Author: Daniel Grimwood

If I could give Perduco Law zero stars or a negative rating, I absolutely would. I strongly advise avoiding this firm at all costs, as they do not operate with the professionalism or competence one would expect from a reputable legal practice. Below, I outline my frustrating experience with their team, particularly focusing on their unprofessionalism and the difficulties I encountered when attempting to obtain a refund. Background: After a difficult separation from an individual who displayed narcissistic tendencies and was untruthful throughout the process, I received a Child Arrangement Order from her solicitor. I disagreed with the terms of the order and sought mediation, which she refused. This left me with no choice but to instruct my own legal representation. After conducting some research, I decided to hire Perduco Law. Unfortunately, this was a decision I quickly regretted. Here are the key issues I faced during the course of my engagement with them: 1. Frequent Changes in Representation: Over the course of my case, my file was handed over to four different solicitors. The handovers were rushed and incomplete, leading me to repeatedly remind them of important details, such as my children's dates of birth and other essential information. 2. Lack of Senior Representation: After expressing my dissatisfaction with the first DRA hearing, I was assured that I would be assigned a senior solicitor at no additional cost. However, this solicitor was soon no longer available, and my case was passed to another solicitor who did not meet the standard I had been promised. 3. Errors and Lack of Attention to Detail: 1 encountered numerous errors in my witness/position statements, and I had to review my entire case with the new solicitor to bring them up to speed. 4. Poor Communication and Delays: It became apparent that the solicitors handling my case were either unqualified or unable to manage it properly. I was often told that I would receive a call back or an email, but these promises were rarely fulfilled, leading to significant delays in communication. 5. Unexpected Issues with Barristers: After finally being assigned a solicitor who appeared to be more competent, I selected an expensive barrister due to the complexity of my case and paid Perduco Law directly to secure their services. However, just days before the hearing, I was informed that there had been a falling out with the barrister's chambers, and my chosen barrister was no longer available. This was a huge disappointment, and further investigation revealed concerning information about the nature of the dispute between Perduco Law and the chambers. 6. Last-Minute Barrister Change: I was given the option of a last-minute replacement barrister who, unfortunately, was far less experienced and significantly cheaper than the original barrister I had paid for. This meant I was entitled to a refund of £2,200. Refund Issues: The case was heard on 13th November 2024, and I was told by Perduco Law that once they received the invoice from the barrister, my refund would be processed. However, I had already received the invoice myself. I was then informed that the refund would be processed by 15th January 2025. Given the upcoming festive period, I requested an earlier processing date but received no response. Despite multiple emails and phone calls, I was unable to get any clear answers. As I was planning to go abroad on 3rd February 2025, I reiterated the importance of receiving my refund in a timely manner. Yet, 15th January passed without any action. Finally, I was able to contact someone in the accounts department, only after persistent follow-up. As a last resort, I filed a small claims case against Perduco Law, which finally prompted a response. I was met with an aggressive email from the managing director accusing me of harassment, despite my attempts to resolve the matter amicably. On 31st January 2025, I finally received my refund. Once the funds were deposited, I promptly closed the small claims case. Unprofessional Follow-Up: To my surprise, on 26th March 2025, I received an email from Perduco Law's accounts department asking why I had filed a county court claim despite having received the refund. The tone of the email felt somewhat threatening, and they demanded that I confirm I had discontinued the claim, stating that they might apply to strike it out and charge me for costs. I responded promptly, providing proof that I had settled and closed the case on 31st January 2025. I also requested confirmation of receipt of my response, but I received no further communication. Perduco Law, I encourge you to think very carefully on how you respond to this. I will within the law of GDPR share proof that I have. So an apology as this stage would be nice. Date of experience: 26 March 2025