Law office of J.D. Ngando, PLLC

December 20, Dear [redacted] : Thank you for forwarding the inquiry regarding [redacted] We are still investigating this refundMy twin-sister had a stroke and I had to be in Paris, France for an extended amount of timeI had very limited access to emails in FranceUnder our firm’s policy, only the owner can make a final decision to refund a fee after a careful review of the client’s file, the retainer agreement and meetings or discussions with the attorney who handled the caseMy former staff issued refunds that were not owedFormer members of my staff made similar mistakes and errors in other matters by promising “refunds” to people who clearly were are NOT owed a refundThese “refunds” are also being investigated and we were able to catch many errorsIt must be noted that I am back in the country now and I have taken total control of my law firmI am available to answer any additional questions and to provide any additional information that you might needSincerely, Jerome N, Esquire

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the responseIf no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved]
Complaint: ***
I am rejecting this response because: the law office has known since JUNE that I was owed a refundThis was months before he went on his trip!!!!!
I was giving the run around after a numerous of telephone calls from work and emailsThis was my effort to let them know, that I was not going to give up on getting my funds backAnd I am still DETERMINE to get my funds backThis is poor customer service and turn around time in giving people back their hard working money
Regards,
*** ***

Revdex.com of Metro Washington DC
Apr (days ago)
to me
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From:
Date: Fri, Apr 18, at 7:PM
Subject: Re: You have a new message from the Revdex.com of Metro Washington DC & Eastern
Pennsylvania in regards to your complaint #***
To: [email protected]
Hello,
Please close this complaint, my credit card company was able to take the money out of his account
Thank you,
***
Revdex.com of Metro Washington DC
Apr (days ago)
to me
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From:
Date: Fri, Apr 18, at 7:PM
Subject: Re: You have a new message from the Revdex.com of Metro Washington DC & Eastern Pennsylvania in regards to your complaint #***
To: [email protected]
Hello,
Please close this complaint, my credit card company was able to take the money out of his account
Thank you,
Marlyse

May 7, Dear **and ***,Attached is your final invoice, your client file, and a check.As per firm policy, the final invoice, file, and all entries handled must be reviewed by the Firm before returned to the clientDue to illness, I was unable to review your file for the
past two weeksreturned to the office on /6/and was able to review your fileYour final invoice shows a balance of $596,Attached is a check for that amount.If you have any further questions, please feel free to call at ###-###-####.Best Regards,

November 20, 2014
To Whom It May Concern,I am writing in regards to the above referenced complaint against my business, Law Office of J.D. Ngando, PLLC. A few months ago I traveled to Paris, France to visit my sister who was very ill. While I was out of the country I had several...

members of my staff leave my firm. Since I arrived back in Virginia I have spent most of the time hiring new staff and reorganizing my office. Additionally, while I was away, I had an associate tell clients they were owed a refund from their escrow account and they should receive the refund within two weeks.My firm's policy in regards to refunds is that when a matter is complete I review the file and approve a final invoice. I make sure that the charges made to the client’s account are accurate and complete. I do this review before I ever tell a client they have a refund. If I find that there is money left over in their escrow account, I mail them a check which they should receive within two weeks after my review.Due to the urgent family matter that kept me out of the country for an extended period of time, reviewing of the files that were completed while I was away has taken slightly longer than our average turn around. However, I am currently doing the final review of the files that were completed during my time overseas and once I complete my review, any client who is actually due a refund will be issued a check in a timely manner.If you have any further questions regarding this matter, please contact my office.
Sincerely,Jerome N[redacted]

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved]
 Complaint: [redacted]
I am rejecting this response because: As I stated in the first rejection response and the attachments of the emails and invoices of communications from this law office that was sent earlier, there was ample and empty of time 
before his trip and now afterwards that the refund could have been sent to me. They are just procrastinating and/or not wanting to give me my funds back.
I WILL NOT GIVE UP UNTIL THEY GIVE ME MY FUNDS!!!!!!
Regards,
Karen Powell

December 20, 2014
Dear [redacted]:
Thank you for forwarding the inquiry regarding [redacted].
We are still investigating this refund. My twin-sister had a stroke and I had to be in Paris, France for an extended amount of time. I had very limited access to emails in France. Under our firm’s policy, only the owner can make a final decision to refund a fee after a careful review of the client’s file, the retainer agreement and meetings or discussions with the attorney who handled the case. My former staff issued refunds that were not owed.
Former members of my staff made similar mistakes and errors in other matters by promising “refunds” to people who clearly were are NOT owed a refund. These “refunds” are also being investigated and we were able to catch many errors.
It must be noted that I am back in the country now and I have taken total control of my law firm.
I am available to answer any additional questions and to provide any additional information that you might need.
Sincerely,
Jerome N, Esquire

Review: I originally contacted the law office on 11.10.13 regarding the refund I received from an overpaid escrow balance. On 8.12.13 I have documents from his office showing my balance was $1311.09. My case was closed on 9.3.13 and there were only an additional $146.25 of charges reflected on my account (based on the statement his office sent me). I then received a hard copy of all the charges since he worked my case with a refund of only $209.84. Comparing the copies I received while my case was open to the charges he sent with the refund I found $760.00 were retroactively added with an incorrect charge on 7.8.13 where I was already charged $50 and it was increased to $90 but the same amount of working hours and rate applied. $50 was the correct amount. On 5.26.14 Ngando finally told me they have the right to add those charges retroactively because I was incorrectly billed initially. He asked I tell him what I believe my refund amount should be considering those charges valid. I responded with a correct amount of $444.84. Balance 1311.09 - final charges of 146.25 + retroactive charges 720.00= 444.84. He responded by telling me this will not be resolved unless I come into his office and compare my records with his (I have emailed my copies already) even though I have told him many times I have moved and am no longer in that area so that is not an option. In frustration I asked him to support his refund amount of $209.84 as I have supported my argument and he has failed to explain/respond. I have emailed him nearly 30 times and told several of his ever changing assistant's about my situation (this has been ongoing for 8 months) with no resolution. Many times he has had them schedule calls to discuss the matter but is then never available at the scheduled time leaving me with what I believe is "the run around." I have not cashed my original refund because I do not agree with it and I want this resolved. I don't like the retroactive charges because it feels like an integrity issue (especially because it came with no communication) however if he has the right to do that then I'll accept that.Desired Settlement: I want to verify that he is able to charge me retroactively (where is that in writing?). I want the correct refund amount sent to me even if he is able to add the additional $720.00.

Review: Hired an attorney at this firm and developed a course of action. We paid all necessary costs then attorney left. We were assigned a new attorney who did not move ahead with course of action and then told us course of action was not possible, even though we signed retainer with previous attorney for this course of action. We terminated retainer on 4/1 and still have not gotten back the balance of our retainer, though we are also arguing we should receive entire amount as they took money and then decided they couldn't follow through. As of 4/28, Mr. Ngando is "out of town" and there is no check for us.Desired Settlement: Return our $937.50 paid on second retainer agreement as the law firm is stating they cannot litigate the matter even though the retainer agreement states they will.

Business

Response:

May 7, 2014Dear **. and [redacted],Attached is your final invoice, your client file, and a check.As per firm policy, the final invoice, file, and all entries handled must be reviewed by the Firm before returned to the client. Due to illness, I was unable to review your file for the past two weeks. returned to the office on /6/14 and was able to review your file. Your final invoice shows a balance of $596,04. Attached is a check for that amount.If you have any further questions, please feel free to call at ###-###-####.Best Regards,