Rhys
£492 for a meeting that lasted seconds
I instructed Glanvilles Anderson Rowntree in September 2024 for advice on a private school contract dispute. I emailed them the full contract asking if there was any way to stop being chased for the final bill or get out of the obligation. They invited me to a meeting on 12 September 2024. The meeting lasted only seconds. I was told immediately that nothing could be done. The answer was clear from the documents I had already sent. They could have given that same advice by email or phone after reviewing the paperwork. Instead they charged £492 (legal fees, VAT and a small ID search fee) for the short meeting and related work. The invoice was paid in full from money I had provided on account and the file was closed. I had an identical situation with another firm, Bennett Griffin in Chichester. They reviewed the contract over email, told me straight there was no point in a meeting, and charged nothing for that initial assessment. That is how it should be handled. Glanvilles turned a clear “no” into a billed appointment. The service was inefficient and expensive for what was delivered.
