Please lock

[wyvrn]

Holy sh!t. I cannot believe this. I went to a law office that I had used before for help in setting up a corporation in TX. He states his fees for doing the work. I write a check and we have been working together to finish this up. The last thing I had to do was transfer $1000 to my corporate bank account and give him the receipt to put in the book so he can tie all the loose ends up. Anyway, today I get a bill in the mail from him for an extra 33% of the original stated price. I call him and ask why the extra charges, he says he is just billing me for his time. I say back that well you stated at the beginning a total charge, that included all his labor and expenses to the state of TX. He then says, "well I didn't get that bank receipt you left the other day." I had left it in a security envelope in his mailbox. I stated well I can get another copy of the deposit and we can do it that way, he gets mad, and hangs up. I think he was trying to blackmail me. WTF? So: I don't have my corporate book, he is trying to intimidate me to give him more money, and he is a lawyer. I don't know if I would have a chance against him in court. And his fees are higher than other lawyers, but I went with him since I had used his office (his assistant lawyer) just a couple of years ago and didn't have problems.

What the hell do I do now?

 

[PlatinumGold]

I'd go to the state bar and report him. obviously that would be a last resort tho.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Blackmail, no. But possibly (and conveniently) "forgetting" that he had the receipt so he could get more money from you is what comes to my mind. Just go about business as usual to finish the deal, then stop doing business with him.

nik

 

[wyvrn]

I am not sure if he is going to finish the work, but I could do it myself now that I know how. I am worried he isn't going to give me my corporate book, but I guess I could order a new one ($90). Also worried he could take me to ct. to get the rest of the fees, can he do that?

 

[Viper GTS]

How do you get blackmail out of that?



Viper GTS

 

[PsychoAndy]

tape recorder and anonymous package to the state bar association.

'nuff said?

 

[wyvrn]

ok so blackmail isn't the word... but he was trying to intimidate me into giving him more money because 1) he is a lawyer and 2) he has my stuff, which is important in case I ever get audited. If I don't have that book and the supporting documents, I could lose my limited liability.

 

[StageLeft]

Get another lawyer and su ehim!

 

[wyvrn]

Well the disputed amount is less than $1000, so I am guessing small claims ct. But thanks for you advice

 

[pyonir]

<< What to do when your lawyer tries to screw you >>


depends. is the lawyer a pretty woman? or a dude?

 

[Hammer]

If its goes to court you going to end up paying more in legal fees anyway so just finish the deal, but do file a complaint with the Texas State Bar Association and the Attorney General's office.

 

[Frenchie]

tape recorder and anonymous package to the state bar association.

Most bar associations will not act on an anonymous tip. Moreover the tape would be inadmissible in court and would subject the person making the tape (if discovered) to state and federal wire tap charges.

What to do:
1) Do not pay the extra fees. Most state bars require that attorneys provide their client with a written fee agreement. The purpose for doing that is to avoid any confusion in regard to the fees charged. The burden is on him to show why no fee agreement was prepared and to prove that you agreed to the fees, that the fees were justified, and that they were not out of the standard range for that service.
2) File a complaint with the Bar Association's Disciplinary Board if he will not provide you with the corp. kit.
3) At worst, by a new corp. kit.

 

[RossMAN]

Isn't that like extortion (not blackmail)?

 

[hoihtah]

hehe... when everything else fails...
you always have an email account to trash.
of course, i don't do that sorta thing myself.

if email account doesn't work for you... how 'bout his/her webserver?
hacking is an art if you can do it with taste...
and again, i don't do that sorta thing myself.

so don't pm me if you need help in this.

 

[wyvrn]

Thanks for the info. I did get the book. When I asked him about the fees, he balked. Guess he knows its not worth trying to make me pay. I just don't get scum like this. What do they think they have to profit by trying to scam their customers? He has to know I am never going to use him again or recommend him to anyone :frown:



<< tape recorder and anonymous package to the state bar association.

Most bar associations will not act on an anonymous tip. Moreover the tape would be inadmissible in court and would subject the person making the tape (if discovered) to state and federal wire tap charges.

What to do:
1) Do not pay the extra fees. Most state bars require that attorneys provide their client with a written fee agreement. The purpose for doing that is to avoid any confusion in regard to the fees charged. The burden is on him to show why no fee agreement was prepared and to prove that you agreed to the fees, that the fees were justified, and that they were not out of the standard range for that service.
2) File a complaint with the Bar Association's Disciplinary Board if he will not provide you with the corp. kit.
3) At worst, by a new corp. kit. >>

 

[Geekbabe]

one friendly piece of advice when dealing with lawyers, always add to whatever fee they quote you because by the time they are done there are always more add on fee's.

 

[wyvrn]

Thanks for the advice. But with what I paid him, I could have paid two other lawyers to do the same thing (confirmed).



<< one friendly piece of advice when dealing with lawyers, always add to whatever fee they quote you because by the time they are done there are always more add on fee's. >>