How to recover money from bust company?

[apricot]

Hi,

A company called LawBite created a platform where you can sign up for a monthly or yearly subscription to get help with legal matters. I signed up for a yearly subscription, and two things happened:

1. The lawyer I consulted charged for a few hours of work, but I later discovered that he didn’t actually need to do anything since it was a matter that couldn’t be pursued. All he needed to say was that the case couldn’t be challenged.
2. Even after paying for his services, there was still a balance left in my account. However, LawBite has since gone bust, and no one is responding to emails.

I was wondering if anyone knows what I can do to at least recover the remaining balance.
Thank you in advance

 

[Mark T Jones]

You need to contact the administrators, William Batty of Antony Batty & Co LLP

LAWBIT LIMITED insolvency - Find and update company information - GOV.UK

LAWBIT LIMITED - Free company information from Companies House including registered office address, filing history, accounts, annual return, officers, charges, business activity

find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk

Don't hold your breath for any meaningful recovery.

 

[WaveJumper]

Maybe also check that you not got any "free" legal cover under the many insurance policies we all seem to have these days

 

[Lisa Thomas]

Lodge your claim as a creditor in the insolvency procedure. Please note however that your claim will rank as an unsecured creditor.

The costs, preferential, and secured creditors get paid in priority to unsecured creditors. Unsecured creditors then share anything that's left between them, which means it's highly likely you have lost you money, I'm afraid.

 

[fisicx]

Not so sure it was a good idea to sign up in the first place:

LawBite is rated "Poor" with 2.3 / 5 on Trustpilot

Do you agree with LawBite's TrustScore? Voice your opinion today and hear what 46 customers have already said.

uk.trustpilot.com

Agree with the others, you are very unlikely to get your money back.

 

[apricot]

Thanks Lisa.. My first journey on this .. How do I know if I am a secured or unsecured creditor?

 

[apricot]

Great! Thank you for sending that; at least I can leave negative feedback!

 

[Mark T Jones]

Great! Thank you for sending that; at least I can leave negative feedback!

Given that they're in administration I really wouldn't waste your time

It's a relatively inexpensive way to learn a key business lesson

Do your research.

Read reviews
Look for website red flags
Know the legal entity you are dealing with

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

You wont

Never in all my trouble and strife have we ever seen any money back from a defunct customer

 

[ChrisCallaghan]

Thanks Lisa.. My first journey on this .. How do I know if I am a secured or unsecured creditor?

Hi @apricot ,

Unless you've taken a form of legal charge or debenture against the company, which I assume you haven't, then you would be classed as an unsecured creditor. As @Lisa Thomas and @Mark T Jones have indicated, it's often unlikely that any return is made to unsecured creditors in cases like this.

Maybe also check that you not got any "free" legal cover under the many insurance policies we all seem to have these days

@WaveJumper 's suggestion is worth looking into.

 

[Lisa Thomas]

Thanks Chris!

 

[ChrisCallaghan]

Thanks Chris!

Hi Lisa,

I've been so busy settling into my new role that it's taken me longer than planned to get back to UKBF. Good to be back!

 

[Lisa Thomas]

Congrats on the move. I moved almost 2 years ago and it's flown by!