Is THISwhat you mean? The company looks reputable to me, and has a good track record of winning.

If they put in writing no win - no fee, I'm sure it will be.

Peter

Mr hbrac deals with Pannone for work. They are very big and very reputable. How did they come to contact you though ?

My mum has used Pannone & Partners and as I remember they were very good (if expensive). If they are offering you no win no fee then what do you have to lose?

Louby

Hi,

Pannone have contacted many people who's holiday was ruined by the illness that was rife in Turkey throughout Aug and Sept.

They contacted us pretty much as soon as we returned from our holiday and have told us that they have over 1000 cases now
against First Choice regarding the Turkey Holiday Village and that we have a strong case.

What worries me is that it states in black and white all the costs we could end up having to pay but when i rang Pannone they ensure me that nothing will come of it and we wont have to pay a penny, but when it states different im a bit concerned and dont know what to do for the best as i cant afford to pay out anymore money.

Also why did they need to have my N.I. number ?

Im so confused, this is all so new to me

I would have a word with Ros's office -

The direct number to Ros's PA Pam is 01922 705134

Or try the switchboard number 01922 633214 and ask for Travel Dept.

There's bound to be a rational reason, and Ros herself works on a no win - no fee basis. Could be some sort of ID check.

Please let us know the result.

Peter

Hello i myself have a claim going on and yes they do ask for your NI number so i wouldnt be so worried about it all it means is if you get a big pay out and are on social benifets there can stop your money as you are only allowed so much in the bank.
But i wouldnt worry i think you are allowed £6000 in bank before benifets can be touched im not sure though just a friend told me about it.

im going through a claim with ros at the moment and i havent been asked for my N.I number although i had to send a copy of my photo driving licence, they do need proof of your id . ive been contacted by someone on trip advisor that is going though a holiday claim with pannone at the moment but with the same hotel as we had problems with, this isnt first choice's holiday village, but she seems happy with pannone so far

I would think asking advice of one solicitor about another would be a conflict of interests. I certainly would feel a bit miffed if I were Ros.

Hi,

Well i telephoned Pannone today to ask them to hold back on my claim, we are getting all the paperwork checked out
by another family members solicitor before we make a decision.

I know we may be just being over cautious but i would rather no no now then when its to late.

I did also ask if we could have it in writing that we will under no circumstances receive any kind of bill whether
we win, lose or draw, but they said that they couldnt provide that ?

I do think Pannone seem a reputable company but like i said i have never had to do any of this before.

I would think asking advice of one solicitor about another would be a conflict of interests. I certainly would feel a bit miffed if I were Ros.

Not a conflict of interest unless Ros is representing First Choice, which is very unlikely. It's just the same as getting a second opinion from a medical consultant.

Best not to second guess what Ros might think.

This case comes down to this. Either have some trust in what appears to be a very reputable legal firm and join the class action, or don't and lose out on £thousands if they win.

"Who Dare Wins", as the SAS say.

Peter

I think Sam is right to be cautious, and to find out exactly what the score is.
After all.....who'd have thought the very reputable banks in a certain cold country would fail to do what they promised?

seems strange that they offer "no win, no fee" but refuse to put it on paper.
I have heard of cases where the "no win , no fee" was enabled by you taking out an insurance to cover costs if you lost. If you won the premium was added to the damages but if you lost you had to pay the premium.
I doubt that a reputable co. would be doing this though.

The only other thing I would query is if they take a cut of your compensation or claim their expenses from First choice.

Hi,

I have enquired and Pannone say they claim there costs from First Choice they also say the reason they are unable to put anything in writing assuring us of no bills is because there are a few reasons we would get billed mainly to do with not co-operating with all there requests ie paperwork and medicals etc.

If i was to go on the politeness of the Pannone team, i would sign without a doubt as they have all the sales spill and are very polite and seem helpful but then they are after our party of 28 signing up with them for business so obviously they would be nice.

I just sont wont to encourage 28 of our party to sign because i feel everythings fine and then it all turns sour.

Decisions, decisions !!!!!!!!!!!

