When you pay for a professional service such as veterinary care or architectural design, there’s often a lot at stake. And if you don’t get the outcome you expected, you could be left with an unfinished job and extra costs to cover. Maybe a survey missed a big problem with a house you were buying, or an accountant gave you wrong financial advice. But if you don’t have any expertise yourself, challenging the work of a professional can seem like an uphill struggle.
Nobody gets it right all the time, and busy, hard-working people acting in good faith sometimes slip up. That’s why most professionals should have insurance policies to cover them for the cost of putting right any mistakes. The first step is often to write them a straightforward letter about why you’re unhappy and what you’d like done about it. If you’re not satisfied with the reply, it might be time to think about getting legal advice.
If you’re not sure how to go about challenging a professional service provider, Which? is here for you. A one-to-one conversation with one of our legal experts will help you understand the steps you should take to try to get the matter resolved – either directly with the professional concerned or through a formal process. We’ll explain your rights, and how to prove breach of contract or negligence by the professional.