Anyone use an attorney to handle your credit clean up?

[ManofB]

I was wondering if anyone here had used an attorney to assist with their credit cleanup. I know there is nothing special an attorney could do that we couldn't do for ourselves (sans whatever weight is given to letters coming from an attorney vs individuals) and I certainly have been handling everything myself, with much satisfaction. I ask because effective 9/1 we will have a new benefits plan at work, and included for $4.00 per week is 100% coverage for lawyers for a pretty nice list of items. Credit issues being one of them. I elected the coverage as I want to do my will and a few other legal matters, and I'm wondering if it would be a good idea to get a lawyer to handle my credit cleanup as well, since I'm already paying for it. I'm also wondering if I'd be able to let go and let someone else run with it. I've become quite passionate about credit cleanup and other credit matters. So, after a lengthy run on explanation of why I'm asking the question, anyone have experience with attorneys for their cleanup?

[BobWang]

I'd look at the fine print of your "coverage"

 

and see if pre-existing conditions are excluded.

[shifter]

an assist is always good.

 

writing letters on your behalf, etc.

 

I wouldn't let them handle it autonomously though,

 

even if it's free.

[ManofB]

Will do BobWang, good call. I didn't even consider "pre-existing" condition exclusion. I'll call the group tomorrow.

[BobWang]

$4/week seems awfully low

 

for insurance guaranteed to exhibit

 

adverse selection.

[ManofB]

$16 billion dollar global company with 28,000 employees, maybe the insurance carrier is counting on volume? Not sure. Maybe they do/will exhibit adverse selection processes, but I guess for $4 a week, I can't really complain as I got it for some other legal matters not with the intention of using it for my credit journey. You've definitely given me some things to think about BobWang, and I will be contacting them tomorrow for clarification.

[mendelssohn]

"Professional" credit repair "assistance" can make it more difficult to get later deletions of accounts that don't fall off in the first round of disputes.

[ManofB]

Mendelssohn- Are you referring to the Lexington Law type or all attorneys? This would be a local attorney that is "in network" so to speak within their plan. I would obviously thoroughly vet whomever I chose, if I chose to use this service for my credit repair goals at all. Im just curious as to your statement, I obviously would want to make the most informed decision.

[mendelssohn]

IMO, you want the CRAs to think that you drafted all of your disputes.

[ManofB]

I can see the logic behind that. I think I would handle CRA disputes myself, probably on using an attorney for some additional weight in dealing with a couple sticky charge offs I have. Not sure. I'm still on the fence about this whole thing.

[Burgerwars]

For $4 a week, they might get an attorney to write some standard letter on your behalf. I wouldn't expect any sort of "Perry Mason moment" for that price. No O.J. "dream team" coming your way either.

[cv91915]

Are you paid weekly?

[ManofB]

I will be paid weekly starting the pay period following 9/1.

 

I don't have grand expectations, but I would expect a competent local attorney that I could utilize if needed.

[cv91915]

I will be paid weekly starting the pay period following 9/1.

I don't have grand expectations, but I would expect a competent local attorney that I could utilize if needed.

I'm skeptical of any product that has its cost broken down to the week, especially a $200/year service.

[BobWang]

Hey, that's MORE than a toaster.

[cv91915]

Hey, that's MORE than a toaster.

Well... I own one outright, but I lease the other one...

[ManofB]

 

I will be paid weekly starting the pay period following 9/1.

I don't have grand expectations, but I would expect a competent local attorney that I could utilize if needed.

I'm skeptical of any product that has its cost broken down to the week, especially a $200/year service.

It's a service offered as part of our benefits program, so I view it as no different than the medical, dental, supplemental life insurance payroll deductions. I'm a born skeptic, so I'm curious myself to see if there will be any value to be had on the credit front. I think it will more than pay for itself for the other items I had in mind; wills etc.

[cv91915]

Curious how this turns out. My bet is you get one consultation with a network attorney. Let us know.

[ManofB]

Will keep updated. It's Hyatt Legal Plans, which is a Metlife company. Seems to be legitimate, but I guess I'll find out for sure if there is really any value.

[mizliz1011]

I used a wonderful attorney on a very sticky issue with Citibank. I owed them a lot of money but I knew that there was something very fishy going on.He was able to see what the technical and legal issue was vs legislation that came on in the middle of the issue and called them on it. They dropped the TL ($28K) to a figure half that and then dropped the TL entirely. They then sold it to a JDB. He dealt with them (I certainly did owe a good bit of it) and negotiated a total and final release for $3200...as my case was odd at best and not textbook with no discernible damages apart from angst and upset. and it was past SOL for reporting their misdeeds. He has followed through for a fixed price. He has a big name in the industry and it is warranted. I am also going to have him review my 623 letters to see if there is anything that I have missed (again for a consultation fee vs the other situation where it was a fixed fee.). Perhaps I could have done it but they knew who he was and he screwed them to the wall with threats. It would have been Federal court which I just can't handle effectively without spending the same on psych fees...

 

So don't use an attorney unless you want clarification and you have already done research and it is a big number that you can't mess up on. But if you do get one, make sure that they specialize in this. It is a whole different world from just legal.

[ICANHASMUNY?]

I used a wonderful attorney on a very sticky issue with Citibank. I owed them a lot of money but I knew that there was something very fishy going on.He was able to see what the technical and legal issue was vs legislation that came on in the middle of the issue and called them on it. They dropped the TL ($28K) to a figure half that and then dropped the TL entirely. They then sold it to a JDB. He dealt with them (I certainly did owe a good bit of it) and negotiated a total and final release for $3200...as my case was odd at best and not textbook with no discernible damages apart from angst and upset. and it was past SOL for reporting their misdeeds. He has followed through for a fixed price. He has a big name in the industry and it is warranted. I am also going to have him review my 623 letters to see if there is anything that I have missed (again for a consultation fee vs the other situation where it was a fixed fee.). Perhaps I could have done it but they knew who he was and he screwed them to the wall with threats. It would have been Federal court which I just can't handle effectively without spending the same on psych fees...

 

So don't use an attorney unless you want clarification and you have already done research and it is a big number that you can't mess up on. But if you do get one, make sure that they specialize in this. It is a whole different world from just legal.

 

+1000

 

Most likely an attorney who is offering services under this plan doesn't know HOOT about FCRA and FDCPA issues, unless your lucky.

These types of services generally cover general legal practice; family law, wills, real estate, answering legal questions, giving legal advice, etc.

 

It's like asking a general practitioner to perform surgery; the GP has a general Idea how to do this from rotation back in the internship, , but is not an expert.

[CG in TX]

 

It's like asking a general practitioner to perform surgery;

+1000

[mk_378]

You will probably spend as much time and effort interacting with your lawyer as you would dealing with CRA's and CA's directly yourself. And the results will not be as good.

[sheree159]

After filing BK in 05' I had items reporting on my credit as IIB. At that time, being uneducated about how credit works,I called my lawyer and spoke with his assistant. I told him that I had items that were reporting IIB. At the time, I didn't know that's how there were suppose to report. He asked me for the companies name and their telephone numbers. I started with half. I don't know what he did but in about an hour, he called back and said that all 4 creditors agreed to delete the accounts. I confirmed using my credit monitoring service in the few weeks after. I tried to follow up with another call with the rest of the IIB accounts and ask if he could contact them for me. That time his assistant told me that the company does do credit repair but the fee was going to be $350. I never called back because I didn't have money. But the lawyer is still in business. Maybe they got lucky. It was right after I got discharged so maybe there were some inaccurate reporting issues that led to those deletions.