Is L/A going back on their word....

[divadi2000]

L/A wrote to me June this year and said they will pay legal bill for the named children they have now told Solicitor they will only pay part!!! once this case starts if the parents contest I could end up with a bill I cannot afford the solicitor said if it is not contested it could be straight forward and no cost to me...The L/A have got me stumped as I feel they are going back on there word.....if the kids had been placed in care it would most certainly have cost them alot more! I am really drained with L/A and confused at why they are doing this...anyone been in the same situation re-L/A? Thanks for reading

[Robin D]

First question: Did the LA letter say they would pay? If so, you probably have them over a barrel. You need to then show the letter to your solicitor as well as writing to the sender reminding them of the commitment. It might just be one dept not talking to the other within the LA.

If its not written down, or is conditional or unclear in the letter, then I suggest you write to whoever sent the letter and say you solicitor is now telling you that the LA is indicating that it will only part fund yet from the letter you concluded no such condition, and ask them to confirm to you and your solicitor that they will fully fund.

Make sure you write and keep a copy.

Only if as a result of the the above,do you find they are back-tracking, you should then start escalating. Start with a formal complaint, and at the same time contact your local councillor who should investigate. If that fails, there's your MP, the full complaints procedure and ultimately, the local authority ombudsman. Unfortunately, it all takes time and effort.

And yes....... many on here have been in the same sort of position with the LA. Some occasions it's bureaucratic bungling, some is people making commitments they don't have the authority to take, and others is the bean counters retrospectively trying to rein in expenditure.