Terms and Conditions

Website Terms & Conditions


Introduction

This website is operated by Hollins Wood Solicitors, a firm authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA ID [insert number]). By accessing or using this website, you agree to comply with and be bound by these Terms and Conditions. If you do not agree to these Terms, please refrain from using our website.


About Us

Hollins Wood Solicitors
[insert address]
Telephone: [insert number]
Email: [insert email]

Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.


Use of Website

- The content of this site is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal advice.
- You should seek specific legal advice before acting or relying on any information published.
- We accept no liability for loss or damage arising from use of this site or reliance on its content.
- We may suspend, withdraw or change our site without notice.


Intellectual Property Rights

- All content on this website (including text, graphics, logos, images, and layout) is owned by Hollins Wood Solicitors or licensed to us.
- You may view, download, and print content for personal use only.
- You may not reproduce, modify, distribute, or commercially exploit any material without our prior written consent.


Disclaimer of Liability

- Nothing on this site constitutes legal or professional advice.
- While we endeavour to keep information accurate and up-to-date, we make no warranties or representations regarding completeness, reliability, or suitability.
- Past results are not a guarantee of future outcomes in legal claims (including Personal Injury, Housing Disrepair, or DCA/PCP claims).


Cookies

Our website uses cookies to enhance your experience:
- Strictly Necessary Cookies: Essential for site operation.
- Analytical/Performance Cookies: Help us improve website functionality.
- Functionality Cookies: Remember your preferences.
- Targeting/Marketing Cookies: Deliver relevant content or advertising.

You can control cookies via your browser settings. For further details, see our Cookie Policy.


Data Protection & Privacy

We process personal data in accordance with the UK GDPR, Data Protection Act 2018, and our Privacy Policy. For details on how we handle your data, please refer to our Privacy Policy.


Third-Party Links

Our site may include links to third-party websites. These are provided for convenience only. We have no responsibility for the content of linked sites and accept no liability for any loss or damage arising from their use.


Governing Law

These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.


Our Aim 

Our Aim It is our aim to offer all our Clients quality legal advice performed to a high standard at a fair cost. This document sets out clearly the framework within which we will provide our services to you. 


Our Regulator 

Our Regulator Hollins Wood Solicitors is authorised to provide legal services and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). The SRA has published a code of conduct a copy of which can be obtained from their website at www.sra.org.uk Hours of Business 


Hours of Business . Our usual hours of business at our head office are 9am - 5.00pm weekdays. Messages can be left outside of these hours and essential appointments can be arranged at other times. 


Communication between You and Us 

Communication between You and Us To make the process as straightforward as possible, we have set up a secure client portal which can be accessed via our website at www.hollins-woodsolicitors.com www.hollins-woodsolicitors.com. Through the portal you can upload your proof of identification and proof of address, sign documents electronically, and track the progress of your case. If you prefer to receive hard copy documents, or if you have any accessibility requirements such as large print or Braille, please let us know and we will provide these alternatives. We use the information that you provide primarily for the provision of legal services to you and for related purposes including, but not limited to, updating and enhancing Client records, analysis to help us manage our practice, statutory returns and legal and regulatory compliance. Our use of that information is subject to your instructions, the Data Protection Act 1988 and our duty of confidentiality. The Data Protection Act requires us to advise you that your particulars are held on our database. During the conduct of your case, disclosure sometimes needs to be made to parties outside of Hollins Wood Solicitors, for example, a Barrister or enquiry agent. The Data Protection Act also places an obligation on them to keep your information confidential. From time to time, we may use these details to send you information which we think might be of interest to you. If you do not wish to receive this information, please let us know. 


Confidentiality

Confidentiality Solicitors are under a professional and legal obligation to keep the affairs of Clients confidential. This obligation, however, is subject to a statutory exception. Legislation on money laundering and terrorist financing places solicitors under a legal duty in certain circumstances to disclose information to the National Crime Agency. Where a Solicitor knows or suspects that a transaction on behalf of a client involves money laundering the Solicitor may be required by law to make a money laundering disclosure. If that happens, we may not be able to inform you that a disclosure has been made or of the reasons for it because the law prevents “tipping off”. 


