i hired a lawyer in february 2005 to handle my upcoming divorce.  the total cost was $1500 and i paid him $1200 up front.  signed no contract or anything to pay. his paralegal was great but he basically is a joke in town (found this out later), they were late for court (my divorce was may 19 2005) and they made themselves look stupid in court.  he did nothing for me but sit there and look stupid.  anyway i never received a bill from them until last summer.  i was put off by their horrible service so i didnt bother to pay the $300 i owed.  mind you they billed me one time during summer of 2005.  well in november i received a bill that said to pay or they would send me to collections for my $300 balance.  so i mailed in $50 and i have the cancelled check they cashed.  i received no more bills until yesterday and now they say to pay (and still show the balance at $300) to avoid a lawsuit in jp court.  also they never even sent me papers or anything on my divorce!  how should i handle this
210846
depends on area...in texas jp court is basically class c misdemeanors (ie. traffic tickets) if they are suing you in civil court, then it is like peoples court, but if they performed a service then payment would be expected, although they have to accept any payment as long as it is reasonable...ie. can't send them 0.50 cents a week. i do believe that a contract should have to be produced with your signature, but in some states a verbal contract is binding. hope this helps
394048
CheckSmart is feeding you a line of bull$h!t.  As long as you are making a reasonable effort to pay off a just debt they CANNOT turn you over for collection (under the Fair Debt Collection Act)and they sure as heck CANNOT have a warrant issued for your arrest if they can't prove that you deliberately committed bank fraud.  \n\nHere's what you do:  Get the name, address, telephone number, and FAX number of the manager of the Columbus CheckSmart office.  Write him/her personally and explain the situation.  Be sure to FAX a copy to them ASAP and make sure you keep a copy of the letter.  Let them know that you're willing to pay the debt but you simply can't hand over that kind of money right now because you got scammed out of a huge chunk of money yourself.  Send the original via UPS or FedEx so you can ensure your letter makes it there before noon on Friday.  If you don't hear from the manager by Friday, call on Monday and ask to speak to him/her.  If this person is not willing to accommodate you, that's when you start playing hard-ball.\n\nIf the manager says he/she is going to get a warrant sworn out for your arrest, then tell him/her your lawyer will be in court the very next day filing a damages lawsuit against CheckSmart for wrongful prosecution, and that he/she will be named as one of the defendants in the suit.  \n\nIf the manager demands payment in full, tell him/her that you will pay what you can on a schedule but that's all you can do.  \n\nIf he/she tells you that's not acceptable, your reply is that you're not asking -- you're telling him what you can and will do and he/she will just have to live with it.  And if he/she has a problem with it, encourage him/her to read up on the Fair Debt Collection Act.\n\nYou should probably contact a lawyer as well.  Look in the Yellow Pages for attorneys that give free initial consultations.  You might get someone who will take your case pro bono (for free).\n\nGood luck!
406348
yes you have...You have know way of knowing how many checks or how much money the companies have paid your lawyers. You will never see all of the checks. They will only show you the checks that they have deducted there 33% from. You have probably been shafted for about 35 to 45 thousand. You need to get another lawyer that you trust. He will have to uncover the case with your other lawyer. This will cost you another 33% but might get you a few thousand dollars. It will be hard to find a lawyer to take on another lawyer!! Sorry, sounds like you should have picked a better attorney!
202809
She is in contempt of court.  At this point, its not her concern what the bills are and for how much.  She doesn't need to see them.  The court ordered her to pay them and that's all she needs to know.  I'd advise the court that she is in default and request another hearing.
423958
Why didn't the attorneys give you the contact information for the original creditor.  You need to find this company and ask them whats going on.  Some companies do things like this, then go a few months without payment so that they can garnish you cause they figure they can get more money that way.  In my county the courthouse can take payments for judgments.  Did you ask them if they would.  Whatever you do, keep records of your attempts to contact them.  It sounds like this could come back on you. \nActually there should be something the courthouse can do for you also.  Seems to me like there should be some kind of papers to fill out to find the creditor.  Contact everyone, the courthouse the attorney find that creditor.   \nSTUDLY is usually good with things like this, but I'm not sure how to find someone on Yahoo answers unless you see they've answered a question and click there avatar.\nGood Luck.
