Hundreds of homeowners facing crippling legal bills after the collapse of SSB Law have urged the government to intervene urgently. Clients were assured their cases were taken on a no-win, no-fee basis but have been hit with bills of up to £50,000.
Antony Higginbotham, MP for Burnley, raised the issue in Parliament after a BBC investigation exposed the matter. Commons leader Penny Mordaunt said she would write to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to seek assistance.
More than 1,400 people could be affected after Sheffield-based SSB Law went into administration. Many have told the BBC they 'cannot sleep' due to the bills and are frightened to answer their doors in case of bailiffs.
Diane Longworth, 63, from Burnley, received a bill for £7,184.35, leaving her feeling 'scared'. She used all her life savings to pay it. Taxi driver Jamil Zafar, 49, from Halifax, owes more than £18,900 and said bailiffs turned up at his home twice while his son was present.
Qurrah Ahmed, from Leigh, set up a support group after her 70-year-old father was told he owed £13,000. She said one woman was hospitalised due to the impact on her mental health.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) said it was investigating, but clients continue to face an uncertain future over the debt.
