Law Weblog

Claims firm shut down by regulators

Saturday 13 March 2010 at 7:28 am | In News | Post Comment The Solicitors’ Regulation Authority (SRA) has closed down the Manchester office of Consumer Credit Litigation Solicitors (CCLS) which advised the claims firm Cartel Client Review, because of “suspected dishonesty”.

CCLS worked almost exclusively for Cartel Client Review. CCLS which was run by just one solicitor, Richard Burley.
Until mid-February the legal firm had had about 100 staff but most had walked out after being left unpaid.

The regulator said the law firm had “tens of thousands” of customers files, “which just seem to have been put in boxes”. Another firm has been appointed to take over the files. Customers of CCLS would receive letters asking them what they wanted to do with their files.

Cartel Client Review specialises in trying to challenge the enforceability of debts, such as credit cards and personal loans, as well as claiming for the refund of mis-sold financial policies such as payment protection insurance. Customers are asked to pay a fee of £495 which will be refunded if their claim is not successful.

Cartel Client Review is the subject of a separate Ministry of Justice investigation.