Their refusal to engage further, despite your clear dispute and legitimate requests for information, is sufficient grounds to escalate directly to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) without waiting for another response.
Key Grounds for an SRA Complaint Against Moorside Legal
1. Failure to Comply with the Pre-Action Protocol (PAP) for Debt Claims
• The PAP requires them to provide full details of the claim and respond substantively to any disputes raised.
• Directing you to a website instead of engaging meaningfully is a clear breach of this obligation.
2. Unreasonable Refusal to Communicate in Writing
• Stating that they are “unable to respond directly and in writing” is misleading, as there is no legal basis for refusing to engage properly with a disputed claim.
• This conduct obstructs the fair resolution of disputes and could be seen as an attempt to pressure defendants into paying without due process.
3. Potentially Misleading and Intimidatory Conduct
• Their letter suggests that they will not engage in further discussion once a decision has been made, which misrepresents the legal process.
• Such conduct is contrary to the SRA Principles, particularly Principle 1 (upholding the rule of law and the proper administration of justice) and Principle 2 (acting with integrity).
4. Failure to Act in a Way That Maintains Public Trust in the Legal Profession
• The SRA Code of Conduct (for firms and individuals) requires solicitors to engage fairly and ensure that their conduct does not diminish public trust in the legal profession.
• A blanket refusal to correspond on a disputed matter, especially when pre-litigation obligations exist, is inappropriate and could be seen as an attempt to frustrate fair dispute resolution.
You can submit the complaint online via the SRA website:
https://www.sra.org.uk/consumers/problems/report-solicitorAttach supporting documents:
1. Your original Letter of Claim response.
2. Moorside Legal’s dismissive reply.
3. A brief statement outlining how their response breaches the SRA’s conduct rules and the Pre-Action Protocol.
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