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Complaint Details
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Initial Complaint
05/20/2024
- Complaint Type:
- Product Issues
- Status:
- Answered
I sought help from this Bankruptcy attorney in November and he stated he would be able to help me file a chapter 7 Bankruptcy. 6 months later after he took over $2,400 in fees and instructing me to not pay my creditors my credit dropped from 760 to 520 and he now tells me I can not file for chapter 7 because I am renting out my house when I provided him with that information from day one and now wants me to file a chapter ******************************** fees and basically says that is my only choice. So I feel completely taken advantage of. He waited 6 months until I ruined my credit so I would be out of lending options all the time knowing I would be unable to file chapter 7 the entire time and now he is refusing to give me a refund when he has not even filed anything all he or his office has done is organize the personal documents I have provided them.Business response
05/20/2024
I have been in contact with this client/consumer. She believes she is entitled to a full refund, but our agreement indicates all fees have been earned.
A copy of the agreement is attached. The nonrefundable language has been highlighted on the FIRST PAGE for easy reference.
The complaint contains several misrepresentations. First, we have been working on this case since she hired us on February 16, 2024 (three months), not six months as her complaint indicates. A copy of the receipt is attached indicating correct date of retention.
Also, client indicated she was only temporarily absent from her home to care for her child, but never indicated to us she was collecting thousands of dollars of rent.
I have offered the client a partial refund, but she indicates she will be satisfied with only a full refund. Such relief is not feasible for two reasons:
1. Our written agreement indicates the fees charged are nonrefundable.
2. We did substantial work for the client based on her own representations that turned out to be false.
Customer response
05/20/2024
I have attached screenshots of the email correspondence between me and the company and a written document explaining my situation. If you look at the first document I uploaded from his office you see in *********************** handwriting he wrote down my current address then scratched it out to write down the address of the property I own. So for him to now say that I supplied false information is absurd. Not to mention him and his staff told me to lie several times about currently living on the property in order to file for chapter 7. And he never offered me a partial refund as he claimsCustomer response
05/20/2024
Complaint: 21736119
I am rejecting this response because: It is a lie. I was never offered a partial refund and the services he states are non refundable were never provided because he knew from day 1 he would not be able to file a chapter 7 on my behalf and the evidence is in his own writing on the initial document from our first meeting in November 2023. So for him to say that I provided false information is a lie and it has been six months of my credit being destroyed on his advice that has now left me as a single mother in an irreversible situation that will take me years to repair
Sincerely,
***************************Business response
05/21/2024
I am offering a refund of 50% of the fees paid, plus $335 costs.
The refund offered is $900 (1/2 of $1800) plus $335 for a total of $1235 for a release from the retainer agreement.
I didn't say I didn't know about the second address. I did, but that is not the problem.
The problem is the rental income, which was not disclosed and I did not know about.
Customer response
05/21/2024
Complaint: 21736119
I am rejecting this response because: I did disclose the rent income for the 2 months it was rented out Jan and February. The property has been vacant for four months. And I paid $2535 total not 1800. The only "time" incurred on the account was the one meeting with ********* where she simply arranged the documents I provided. All the documents in the file I provided and organized prior to submitting them. So I dispute that half should be kept in "costs" when I provided everything and all your staff did was put the paperwork I provided in a file
Sincerely,
***************************Customer response
05/21/2024
I reject the claim that ***************************** has incurred "costs". I have incurred costs of the fees I have paid him not to mention the irreversible damage to my credit that will take me years to recover and now eliminates me from getting a loan to cover my debt. So if anyone has incurred costs it has been me not him. I would understand if he spent money on a third party fee but he made a mistake and falsely represented himself by what he could do for me so therefore should not expect to charge for his time when he is in the wrong on this matterInitial Complaint
09/05/2023
- Complaint Type:
- Service or Repair Issues
- Status:
- Answered
08/29/2023 When I signed up for services I asked if anyone would know what I was doing and was told by multiple people including ******** Garcia and *** Kingcade, that no, my information was private. I then got a call from my parents that they received mail to their names about my bankruptcy. I was furious and contacted the lawyers office and asked what was going on. They stated they knew that the mail would go out to my parents. All this office wanted was my money. As I was upset I told them I rather not got through with their services, but later stated to them that they might as well finish what they started because everything was ruined. My reaction was vaild. I never received a call or email to apologize. Now they have cancelled services WITHOUT informing me. They also lied on many documents to make my case and I dont know what they placed to give that information to another trustee that need information.Business response
09/06/2023
We are bankruptcy attorneys. We filed this client's bankruptcy case on August 18 and the case was going along perfectly. A copy of the bankruptcy docket is attached.
