Our experience might not be good. We may already be dealing with a stressful situation, such as buying or selling a house, setting up a business, maybe getting divorced.

Emotions are running high and the professional might not deal with things as you'd like. You might not know what to do or where to turn.

When you first ask a professional to do something for you they'll probably want you to sign a contract and agree their fee for the work. The contract is very important. It should say what the professional will and will not do, how quickly they'll do it, and how much you'll pay for the work. It might also tell you what to do if things go wrong.

You should read the contract carefully and ask the professional to explain anything you don't understand. If you're unhappy with the professional's explanation, get a second opinion.

There are some other things you can do to help yourself. These might avoid a dispute in the first place, or improve your chances of getting some compensation if you decide to make a claim.

Put all instructions to a professional person in writing; an email will do. Whenever you speak to the professional, make a note of what was said or agreed. Try to sort out any problems straight away. Don't bury your head in the sand.

If something does go wrong and this costs you money, you may be able to get the money back. You should speak to the professional first and tell them why you're not happy with what they've done. If you can't sort things out between you, you should ask the professional if they have a complaints procedure and you should make a complaint.

Check your contract to see where you stand, but be aware that the written contract is not the only thing governing your relationship with a professional. They have other duties to you as well.

Some other terms, for example, about the quality of the work, can be implied in a contract and so they may not be written down. The professional must also act for you with the skill expected of a reasonable person in their profession, however inexperienced they might actually be.

Making a claim for compensation against a professional can be very complicated and you should always obtain advice from a solicitor first. Although it can cost a lot of money to take a professional to court, there are other ways of resolving disputes which can be much quicker and cheaper.

Contact our legal helpline and we'll be happy to discuss your problem and tell you how we can help.  In the meantime, please see our contract disputes page for more detail.

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All documents should be read and used in accordance with the terms and conditions. This document is for your general information only and is not a detailed statement of the law. It is provided to you free of charge and should not be used as a substitute for specific legal advice. If you require specific legal advice please contact our helpline on 03700 86 86 86.

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