J B Leitch Reviews 166

Terrible company , terrible customer service. Don’t hold correct information
You can have all the evidence in world however if they don’t want to know. They are ruthless . Stay away from this company like us you will regret it

Appalling firm who sends out aggressive demand notices to pay up in a short period of time or threatens to add more cost . Do not hire this firm. They start adding outrageous admin fees, legal fees, to make money from vulnerable people and do not allow you to speak to your service management company or landlord to deal with the matter. They make threats to give you CCJs if you don’t pay. They use bully boy tactics and I would avoid this firm on how they treat people . No compassion or care just want to make money from vulnerable peoples situations.Just look at how many negative reviews this company has received . They all can’t be wrong . I have proof in the letter they send to you making demands and threats to take you to court if you don’t up within 10 days and tell you how much they will charge you if you dispute the matter in court . Trying to scare you and making you pay up . They have been reported to SRA multiple times and any client wanting to hire this firm really need to ask do they want to be associated with a company like this who treat people in this manner . Look at there response . Everything I said about this company is correct and the letter from them will back this up .

Extremely Incompetent!
They are the solicitors of a poorly reviewed property management company. Just when I thought a company could not get worse, I am encountered with these leeches. No explanation to any of my points, they simply demand unjustified fees with threats.
Horrible company to have come across with.

Horrible and unprofessional company. Harassing and sending letters of debt collection, when my only request from the Management company involved was a call to understand what the increased prices were for. The management company First Port (stay away-- Check Trustpilot and also with Insolvency for complaints) passed my details to JB Leitch. JB Leitch were to explain in detail what and why I was being charged and after several emails, I finally got a call set up for today. Yet, the person did not show up and didn't email me to cancel. I emailed and heard nothing. A few hours later I called the office to be told she is not available. When I said I would complain, the person on the phone said she would be back and came back saying the person who was to call me was sick and someone else could call me back. Is this the only company in the UK who doesn't have access to their calendar and emails from home to let someone they have a call with know that the call is cancelled? No apology at all.
Really unprofessional and poor service.

Unhelpful and rude. So slow to deal with the simplest of requests - look elsewhere.

Terrible company. Weeks go by no reply even after chasing. I just wanted a fee quote too! Gave up after chasing six times. Avoid this joke of a firm

one of the worst firm i have had the displeasure of dealing with. they were rude on the phone, serve illegal paperwork that the SRA warned them against

Terrible experience trying to help my elderly parents get resolution to demands for unpaid ground rent, even though First Port have contacted them to confirm fees were paid on time. Just trying to extort money from elderly vulnerable people, shocking customer experience and a total lack of accountability to resolve issues, hiding behind nasty letters and processes that aren’t fit for purpose !

Absolute disgusting corrupt company working on behalf of First Port property to try and claim back extortionate late payments fees. Fight them all the way.

I am an overseas investor that bought a property in the UK three years ago. In December 2022, I suddenly received an post letter from this notorious JB Leitch whcih post on Oct 2022 and delay 2 month by shipping to HK, informing me of late penalties for ground rent. They said that post a lot of Letter to my UK property, but my tenant never received any post letter for me.

However, this is the first time for me to become aware of outstanding payments for ground rent. In international practices, I believe that late penalties would be a reasonable act if the property owner fails to make payments for ground rent after receiving a proper notice. All of my contracts specifically state my contact address outside of the UK (so that any notification will be properly received), but this law firm deliberately send mails of payment demands to the address of my UK property without even any substantial proof that such mails have been successfully delivered. Without any response from me, they deliberately sent a standard mail, not air post, to my actual address outside the UK, which have been like three months later than the date of immediate payment demands as specified in their mail. Such practice is disgusting, horrific, unprofessional, and perhaps racist as well.

After several email messages, they even alleged that the mails had been sent as first-class mail. My understanding is that a first-class mail will generate a reply slip or at least some sort of confirmation. When I looked up the first-class mailing system in the UK, it says that a sender can receive an online confirmation of delivery, which can be proof that the mail has been properly delivered. Again, this JB Leitch failed to provide such evidence and alleged that it has properly notify me. What kind of notification is that? Such claim won’t hold water in my country if we both go to court.

If anyone is interested in filing a class action, count me in. My email address ....

