Lesley Pike shares her emotional journey following the collapse of McClure legal firm.
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Lesley Pike, a resident of Aberdeenshire, has opened up about her harrowing experience of sleepless nights, anxiety, and depression as she fights to reclaim her parents’ home. This ordeal began after the collapse of the Greenock-based legal firm McClure, which had been entrusted with her parents’ Family Protection Trust.
The trust that turned into a nightmare
Lesley’s parents had placed their bungalow into a Family Protection Trust arranged by McClure, investing over £2,000 with the belief that it would safeguard their home from being sold to cover care home fees.
However, the reality turned out to be starkly different. Following the death of her parents, control of the property was handed over to a board of trustees from McClure, which included solicitors, one of whom had left the firm in 2017. This board retained control even after her parents passed away, leaving Lesley and her family in a precarious situation.
Financial and emotional toll
When Lesley and her family attempted to sell the house, they were met with a shocking revelation from a young estate agent: “It wasn’t ours to sell.” This statement marked the beginning of a long and costly battle. Lesley expressed her frustration, stating, “We’ve paid nearly £40,000 to get the house to my nephew, where it should have gone in 2014 when my parents died.” The financial burden has been overwhelming, leading to significant emotional distress. “It has affected us financially, physically, and mentally,” she lamented, highlighting the profound impact this situation has had on her family.
A trust built on misplaced faith
Lesley’s story is not unique; she is one of over 20,000 individuals grappling with the aftermath of McClure’s collapse in 2021 and the widespread issues surrounding Family Protection Trusts. “We trusted the people my parents trusted and fell into that trap of thinking everything would be fine,” she explained. Unfortunately, the reality was far from what they had envisioned. Lesley recounted how her family signed documents without fully understanding their implications, stating, “We signed documents with McClure’s name on them without understanding what they were or what would happen.” This lack of clarity has left many families feeling trapped and misled.
Allegations of misconduct
In a recent broadcast of Scotland Tonight, a former employee of McClure alleged that managing director Andrew Robertson pressured staff to sign up new clients aggressively. While a representative for Mr. Robertson denied these claims, the allegations have added another layer of complexity to an already troubling situation. Lesley’s experience serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of understanding legal documents and the potential pitfalls of placing trust in professionals without thorough scrutiny.
As Lesley continues her fight to reclaim her parents’ home, her story sheds light on the broader issues surrounding Family Protection Trusts and the need for greater transparency and accountability in the legal industry.
