I work for a small high street firm that does not subscribe to the increasing habit of paying referral fees to estate agents.

Consequently, our fees are lower than those that do, but this is being increasingly hidden from the public by firms that give quotes and a separate list of 'disbursements', which wrongly includes a substantial sum for completing the stamp duty land tax form (often in excess of £80 plus VAT), and excessive fees for bank transfers and so on.


As one of my clients said, I can understand the fees being different from firm to firm, but how come the disbursements differ? When, if ever, is the Law Society going to crack down on this one?


Joanna Addison, Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes