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Years ago, this happened to me after I hired a plumber to do some kitchen work. When he finished the job, he told me what I owed; I wrote a check and gave it to him. About three months later, I got a message from the plumbing company telling me I had to remit another $80 or so for "sales tax." I found it so laughable that I didn't even return the call. However, you do have some practical concerns here. If you choose to go that route, make sure that this won't affect your credit. Could the attorney cause you any problems if he chooses to be a stickler? Do you legitimately owe the money? Did the attorney treat you fairly? Good luck!
I bought a home in 2014 and the real estate attorney had been given an estimate for the title search and that was what was on the HUD statement. Two years later I get a check for $147 from the real estate attorney with a note explaining that the final bill from the title search company came in lower than originally quoted and the enclosed check was being sent to me to close out the balance in the escrow account.
If you are legally responsible to pay it (even after 3 years and regardless of whether you think that's too long of a time . . . the law may very well disagree with you), then pay it. Otherwise, you risk needless headache.
I completely understand your point of view but, for me, the question comes down to this: Was this a legitimate unpaid expense of the OP's with regard to the completion of the transaction? That's a simple yes or no and the amount of time that has passed since the closing doesn't affect the answer. Assuming the answer is "yes", then the next step is the ethical consideration of should the OP pay it or stick the attorney for it. I'm not discounting the notion that "we" are responsible for our mistakes but doesn't personal responsibility extend equally to the OP, as well, if not more?
My take on this is that the attorney's A/R and A/P practices are sloppy. I can see 3 days, 3 weeks, or even 3 months. But 3 YEARS? What is the statute of limitations on sloppy bookkeeping? :-) My bet is the attorney has a new office manager who is trying to clean up the office and saw an opportunity to shine by collecting on 'unpaid' bills. If I were the attorney, I'd be too embarrassed to try to collect something like this.
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You have two options.