What an atrocious company to deal with and is certainly some conflicts of interest together with FirstPort. Inflated legal charges for doing absolutely nothing and most concerning, withholding client monies for weeks and weeks with no communication. Having asked for their complaints procedure its complete radio silence so have raised a case with the SRA. My advice is to avoid this company at all costs.

Considering that this is a solictor's firm and one would believe they would do everything legally, actually it's not and they themselves don't follow the code of conduct. This firm just act like a postman between the landlord and the managing agent. For being a postman service they want to charge me £ 640 for their admin fee which is pathetic and I have reported your firm to SRA. I have read the reviews below and heard you already had few warnings from SRA and yet you continue to threaten people to pay your charges. Point to be noted that your firm has 96% one star review and not a single 4 or 5 star review. It says everything about your firm.

Worst firm of 'solicitors' I have dealt with. Rude, aggressive, threatening tactics and only interested in chasing money with no regard for the situation. They actually started forfeiture proceedings to bring the lease to an end for an estate in which the owner died and ground rent was due (minimal) but as the estate had no money the executor had to pay it who also had very little money. They add their 'admin fees' for sending rude chaser template emails and that's it. Disgusting firm and I am disappointed with other companies that instruct them to chase debts on their behalf.

An inhumane practice. We received communications from them only at the point when time was not on our side (2 months later than they should have got in touch) knowing too well that we didn't have the time to challenge further. Threatening, lazy and disinterested, their staff are just overpaid email pushers. Sadly, whilst they still find clients with the same mindset, their attitude will also not change. Looking forwards to their templated response, as they are too disrespectful and caring to even respond to specific feedback being given. One you won't find on the Lawyer Int Legal 100 list for sure!

Had to deal with this company about 5 years ago over a bank error causing late payment over a 50 pound ground rent these low level legal criminals somehow managed to turn a ground rent into 400 pound in their fees.after some arguing as I was in a far from pleasant mood putting it extremely mildly having to deal with low rent solicitors when sat in a bloody airport departure lounge over a phone about go on holiday(when supposed to relaxing) and spend first 4 days of holiday exchanging angry emails with these (people use term loosely). finally agreed to drop the fees and just pay the ground rent a great start to a 14 day holiday .I would not choose to deal with this company by choice or pier Manegment acting on behalf of water glen .note if company does read this nothing you can say will convince me to leave you a nice review.

Leitch by name, Leach by nature

For everyone who has had a bad experience at the hands of this dreadful Firm you should always raise an official complaint with them about breaching the SRA Code of Conduct. You should ask for a copy of their internal complaints procedure. Once the internal complaints procedure has ended you should report them to the SRA directly

If you have complained to them about breaching the SRA Code of Conduct and you are not satisfied with their response, you can report them to the SRA directly

Solicitors must follow the code of conduct. Examples of a breach include:

dishonesty

fraud

discrimination

wwwdotsradotorgdotuk/consumers/problems/report-solicitor

The more people who complain then the more likely it is the SRA will commence formal disciplinary proceedings as they are clearly on their final warning.

Unless and until the SRA do this then J B Leitch will never change their ways.

I am a leaseholder. JB Leitch dug a hole for me to fall into. For the late paid £600 service charge, JB Leitch wanted me to pay £6,000 for their ‘work’ and kept sending me threatening letters.

In a County Court, the Judge dismissed the case and made no order as to costs.

I reported JB Leitch to The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and The SRA gave a warning to JB Leitch should the conduct or behaviour be repeated, more serious action is likely to be taken.

From reading your reviews below, I can see that their behaviour has not changed and I HOPE THAT YOU ALSO REPORT JB LEITCH TO THE SRA.

Disgusting company who prey on people, demanding payment
I dread to think how people feel if you can’t genuinely afford to pay their demands
They send aggressive letters demanding payment
However they were sending service charge demands to a rented flat, and then charge a £300 administration charge on top
Basically just money grabbers with no moral compass

Very bad experience with this company., especially Zoe Martin-McGrath..lost over 800GBP and a buyer of the property.
Amendments which they made to the deed were incorrect as stated by the property management company and when asked to re-amend it no replay what so ever. Tried calling, refuses to talk.
Would not recommend to know one. If you need solicitors service, think twice before choosing one.