Solicitors refusing to refund the fee

[Training_Day]

Hi, we were recently refused ILR by UKBA, the case was handled by solicitors on "no win no fee basis". But now they refuse to refund the fee, as "we've done our job" and "refusal was not due to our mistake". The whole case was hanging on officer discretion due to a number of absences abroad (business trips) and actually those solicitors convinced us to apply because we were hesitating. Along the way they also milked us for a number of things which we've already accepted as sunken costs (the amount is almost equal to the fee itself), but at least we want to return what was agreed to be returned. Anyone with the same experience? Could you recommend how we can handle this?

[wiggsy]

do you have the no win no fee agreement in writing? if not it doesnt look good.

I thought such financing was dealt with by escrow or simular? meaning no party held the money to avoid such experiences... and an external person handled deciding who the money got sent to when it was completed...

[wiggsy]

also, application fees to ukba would still be payable regardless...

no win no fee means you dont pay the solicitor costs, but any application fees need paying...