Legal Helpers

Don of Puyallup, WA November 21, 2009

In Feb 09 we retained LegalHelpers.com to file Chapter 7. All fees were paid at that time & requested documents were provided. We took the Credit Counseling course required as soon as we received the login number. Since that time we have been harassed by creditors because LegalHelpers will not talk to them, on the few occasions we have been able to get someone to answer the phone they will not identify thenselves & have hung up on us, fees have been added because "they made a mistake on your contract," they want us to retake their Credit Counseling course & pay for it again,

they lose documents when we send or fax them, they will not return phone calls or call to confirm receipt of a fax when requested by a coversheet, and now they are threatening to "close your case because you have failed to provide needed documents. Bottom line: Nov 09 & nothing has been filed yet.

Next step is a complaint filed with the State Attorny's office. DO NOT USE LegalHelpers, they are a bucket load of stress when you don't need it. Cost of repeatedly faxing the same documents, added fees above the contracted price, dramaticlly increased stress dealing with our creditors, unable to begin reestablishing our affairs until the Chapter 7 is completed.

Angela of Seattle, WA October 29, 2009

HORRIBLE COMPANY - STAY AWAY FROM THEM. Why there is not state action against this company is beyond me. We paid almost 2,000 since April 09 and it's Nov 09 now no papers still - not even drawn up yet. We will also file a small claims suit against these folks. DO NOT USE THEM!

john of kalamazoo, MI August 27, 2009

I have been a so called customer of legalhelpers [M. Aleman] since February 09 2009. Since then I have not once been contacted by LegalHelpers.com, unless I contact them first. In early April I made one payment. [the exact amount stated on the contract] About 4 weeks later [May] I noticed my check had not been cashed, so i called them, I was told the check was in my file and would be cashed soon and it was.

A couple weeks passed after my check was cashed, [June] I decided to call back. This time I was told there was a balance due on my account, I told the gentlemen I had paid in full. Then he asked how much I paid, I told him the exact amount that the contract called for and my check had been cashed and cleared for over a month. After all the time I spent on hold and the lengthy period of time on the phone while legalhelpers got there records strait, I was told they would start soon.

In July I called back many times. I was told they needed a income verification form they Emailed it to me, I told them not to contact me through Email or the phone number I originally provided them [I had no access to them] and I gave them a new contact number, I retrieved the form filled it out with a notary and returned it promptly and still nothing. The next time I called back, I was told they had not received it and to send a copy. I asked is a copy OK! the original had to be signed in front of a notary. then I was told they would Email me another one. Again I told them my new contact information and was told my case was all wrote up and all they needed at this time was a the income verification form.

I was able to get the fax after a few days. I called back to see if they found the original form, they did. I was then told my case had not been started yet [guess what I was (upset) and let them know it] I then asked to talk to management. I told management my problem, she did not want to here my aggressive displeasure and told me not to talk to her like that because she did not know anything about my case, I responded! Then let me talk to the person handling my case. Then I was then told I do not need to talk to them, she could handle it.

I then asked to talk to her manager, the response was you don't need to talk to them either, after a heated argument she hung up on me. I have called back numerous times and get the same result, but while on hold I hear that [I can speak with an attorney 6 days a week] [high level client service] [vary accessible] I have requested to be contacted by my attorney to many times and no response. Today is August 27 2009 any suggestions

Kenny of Chicago, IL July 25, 2009

The bottom-line is that Legal Helpers is the McDonald's of bankruptcy - low cost and high volume. I suspect you can always pay more and get more personalized attention somewhere else. With Legal Helpers there were a number of times in my bankruptcy process that I was a bit frustrated, e.g., felt like I was getting conflicting info., small dispute over a discount, etc. However, in the end I always got the answers I needed - even if I had to go into the office and ask to see an attorney to confirm details. At the end, I got what I wanted - even if everything was not perfect. You should be fine if you are willing to take control of the situation and make sure the details are clear.

Ishmael of Kew Gardens, NY July 10, 2009

I contracted Legal Helpers January this year. Recently I requested a full refund due to the lack of service from this company. The company is not client friendly and there was no communication whatsoever concerning my file. Any time I wanted to speak with attorney to talk abount my file I get the 21 questions. The company is sorely lacking in customer service. From the day I contracted with tem I have never spoke with an attorney once. They always seem to send paralegals and making an appointment with an attorney is like tryin g to see the president of these United States. My refubng was suppose to take 30 days.

It is now moving into almost 45 days. Then they tell me I won't be refunded the full amount. This is some sort of scam this company is running. Not only did I pay the retainer but they also are trying to get more money from me for a case that has never been filed because I deceided to find another company to handle my bankruptcy. They can't even direct deposit my refund into my acccount. Even though they have all my account information which I submitted so they could deduct the payments for the initial fee. I requested the refund in writing and they continued to give me the run around and refuse to deposit the refund into my bank account.

Fern of Kansas City Kansas, KS July 1, 2009

We filled bankruptcy in April of 2007, and the case was discharged in July of 2007. When we filled we had two mortgages one mortgage we kept and the other was suppose to be discharged and out of our name. Well it has been over two years and we are still getting fines from taxes, maintenance fines, and mortgage statements saying the house is still in our name.

