frustrated with lawyer's office

[dunno]

well, I thought I'd gotten all my ducks in a row, even asked that thye PLEASE review my file before I left, last week, and was undr the impression that I was only missing 2 things - the CC cert and a last paycheck stube before filing.

I made it SO CLEAR that I have only one day free to review TODAY (tuesdays) and asked that it be ready....


thptpthtphttpt.

Not on your life. this office is SOOOO under organized!

I am thinking that with my management background and organization attributes, I may just offer the lawyer to hire me instead of her incompetent office manager. Hell, I'd make as much and it sure would be interesting.

(part of me is convince that no one does anything very efficiently here in UT - it's like it doesn't really matter to do it quick and right!)

[AngelinaCat]

Hi dunno, Welcome to the "I HATE My Lawyer Club". A vast majority of the posters here, are doing so because wecannot get the answers we need from the people we have paid, good hard-earned money for a so-called *expert* to handle your affairs.

'Hub and I are in Florida BTW.

[adaughter]

I'm glad I'm not the only one frustrated! I was thinking am I the only one! it takes forever and a day for the secretaries in my lawyers office to be at appointments at time or call back usually I do the calling back!

also whenever I want to talk to the lawyer directly the secretaries are always like what do you want to ask let me ask him for you AHHH.

[dunno]

The last thing I want to do is DELAY the filing....

I orchestrated our cash flow to reflect $4 in the checking account for tomorrow, but hubby gets paid, direct deposit, on FRIDAY.

Erg. Y'know, I look at the others in the office when I visit-- so many small claims types - CH7, mostly, no wonder there is not more urgency on the part of the staff. I'm guessing they don't see as many people like me with ENORMOUS debt and RADICAL income shifts. I understand, too, that BK is pretty common here, so maybe no-one else comes into the office with the same level of anxiety and urgency?

What'd they mean, "I have to send these off to have forms made up"? WHY am I not being explained to better? I told him just call me and let me know what I need to do to expedite the filing....

Isn't there software available to speed this process up? Seems to me that the hard part should be in the accuracy and completeness of the data supplied, rather than producing the forms.

ARRRGGHH!!!

[dunno]

crap, hit the SEND button twice.

how embarrassing

[b_girl]

I think most of us are/were frustrated with our attorney/attorney's office at one point or another during the process. Maybe it has to do with the high volume of filings? Doesn't excuse them, but it might explain it a bit.

[treehugger1]

I thought you could do an "emergency filing," and then fill in the details within 14 days or so. Can they do this for you?

[dunno]

Well, apparently they can, cuz they did -- TODAY.

Whew! <wipes brow>

whoa - I don't know if you read my intro, but WHAT A RELIEF to begin to get all that debt offa me!

We included the home mortgages today, too, altho I have a short sale proposal pending, just in case. --- Any thoughts on this? She told me that it should be a simple matter to follow up with a petition requesting permission to go through with the short sale (or something like that)

I have only left to review with the CPA a budget plan.

I need advice on the budget plan. Do I over-estimate what I need and let her adjust or what?

Thanks for the comments!

[dunno]

Oh! forgot to add: I emailed the atty earlier today with my frustration - that's why they expedited for me.

My email:

Hi, Atty.

I just left a message on your office phone, asking if everything is going OK to file today. On Tuesday, M*** promised to review my file, send the necessary documents to wherever they need to be sent (??? no further explaination) and to send the income info to the CPA for income analysis and budget, and that he would call me for the appointment to review.

Maybe my expectation have been unrealistic and I apologize for being out of line.

I expressed my disappointment that we were not ready for this that day, as I had explained the previous Tuesday that my only day off is Tuesdays. He apologized, saying that you are slammed and that everyone's reviews were being pushed back at least a week. He said he does not like to do anything with the file until EVERYTHING is in it. My credit report was not pulled until that moment. I had no idea it had been left undone, but clearly it is something that must be done with the client's participation. I had finished the credit counseling and had the cert both faxed and emailed earlier in the day.

What is frustrating is that I arrived with the payment for your retainer and the filing fee (cash) and plenty of free time to wait until I could be fit in. I timed it so that my bank account is about empty on Thursday (today). Otherwise, with my husband's direct deposit each Friday and other bills paid on line, it is difficult to time well.

Is it possible to find a way to review with me and possibly file today? My schedule is 9-9 today, but I may be able to request some time away. Thursdays are difficult to make that request, as we have ony 4 people to cover the dealership that day, but I will certainly try!

Thanks for the efforts on our behalf,

Sincerely,

[dunno]

It's official - we are filed for a CH13.

They said they notify the creditors, etc. i thought I read somewhere that I might need to do that, too?

As for now, do I tell all my creditors that I filed? Is there a protocol?

Also, I just found out that my short sale contract should be closing in the first week of November. Should I amend my filing NOT to include the mortgage company, or what? I mean, they filed for foreclosure, but it's not been foreclosed.

I'll keep looking on other posts....

[lrprn]

They said they notify the creditors, etc. i thought I read somewhere that I might need to do that, too?

No, the court notifies all the creditors you have listed on your filing forms. There is no need for you to do this as well.

As for now, do I tell all my creditors that I filed? Is there a protocol?

There's no official protocol. When a creditor calls you now post-filing asking for payments, just give them your lawyer's name and contact information along with your case number - that's all you have to do. If they stupidly persist trying to get you to pay something, tell them they are breaking the law and you will notify your lawyer about the violation of your automatic stay. Then notify your lawyer in writing (letter or email) about the creditor so he/she can deal with it.

Also, I just found out that my short sale contract should be closing in the first week of November. Should I amend my filing NOT to include the mortgage company, or what? I mean, they filed for foreclosure, but it's not been foreclosed.

Did your lawyer know about the short sale possibility before filing? (Please say yes!)

What do your forms indicate you plan to do about the house? Did you indicate you plan to surrender or reaffirm the mortgage, or did you do nothing hoping to let the mortgage ride as-is paying on time?

And you cannot amend your filing yourself now after you've filed. Your assigned trustee will expect everything regarding your case to come through your lawyer.

[dunno]

Hello, lpr....

I told them about the pending contract and that the lender had already filed for foreclosure back in April. They suggested I might want to wait until it went thru to file, but cautioned that should something go wrong with it, I would have the foreclosure, too. I have not made a payment since January and do not intend to keep the house.

They said I could include the mortgages in the filing and then follow up with asking permission for the short sale afterward (my word was 'amendment', not theirs).

I am still in the dark about this budget review I have yet to do.... some thing about a "plan"?

Dunno

[Keebler]

I think you'll find that any business that relies on customers that they'll almost certainly never see again is substandard.

Bankruptcy, in particular, is an industry where customers find lawyers on short notice (usually from TV commercials or the Yellow Pages) and there's little word of mouth advertising.

How many of you talked to friends, neighbors or co-workers before filing to see if they had any recommendations? I know I didn't!

Any time you come across this scenereo, you can be universally assured that you'll be less than thrilled with the products or service.

I'll bet there's other good examples.

[dunno]

I've been suspecting that is the case...

It's like they give these vague excuses and answers without anyconcern if they actually keep you abreast or informed or ON TIME....

I just expected more professionalism.