FEES
PRELIMINARY ADVICE AND SUPPORT (FREE)
> Form Filling [Advice only]
> Letter Structuring [Advice only]
> Benefit Entitlement [Advice only]
> Enforcement Action [Advice only]
> Urgent Homelessness Referrals [Advice only]
> Traffic and Parking Contraventions [ Advice only]
> Eviction Notices [ Advice Only]
> Civil Matters [Advice only]
> Community Care Matters [Advice only]
We may signpost you to another specialist service with your consent.
WRITING SERVICES
LETTERS from £50
Need to write a letter but not sure where to begin, feeling overwhelmed and intimidated by the thought of facing a large organisation or a difficult individual? You’re not alone; millions of Brits deal with these daunting thoughts everyday. This can not only lead to avoiding the issue altogether, but also increased stress and a decline in mental health, which may feel unmanageable. You no longer need to avoid important issues, which only makes matters worse. Whether, it’s a dispute with a large organisation or an individual, allow us to take the stress away whilst offering you peace of mind with our affordable writing services. We simply require a few details about your case so we can do all of the important work to empower you into taking control. We’re experienced in communicating with local authorities , schools , employers , social services , utility companies , the NHS and many other organisations. We will deliver your letter to you quickly and follow up communication where required.. None of our letters are written with the assistance of AI to ensure that your case is addressed using human intuition and logic which cannot be replicated in matters where tactical writing is crucial. This powerful human skill is particularly important in matters of negotiation, disputes or impending litigation.
SKELETAL LETTER STRUCTURING from £45 :
Have a good flare for writing but just need someone to get you started and guide you through the main structure of your letter? We will happily provide you with a guided template which will allow you to deliver the main points of what you need to get across to the intended recipient. Just provide us with a few details about what you intended to write. With this information we can then conduct a brief case analysis, allowing us to provide you with an easy to understand, concise skeletal structure to complete in the comfort of your home. Once you have finished your letter, we will proof read it for you and conduct light editing to ensure that your letter is ready to send off.
PROOF READING ( per two pages at 14pt font and 1.5 line spacing)
Option 1 Proof Reading & Light Editing £35 fixed
Already have a letter written but need an assessment to ensure that it is up to professional standards? We will proof read your letter and provide you with light editing where mistakes are identified. If you would like a more tailored document, why not opt for our full editing and restructuring option to ensure that you present the best letter possible. This service is not available for academic support or businesses.
Option 2 Proof Reading and Restructuring £55 fixed
This option ensures that we will check your documents for any spelling and grammatical errors beyond the scope of an automated standard spell check. We will frame, restructure ( rewrite and reorganise where appropriate) and provide detailed editing to your letter for it to have a more professional and polished finish. You will also have the option to amend your letter up to 3 times.
ADMINISTRATIVE CASEWORK
Case Summary Preparation from £60
Need to write a logical structured case summary but not sure where to start?
Here at MAXINE Debra, we will listen to your case, review the evidence you have presented and draw up a concise case summary which will deliver the key points of your case.
Case Particulars Preparation from £85
Where a more detailed case background is required, we will provide a robust document containing particulars to be submitted as per your requirements. This service involves discussing your case with you and reviewing all the evidence in great detail.
Statutory Declarations and Personal Statements £60
Whether your personal statement relates to a court case or another matter, Maxine Debra will be happy to create a statement which articulates your circumstances in a meaningful way. This service can be useful in proceedings concerning but not limited the following:
. Child custody arrangements
. Statutory declarations to be read in court
. School Appeals concerning admission
COMPLAINTS & APPEALS
Standard Package Cost: from £300 (total package)
Breakdown of Cost and Service:
Stage 1: Initial Telephone Consultation (30 minutes)
Service: During the initial telephone consultation, we aim to understand the your situation, gather relevant information, and determine the grounds for the case you wish to pursue. During this stage, where possible, we will inform you of the prospects of a successful outcome.
Cost: £30 (payment required upfront)
Stage 2: Follow-Up Telephone Consultation (60 minutes)
Service If we believe your case has a real chance of success, we will arrange a 60-minute detailed follow-up telephone consultation to gather more information from you. This session will help us to thoroughly understand the details of your case and help you to prepare the necessary documents. At this point we will agree the level of advice and support required before moving to the next stage. This is to ensure that your expectations align with our service delivery.
Cost: £60 (payment required upfront)
Stage 3: Case Review and Completion
Total Package Cost: £300 (payment required upfront, excluding initial and follow-up consultations)
Remaining Balance: £210 (payment required upfront). We cannot commence work until payment is cleared.
