Don't Accept 'Cold-Call' Instructions, Warns SRA
By John Hyde » The Solicitors Regulation Authority has urged anyone with suspicions that firms are getting work through cold calling to report them. The reminder followed a claim by Susan Brown, chair of the Motor Accident Solicitors Society (MASS), that some personal injury firms were 'clearly' receiving leads through unsolicited calls and texts. The SRA last week reminded practitioners that rules are already in place to stop this form of marketing. Robert Loughlin, SRA executive director for operations and quality, said the code of conduct makes it clear that solicitors should not accept any instructions from clients engaged through cold calling. 'MASS says that some solicitors are clearly accepting "cold-call" instructions,' he said. 'If anyone can provide us with concrete evidence that this has happened, then we would urge them to get in touch so we can take the appropriate action.' The SRA outcomes make clear that non-compliant behaviour includes allowing 'any other person to conduct publicity for your firm or in-house practice' in a way that would breach the principles. Banned contacts include approaches to people in the street, in hospital or at the scene of an accident. O Fixed costs should apply to an RTA claim even if it has left the protocol and proceeded on the multi-track, a court has ruled. In Qadar & Ors v Esure Services Limited, His Honour Judge David Grant rejected three appeals from claimants and asserted that fixed costs should apply.