173124
First of all, don't go clumping everyone who can't pay their bills into the same group of deadbeats!  That is what really pisses me off abut you collectors!\n\nEvery person has their own reasons.  Sure, you got a lot of irresponsible people, but a whole lot more have legitimate problems.\n\nDivorces, medical emergencies, loss of jobs, personal accidents or disasters...all of these can ruin someones ability to pay bills.  \n\nFrom my experiences, most people want to pay, but because of the above reasons they can't!  They certainly can make an effort, but collectors like you won't give them a chance!  It's either pay it all now, or your credit is ruined!\n\nIt certainly doesn't make it easier when credit card companies totally screw you with their tricks.  Like when you miss a payment by a few days, and suddenly your interest jumps from 13% to 29%!  Years of good payments mean nothing to you...but miss ONE payment and you are screwed!\n\nAnd it's certainly nice of them to raise your credit limit without your knowledge.  The next think you know, you are $5000 in debt on a card that you thought only had a $2000 limit!  OK, that's the fault of the irresponsible consumer for not knowing their card limits.  But you see how it can destroy someones budget?\n\nI've posted a lot of comments here.  I've had a ton of nasty emails from collectors calling me a deadbeat.  \n\nTruth is I pay my bills.  And in a sense I'm a collector too (GASP!).  \n\nI run a storage facility, and I have to deal with non payment issues all the time.  But in two years I have never had to evict anyone!  I understand that people run into hard times, and I will work with them to catch up.  I'm damn proud of my history with working with people!\n\nHow many people have you sued?
242211
STUDLY GETS BETTER AND BETTER ALL THE TIME.  LAST TIME IT WAS A CASE HE READ ABOUT AND NOW HIS FRIEND IS A JUDGE.  GO FIGURE.\n\n\nTHE BEST THING TO DO IS TO CONTACT THE AGENCY AND TRY TO WORK OUT A PAYMENT ARRANGEMENT.  BE POLITE TO THE PERSON YOU ARE DEALING WITH AND THEY SHOULD RETURN THE FAVOR.  I KNOW, I AM THE ENEMY, THE "BILL COLLECTOR" THAT STUDLY HATES SO MUCH BECAUSE I KNOW THE LAW AND HE KNOWS HOW TO CUT AND PASTE THE LAW.\n\nANYWAY,\n\nTELL THEY YOU WILL MAKE PAYMENTS OF $xxx PER MONTH PROVIDING THAT THEY DO NOT TAKE JUDGMENT AGAINST YOU AND that THEY DISMISS THE ACTION UPON IT BEING PAID IN FULL.  IF YOU MAKE ALL YOUR PAYMENTS THEN THEY WILL FILE A DISMISSAL AND YOU WILL NOT HAVE A JUDGMENT ON YOUR CREDIT REPORT.\n\nIF THEY OBTAIN A JUDGMENT, THEN YOU ARE FREE GAME, THEY CAN GARNISH CHECKING ACCOUNTS, SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, PUT A LIEN ON YOUR PROPERTY IF YOU OWN ANY AND IF THE AMOUNT IS LARGE ENOUGH THEN CAN EVEN FORCE TO IN TO FORECLOSURE AND OR TAKE YOUR CAR, SELL IT AT AUCTION, PAY THE BANK OFF AND APPLY THE BALANCE TO YOUR JUDGMENT.  THIS IS CALL AN EXECUTION ON THE CAUSE OF ACTION, WE DO IT ALL THE TIME.\n\nI AM NOT TRYING TO SCARE YOU, JUST LET YOU KNOW WHAT PRACTICES A COLLECTOR WILL USE TO GET A JUDGMENT PAID.  WE SIMPLY DO NOT SIT ON THEM AND WAIT FOR SOMEONE'S HOUSE TO SELL AS STUDLY HAS REPORTED IN THE PAST. I AM PICKING UP A DUMP TRUCK TODAY WITH THE SHERIFF AND I AM ATTENDING AN AUCTION ON WEDNESDAY ON A HOUSE WE FORECLOSED ON BECAUSE WE HAD A JUDGMENT OF ONLY $27,000.  THIS IS A $350,000 HOUSE WE FORCED IN TO FORECLOSURE.  THIS IS WHAT WE DO, BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T OR WON'T PAY THEIR BILLS.  WE DO NOT HAVE TO TAKE PAYMENTS, I HAVE SEEN NO LAW, OTHER THAN WHEN SOMEONE IS ON DISABILITY OR SOCIAL SECURITY, THAT STATES THAT ONCE A JUDGMENT IS OBTAINED THAT A COLLECTION AGENCY HAS TO TAKE PAYMENTS.  THE ATTORNEY GENERAL EVEN PUTS OUT A LITTLE PAMPHLET FOR CONSUMERS THAT IS FULL OF INFO, AND IT EVEN STATES- "ONE AN ACCOUNT IS IN DEFAULT AND TURNED TO A COLLECTIONS AGENCY, SAID AGENCY IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO ACCEPT PAYMENTS, IT IS A COURTESY, NOT A REQUIREMENT.\n\nALSO, TELL THEM THAT AT THE END OF THE PAYMENT TERM THAT YOU WANT THIS REMOVED FROM YOUR CREDIT, THEY WILL CHECK WITH THEIR CLIENT, THE WORST THEY CAN SAY IS NO.\n\nGOOD LUCK AND IF I CAN HELP YOU MORE E-MAIL ME AT\nicsowesmemoney@yahoo.com
473399
Sounds like a scam to me. No one would ever call and curse you out if they were on the clock. Plus phone calls are recorded. A lawyer would cost more than the $15. He was probably just someone trying to get a credit card number from you or something.
