ComplaintsforThe Law Offices of Steven J. Glaros & Associates

• Initial Complaint

  03/29/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  ON 03/14/2024 AT 2:57PM I ALLOWED THE *** OFFICE OF STEVEN J. *********************************************** TO WITHDRAW $3,500 OUT MY ACCOUNT TO COVER FOR WHAT I WAS EXPLAINED TO BE A NON CONTEST DIVORCE.I WENT DOWN TO THEIR OFFICE TO FILL SOME PERSONAL INFORMATION FORMS.NEXT FOLLOWING WEEK I WAS VERY SICK AND DEPRESS TO THE POINT I GAVE UP ON PERSUING THIS, DUE TO TOO MUCH STRESS AND MENTAL ISSUES I WAS GOING THROW.I DECIDED TO GAVE THEM A CALL TO LET THEM KNOW MY SITUATION.SO. THE **** TOLD ME THAT THEY ALREADY USED A SUSTACIAL AMOUNT OF MY MONEY $1,500 FOR THE **** ALSO THAT THE REST OF THE $2,000 BALANCE WAS NOT REFONDABLE.THEN THEY GAVE ME TWO OPTIONS 1. JUST DROP THE **** NO MONEY REFOND TO ME 2. THEY WILL HOLD THAT MONEY FOR THE NEXT THREE MONTHS IN **** I CHANGE MY MIND.SO. I THOUGHT THEY DO NOT WANT TO GIVE ME BACK MY MONEY LET ME CHOSSE OPTION 2 SINCE I WAS TRAP ON A NON MONEY REFOND. BUT I HAD NOT YET EVEN SIT DOWN WITH THE ***YER TO EXPLAIN MY ****,SO HOW CAN THEY KEEP MY MONEY WITHOUT ME EVEN GETTING NOT SERVICE AT ALL. I AM A 100% DISABLED VETERANT DIAGNOSED WITH SEVERE ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION, ITS HARD FOR ME TO PROCESS THIS ALL VERY WELL. I THINK IT IS NOT FAIR THAT A *** OFFICE FIRM IS IN NEEDED TO APROPRIATED SOME ONE MONEY WITHOUT EVEN HONOR A SERVICES FOR IT WAS PAID FOR,CAUSE IT NEVER WENT THAT FAR.SO. NOT SERVICE AT ALL,NOT SIT DOWN WITH THE ***YER ASSIGNED TO ME TO STARTED THIS PROCESS .IT FEELS LIKE I JUST WENT THERE TO ,OUT OF THE BLUE GAVE UP MY MONEY JUST LIKE THAT, LIKE THEY ARE IN NEED OF MY MONEY MORE THAN MYSELF .REMEMBER THIS A *** OFFICE FIRM THEY MAKE THEIR MONEY AND NO NEED TO TAKE MY FOR FREE OR NOT SERVICES AT ALL. I WANT MY MONEY BACK.

  Business response

  04/02/2024

  
  The client (the complainant) retained the ********** of Steven J. Glaros and Associates on March 14, 2024, after having a telephonic consultation with an attorney. The engagement/retainer fee for the client's case was $3,500.00, which he paid that same day. The client then met with an attorney in person, at our *********** office location, to further discuss his case, the next steps of his case, and to review and sign the Retainer Agreement and Employment Contract. The Retainer Agreement was executed on March 15, 2024 during the in-person meeting. A redacted copy of the Retainer Agreement is attached hereto. 

  Pursuant to the Retainer Agreement and Employment Contract, the client agreed to the following terms, "I agree that the Engagement Fee for this matter will be $3,500.00 and shall be paid before any work is perfumed. The ********** of Steven ** Glaros and Associates has agreed that the hourly rate will apply to the Engagement Fee. This Engagement Fee is non-refundable. I understand that this may not be the entire fee for this case and that this is only the Engagement Fee. I agree that the Engagement Fee described in the paragraph 3, is deemed fully earned upon payment, and under no circumstances refundable." Accordingly, the client was aware and agreed that the initial $3,500.00 was non-refundable at the time he retained the firm.Shortly after retaining, on March 25, 2024, the client advised that he did not want to proceed with the divorce proceedings. However, by that time, a significant amount of work had been done on his case, for which the client was charged from his engagement fee accordingly and pursuant to the Retainer Agreement, including meetings/phone calls with the support staff and the attorney, the drafting of the initial pleadings and other documents, etc. The client further advised that he wanted to place his case on hold, for a period of 90-days, in the event he wanted to proceed with his case at a later time. This was confirmed and memorialized via electronic mail on March 25,2024, the same date the client had spoken with our staff to advise of his request to place the case on hold. A redacted copy of the email correspondence is attached hereto. 

  Customer response

  04/17/2024

   
  Complaint: 21501826
  
  I am rejecting this response because: I  was in break down of my mental instability  and been on a vulnerable situation may some time get me in trouble I Did talk to them but like i stated i only filled some personal information on a form never got to meet neither talk/explain my situation .when i decided to drop what i do not even call a case yet I been told that they had used a substancial amount of the money i gave and mention to me $1500.so. as i stated if i never meet the lawyer neither explained my case/situation how come for just used $1500 of the original amount $3,500 i am not entile to the rest of my money. Lets be fare under the circunstance i was going thru why you doing all this intention of keep my money for something that had not provided .i understand that if i would go thru sit down with the lawyer and explain all about then, you more than right to keep all $3,500.I feel that we never went  that far in like for you all to apropiated of the rest $2,000 you never worked for.This is a lawyer firm and you do not really need to do me like this specially for something that never happened other than the first step fill out my personal information .I was told that i wont get my money back but that i had an option which was to hold up this process for three months in case i change my mind,so if you been told you gonna loose alll or hold it up for another month what will you choose.to hold it of course.Please just do not do me like this .This is money that i struggle to get thru my disability from the V.A. and i am pretty sure you not need it this way
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ******************************************

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