David Kirwan is right that certain clients head to the Legal Ombudsman the moment a final bill is received. I agree that complainants should face financial consequences if they persist in pursuing unmeritorious claims.

In particular, complainants who do not receive a favourable recommendation report from the ombudsman, tend to proceed to the next stage of a formal ombudsman decision simply because they have nothing to lose. It would be much better if the party who unsuccessfully challenges a recommendation report pays a fee for the privilege of doing so.

David Harrington, Simpson Millar, Leeds

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