Identification and Credit Check 

In order to comply with our regulatory and anti-money laundering obligations, we require you to provide a valid form of photographic identification (such as a passport or driving licence) together with proof of your current address dated within the last three months. We will also carry out a soft credit search via Valid8 IP's service to identify any motor finance agreements relevant to your claim. This type of search will not affect your credit score. 


FCA Redress Guidance

FCA Redress Guidance The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is currently consulting on a redress scheme for consumers affected by undisclosed or unfair commission arrangements in motor finance. The FCA has indicated that most compensation awards may be capped, in many cases at around £950 per agreement plus interest. Some claims may result in higher compensation where mis-selling or affordability issues are also established. As your claim relates to a motor finance agreement, you also have the right to raise a complaint directly with your lender. If you remain dissatisfied with the lender’s response, you may refer the complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service at www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk. 


Complaints Policy Complaints Policy 

We are committed to providing you with the highest standard of service. If at any stage you are dissatisfied, you should raise your concerns with the case handler responsible for your matter. If the issue cannot be resolved, the matter can be referred to our Complaints Manager who will carry out a formal review and provide you with a written response. If you remain dissatisfied following our final response, you may refer your complaint to the Legal Ombudsman. Their website is www.legalombudsman.org.uk, and they can be contacted on 0300 555 0333. We are committed to providing high quality legal advice and Client care. If you are unhappy about any aspect of the service you receive or about a bill, please contact info@hollins-woodsolicitors.com. If you are still unhappy then you can contact our complaints Director, Safwan Patel either by telephone on 00000 or by email at spatel@hollins-woodsolicitors.com or by post to our main office Address Address. We have a procedure in place which details how we handle complaints which is available on request. If you are still not satisfied with our handling of your complaint you can ask the legal ombudsman. Legal Ombudsman website: enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk, telephone 0300 555 0333), to consider the complaint. Normally you will need to bring a complaint to the legal ombudsman within six months of receiving a final written response from us about your complaint or within six years of the matter complained of or alternatively three years from the date when you should reasonably have known there was a cause for complaint. You may have a right to object to any bill you receive by making a complaint to the Legal Complaints Service or the Office of Legal Complaints and/or by applying to the court for an assessment of the bill under Part iii of The Solicitors Act 1974.


How We Manage Your Data

How We Manage Your Data We take the confidentiality and protection of your personal information very seriously. Your data will be collected, stored, and used strictly in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 Data Protection Act 2018. We will use your information only for the purposes of progressing your motor finance claim, which includes verifying your identity, carrying out anti-money laundering checks, contacting your lender, and communicating with regulators or the court if required. Your data is stored securely on encrypted systems. Access is restricted to authorised members of our legal team and, where necessary, approved third parties such as barristers, expert witnesses, or credit reference agencies. We will never share your information for marketing purposes without your explicit consent. We retain your data only for as long as is necessary to fulfil our legal and regulatory obligations. After that time, your information will be securely deleted or archived in line with our retention policy. You have the right to request a copy of the personal information we hold about you, to ask us to correct any errors, and in some circumstances to request that your data is erased. 


Storage of Papers and Documents

Storage of Papers and Documents After completing the work, we are entitled to keep all your papers and documents (stored electronically) while there is money owing to us for our charges and expenses. In addition, we will keep your file of papers in electronic format for not less than one year. After that time, storage is on the clear understanding that we have the right to destroy it after such period as we consider reasonable, or to make a charge for storage if we ask you to collect your papers and you fail to do so. Further, this is done on the understanding that we have the authority to destroy your paper file (except for any of your papers which you ask to be returned to you). We will not destroy any documents you ask us to deposit in safe custody. If we retrieve papers or documents (in whatever format) from storage in relation to continuing or new instructions to act in connection with your affairs, we will charge a minimum £50 plus VAT for such retrieval. We may also make a charge based on time spent producing stored papers or documents to you or another at your request. We may also charge for reading correspondence or other work necessary to comply with the instructions given by you or on your behalf. 


