So I got a married couple that hired me for a Chapter 7. Both were unemployed when we first started working on the case. They took way too long getting the docs to me so by the time I had all I needed the husband started working again. He was making too much for a 7 so I suggested a 13 as they still had too much debt to manage. I told them the price would change to 5K as their case became complicated. The plan was for me to file after 2 weeks of client not working OT to show his true income and back up the claim that OT wasn’t mandatory.
Client didn’t listen and worked 80 hours OT in 2 weeks making the payment I was targeting for them unreasonable for me to request. I explained this issue to them previously but clearly that didn’t work. After telling them what the new projected payment would be they became disgruntled and claimed I agreed to 3K previously. I emailed them about the price change so I know they were wrong but still agreed to 3K because I didn’t want to feel like I did all that work for nothing.
I then send them a reworked contract and the wife starts claiming they spoke to other lawyers that said they could do it for $1,500. I told them standard price is 5K but some do it for 3K on easy cases. They say in so many words that they want a refund of the amount paid for the Chapter 7. They pre paid bc I agreed to a flat fee. I actually felt so relieved and issued a partial refund for the hours I already worked on the case.
Anybody actually know of a lawyer crazy enough to be charging $1,500 for Chapter 13s? I felt like they were bluffing but either way was just glad to be done with them. Never taking another case like that again.
submitted by /u/akgamestar
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