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Unfortunately the "unscrupulous firms" will always have another trick up their sleeves.

I came across a firm recently who acted as Attorneys on an LPA PF, the mentally incapacitated client have no close family members to manage their financial affairs. This is how a typical time sheet read (all units charged at £24.50 + VAT) with my comments alongside:
Letter In: 1 Unit//typically a flyer from a Shareholding inviting to AGM
Letter Out:1 Unit//memo to Attorney 1 do you want to attend AGM?
Letter Out:1 Unit//memo to Attorney 2 do you want to attend AGM?
Perusal: 2 Units//Attorney 1 considering invitation to AGM
Letter Out: 1 Unit//reply to fee earner "No I don't wish to attend"
Perusal: 2 Units//Attorney 2 considering invitation to AGM
Letter Out: 1 Unit//reply to fee earner "No I don't wish to attend"
Letter In: 2 Units//fee earners recording of receipt of above memos

.. and so and so forth, over £250 +VAT wasted on the above example of what a firm will do with some junk mail.

All of the work on the file was similar. Very little value being added an no annual report being required by the OPG as it was just on an LPA.

I called the OPG to ask about the ethics of the above and they suggested that whilst it was all within the rules I could write in with particulars if I wanted them to review it.

What's the point I asked myself. After several years of locuming for similar firms I'd just be labelled and then never work again in this profession, sorry business, as the SRA/LS call it. (hence Anon post....but I did keep a copy of the time print out for my own records).

I'd also make them publish the average, median, high and low prices for their work, particularly administrative, such as Probate, Deputyships, etc.

For Clin negligence I'd make them publish costs incurred v. damages awarded. Same for the Defendant firms, whom in my experience, are the worse culprits for 'bashing the NASH' i.i. overcharging the NHS.

I don't think there is a day that goes by that I don't regret getting mixed up in this profession, sorry business...I keep doing that. Sorry again.