ComplaintsforCope Law Offices, LLC

• Initial Complaint

  06/26/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I was giving a phone consultation to try and file bankruptcy. Was told can do chapter 7 no problem only me filing not my husband. Was told to pay 2000 before they could actually file it in court so I paid the 2 weeks later in full. Was required to give my husband's financial records did so with all my paperwork as well. Was told week or so later needed his actual check stubs .said ok had to request them took about 2 weeks mean time they had his financial print out knowing he made alot more than me yearly. They never say anything. Then yesterday get a call from russ cope and he says oh he makes to much for you to file chapter 7 even though I had asked is this a sure thing weeks before when I talked to the office women who was very unprofessional on the phone with me talked about starting her period and weird things. He said they had to fire her this past week . But now he is saying he can't refund my 2000 dollars told me on phone he doesn't work for free . We'll no neither do I but if he would have went over the paperwork instead of waiting 4 weeks to then call me would be different. Now he said can only refund me 800 of it and just got a text from them saying can only put 338 on my bank card which I payed in full on my bank card and wants to mail me a check for the rest. Everything they have done seems illegal from the start saying my garnishment would stop soon as I paid and that was a lie it's as soon as it's filed. Think if you were going to be a reputable law firm would sit down and look at financial records before saying I was eligible for a service that I'm not. I just want my money back because no services were provided to me and all I got was the run around and bad service if he is firing office people not doing there jobs. I did receive a copy of my credit report will pay for that and that's all I should owe. Not 2000 for two 15 minute phone calls and some texts.

  Business response

  06/26/2024

  We were hired approximately 4 weeks ago to file for personal bankruptcy protection. The contract for services was a flat fee contract and clearly states that all fees are earned upon receipt. The client's particular avenue for protection is limited by federal law to certain income thresholds.  Our file was set up to obtain specific relief based upon client's representations of income. 
  
  We did not receive from our client full documentation required to prepare the court forms, schedules, and pleadings until approximately 2 weeks ago. We prepared those documents in the normal course of business. During preparation we discovered that the household income was much higher than the client had initially represented. At this point we had completed roughly 80% of the representation for the entire process. The file had over 4 dozen touches and involved several hours of work, including at least 10 emails, dozens of texts, processing more than 100 pages of documents, and hours of document preparation.
  
  I personally called the client and explained that we could not obtain the relief that she was seeking due to income being significantly higher than the income eligibility requirement. I proposed different options for relief that I would help her achieve at no additional cost. The client indicated that she did not want to entertain any other options. Her husband got involved and was incredibly rude.
  
  Although the contract for services said that it was a flat fee, I offered to refund $800 of the total $2000 paid due to the substantial work performed under the assumption that her income was as she represented. She said that was acceptable. I could only refund $338 to her card due to professional responsibility requirements, and a check was mailed for the difference.
  
  We maintain the highest standards of professional conduct, including extremely high standards for our paralegals and other administrative personnel. If the client had been honest initially about household income, then we would not be in the position of doing hours of work on a file that was never going to be successful. If the client wishes to negotiate a more substantial refund, then we are open to that line of communication. However, we indeed to not work for free. Copies of all work product can be provided to client at her request. 

  Customer response

  06/27/2024

  
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  **** *******

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