Deputyship fees refund scheme
A scheme has launched to refund those who may have paid more than they should for some deputyship fees. If you, or someone you are acting for, was a client of the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) and paid fees relating to a deputyship between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2015, then you could be due a refund. The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) sets OPG’s deputyship fees. An MOJ review found that fees did not always match how much it cost for OPG to supervise deputyships between April 2008 and March 2015.
We’ve improved how we support and supervise deputyships and we continue to review our fees. Since 1 April 2015, clients have not been overcharged. MoJ has now set up a refund scheme for those who were charged fees that were higher than necessary, to obtain a refund. The scheme will be run by OPG and does not apply to any fees paid to OPG Scotland, the Office of Care and Protection in Northern Ireland or the Court of Protection.
Existing client Current deputies with existing eligible clients will be contacted by OPG and their clients will be automatically refunded. They need take no further action at this stage.
Former clients If the client’s case has now closed and the deputyship ended, then an application will need to be made as we can’t automatically refund these eligible cases.
We’ve improved how we support and supervise deputyships and we continue to review our fees. Since 1 April 2015, clients have not been overcharged. MoJ has now set up a refund scheme for those who were charged fees that were higher than necessary, to obtain a refund. The scheme will be run by OPG and does not apply to any fees paid to OPG Scotland, the Office of Care and Protection in Northern Ireland or the Court of Protection.
Existing client Current deputies with existing eligible clients will be contacted by OPG and their clients will be automatically refunded. They need take no further action at this stage.
Former clients If the client’s case has now closed and the deputyship ended, then an application will need to be made as we can’t automatically refund these eligible cases.
