Attorney... wants $250 up front

[coolmom04]

Yesterday when I spoke with this attorney, he told me I absolutely HAD to fill out his 38 pages worth of forms before he could speak with us. Okay.. no big deal. Done.

I just called him again and he keeps telling me that b/c of the new BK laws, it is absolutely mandatory that he meet with me and disclose all this information with me and that there is a $250 fee. If we do choose to file with him, then the $250 fee will be applied towards the retainer fee.

What I didn't understand was how he kept telling me about all these strict laws in place & guidelines mandating that he had to have this initial meeting to disclose BK laws with me, etc...

I am confused b/c the OTHER two attorneys that I spoke to on the phone didnt say anything about me HAVING to have any info filled out before they could see/speak to us... only that we needed to bring in most recent pay stubs and a list of assets & unsecured debts. The other two attorneys are also free for the first consult.

Does it make sense what this attorney is telling me?? He's super nice. I don't get any bad "vibes" from him or anything, but what he says about our first meeting, etc., is totally opposite from what the other two said. I also don't have $250 to pay him unless we KNOW we are going to file with him and I don't want to pay the first attorney I meet with (thanks to all the advice from everyone here - I know better than to do that now )

[keepmine]

That's just how he runs his pratice.
Were I you, I'd just move on.
In reading your posts, you really don't have a complicated case {but in your mind you do}. Just go with the consults that don't ask for reams of info upfront.

[hamburgervol]

If you pay him $250 then that wouldn't be a free consultation. I'm sure he is nice, he wants your business. I've seen many instances where attorneys are super nice until they receive your money, then they become the polar opposite.

I would tell him to forget it and call another attorney. Sounds like a snake oil salesman to me.

Some attorneys do ask that you fill out their paperwork in order to get an idea of what they will be dealing with. (recent pay stubs and a list of assets & all debts)

[jdcat]

I had a free initial consult last night and was told by this attorney that she was required by law to go over all the new laws with me and that I needed to sign each of the papers that covered various topics. She then told me that she was required by law to keep these papers that I signed and file them in her office for two years. I had never heard of this before. She did not however ask for any money up front. The consult was still free.

[coolmom04]

That's just how he runs his pratice.
Were I you, I'd just move on.
In reading your posts, you really don't have a complicated case {but in your mind you do}. Just go with the consults that don't ask for reams of info upfront.

You're right.. I guess I know it's not a complicated case... just scared is all.

Thanks so much everyone! I will tell him I'll pass and I'll move no

[HHM]

It is simply the way that attorney markets. It does set him apart from the others. His explanation is a little misleading (not false, per se), but not accurate.

From his perspective, if you are not willing to commit a little to the consultation, (either by filing out the Q'nr and/or paying a consultation fee), then why should he waste his time with you? Basically, he is trying to get you committed to his firm, because once you do a Questionnaire and pay $250, the odds of you going to another attorney are very slim. There is nothing inherently wrong with the approach.

Outside of bankruptcy, personal injury, and some family law, ALL ATTORNEYS charge a consultation fee. In the big picture, it is not out of ordinary for the legal profession to charge a consultation fee, but it is out of the ordinary for bankruptcy attorneys.

[LimpDisc]

I don't like this approach by the attorney. From reading your posts I know how much you want to get a consult with an attorney, but I woud keep looking at others.

[coolmom04]

I have an appointment on Friday with a highly recommended local attorney with a FREE first consultation. I have everything filled out! I can't WAIT!! I bet you guys can't wait either so I will stop freaking out, eh?

[Faust]

I have an appointment on Friday with a highly recommended local attorney with a FREE first consultation. I have everything filled out! I can't WAIT!! I bet you guys can't wait either so I will stop freaking out, eh?

Well, I'm freaking out too so you're not alone!

[OhioFiler]

Well, I'm freaking out too so you're not alone!

"Freaking out" won't solve anything. Look at this as a financial business decision and try to keep the emotion out of it. People tend to make poor decisions when emotion is the basis for the decision. Emotions are often at odds with rational thought.

Good luck!

[jribe]

i think maybe this guy has been burned in the past.. He probably wants to make sure that he's giving you correct information exactly to your situation.
There's a lot of "what ifs" that can't be answered w/o the attorney having all the details like he is asking.

Free consults are great- but they're not always right either.

Sounds like this guy is being through, and doesn't want anyone's time wasted.

Yesterday when I spoke with this attorney, he told me I absolutely HAD to fill out his 38 pages worth of forms before he could speak with us. Okay.. no big deal. Done.

I just called him again and he keeps telling me that b/c of the new BK laws, it is absolutely mandatory that he meet with me and disclose all this information with me and that there is a $250 fee. If we do choose to file with him, then the $250 fee will be applied towards the retainer fee.

What I didn't understand was how he kept telling me about all these strict laws in place & guidelines mandating that he had to have this initial meeting to disclose BK laws with me, etc...

I am confused b/c the OTHER two attorneys that I spoke to on the phone didnt say anything about me HAVING to have any info filled out before they could see/speak to us... only that we needed to bring in most recent pay stubs and a list of assets & unsecured debts. The other two attorneys are also free for the first consult.

Does it make sense what this attorney is telling me?? He's super nice. I don't get any bad "vibes" from him or anything, but what he says about our first meeting, etc., is totally opposite from what the other two said. I also don't have $250 to pay him unless we KNOW we are going to file with him and I don't want to pay the first attorney I meet with (thanks to all the advice from everyone here - I know better than to do that now )