Can Solicitor charge us for this?

Its a long story, but basically we used a solicitor for some legal work we required. A few months later we put our house up for sale and used the same solicitor for the sale of our house to get the HIP's done. We couldn't sell our house so are renting it out and have found another house to purchase. The estate agent asked us which solicitor we were planning to use for the purchase and we just gave the name of the same solicitor we had previously used. (thinking nothing of it)

Now 2 weeks down the line, we found out that due to our mortgage not recognizing this solicitor, we have had to use somebody else.

The original solicitor has now sent us an invoice for work she has completed on the purchase of our new house. Even though we never verbally agreed this with her, of sent her any money up front for surveys etc.

Can she do this? We didn't authorize it, verbally or written or provide her with any money for this - I thought solicitors always asked for money up front - I know our new solicitor has!)

Thanks

Thanks for your answers so far, its stressful enough trying to buy a new house.. and expensive without having to pay out twice!

We live in the Midlands area - England. She said she has carried out the surveys and is charging us for several letters and phone calls. We didnt sign anything to say we were using her for the purchase, she got the details through a memo from the estate agents of the house we are buying. Why would she go ahead with this without any consent from us? The new solictor wont comment, she said its a problem between us and the old solicitor.

It doesn't sound like the solicitor can charge money for work completed if you didn't agree. What jurisdiction are you in? What work in relation to the purchasing of the new house does the originial solicitor claim to have done?

Did you pay the first solicitor for any work that was done when you were trying to sell your house? Did you sign a contract with this person to the affect you were actually retaining her for any future legal paperwork she could do for you? And HOW pray, did she find out about you buying another piece of property AND completed paperwork on it!?? SHE is weird!! I would ask her - if she actually DID make up paperwork on the house, where is it!? And how did she find out who the seller was!? Call the new solicitor and see if he can straighten this woman out! In other words, YOU would be paying TWICE for the same "job"!! And why wasn't the first solicitor recognized by the Real Estate Angency!?? What a bloody mess!