“Attorney Suggested that My Client Use a Different Lender”
OK, I admit it; I don’t like this attorney and have let her know that. I get very protective of my clients when they are asked to pay twice as much as other attorneys for handling a real estate closing.
I ask all clients if there is a particular attorney they want to handle their closing. In this case the folks said yes. I asked if they discussed cost so that I could include the numbers correctly as we were doing the application. They said not as of yet so they immediately called, fortunately they were able to reach her and asked the question. She said her fee was $1200, plus $250 for the title search. The phone conversation ended.
Since these folks were first time home buyers, they were already tight on dollars but these costs were crazy. I told the client that these estimates were much higher than most other attorneys and recommended that they do a little shopping for these services. They said they would and they asked for some recommendations. I gave then three different names and numbers. In the meantime, not to hold up the application we used the numbers that this attorney gave us. Unfortunately the fees quoted are about double what they should be.
The following day I got a call from the original attorney, telling me that she was planning on filing a complaint against me with the banking commission and let me know what a really nice person I was (actually not really). I have yet to hear about any complaints, but who knows.
The clients ended up going with a different attorney for the services. They had called the original attorney and let them know and that is why she called me and ever since continues to say good things about me, (actually not really).
I understand each of us in business have the right to charge what they feel their services are worth. Situations like this are never comfortable. I had to explain to this client, why this attorney loves me as much as she does.
How would you have handled this kind of situation?
Image courtesy of stuartmiles/freedigitalphotos.net
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Joe Petrowsky, NMLS #6869
Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS #2709
110 Main St.
Manchester, Ct. 06042
Office: 860 647-7701 x116
Fax: 860 647-8940
Cell: 860 836-9294
Email: joe@righttracfg.com
Joe Petrowsky does not guarantee nor is in any way responsible for the accuracy of the information provided herein, and provides said information without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied.
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