The first Legal Ombudsman report published in July 2011 reveals thousands of people may be receiving sub-standard services from unregulated companies offering consumer financial products.
Chief Ombudsman for England and Wales Adam Sampson has called on the Government to take action to ensure consumers are not left vulnerable by unregulated services, after revealing most of the complaints he saw concerned conveyancing, family law and the writing of wills.
Sampson said: "One service which crops up a lot is will writing. It is a service carried out often by will writing firms who aren't regulated. Because of this, customers are left with little means of redress when things go wrong."
This week The One Show also called for will writing to be regulated to protect the public. A recent survey showed that 67% of consumers wrongly believe that all will writers are solicitors and 82% of the 1,000 people polled thoughts that training and qualifications are required before someone can become a will writer. In fact anyone can write a will for payment.
Partner at Hugh James solicitors, Matthew Evans, said "The report highlights the importance of getting regulated, professional legal advice for services like preparing a will. At Hugh James we give advice to thousands of individuals each year on making their will to ensure their wishes are carried out and issues such as care of family members and distribution of estate can be handled quickly and efficiently."
Des Hudson, chief executive of the Law Society for England and Wales, said the gap in regulation was damaging to solicitors, who faced competition from unregulated firms.
"It is also damaging to consumers because the unregulated providers are not insured, do not provide a compensation fund and are not covered by the legal ombudsman's scheme for consumer redress."
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