Services Included in Stage 3:
Document Review: We will review documents and any evidence related to the appeal or complaint, such as previous correspondence, relevant agreements, and your account of events.
Drafting Letters, Documents and Correspondence (limitations apply): Based on the information you share, we will help you to draft the required documentation to present your case. With our dedicated support, you will successfully outline the grounds of your dispute and communicate your desired resolution to bring the matter to a close. We will provide a maximum of one written letter per stage, but may offer you additional support with email and telephone exchanges at no extra cost. Any other work including detailed document drafting will be chargeable as per our affordable fee guidance and you will always be given the option to refuse this if it is not feasible for your circumstances.
Advice on Supporting Evidence: We will also provide guidance on evidence that might strengthen your case and help you to gather and organize this for submission.
Submission Instructions: We will offer guidance on how to submit the appeal or complaint documentation and advise of any published deadlines which need to be kept.
Stage 4: Optional Follow-Up Support (60 minutes)
Service : We are happy to provide a follow-up support session to answer any questions, assist with any additional steps, and ensure that you are confident in proceeding with any next steps.
Cost: free
DISCOUNTED PACKAGE FOR LOW INCOME & UNEMPLOYED CLIENTS
Qualification Requirement: To qualify for the discounted package, clients must be in receipt of Universal Credit or other relevant benefits. Please contact us for further information.
Discounted Package Cost: £150 (total package)
Breakdown of Cost and Service:
Stage 1: Initial Telephone Consultation (30 minutes)
Service: During the initial telephone consultation, we aim to understand your situation, gather relevant information, and determine the grounds for the case you wish to pursue. During this stage, where possible, we will inform you of the prospects of a successful outcome.
Cost: £15 (payment required upfront)
Stage 2: Follow-Up Telephone Consultation (60 minutes)
Service: If we believe that your case has a real chance of success, we will arrange a 60-minute detailed follow-up telephone consultation to gather more information from you. This session will help us to thoroughly understand the details of your case and help you to prepare any necessary documents. At this point we will agree the level of advice and support required, before moving to the next stage. This is to ensure that your expectations align with our service delivery.
Cost: £30 (payment required upfront)
Stage 3: Case Review and Completion
Total Package Cost: £150 (payment required upfront, excluding initial and follow-up consultations)
Remaining Balance: £105 (payment required upfront). We cannot commence work until payment is cleared.
Services Included in Stage 3:
Document Review: We will review documents and any evidence related to your appeal or complaint, such as previous correspondence, relevant agreements, and your account of events.
Drafting Letters, Documents and Correspondence (limitations apply): Based on the information you share, we will help you to draft the required documentation to present your case. With our dedicated support, you will successfully outline the grounds of your dispute and communicate your desired resolution to bring the matter to a close. We will provide a maximum of one written letter per stage, but may offer extra support with email and telephone exchanges at no extra cost. All other work including detailed document drafting will be chargeable as per our affordable fee guidance and you will always be given the option to refuse this if it is not feasible for your circumstances.
Advice on Supporting Evidence: We will also provide guidance on evidence that might strengthen your case and help you to gather and organise this for submission.
Submission Instructions: We will offer guidance on how to submit the appeal or complaint documentation and advise of any published deadlines which need to be kept.
Stage 4: Optional Follow-Up Support (60 minutes)
We are happy to provide a follow-up support session to answer any questions and assist with any additional steps, to ensure that you’re confident in proceeding with any next steps..
Cost: Free
ADVOCACY, REPRESENTATION & MEDIATION
Advocacy from £75 per case
All of our emergency advocacy services such as homelessness referrals and enforcement advice are free. However, if you feel too overwhelmed to communicate with a school, or local authority for example, we can offer low cost support for most issues that require advocacy.
Representation from £125 per case
If you would like us to represent you with an issue that you may not feel empowered to address yourself, we are happy to facilitate the process. This service is usually beneficial for disputes between tenants and landlords or disputes with service providers who may have treated you unfairly. We do not take on litigious instruction where a right of audience is required due to the limited preliminary nature of our community based services [please see our F&Q for more guidance] . We do however aim to support our clients ahead of any court proceedings as much as we possibly can so that they feel confident in their position ahead of any upcoming case. The aim is to ensure that you reach your desired outcome through our service without the need for court action which can be costly, and stressful.