78191
You're basically out of luck if you want someone who will bill based on the outcome. It is a violation of the canon of ethics for an attorney to work on a contingency basis on any family law matter.\nCall attorneys that offer free consultations and ask at consultation if they can defer payment or accept installments.\nGood luck.
235905
First of all he violated court orders. Talk to your attorney about reporting that and taking his fool butt back to court. \n\nSecond, you need to take copies of those court papers to the bank and deliver them to who ever is in charge of the debt. Since you have these, you are not liable for the debt. If they continue to bother you, you may need to get your attorney involved to shut them up. Best of luck.\n\nAdded: Be sure to add court costs to any suit you bring against your ex or the bank. That should help reduce your own costs. Heck, just sue the ex for any costs you incure due to his lack of action on those court orders. Take care.
86427
I usually pity people that find work with collection agencies.  I had a boob from a collection agency telling  me that she was a lawyer, she was lying.  \n\nTry and pay the company that you got into debt with something...$5 a month say?  Do not pay the collection agency anything.  Nothing.
411486
1) Document everything \n2) Write a letter to them with the information detailed with dates - requesting to meet with them to resolve the matter, with a deadline for the meeting, note in the letter that you have consulted a lawyer would like to resolve the matter with one if possible.\n3) Check into small claims courts\n\nOr you can take the pissed off aproach and send them a letter and tell them if they don't pay-up, the unethical treatement of you will be reported to the BBB, show up in papers and you might decide to picket as well. \n\nEither way the letter with details is the most important as well as consequences if they do not follow-up with you.  Make sure what ever consequences you set - you follow-up on.\n\nGood Luck!  Go get your Money!!
167013
They are required by law to "show" proof of debt or information. Simply telling you that they confirmed the info is not good enough, although they want you to think that it is. If you have hounded them for a while and are getting nowhere, you may want to consider the next step. That is to sue them in your local court system, not for money, but for the information change. In most cases since you are not sueing for money, they will not even hire a lawyer to contest the law suit and you will win by default. Then with court order in hand you demand they follow the courts decision. This raises the ante for them considerably because ignoring a court order is abit more serious. If they do hire an attorney, then modify your suit to included damages and legal fees. The point is to force them to come public with their proof, if they really have any.
394565
I'm sorry Love, but it sounds like your missing something!?! You refied. with another bank! They called for the pay off and wrote the bank of your previous loan the whole amount to give them the holding on your home? Now, the previous bank says that you did not pay the correct amount and are foreclosing on you? \nIf you only owed 4 thousand something, on the home and refied. with another bank, they should have called to get the correct amount, then pay off the loan from bank 1 to give holding to bank 2! Bank 1 refused the money because, Why? Bank 2 is, What?\nIf you refied, and only got a 2nd on the house you would still owe money to bank 1 and now owe money to bank 2! So I'm a bit confused about what really happened!\nYou really need to get an attorney, weather it be to file bankruptcy or just sue someone! This is a bit complicated even for someone who deals with this on a daily bases.\nI know that you don't want to spend the money on an attorney but beleive me when I tell you that if you don't do this you could very well lose everything and still have to pay everyone back what they say you owe them! Don't wait and don't delay! Do it as soon as you can! They can help stop anything that may be in action right now and atleast give you enough time to figure out what you want to do! You may even have money coming to you because of what bank 1 did and what bank 2 didn't do!\n\nGood Luck Little One!\n\nBlessed Be
386872
You can consider taking him to small claims court. You won't need a lawyer for that. The information about how to do it is available from your local court system in your community. If you file a small claim and he fails to respond or show up, you will get a default judgement. That will allow you to attach to any property (real estate) and perhaps go after any payroll with a garnishment. For $1500, I would definately nail his asss to the wall.
128441
From what it sounds like yeah you defenitely have a case. i think just threatening them that you'll go to court with it might work. if not try getting free lawyer advice.\nhttp://www.prepaidlegal.com/ check ut this site. It's cheap and my family uses their services. they've been quite good so far
456672
Because to them there is no such thing as 'your credit and his credit' until you're legally divorced. It's a joint account to them. If I were you, I'd call them and cancel the card, and any other card that he may have jointly with you. (Any card that you both signed for),\nTell them you want to cancel the joint accounts, or have your name removed it. I'd close them though, just to make sure no one at the company gets confused and expects you to pay for his stuff.\nYou may or may not want to tell them you two are separated. I'm not sure about that. \nJust try canceling the card first without telling them and see if they'll close it. If they won't, then tell them you're separated and not responsible for his debt. Then, get a lawyer quickly. I've seen a case not long ago where a man ran up $30,000 in debt in his wife's name and caused a big ugly scene.  She eventually won in court, but man, it was ugly!