Essentials of the Service
Objective
The essence of the service is to provide you with as powerful and well formulated a case as possible, so as to obtain compensation for financial losses caused by mismanagement of your funds. Mismanagement includes breach of contract, misrepresentation, professional negligence and similar causes.
Broadly defined, if you have incurred a loss, because the company or person promised one thing and delivered something else, or advised you badly and inappropriately, you have a case for claiming compensation.
Field Covered
I focus primarily on investment companies, portfolio and fund management, stock broking and ‘packaged’ investment products such and mutual funds. However, I may be able to assist with other financial complaints such as insurance.
My Qualifications, Specific Skills and Experience
I have a high level of expertise in finance, investment and fund management and a sound understanding of the relevant laws. I am also well versed in the activities, precedents and operations of the financial claims. Furthermore, I have worked extensively as a financial journalist and many of the articles are related directly to this kind of work on mismanagement and damages.
The combination of skills that I have developed (financial, legal and managerial expertise, combined with writing/editing skills at the highest level), is different to those of most financial experts, accountants or lawyers, so that I can offer a service that they cannot. If appropriate, my work can therefore supplement and compliment theirs, although in many cases, no input from other professionals is necessary.
Specialist Techniques for handling complaints:
Financial and investment companies are notorious for their attempts to fob off legitimate complaints with often quite sophisticated obfuscation, distortion, half-truths, false logic, contradictions, delaying tactics and so on. Indeed, this is frequently the real task of their Compliance Departments. I am familiar with these ploys and tricks, and have developed a number of techniques for circumventing them and obtaining satisfaction.
I am happy to explain further and provide you with samples of my work.
My Service – The Process
Once you have explained your problem to me by phone, email or letter, I will let you know how I can assist. You will then need to send me copies of the relevant documents. I will formulate in writing, a claim document for presentation to the firm or person in question, the Financial Ombudsman Service, mediator or lawyer. Furthermore, I will follow the case through to a successful conclusion.
I will also generally provide supporting documentation and evidence to strengthen the case. For example, if the investment company has allocated your assets incorrectly, I will provide substantial evidence to demonstrate what would have been appropriate for you.
The services normally works through correspondence by ordinary mail, email and phone calls, but where necessary (especially for larger claims), personal meetings and representation are possible.
Cost
The initial consultation over the phone or initial emailing is free. My charge out rate is £100.00 per hour. Conditional fee arrangements are also possible, with a combination of significantly lower hourly rate and success-based charge (negotiable, but generally £50-60 per hour and 10% of any award). There is a charge for long or frequent phone calls or emailing, but not short or routine ones.
It is difficult to know in advance, exactly how much time a job will take, but I will give you an estimate and a maximum which I will not exceed without your permission.
Probability Of Success
Final decisions are, of course, made by third parties – the firm, ombudsman, mediator or court. However, I can estimate the strength of the case and assess the odds of success objectively and realistically. Furthermore, I can also guarantee you as powerful and well presented an argument as possible in your particular case.