NATS ministers have been urged to take swift action over a bust law firm.
They were told vulnerable clients of McClure Solicitors need support and info to deal with the implications of the scandal.
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Sam Ghibaldan, chief exec of Consumer Scotland, raised the concerns in a letter to Siobhian Brown, minister for Victims and Community Safety.
He said: “It is important they are made aware, so that they can understand their situation and consider whether further action is required.”
We told of fears the fall-out from the Greenock-based firm’s collapse could be the next Post Office scandal — amid warnings some customers will not live to see justice.
QUERIES FOR GOVERNMENT
CONSUMER Scotland has asked the Scottish Government to confirm the following:
WHAT further steps might be taken to alert clients to the closure of McClure Solicitors?
WILL existing sources of support be sufficient or should extra dedica-ted help be provided?
WHAT measures have been, or can be, put in place to signpost consumers to sources of advice and support?
ARE other options available to support consumers who aren’t able to meet further upfront legal costs?
Campaign group Victims of McClure Solicitors accuse authorities of failing to take seriously a raft of complaints about the company’s handling of up to 100,000 family protection trusts.
Members said they faced hurdles and unexpected fees over loved ones’ properties controlled by trustees appointed by McClure.
Labour MSP Michael Marra previously raised the matter in parliament with Ms Brown.
He said: “A number of my constituents in the north east are facing an expensive and complex legal process to end the trust, and it would appear clients were targeted and sold services they didn’t need.
“The fear of care costs in the future was used to justify significant legal and financial decisions that are costing my constituents dearly.”
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The company’s ex-MD Andrew J Robertson previously said: “We dispute that clients were misled.”
