dishonest greedy lawyer

[DealDemon]

what to do if a lawyer is ripping you off?
can we report him? and to whom? where can i get help for this?

[Sheky]

Contact the Law Society in the jurisdiction in which the lawyer practices. (e.g. contact Law Society of Alberta if it's an Albertan lawyer, etc.) Also, please make sure he or she is doing something inappropriate before raising a stink. A lawyer is the last person you want to be wrongly accusing of doing something wrong.

[DealDemon]

Contact the Law Society in the jurisdiction in which the lawyer practices. (e.g. contact Law Society of Alberta if it's an Albertan lawyer, etc.) Also, please make sure he or she is doing something inappropriate before raising a stink. A lawyer is the last person you want to be wrongly accusing of doing something wrong.

he was charging $600 more and now he wont release my closing documents until i pay anther $50.
my case was closed several months ago but he never informed me call me to pick up the closing documents.
so i email him on monday and now he said that i need to pay $50 more if i need another copy.
i email him back saying i never received the initial copy so i dont need another copy. i just need the initial copy.

[grant]

I'm not saying he didn't make a mistake, but asking for another $50 is hardly indicative of a "dishonest, greedy" lawyer. That's a fair price to reproduce a set of documents.

[DealDemon]

I'm not saying he didn't make a mistake, but asking for another $50 is hardly indicative of a "dishonest, greedy" lawyer. That's a fair price to reproduce a set of documents.

but i never gotten the initial copy that i am entitled to. so why is he trying to scam another $50 out of me?
plus dont forget he already over charged me over $600

if he doesnt give me that closing documents i am going to report him to the law society of upper canada

[wheel]

but i never gotten the initial copy that i am entitled to. so why is he trying to scam another $50 out of me?
plus dont forget he already over charged me over $600

if he doesnt give me that closing documents i am going to report him to the law society of upper canada

Over $50? Get real. I'm sure the law society could give a flying crap about this.

You might also ask if he sent the original docs. That's not the same question as you receiving them. If he sent them, then I think it's fair for him to charge you for another copy. If he never did send them, then I suppose you should ask him why you don't get a copy first time round. Maybe you're not entitled to them (as you seem to think you are). There's a variety of reasons why he might absolutely be right in charging you for this. You might not like the reasons, you might not think they're fair, but they're certainly commonplace.

All you're doing is getting frustrated over $50 from a lawyer. Lawyers are pricks this way, they charge you $8 to refresh the mints in the urinal if they take a pee while working your stuff. But it's not cruel and unusual for you - everyone gets the same end of the stick.

I used to consult for a lawyer. I was often tempted to bill him the little crap, like postage (like they do to us).

[Nikita]

A lawyer has a legal right to retain your file until your bill is paid in full, (except under very rare circumstances). The Law Society will tell you that. BTW, what makes you think he overcharged you by $600? And did you receive an itemized account? Does your account show what the $600 was for?

Disbursements are always the client's obligation, never the lawyer's. That includes,yes postage, photocopies etc.

[grant]

but i never gotten the initial copy that i am entitled to. so why is he trying to scam another $50 out of me?
Probably because from his point of view it's not a SCAM. It's obviously a misunderstanding, perhaps a screw-up on his part, but since you obviously require these documents if he was trying to SCAM you he'd charge a lot more.

[wheel]

Disbursements are always the client's obligation, never the lawyer's. That includes,yes postage, photocopies etc.

Now THAT's made up. Calling it 'disbursements' doesn't mean it's anything other than the cost of doing business that everyone else absorbs. My insurance broker photocopies stuff for me and mails it to me, doesn't charge me postage or copying fees. All lawyers do it, it's such a complete crock.

[DealDemon]

Over $50? Get real. I'm sure the law society could give a flying crap about this.

You might also ask if he sent the original docs. That's not the same question as you receiving them. If he sent them, then I think it's fair for him to charge you for another copy. If he never did send them, then I suppose you should ask him why you don't get a copy first time round. Maybe you're not entitled to them (as you seem to think you are). There's a variety of reasons why he might absolutely be right in charging you for this. You might not like the reasons, you might not think they're fair, but they're certainly commonplace.

All you're doing is getting frustrated over $50 from a lawyer. Lawyers are pricks this way, they charge you $8 to refresh the mints in the urinal if they take a pee while working your stuff. But it's not cruel and unusual for you - everyone gets the same end of the stick.

I used to consult for a lawyer. I was often tempted to bill him the little crap, like postage (like they do to us).


is not about the $50. is about the principle. i am fed up with this.
they never send me any closing documents. All the lawyers i dealt with before, alwy send me a complete closing documents outline what i was charged for their services and any credit i am entitled to.

When i decide the report him, there wont be just the $50 incident.

[DealDemon]

A lawyer has a legal right to retain your file until your bill is paid in full, (except under very rare circumstances). The Law Society will tell you that. BTW, what makes you think he overcharged you by $600? And did you receive an itemized account? Does your account show what the $600 was for?