I have looked at this Company web site and I think the are experienced in this type of work. They obviously have a large group of clients already claiming against FC and this Hotel. You could deal with this yourself but due to illness you are barred from claiming through the SCC (I think) Correct me if I am wrong and again there is a limit on the level of compensation.
Were I you I would tend to go with them as there is power in numbers. There is absolute evidence that this hotel had problems so little to argue over. It may well be that FC would simply settle out of court.
I can understand your reluctance to get others to follow your advice but you can give them the information and let them make their own decision.

Sue

from the information provided i do not think that you are being taken on as clients on a "no win no fee" basis.
it looks as if this is a specialised travel lawyer who is making the claim for many people and do not expect to lose. that is why they will recover their fees from First Choice. that is also why there is a bit in the contract that "if" it all goes wrong in court them Pannone can get all their costs back from their clients.
in a nutshell they are saying that you all have a great case that should not fail and they will get their fees from FC when they win, but................................

You could always ask them for a letter of engagement and ask them to enclose with that letter their terms and conditions. I am a legal secretary to a firm of advocates on the IOM and we send this out to all new clients and once the prospective client has read it and is happy with the terms signs a copy of the letter and returns it. This letter should explain everything and whilst I cannot speak for other firms I thought it was more or less standard practice to send one of these letters out to prospective clients. We deal with Pannones quite alot and they are a large and reputable firm.

Manxpolly

I think it very unlikely this is a con. The problems at the holiday village are well documented.

All 'no win no fee' firms take their fees from the companys they successsfully claim from they don't actually work for nothing. I don't suppose Pannone are any different in that respect.

You probably have a better chance of success if you go for a class action and I would imagine Pannone are more or less certain they will win and that it why they are courting people's business.

I also agree that it is a bit of a cheek to ring up Ros to ask her if Pannone are a reputable company and it is not something I would do. I think if you make a call to Ros it should be with a view to giving her company your buisness. But that's just me I guess.

Re the other members of your party. You are talking about a lot of people and I think some of the onus should be on them if they wish to take this forward. They have as much to gain from this as you possibly more. I think you should get them to read this thread and take some kind of vote or poll on it.

Very unfair if you have to make the decision yourself, as if it's a success OK but if not well you know what people are like. Even if it's a success you may have some saying oh but 'we should have gone with blah blah they would have got us more'.

I don't envy you your position, if you were the lead booker. Good Luck whatever you decide.

All 'no win no fee' firms take their fees from the companys they successsfully claim from they don't actually work for nothing. I don't suppose Pannone are any different in that respect

But some ask you to take out an insurance in the event that you lose your claim.

Hi I just wanted to put your mind at ease and if I dont answer all your queries or I miss anything feel free to post again! I am a personal injury lawyer.

It makes sense for one firm of solicitors to get as many people on board as possible and do a class action against First Choice. No win no fee is not a problem. You would enter into an agreement with your solicitors (at no cost to you) and First Choice' insurers, if you are successful, would pay all of the solicitors costs. If you are not successful you will have already taken out insurance (your solicitors will deal with this for you) which would pay your solicitors all their legal costs. If there is a charge for the insurance then see if you have what is called legal expense insurance which is sometimes given free on credit cards, car insurance, breakdown cover and they will then insure you should you lose without you paying anything as you already have the cover. Most solicitors have insurers who also do the insurance on a no win no fee basis so it will not cost you anything. The only reason you may have to pay any costs is if you disagreed with say an offer of settlement for example they recommend that you accept an offer and you refuse.

A cut of your compensation cannot occur. It is illegal in this Country.

Pannone Solicitors are a very reputable firm. If you went with them, by law they would send you a letter setting out all their terms and conditions so you would know where you are. I do not think it is worthwhile you then taking these to another set of solicitors to be checked - as you are just throwing your money away. They are not refusing to put anything on paper it will all be explained in their terms and condition letter called a rule 15 letter.

They need your driving licence for identification purposes and rules on money laundering. They will also need your NI no. so that your claim can be lodged with the Compensation Recovery Unit as some people may have been off work and had incapacity benefit. If this is the case then it would have to be repaid from any monies received regarding a loss of earnings claim. Dont worry First Choice' Insurers would pay it direct.

I think I have covered everything but any other questions feel free to ask.

Redcrop x