[zap100]

Almost 2 years ago, my husband was past away all of sudden without will.

I did not know what to do and my friend introduced me a estate lawyer.
She was knowlegeble and I thought this is the one I can trust after I interviewed a couple lawyer.

She said she will check about Estate tax and demanded me for $3000 retainer fee.
I paid and nothing hear from them for a while.

I was concern about Estate tax at that time and I was not interested in to make a will at all.
I clearly told her that this time I would like to work on the Estate tax issue if it involved and I don't want to make a will, maybe later.

She said she will check about Estate tax and demanded me for $3000 retainer fee.
I paid and nothing hear from them for a month.

Also if the retainer fee($3,000) deplete, I requested them to check with me whether I would like to continue or not since her hourly charge was $450.00

After I talked to CPA, friend, etc. then one day I went to IRS for consulting.
IRS rep told me that I don't need to file Estate tax at all and I don't need Attorney or CPA this matter.

So I wrote about contract termination tagreement and she agreed.
Then a week later, I received $3,000 bill addion to my retainer fee.

I don't agree to pay this bill and I would like to fight with it.
( I already gave up the retainer fee)

I received the letter from the correction agency and they threat me if I don't pay it is going to hurt my credit score.

I would like to send the letter about dispute.
I prepared and I am thinking about sending to

Correction agency
Attorney
Plus 3 credit bureau.

My question is

Should I send this letter to 5 places all in once or send to correction agency first?


Thank you for reading this long note.:)

[DownUnder]

How said that someone would take advantage of your grieve.but this day and time nothing surprises me. Did you sign anything when you gave her that retainer fee?

[zap100]

How said that somone would take advantage of your grieve.but this day and time nothing surprises me. Did you sign anything when you gave her that retainer fee?

Yes, I signed the paperwork and paid on credit card on the full amount of $3000.
I already gave up this retainer fee. I learned the lesson.
But she should have not charge me after I noticed her for the termination(Verbal and written)

So additional charge fee after I gave the termination notice, I assume that I am not obligate to pay.

I would like to send the dispute letter but should I send to correction agency first or all the place in the same time?

[ScottGem]

Send a letter to the collection agency with a copy to the credit bureaus. State that you retained <name of attorney> for help with an Estate issue and paid her a retainer of $3000. State further that you informed the attorney to not do any further work without approval when the retainer was used up. Therefore, any attempt to collect anything over and above the original retainer is invalid.

Next send a letter to the attorney. Tell her that you do not understand her bill. First, because you had informed her not to go beyond the retainer, second, because you have seen no evidence that she did any work to earn the retainer and finally because you were able to find out what you needed to know yourself after a few minutes consultation with an IRS rep.

Tell her that, unless she calls off the collection agency and has the issue completely removed from the credit bureaus within 30 days you will take this matter up with the local Bar association.

What this female canine did was unconscionable. While the ABA tends to support their own, they also don't want shysters further sullying their reputations.

Too bad you didn't find us earlier. We could have told you that there is no taxes to be paid if the estate is under $2mil.

[zap100]

ScottGem

Thank you for the answer.
I was so naïve and I did not know what to do.

Yes, in 2007 no estate tax under 2 million dollars.
When I talked to IRS, IRS rep must be wondering why I was there.

I will follow the step and wait to see what will be happen.

[ScottGem]

Please keep us posted. If we can help further let us know.

[InsuranceMan]

My advice will probably sound not so good. I think you need your own attorney to deal with this one. Because she seems to have been totally insensitive to your situation I doubt she will be intimidated by your threats... unless she knows she is clearly in the wrong and will be shown publicly to be so.

If you don't have an attorney or know where to go there is a legal plan called Pre-Paid Legal that can get you an attorney. I'm sure there are just as many folks who will say negative things about them as will say positive things about them. I used them once for a landlord problem which my daughter had and I was pleased with their performance. I do not offer this product myself but I will gladly refer you to a Pre-Paid Legal Representative if you would like.