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Advocate retaining full advance fee despite no substantive legal work


26-May-2026 (In Recovery Law)
I paid 2k consultation fee and later 20k advance for drafting a legal notice after accepting a non-refundable clause in advocate’s T&C. However, before I shared any case details or drafting began, my dispute got resolved and I cancelled the notice process. Adv has not started any work apart from sending template email. I requested partial refund after deducting reasonable charges, but advocate refused and retained full 20k. Is my partial refund ask reasonable? Where can I submit complaint?
Answers (2)

Answer #1
738 votes
Your partial refund request appears reasonable if no substantial drafting work was done. You may first send a legal notice, then approach the State Bar Council or Consumer Commission for deficiency in service/refund relief.
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Advocate Pankaj Bajaj

Adv. Pankaj Bajaj

LawRato Mumbai | 1000+ Answers
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Answer #2
604 votes
you can complaint in the bar council of Maharashtra and Goa if he is from Maharashtra or Goa along with a complaint in bar council of India which will be most effective in your case also you can give him a legal notice for return of your money taken and file a criminal complaint for an FIR against the advocate in your nearest police station
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Advocate Moksh Jain

Adv. Moksh Jain

LawRatoMumbai | 100+ Answers
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