Termination

Termination You may terminate your instructions to us in writing at any time, but we will be entitled to keep all your papers and documents while there is money owing to us for our charges and expenses. If at any stage you do not wish for us to continue doing work and/or incurring charges and expenses on your behalf, you must tell us clearly in writing. If we decide to stop acting for you, for example; if you cannot give clear or proper instructions or if it is clear that you have lost confidence in how we are carrying out your work we may decide to stop acting for you. If this occurs, we will tell you the reason and give you notice in writing. Under the terms of the consumer contracts (information, cancellation and additional charges) regulations 2013, for some non commercial instructions, you may have the right to cancel our agreement to act on your behalf without charge. This will only apply where you have instructed us: Following a visit by us (or by someone acting on our behalf) to your home, workplace or other location, or At our office but following a meeting between us away from our offices. And further notice of your cancellation is given to us within 14 days on which you entered into the agreement. Notice of cancellation should be given by telephone, email or letter to the person named as being responsible for your work. If, however, we have started work with your consent within the 14 day period prior to receipt of the cancellation notice, you lose the right to cancel without charge, and you will be charged for the work carried out prior to receipt of that notice. Acceptance of these terms and conditions of business will amount to such consent.


Fees

Personal Injury – Costs Information

We usually handle personal injury claims under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), commonly known as a “No Win, No Fee” arrangement.


If You Do Not Win

  • You will not have to pay our basic legal fees for the work we have carried out on your case.

  • You may, however, be responsible for certain expenses or disbursements (such as medical reports or court fees) if you have chosen not to take out After The Event (ATE) insurance.

  • In most cases, if you lose and you have ATE insurance in place, the policy will cover these costs and your opponent’s legal costs.

If You Win

If your claim is successful, you will be responsible for:

  1. Our basic charges – these are normally recovered, in part or in full, from your opponent. You may be responsible for any shortfall.

  2. A success fee – this reflects the risk we take in not being paid if your case is lost, and the fact that we fund your case until it is resolved. The success fee will never be more than 25% of the compensation we recover for you, excluding compensation for future losses and recoverable state benefits.

  3. Expenses and disbursements – costs we have paid on your behalf (such as expert reports). In most cases, the majority of these will also be recovered from your opponent.

  4. ATE insurance premium – if you have chosen an ATE policy, the premium is only payable if you win your case. If you lose, you do not pay the premium.

After The Event (ATE) Insurance

We strongly recommend taking out ATE insurance when we begin your claim. This protects you against the risk of having to pay your opponent’s legal costs and your own expenses if your case is unsuccessful, or if you do not beat a formal settlement offer (Part 36 offer).

  • The premium is usually only payable if your claim is successful.

  • If your claim is unsuccessful, the insurer pays the costs covered under the policy and you do not pay the premium.

  • We can recommend a suitable ATE policy and provide you with full details at the outset of your claim.


Fees : Mis-sold motor finance 




How we calculate our basic charges 

These are calculated for each hour engaged on your matter. Routine letters and telephone calls will be charged as units of one tenth of an hour. Other letters and telephone calls will be charged on a time basis. The hourly rates inclusive of VAT are: 

− £282 per hour for a partner with over 8 years post qualified experience. 

− £227 per hour for a solicitor with over 4 years of post qualified experience. 

− £196 per hour for other Solicitors, Legal Executives and Litigation Executives with less than 4 years post qualified experience. 

− £139 per hour Trainee Solicitors, paralegals, and other fee earners.


Contact Us

If you have any questions about these Terms and Conditions, please contact us at:

Email: info@hollins-woodsolicitors.com
Telephone: [insert number]
Address: [insert address]