My husband paid a family law attorney a $2500 retainer. We received our first statement in the mail and they deducted about $300 in legitimate miscellaneous fees. Leaving us with a balance of $2200. No problem there. So next we get a statement saying we owe $500 (fees also legit) and if we don't pay in the 5 days, they will no longer represent us. Why didn't they just deduct the $500 out of the retainer like they did before? And why did they have to "threaten" us like that? We are in the middle of a custody situation and felt like we were bullied into paying the extra money because we can't lose our legal representation this far into things. Please tell me this is normal and we are not getting ripped off.
2007-06-13 16:42:55 · 7 answers · asked by Vintheland 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Because most attorneys consider their law degree as a license to steal. Several here in Florida have been caught billing 40 to 50 hours per DAY. Once they have you over a barrel they have their way with you. They don't even use Vaseline.
And you should know, they charge you to discuss or explain their bill.
2007-06-13 16:50:45 · answer #1 · answered by lcmcpa 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
The IRS is very reasonable to work with, when it comes to repayment plans. Contrary to popular opinion, they don't really want to wipe you out regardless of the consequences to you. File your taxes. Within a couple months, you'll get something in the mail from the IRS. It takes a while for them to get you into their system enough to set up the plan. Call them when you get your tax bill letter. They'll often give you up to 5 years to pay it. Penalties and interest add up to about 18% per year, so pay it as soon as you can. But, you can always set up a plan with a low payment, and pay more as often as you can. And next year, if you have a refund, they'll keep it to offset what you owe, which can help to get it paid off. Ignoring the IRS will bring pain and headaches you don't want. Just call them and talk to them. It's easy, painless, and everyone I've talked to there was actually quite helpful.
2016-05-19 23:05:16 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is very common to have a retainer agreement that establishes a new client account with a replenishment clause, just like making a security deposit for utility services when you open a new account or a security deposit on a rental. They don't know you and have no reason to trust you, so they ask you to pay as you go, and will use whatever is left over to pay their collection charges if and when you skip. When you terminate your need for their services, you get your retainer back, minus any outstanding balance.
In many states the interest on lawyers accounts goes automatically into a trust fund to pay for legal aid to those who cannot afford it.
2007-06-13 21:39:34 · answer #3 · answered by Nuff Sed 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The attorney wants to make sure there's a cushion in there so if it gets worse, the lawyer gets paid and doesn't have a negative balance.
Truth is: the lawyer has to pay a staff, pay his or her student loans off, support a family, and take care of other peoples' troubles.
Clients tend to leave lawyers high and dry after the retainer runs out. So he wants the retainer replenished.
2007-06-13 16:47:21 · answer #4 · answered by krollohare2 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Lawyers can be like vermin. They are dispicable creatures. I think what your lawyer did was stupidly nasty. That's all you need, having to fight and argue with your own lawyer. I say, if there is no "2,000 in trust" in the written or verbal contract, I don't think it can be fiddled with in the middle of things. Call and calmly ask the lawyer's assistant or ask to speak to the financial/billing person if it's a big firm. There is no need for clients to have lawyers who are nasty to them. For more feedback ask your question on findlaw.com or lawyers.com because more people with such experiences will be found there.
2007-06-13 17:00:02 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The answer to your question lies in the language of the retainer agreement. I would bet that your lawyer requires you to keep a balance of $2,000 in trust. That is a smart thing for a lawyer to do, so that he or she doesn't end up working for free.
The money in trust is yours. It doesn't sound like you're getting ripped off to me.
Call your attorney and ask him or her about it, and I bet you'll get a logical explanation.
2007-06-13 16:48:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The answer is that all lawyers are crooks. I hate lawyers. I just do not trust any of them.
2007-06-13 16:50:54 · answer #7 · answered by 2Cute2B4Got 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