The following information about our services for mentally capable adults is applicable to most cases where an adult has suffered any form of personal injury but their affairs are not overseen by the Court of Protection.
Typically this applies to people who have suffered physical harm as a result of negligence, accidents at work, criminal injuries or road traffic incidents.
Wrigleys are completely transparent and realistic about the what we charge for and how are fees are calculated.
You want to retain control of costs, know where you are in terms of budgeting and obtain good value for money. We want to be able to provide you with the highest possible level of service at a realistic price. Where practical we will agree a fixed fee for specific services. In other cases we will work at an hourly rate agreed in advance. There are no hidden commissions or referral fees.
Keeping costs down is always a joint responsibility with both the trustees and the trust administrators involved. We keep our costs down by:
Only employing the very best quality staff.
Making sure our staff are properly trained and well organised.
Ensuring that matters are always dealt with promptly and efficiently.
Making sure that work is carried out by staff at the appropriate level of experience. You need to be aware that work is often delegated internally within the Trust Administration Unit to this end.
Making sure that any relevant tax deadlines are met.
Having centralised and convenient technical systems and other support available.
Securing suitable levels of staffing.
Because:
The trustees may need to meet and/or correspond more regularly because important strategic decisions (for example about investment) need to be taken.
Investment arrangements need to be put in place. This often generates work in itself.
More payments than will be usual may need to be made. Debts may need paying off, care plans put in place and so on.
Things such as accounts will need to be addressed for the first time. In subsequent years the first years accounts will usually provide the format for the future so it is important to get things in place properly at the outset with a view to saving time in future years.
Broadly speaking it is a time where there is a greater need for regular communication of one sort or another as matters are getting 'bedded in'.
All this means is that the costs associated with the first year will usually be higher than in the second or succeeding years. It is something that does not help us estimate properly. That is of no help to trustees and therefore we believe a time-cost ceiling approach is often the solution.
The whole point about our way of dealing with charges so clearly is to avoid difficulties. But if you are concerned your first step should be to speak to the Head of Trust Administration, Lisa Eato or to David Coldrick as head of the whole Compensation Protection Service.
Subject to that Paul Nash is the Managing Partner in overall charge of quality of service issues at Wrigleys.