In Fall of I was the owner of a small computer repair shop in Saugus MA.
I had had a business partner who relinquished his portion of the business. After he was gone. I discovered that neither my state or federal taxed had been filed for 10 years. I was recommended to go to Fein Law Office in Braintree MA.By another attorney. During the initial consultation, I had asked attorney Chris Fein up front, what the total costs for his services would be to see my case to the end. He stated a $10.000 retainer would be required. Again I asked how much it would cost me to have him represent me to the end. He stated that it could be $15,000 maybe even $20,000 at the most. I gave him a check for $20,000 that he quickly accepted, and I was told to relax, that everything was being taken care of, and not to worry any more.
Chris Fein has his father working in his office. He is an X-IRS employee. From what I was told, was more of a consultant of sorts for their firm. He was not a CPA nor an Accountant, Nor had he any degrees in law. Chris Fein gave all of our invoices, receipts, bank registers and other misc. Receipts. The total of 2 medium sized milk crates. To his father Charlie Fien and had him file my taxes.
My daughter had been coming into the store for the last 12 years and her job was filing and organizing all of the paperwork. The contents of the 2 milk crates were sorted, dated, categorized, and in dated and numerical sequence. Just a Small DBA repair and computer service shop that averaged around $3300.00 a month including parts and labor. Needless to say, a very small business.
Charlie Fein filed my taxes and that was it. $20,000 gone. Christopher Fein never once used his legal expertise to negotiate anything with the IRS. They had at most 4 or 5 days worth of work. And stretched it out for 2 1/2 weeks. I was receiving telephone calls from Charlie Fein on at least 3 separate occasions where he was telling me that he had been on hold with the IRS for 3hrs. Sometimes 3 1/2 hours at a time. They were charging me $350.00 an hour.in just those 3 telephone calls, I estimate that I was charged around $3000.00
I tried to explain to Christopher Fien that if I had just wanted my taxes filed, I would have gone to H&R Block or could have hired a CPA at $150.00hr. To do them for me. Since my last encounter with Fein Law Office, I have had to call the IRS at least a dozen times if not 20 times, The most that I was ever kept on hold was about 15 to 20 minutes. I think that Mr. Charles Fien must have fallen asleep at the telephone.
Again, Christopher Fein never represented me in any way nor did any other lawyers in his firm. These people charged me $20,000 to file my taxes.
In November I suffered a stroke after enduring 2 1/2 years of brutal chemotherapy. I was unable to work any more. I was very ill and got behind on 3 of my monthly tax payments and I began to receive Intent to Levy letters from the IRS. I went back to Fein Law Office and explained to them my situation in detail. Chris Fein once more explained and negotiated nothing to the IRS on my behalf.
Instead his dad Charlie Fien put me back on a payment plan that I absolutely could not afford. At double my previous payments. My wife divorced me after I had the stroke and I really don't blame her. I was granted a small settlement and was now alone, without any resources, filing for SSI and welfare. Charlie Fines best advise was for me to make my payments to the IRS out of the $10,000 I had in the bank from my divorce settlement. He afforded me no consideration as to just how I was supposed to live.
My payments were now $425.00 per month and after nearly a year, I was out of money. I how have had a levy placed on my bank account and on the 30 foot travel trailer that I live in because it is all that I can afford.
Originally, I owed approx. $25,000 in back taxes. Now I owe nearly $30.000 in back taxes because of penalties and fines. And I am out $20,000.
I went to Fein law Office to purchase the advocacy of an attorney. Someone to Negotiate my penalties and fine, someone to explain my circumstances to the IRS.instead I received a retired IRS guy with no negotiating or accounting credentials or any legal expertise what-so-ever.
I find it almost to obvious that Christopher Fein of Fein Law Office in Braintree MA. Gave hid unqualified father my case and I ended up with absolutely no legal representation at all.
I had never received an itemized invoice for the accounting of their legal charges. I requested one today and was refused by Fein Law I asked on 3 separate occasions for an itemized invoice of my bill. Did I mention that after I went to see them after my stroke, they sent me a bill for another $8000.00.
That makes it a total of $28000.00 for filing my taxes.
So when you go to H&R Block to have your taxes filed, if you are a very small business. You should have to pay around $2800.00 per year correct?
From what I have learned, the average cost is around $500 max,
I have filed a dispute of charges with the MA. Bar Assn. They seem to believe that I might have a very good case. I was forced to call them Because Fein Law Office refused to send me an itemized invoice dictating the total charges.
Chris Fein stated to me that he had done me a huge favor. He stated that he had no legal obligations to me because his dad did all of the work and he is not bound by the same regulations as a real attorney.
I am amazed that I could go into a lawyers office, have a consultation with only the attorney and his secretary, Sign a contract for Chris Fein's legal representation, pay the man $20,000, And have him sit on his arse and not do one single thing for me.instead he hired his dad to file my taxes.
The Ma. Bar Council said that they would be able to get an itemized invoice for me. This is even though that Fein Law is obligated by law to give me one.
They told me that they have been sending me one every month. But I haven't seen one yet.
Please for your sake if you should read this letter, please do not go to Fein Law Office in Braintree MA. You can't do much worse, but you can do a lot better. Find an attorney that puts their client 1st. Not one that wants to keep his dad employed are who is only there to serve himself. Never pay an attorney in full or in advance or you will be just like me. A fool who lost everything because he trusted his attorney.
Thank you for your patience in reading this. I hope that it helps.
Sincerely... Dumbfounded
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