Those that used an attorney

[DaisysMom]

When I got the summons and knew I had to file quickly, I got on the internet and searched out attorneys in my area who work with BK.s. When I called each of them, knowing that I would qualify for a 7, I politely asked what their fees were for a Chap. 7 BK. Each secretary I spoke with told me their basic filing fee as well as what the court costs would be. They then went on to say that it could be more, depending on other circumstances (reaffirmations, challenges, etc.) but I could discuss all of that with the attorney when I met with him for the first consult.

The first attorney I saw was very thorough. He took all of the info about my circumstances, expenses and then explained what I may be getting into when I file. He then went over the fee structure again, which was set in writing on the two page BK info sheet he gave me. I hired him. WOOT!!

When I went in again a week later to pay my retainer and the court costs to file, the secretary went over a list of documents they needed to put the case together. I sent several days getting everything together and am going in tomorrow to sign my petition so they can file it.

It all was so easy, professional, and a real surprise that it has all gone so quickly and smoothly. And BTW, there was no long multi page form that I had to spend hours completing.

As for the secretaries that hung up on you. I wasn't there and didn't hear the conversation, but I think that would be a perfectly acceptable question. I probably wouldn't have worded it that way, but when your in a BK situation you can be under alot of stress and desperate for answers. If your in the bizz of doing BK's, you should realize that. I liked the way my attorneys sec'y handled it. Just my opinion.

DM

[MSbklawyer]

As for the secretaries that hung up on you. I wasn't there and didn't hear the conversation, but I think that would be a perfectly acceptable question. I probably wouldn't have worded it that way, but when your in a BK situation you can be under alot of stress and desperate for answers. If your in the bizz of doing BK's, you should realize that. I liked the way my attorneys sec'y handled it. Just my opinion.

DM

I don't mean to suggest that there's anything wrong with asking about the cost. There's not. You'd be crazy if you didn't ask about the cost. What I'm referring to are those clients where the conversation goes like this:

Them: Hey, this is Mike. What's the absolute cheapest price you'll do a chapter 7 bankruptcy for? I know that I need a chapter 7 because I read about it on the internet. What's your rock-bottom price?

Me: Well, assuming that you're right and that you need a Chapter 7, the attorney fees are $xxxxx, plus the filing fees, credit counseling and the credit report we pull. So all total, you're looking at $XXXXX, and this assumes that things are as you say and no complicating factors.

Them: WHOOAAA, BRA! The guy down the street from you does them $150 cheaper than that! Can you beat his deal? I need your rock bottom figure.

I've learned the hard way over the years, that he probably has no idea whether he needs chapter 7 or some other chapter; that he has the idea that a 7 will discharge his unpaid child support or has some equally misguided notion that he will have to be disabused of and he will think that I am lying to him about that to bulk up the fee because he read otherwise "somewhere on the internet"; that there are DOZENS of complicating factors such as no tax returns filed in over 5 years ("I didn't have the money to pay it, BRA! That's why I want to hire you to file bankruptcy on those IRS cats!"), and that he never talked to anybody "down the street"; that I will have wasted all the time I spent talking to him and analyzing his case because he will storm out when I finally tell him that he needs a chapter 13 at a far greater price than the "rock bottom" price the "guy down the street" gave him.

It took me a long time to learn this, but there really are some clients you should not take. Time wasted on them could be spent more profitably. I've learned to spot them a mile away, and a dead-ringer that they're going to be a major PITA is when they open up the conversation with that 'rock-bottom price' inquiry.

[mountanddo]

Them: WHOOAAA, BRA!

This alone would make me not want them for a client! LOL

[TomTea31]

This alone would make me not want them for a client! LOL

ha ha yeah no doubt.