When Can You Claim Two Fees?
Police station advice and assistance is paid as a fixed fee (£320 excl. VAT for cases with a Unique File Number on or after 22 December 2025, under SI 2025/1251). A 'double fee' (colloquially 'double bubble') means claiming two separate fixed fees because you dealt with two genuinely separate matters.
Valid Double Fee Scenarios:
- Separate Clients: Attending for two different clients at the same station
- Different Matters: Same client but two completely unrelated offences
- Breach + New Offence: Client arrested for breach AND a new separate offence
What DOESN'T Qualify:
- Multiple questions about the same incident
- Returning for disclosure on same matter
- Follow-up advice on same case
How to Claim:
- Complete separate CRM forms for each attendance
- Clearly document each matter separately
- Show distinct advice given for each
- Keep contemporaneous notes
LAA Scrutiny:
The LAA are increasingly scrutinizing double fee claims. Make sure:
- Each matter is genuinely separate
- Your file notes clearly support the claim
- You can justify the separate attendances if challenged
Remember: Fraudulent claiming can result in contract termination and prosecution.