When we try to show the courts that we have discharge papers this does not work. We wee told that all we had to do was show these papers and the courts would fix it. The courts tell us that the lawyer did not fill out all the paper work on his end, and that there is still papers that need to be filled. I think its ironic that their ad says we are here to answer your calls 6 days a week, but i have called several times, and keep getting the run around that someone will call me back when they never do.

I have also tried to reach them by email, and still no luck. This is very frustrating to have to keep taking off work for court, pay fines and credit not improving, I would never again recommend Legal Helpers to anyone and will spread the word of how poor their service really is. I paid 1,899.00 and for what to have my credit and headaches worse then they were before I signed up with them.

W of Denver, CO June 22, 2009

-Signed with in 2007-Filed and discharged in 2008-Was sold w/assurance of personal representation by local attorney as well as toll free client svc avail should I need 6 days a wk and for support of any further collection attempts on discharged issues after the fact. -Once signed on: the only way to reach the local attorney was thru an 800 number and out of state group.

-The same 800 was also the promised client svc group - again, they were not local and not familiar w/local laws/procedures etc. -Seemed to be a rivalry between client svc reps and local attorney(s). More than once I'd begin my question only to be cut off, redirected and questioned as to how the local attorney could have told me whatever. On one occasion, 45 min into being debated w/and questioned as to info given by the local attorney that had nothing to do with the question I'd called with, the client rep placed me on hold for 7 minutes, then came back and suggested hey, that I must know how it is, that he's just an associate doing his time on the phones and that actually my local attorney had been correct re the laws in Colorado.

After an hour of this I still never got an answer to the question I'd called in with. -Other times I'd call and sit on hold for a very long time only to be answered by a voice requiring my name, phone, acct number (with no intro or welcome on their part) only to then be told no one's in the office and someone will call me back.

-I have an email reprimanding me (from the client 800 center) for expecting that they'd have time to spend taking my call when they're so busy in court. the email reprimanding me was addressed to another person's name of the opposite gender. I was later told the person that reprimanded me (as another persons name and of the opposite gender) was the manager of the center. -The local attorney handling my case left the firm.

-Since the discharge, the client svc group I'd been sold on being avail to handle further collection attempts on discharged issues(and been assured are supposed to support me afterward by other sources of legal assistance on learning that I did have an attorney handle the bankruptcy for me) have only cut to what sounds like a scripted lecture on how the legal system works and how it's my responsibility to make sure they had everything they needed to file (which I did) and that if I missed anything or messed up then they can open a new petition at an additional cost to me.

They don't bother to check the records first to see if what they're telling me I did wrong actually was/is listed before telling me this. When I point out it's there, they then tell me I need to call and talk with the creditors then. They offer no support post discharge despite what they guarantee on signing.

-Plain and simply rude. I've yet to call and get anyone interested (or even pretending to be interested) in hearing me or helping me. They always, from hello forward, sound on guard and ready to defend/redirect etc. I've been cut off 5 words into my initial question when they assume they know where I'm going, only to have to point out that their response may be great for someone fitting that situ, but that my question actually has to do w/pre-discharge issues not any post discharge activity/spending LH automatically seems to assume must be the issue.

On finally accepting that I'm calling about a legit issue, the response is more flustered - it's often then admitted to me that the person I'm talking w/isn't an attorney after all and they can't actually tell me the answer, but that I should just call and talk w/the creditors in question myself.

Mike of Chino, CA June 3, 2009

Filed for Bankruptcy in October 2008 with Legal Helpers. Just found out attorney quit. Every time I go in they tell me they need more papers. Going in tomorrow to say file or give me my money back like your ad says. NOT HAPPY. Receiving summons to court and being sued by creditors. Legal Helpers says they can't help me with summons. Aren't they attorneys??? What a mess at over 2,000.

Pabala of Frederick, MD May 20, 2009

I signed on board with Legal Helpers in 2008. I filed a chapter 13. I have had no representation and every two-three months I get a different attorney. When I call the 800 number that was provided by legal helpers no one knows who my attorney is. I have paid them 3600.00 to date and I have ask to have this case dismissed and my money refunded. To this date I have not received a response. I am mad. I will be filing a class action case agaisnt them. Please Help! I'm being rob Effective March 2009. Legal Helpers sent a notice stated that they will be closing their offices in MD. The letter goes on to say that I can use and attorney provided by them that will be willing to take on my, Or I can find my on attorney at my expense. Once again I am out right ferrous.

I tried to call my Trustee to dismiss informing her that I no longer had an attorney. She stated that I did and give me his name. I just went 5/18/09 to meet this person to find out that he wants even more money. And they state on their website that they will do everything legally and ethically.

Emma of Longmont, CO May 14, 2009

I call the hot line to ask a simple question (retainer fee for Bankruptcy) The agent who answered the phone wouldn't provide any information until i gave my full name and contact info. I did this and he said i woul have to get a call back from someone local. Shortly after i ended the call, i received 4 different phone calls form differnt firms that also couldnt answer my question with out meeting with me. I was boombared with sales call for the next 2 days.

I calleed legal helpers and asked to be placed on the No call List, they assured me this would not happen again. However, i just got another call from them!!! i call and spoke with Janis to again be placed on the No Call List. These people cant help you just put your name on a call list so you can be smothered by sales calls from over priced attornies. If you plan on filing Bankruptcy, you can do it yourself by going to the US Bankrupty court web page easilt found using google - goodluck

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