Schedule G of the bankruptcy schedules requires the Debtor (in this case your complainant) to list her car lease. Schedule H requires her to list if there are any co-signers on the lease. A copy of Bankruptcy Schedules G & H are attached.
Her parents co-signed her car lease so - AS A MATTER OF LAW - she was required to list them on these bankruptcy schedules. We did our job to the letter of the law.
This so enraged **************** that she sent very nasty and unprofessional emails to me and my staff. A sample of these emails is attached.
Even though **************** has mistreated us, we tried to contact her to resolve her concerns or even dismiss her case. She has ignored all verbal communication. She uses her email as a sword as all of the written communications we have received has been very invective. See emails.
We signed up to be her attorney, which is a collaborative process. Instead of working with us in a professional manner, **************** has treated us as her punching bag. The rules of professional conduct for attorneys allow an attorney to drop a case if a client is disrespectful to the attorney and staff.
Customer response
09/10/2023
Complaint: 20560589
I am rejecting this response because:This company only reached out via email once I said I would want to cancel the process. I called and left messages and did not receive a Call back.
All I got was an email yeah call me to cancel thisI was VERBALLY IN PERSON TOLD that listing my car had nothing to do with my parent and they WILL NOT be notified. At the end of the day this company lied. They lied and they want to hide behind an upset email. As I should be.i never received an email stating they are apologizing about the miscommunication or misinformation.
I was told my *** and ******** that my parents would not be notified.I mean really think about it, if they had told me. If they truly had relayed the information why would I be upset? Why would I blow up the way I did?
but there are many bad reviews from this company. Not to mention they also took more than 5 months to remember they had my case and also have me lie about income and expenses to justify the bankruptcy.
Dont worry about it guys. I hope you all live the life you deserve with the karma you place in the world.Sincerely,
***********************Business response
09/12/2023
She rejects our response, but what does that mean? Does she want to scold us like we're school children? Does she want to force us to be her punching bag?
Read her attachments. She clearly speaks down to us. Again,we are ATTORNEYS and we must COLLABORATE with our clients. She is not allowing our collaboration by treating us as her inferior subjects.
On August 29, my paralegal sent her an email:
Good morning *****,
Please call me so that I can try to help you.....
******************** response:
PFT.
Now you wanna be helpful.
No no. You got paid. Everything is ruined now anyways.
SMH.
I have over 30 years experience in this business and this case was done by the book. We did NOTHING wrong. The bankruptcy schedules REQUIRE the debtor (****************) to list co-debtors, which are her parents. I understand this angered her, but that is the LAW.As you can see, **************** has refused to communicate with us by phone. Instead, she sends us demeaning emails demanding we bend to her will. We do NOT have to deal with her anger. We do NOT have to be her punching bag.
I filed the case, and the case will proceed. It will just be without the attorney she hates, despises and feels free to mistreat. Again, the rules regulating lawyers allow an attorney to withdraw from a case in these circumstances.
The final hearing in her case is set for September 20, 2023 at 4 PM. See Docket Entry #2. All she needs to do is dial in and say her name and address and the case will be over.
Customer response
09/13/2023
Complaint: 20560589
I am rejecting this response because:please dont remove words or replace words. response from the emails.
my response was PFT.
Now you wanna be helpful.
No no. You got paid. Do your job. Everything is ruined now anyways.Smh.I confirmed that I did not want the case to be cancelled. You took my money and wanted to run away from lying to a client.
because your email stated very quickly Please call me so that I can try to help you. I did try calling you but I got your voicemail. I need to go over a few things with you regarding your request of wanting to have your case dismissed. It wasnt to resolve or assist it was to get rid of me.
No one is using you as a punching bag. You are Lawyers and you are making yourself victims over an upset email. I was in RIGHT to be UPSET.
You as my hired attorneys DID NOT INFORM ME PROPERLY that the law stated they will inform my parents.
Do your jobs more efficiently instead of taking money and ******* through jobs.The lie I was sold was
no one would know about my bankruptcy, and you will help me rebuild my credit after
now you take my money, leave me high and dry because you got called out on lying.you still arent listening. the BBB provides the public with information on businesses and charities.
I am providing detailed information about a bday business.
the lying, stealing and manipulation.
Sincerely,
***********************Business response
09/14/2023
The bankruptcy judge heard our concerns and agreed that we do not need to continue to represent *****************
Attached is a copy of the court order.
All **************** needs to do to finish the case is call the number indicated on the order at the specified date and time.
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Customer Complaints Summary
2 total complaints in the last 3 years.
1 complaints closed in the last 12 months.