Disbursements are always the client's obligation, never the lawyer's. That includes,yes postage, photocopies etc.

my bill was paid in full and then some.

thats the thing, i never get any itemized account from them.
thats why i want my closing documents to see how much i am being ripped off so i can report this a$$hole to the society.

initially, he qouted as $2500 for his full services. I paid him in full.
then few weeks later, he ask me to paid another $2700, 2100 is for the inventory from the seller which i agree but the $600 he said it was for some searched he is doing.
never explained to me what the searched was. I admit i was stupid to pay him that amount but i was new in this and ddint want anyting to hold up my closing.

[wheel]

thats the thing, i never get any itemized account from them.
You can apparently write at length,but the reading part is giving you some trouble. No hint that you've even read any of the posts here, huh?

You're clearly going on a bender here without worrying about the facts. Have fun!

[DealDemon]

just got an email from his office.
he will have a copy for me by tomorrow.
is funny how i have to mentioned about the law society of upper canada to get some result.
lol

this proofs he have something to hide.
when i get my closing documents, i am going to carefully examine it.
I still want my $600 that he overcharged me.

[Octavius]

just got an email from his office.
he will have a copy for me by tomorrow.
is funny how i have to mentioned about the law society of upper canada to get some result.
lol

this proofs he have something to hide.
when i get my closing documents, i am going to carefully examine it.
I still want my $600 that he overcharged me.

It proves nothing. He knows for a fact that he will likely win on the matter - but he just doesn't want to get the law society involved over a $50.00 matter with a ridiculous client.

Stop thinking lawyers are out to screw you - if he overcharged you by 600 he would do it in a way that would be unobvious and in a way that they could prove was legitimate with no recourse from the client. If he actually did this and you can prove it he can lose his license.

Think about it - would a lawyer really risk losing their license to practice law (and the 10 years of total school they spent to get their undergrad degree and their law degree) over $600.00?

For most lawyers $600.00 is the equivalent of 2 1/2 - 3 hours work.

[Nikita]

Now THAT's made up. Calling it 'disbursements' doesn't mean it's anything other than the cost of doing business that everyone else absorbs. My insurance broker photocopies stuff for me and mails it to me, doesn't charge me postage or copying fees. All lawyers do it, it's such a complete crock.

Umm, no it's not made up. This is such a standard and accepted way of legal billing that the fact you think I made it up shows how very very little you know about the subject. Check with a few lawyers about standard billing practices, hell check with the Law Society. Then come back here and say something intelligent.

my bill was paid in full and then some.

thats the thing, i never get any itemized account from them.
thats why i want my closing documents to see how much i am being ripped off so i can report this a$$hole to the society.

initially, he qouted as $2500 for his full services. I paid him in full.
then few weeks later, he ask me to paid another $2700, 2100 is for the inventory from the seller which i agree but the $600 he said it was for some searched he is doing.
never explained to me what the searched was. I admit i was stupid to pay him that amount but i was new in this and ddint want anyting to hold up my closing.

No, you weren't stupid to pay him the money, you were stupid to not ask him what it was for.

just got an email from his office.
he will have a copy for me by tomorrow.
is funny how i have to mentioned about the law society of upper canada to get some result.
lol

this proofs he have something to hide.
when i get my closing documents, i am going to carefully examine it.
I still want my $600 that he overcharged me.

LOL...no it doesn't prove any such thing, probably it's merely that he'd rather not go through hassle and the paper work of dealing with the Law Society only so they can answer your questions.

When you get your itemized account, I'd be interested to know if you still feel you were overcharged. Until you know what you were charged for this whole thread is useless and your allegation that you were overcharged is premature.

[wheel]

Umm, no it's not made up. This is such a standard and accepted way of legal billing that the fact you think I made it up shows how very very little you know about the subject. Check with a few lawyers about standard billing practices, hell check with the Law Society. Then come back here and say something intelligent.

Try reading what I post. It's made up by lawyers. Everyone is well aware that lawyers do this. That doesn't make it an accepted business practice by anyone but lawyers. Lawyers do it, nobody else does. If you think charging postage during the normal course of business is acceptable practice, then you must be a lawyer.

You're trying to defend a clearly stupid business practice. How bright does that make you?

[gilboman]

Try reading what I post. It's made up by lawyers. Everyone is well aware that lawyers do this. That doesn't make it an accepted business practice by anyone but lawyers. Lawyers do it, nobody else does. If you think charging postage during the normal course of business is acceptable practice, then you must be a lawyer.

You're trying to defend a clearly stupid business practice. How bright does that make you?

of course its made up by lawyers, just like supermarkets make up the price they charge you... do you expect the garbage man to tell lawyers what to charge and how much? and what makes it a "stupid" practice?

i'm not sure how bright the other poster is, but IMO you are certainly not very if you seem to think other businesses/professions should be telling what and how much to charge for their services:lol: :lol: :lol:

[wheel]

Well, I'm still content to call anyone an idiot who thinks that practice by lawyers needs to be justified. Thanks for joining in.

[DealDemon]

It proves nothing. He knows for a fact that he will likely win on the matter - but he just doesn't want to get the law society involved over a $50.00 matter with a ridiculous client.