Mediation from £ 125 per case
If you are currently in a dispute and believe that you can benefit from a mediation service, whether a marriage disagreement or ongoing trouble with your neighbours, landlord or tenants, MAXINE Debra will work with you and the opposing side to ensure that the best possible, mutually agreeable outcome is reached. Unlike most firms, MAXINE Debra CIC is a not-for profit organisation that charges per case not per hour, ensuring that you receive the most cost effective, quality service. The fee for this service is usually split between two parties.
EARLY CONCILIATION SERVICES
Option 1 : Preliminary Advice and Case Summary from £60
If you are in a dispute with your employer, one of the options you can go for is early conciliation via ACAS to resolve your issue This service is offered for free via their website. They will act as an impartial mediator to both sides with a view to getting the matter resolved as to avoid a tribunal claim. The service is limited and unlike us, ACAS will not advocate or prepare a case summary on your behalf. MAXINE Debra on the other hand recognises that disputes with employers can be extremely stressful and intimidating for employees. We will therefore support you in the following ways:
Listen to your issues and go through the dispute with you to identify the merits of your case.
Extract all the relevant information about your issue to piece your case together in a way that can be easily understood.
Offer preliminary advice and guide you through next steps.
Draft an invite to talks, detailing your concerns and submit it on your behalf to be considered by your employer.
All reasonable employers will usually agree to talks.
Option 2 : Representation + £ 385
After your employer has agreed to talks, you may wish to negotiate with them independently through ACAS who will offer an impartial service. They will not advocate for you, nor will they represent you during your dispute. You can ask a friend or family member to support you if you find this process to be too overwhelming. You must ensure that in doing so, the person you nominate is trusted as they will be able to make binding decisions on your behalf. This option is available to ensure that the process is accessible to those who may be experiencing financial difficulty.
For this reason, MAXINE Debra have kept the cost of representing you throughout this service considerably low. If you would like us to represent you throughout your early conciliation case, we will do the following:
Manage your case throughout the early conciliation process.
Offer you ongoing advice and guidance so that you feel empowered throughout the negotiation process.
Negotiate with your employer for your preferred outcome.
Send unlimited correspondence on your behalf.
Option 3 : Tribunal Preparation (case by case)
This option is suitable if you and your employer have not been able to reach an agreement ahead of tribunal.
We will Prepare a detailed statement of facts on your behalf.
We will reassess the merits of your case based on the early conciliation process.
We will offer you ongoing support and guidance ahead of tribunal.
We will advise you about expectations ahead of and during your case
We will negotiate [upon request] with your employer on your behalf to reach the best possible outcome ahead of taking the case to tribunal.
If you do not reach an agreement with your employer, we would then prepare a robust, detailed final draft to facilitate next steps.
DISCOUNTS
You may be entitled to a 50% discount on some of our fee services, if you can prove that you’re unemployed and in receipt of certain benefits. Please contact us for more details if you think you may qualify. Proof will be required and checks will be conducted to verify your eligibility.
WHY WE MUST CHARGE FOR SOME OF OUR SERVICES
MAXINE Debra CIC is committed to supporting members of the community who are struggling to cope with everyday stressors which life may present. It is for this reason that we do not offer academic and business to business support unless it meets the aims of our community interest organisation. As a not -for- profit , we are not funded by the government which means that we rely on your donations and fees to sustain the high level of service we provide to you.
HOW OUR FEES ARE CALCULATED
The affordable fees here at MAXINE Debra CIC have been carefully calculated and are significantly cheaper than what any solicitor will charge you for an equivalent level of service.
It is worth noting that on the lower end of the spectrum, when paying a qualified solicitor, you can expect to hand over between £197 - £288 per hour, however the average solicitor charges significantly more for their services.
MAXINE Debra offer an alternative route to gaining preliminary support ahead instructing a solicitor, by charging per service or per case . In doing so, we’re able to offer our expertise to a wider demographic who otherwise would not be in the position to access affordable representation, advocacy, support or advice.
PAYMENTS
All payments must be agreed and paid in advance before we can commence work. Please do not make a payment for our service unless we have agreed to take on your case. Where applicable, we will not take on your case if we believe there is a high chance that you will not be successful in your claim. This is to save you both time and money.
RIGHT TO REFUSE SERVICE
There are instances where we may not be able to take on your case. The most common reason is that your issue simply may not fit with the strict aims of our community interest organisation. In this case, we may refer you to another service that is better suited to support you through your issue.
For more information about MAXINE Debra CIC please see our F&Q section.
EXPRESS SERVICE
All our writing services have a next day express service. Please contact us to find out more details.