hands of these unscrupulous companies. File on Four alleged that a firm named CMS Investigations had been knocking on doors in South Wales advising tenants that they might have a compensation case against their local authority or housing association and then passed on blocks of cases to various solicitors who, the programme claimed, paid the firm a fee for the work.
"These so-called 'claims farmers' offer people what looks like a 'no win, no fee' deal, but then sell them an insurance policy to cover the legal costs. They also pile on other hidden charges, "said Mr Black. " I have heard of instances where the case has actually been won, but the successful client ends up owing more money to the solicitor than they got back in compensation."
"I understand that the Labour Government is giving the industry a final chance to clean up its act on its own. This simply isn't good enough. We need strong, swift and decisive legal action to stop these abuses and drive such companies out of business. Why is it that the Government can always find time for legislation that suits them, but leaves the protection of the poor and vulnerable to so-called voluntary agreements?"
"Every day the government dilly-dallies increases the chance that more people will suffer. They should stop dithering and take action."
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