Complaints

• Initial Complaint

  12/16/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I needed to do a quick claim deed with my daughter and son. I spoke to Ms ********* ******************'s assistant, Ms ***** *******. She informed me that I needed to pay 800 dollars (400 for consultation and 400 for one hour review of documents I hand delivered to her) prior to a phone consultation. On the day of the phone consultation-within the first five minutes of the conversation-I realized that Ms ****************** had not even looked at my documents. I spent 23 minutes just explaining the details which were plainly obvious on the documents. Furthermore, contrary to my expectation of being advised about the proper way to obtain the quick claim deed for myself, my daughter, and my son (we have always been a close-knit family, and even tighter after my husband's demise in 2021), I was told by Ms ****************** that it is dangerous to obtain such deed because " it may or it may not work " I felt uncomfortable about this " fact " and the way that Ms ****************** made me feel like I was trying to act against the law. I am a bilingual senior citizen, I have a Bachelor's degree, an extensive work experience and I truly feel that in my case Ms ******************'s attitude has been totally unprofessional and I was left with serious doubts about obtaining the deed. After the phone consultation, I called the office on three different occassions and Ms ******************'s assistant, Ms ***** *******, who used to called me every other day, until I paid the 800 dollars, has never called me back. I have written an email requesting to have a proper, official invoice of the ************************************* my income tax return but I have not received any reply to my message.

  

  Business response

  12/30/2024

  The client contacted our office for a consultation regarding two properties owned by her and her daughter.  My assistant advised her that I would charge $800 for a consultation and review of the documents provided to our office. This client in her complaint has confirmed that this is what she was quoted and charged. There were no surprises. The client sent over documentation which was reviewed and addressed on the consultation. My recommendation to the client was to not do what she wanted to do which was for her to quit claim her property to her daughter and her daughter's property to her. I explained to her that there is a mortgage against each property and the banks specifically prohibit the owners from transferring title to other parties if they are not on the mortgage.  She is now upset because she was not happy with my recommendation.  I wish I could have had better news for her but after discussion with her and consultation and review of the documents that she provided, that was not recommended. My recommendation was for her to refinance each property and at that time she could do a quit claim deed transferring title.

  Customer response

  01/03/2025

  I do not agree with the business response about the complaint I made.       I agreed to paying the 800 dollars (400 dollars for the consultation and ******************************************** reviewing the documents I hand delivered).   I am complaining about the fact that I am absolutely aware that Ms ****************** had no real knowledge about the information about the documents I left and instead of providing me with legal advice during the consultation I spent most of the time explaining the documents content to Ms ******************.   After the consultation, I was not enlightened at all by her answers and was indeed left with more doubts than having a clear path for my inquiry.   It is my word against Ms ******************s.   I truly feel I had no lack of understanding.   

  Customer response

  01/06/2025

   
  Complaint: 22691330
  
  I am rejecting this response because:I do not agree with the business response about the complaint I made.       I agreed to paying the 800 dollars (400 dollars for the consultation and ******************************************** reviewing the documents I hand delivered).   I am complaining about the fact that I am absolutely aware that Ms ****************** had no real knowledge about the information about the documents I left and instead of providing me with legal advice during the consultation I spent most of the time explaining the documents content to Ms ******************.   After the consultation, I was not enlightened at all by her answers and was indeed left with more doubts than having a clear path for my inquiry.   It is my word against Ms ******************s.   I truly feel I had no lack of understanding.  
  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *** *****

  

  Business response

  01/10/2025

  I am not sure how I can resolve this. The client is not happy with the recommendation on what needs to be done.  She is wrong that documents were not reviewed.  The deeds and mortgages were reviewed, along with the notes that were provided by my legal assistant beforehand.  However, I still need to speak to the client to get clarity as to what it is that she wanted to do. The documents provided by themselves could not have provided me any insight as to the transfer of the properties and what she wanted to do. Again, I do not recommend transfer of the properties without a refinance being done. I explained this to the client and she was not happy with my recommendation.  I am happy to speak again to the client to explain my recommendation again or to see if there is any other option, but I can not provide a refund for legal services that were rendered and the client is simply not happy with my legal advice.  

  Customer response

  01/15/2025

   
  Complaint: 22691330
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  
  

  When I noticed that Ms ****************** had not seen - much less reviewed - the information I hand delivered to her assistant, I asked her if she had seen the documents, especially since her assistant told me I was paying 400 dollars for one hour review of the information.

  Ms ****************** did not answer my direct question.  Instead, she pointed out that her assistant's duty was to receive the documents and the purpose of the phone call consultation was for me to explain all the details of my case - which took most of the time of the pone call.

  Contrary to what Ms ****************** has stated in her previous messages - namely, that she was not able to do the quick claim deeds that I requested and which she also indicates that this is the reason for which I am unhappy - Ms ****************** told me she could do the quick claim deeds and she could charge me 500 dollars for each one.  I pointed out to her that her assistant had told me " the lawyer charges 450 dollars for each quick claim deed, and she probably gives you a discount since you are paying the initial 800 dollars."   Ms ****************** then indicated that she would honor her assistant' s quote even if she in fact charges 500 dollars for a quick claim deed.

  Due to Ms ******************'s lack of professionalism evident during our phone conversation by her failure to review my case's paperwork, the inconsistency of her fees, and her overall condescending attitude toward my clear request, I felt unable to trust her or her legal advice.  My need for a quick claim deed is not unreasonable but simple and straightforward.  As a matter of fact, I now know my request is a goal which I can obtain doing most of the paperwork myself.  Due to the above-mentioned reasons, I can not establish any business relationship with Ms ******************.
  

  
  
  

  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *** *****

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