On Thursday, July 26, after an initial "lawyer consultation" from a Benjamin Legal Services interview via the phone, I entered into a good faith contract with Benjamin Legal Services LLP (Kevin Benjamin) to represent me in my chapter 7-single, bankruptcy filing to be filed in Federal Court in Pennsylvania. I was told the legal process would be completed in approx. Three months (end of December) once all money and documentation info was collected and petition filed. I signed a contract for representation by electronic signature format that day (July 26) and the company made automatic representation fee withdrawals from two different checking accounts of mine in both the beginnings of August and September (each withdrawal for $1050.00 for total of $2100.00).in October the company made another auto-deduction for two different court filing fees (totaling $551.50). I supplied all requested legal information in an 80 page FAX report in October to Benjamin and took the requested federal credit counseling class via internet resulting in certificate of completion and that also forwarded to Benjamin for record.
Starting in November to the current day of April 15, is where the problems have occurred. The company has made one excuse after another for not filing (too busy, holidays, lawyer review, being drawn up for petition-not done yet, more help in employees needed, overlooked, backlog of petitions to be completed, etc). I have records of all email requests and phone requests plus responses made concerning info on progress of filing. As of April 2 my case manager Jan Jursiam and Benjamin are not returning requests made by email or phone. Creditors are once again contacting me as of April 10, and have sent four different letters thus far indicating that they are not able to contact Benjamin Legal Services via phone numbers supplied previously by company.
On January 23 I spoke directly to Kevin Benjamin, at least I had hoped so, and he was very apologetic that my case had been overlooked and that he, on the following day-January 24, would contact his "two retained lawyers" in Pennsylvania to proceed with the case. However, I still had not received the prepared petition for final client review and/or updating. Also, I resupplied all updated finical information requested for update that weekend.
In now doing research on Benjamin Legal Services, I find complaints filed in Chicago, Ill. And in California for them not completing work, their billing, and more.
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