Stop thinking lawyers are out to screw you - if he overcharged you by 600 he would do it in a way that would be unobvious and in a way that they could prove was legitimate with no recourse from the client. If he actually did this and you can prove it he can lose his license.

Think about it - would a lawyer really risk losing their license to practice law (and the 10 years of total school they spent to get their undergrad degree and their law degree) over $600.00?

For most lawyers $600.00 is the equivalent of 2 1/2 - 3 hours work.

hahaha! do u think i am the only one he is scamming?
$600 from me, $600 from guy A, $600 from gramma A, so on so on
get it?

and how is going to win this case when he didnt delivered the service i paid in full for?
the closing documents that i am supposed to get but didnt and he now wants to charged me another $50?
use your brain.

[bobaroo]

Try reading what I post. It's made up by lawyers. Everyone is well aware that lawyers do this. That doesn't make it an accepted business practice by anyone but lawyers. Lawyers do it, nobody else does. If you think charging postage during the normal course of business is acceptable practice, then you must be a lawyer.

You're trying to defend a clearly stupid business practice. How bright does that make you?

Other businesses build mailing costs into their fee-structure. Would you rather the lawyer build in his postage costs into every hour he charges (regardless of whether that specific hour required postage costs)? how does $25 more per hour sound? My point is that you're going to pay for each "service" one way or another, so it might as well be itemized...

[Nikita]

hahaha! do u think i am the only one he is scamming?
$600 from me, $600 from guy A, $600 from gramma A, so on so on
get it?

and how is going to win this case when he didnt delivered the service i paid in full for?
the closing documents that i am supposed to get but didnt and he now wants to charged me another $50?
use your brain.

Well, I'm still content to call anyone an idiot who thinks that practice by lawyers needs to be justified. Thanks for joining in.

Like I said, until you have an itemized account, your insistence that you were overcharged and that the lawyer is scamming you is based on nothing but ignorance and speculation. Come back when you have some proof ...cuz till then I'm content to call anyone an idiot who thinks they know how legal billing 'should' be done or claims they've been burned without so much as seeing a bill. Or anyone who confuses explaining what you don't know as justification for anything.

Other businesses build mailing costs into their fee-structure. Would you rather the lawyer build in his postage costs into every hour he charges (regardless of whether that specific hour required postage costs)? how does $25 more per hour sound? My point is that you're going to pay for each "service" one way or another, so it might as well be itemized...


+1...nice to see someone who gets it.

[DealDemon]

Like I said, until you have an itemized account, your insistence that you were overcharged and that the lawyer is scamming you is based on nothing but ignorance and speculation. Come back when you have some proof ...cuz till then I'm content to call anyone an idiot who thinks they know how legal billing 'should' be done or claims they've been burned without so much as seeing a bill. Or anyone who confuses explaining what you don't know as justification for anything.




+1...nice to see someone who gets it.


LIKE I SAID, I WAS QOUTED AN AMOUNT OF $2500, BUT ENDED UP PAYING OVER $3000 FOR HIS SERVICE. HE TOLD ME THE EXTRA AMOUNT WAS FOR SOME SEARCH THEY DID.
AT THAT TIME I DIDNT WANT MY CLOSING DATE TO BE HELD UP, SO I WENT AHEAD AND PAY HIM.

YOU MUST HAVE SOME IN YOUR FAMILY WHO IS A CROOOKED LAWYER

[BartBandy]

LIKE I SAID, I WAS QOUTED AN AMOUNT OF $2500, BUT ENDED UP PAYING OVER $3000 FOR HIS SERVICE. HE TOLD ME THE EXTRA AMOUNT WAS FOR SOME SEARCH THEY DID.
AT THAT TIME I DIDNT WANT MY CLOSING DATE TO BE HELD UP, SO I WENT AHEAD AND PAY HIM.

YOU MUST HAVE SOME IN YOUR FAMILY WHO IS A CROOOKED LAWYER

Disbursements. They always mention "plus disbursements" in any quote. You will always pay extra for any extra work a lawyer has to do, beyond the minimum expected. You will also pay an incredibly high hourly rate for it.

You keep talking about "closing documents". I assume this was a simple home sale or purchase? If so, you chose your lawyer poorly. I've bought and sold a home in the past two years, and didn't pay more than $1600 either time, and I just went with the lawyers that the real estate agents suggested.

My best advice? Don't get involved in any situations that involve lawyers.

[lcschung]

Come share your stories at iHateBadService.ca (http://ihatebadservice.ca) and we will spread the words !

[Gloaming]

LIKE I SAID, I WAS QOUTED AN AMOUNT OF $2500, BUT ENDED UP PAYING OVER $3000 FOR HIS SERVICE. HE TOLD ME THE EXTRA AMOUNT WAS FOR SOME SEARCH THEY DID.
AT THAT TIME I DIDNT WANT MY CLOSING DATE TO BE HELD UP, SO I WENT AHEAD AND PAY HIM.

YOU MUST HAVE SOME IN YOUR FAMILY WHO IS A CROOOKED LAWYER

Stop shouting!!!

[gilboman]

consultants charge for stuff like postage, photocopying etc... too, its standard practice in a lot of industry.