Legal Aid Services Inc

Review: I received a notice in the mail from Legal Aid Services offering to help me with a Mortgage Modification. I contacted them and I gave them some information. They Told me they could do this in 3 months and it would cost me $[redacted]. I sent them Bank Statements, Tax forms and pay stubs.This was in July of 2014. In August they contacted me for some more bank statements and pay stubs. I called them the first of September and after several phone calls they called me back and said they needed some more bank statements and pay stubs. All this time I was advised by them not to give my Lender any information. They would supply everything they needed. In October, after again, several phone calls, they called me back and again, they needed more bank statements and pay stubs. When I asked why they never returned my phone calls or e-mails I was told to "let them do their job." that they had many clients and I was not to bother them. I told this very rude women that this was my mortgage and my credit they were playing with and I wanted answers. I reminded her that I was told 3 months and had paid them $[redacted] so they were working for me. She then told me the 3 months was an estimate and again, to let them do their job. I tried to call them today, 11/20/2014 and every phone number I have for them is not working or out of service. I contacted my Lender and I was informed that they had not heard from them since August. I am now working directly with my Lender.Desired Settlement: I want my money back and them to go to jail for fraud.

Review: After Legal Aid Services qualified me for the Loan Modification Program option back on February 2014, I was told by the case manager Mr. [redacted] for them to then work with my current mortgage company I had to pay $3700 up front to start the modification process. I was told that the success rate with my current mortgage carrier was excellent and was assured it would take no longer than three months. I sent them a personal check for $3700 along with all signed paper work. I was then guided advice to NOT pay my mortgage for at least 61 days as that would aid in showing financial hardship. It's now been 7 months and although we call each week we get no return calls. We have meet the required compliance and sent over all data requested and still no updates. We receive calls now from a processing center and are told there is a case manager working on our case but no call from them and only continued calls on send more info and it's always the same info just on a monthly basis.Desired Settlement: At this point since they provided false advertisement with their 3 month turn around and the fact my family is out $3700 I'd like them either keep their word and resolve my mortgage issue and/or return at least $1850 (half) in good faith to admit their guilt and my ignorance in trusting them to assist me with resolving my mortgage issue of being upside down in my home.

This is a total scam I lost close to 5,000 dollars and alot of wasted time and efforts to resolve this issue. They are great at excuses and I would like to be a part of any class action suit , to regain my money. I'm willing to face them in court and explain how they were fradulent and insincere with their business practices. I strongly advise anyone and everyone to stay away from this disgraceful company. I'm very upset and I'm willing to be a witness on any and all complaints against them.

Sincerely ,

Mel [redacted]

Review: Legal Aid Services solicited me saying we qualified for a HAMP modification Loan. I moved forward. The company NEVER communicated with my bank, sent my personal financial information "somewhere" according to one of the "loan processors". The only thing Legal Aid did was send a Cease and Desist to my bank, causing me to go into foreclosure. I was told I would receive a refund in 90 days. I submitted my refund request on August 14, 2014. All numbers are disconnected.Desired Settlement: I want the $3200.00 I sent Legal Aid Services, the money they told me I would receive since they did not follow through with their service.

Review: HAD A CONTRACT WITH LEGAL AID SERVICES LLC TO DO A HOME MODIFICATION. THE MODIFICATION WAS DENIED AND LEGAL AID HAS A 100% FULL MONEY REFUND IF NOT SECURED. TO DATE NO REFUND ISSUED EVEN WITH A JUDGEMENT FROM THE COURT. I WANT MY JUDGEMENT PAID IN FULL. THE COMPANY HAS IGNORED ALL DEMANDS THUS FARDesired Settlement: WOULD LIKE BE PAID IN FULL ($3,630.00)IMMEADIATELY

Review: We ([redacted] and [redacted] pre-paid in the amount of $5,250 to Legal Aid Services attorney [redacted] #[redacted] (herein referred to Legal Aid) with 2 payments of $2,625 made on September 29, 2104 and October 27, 2014 – please see attached copies of checks. The pre-paid amount to Legal Aid of $5,250 was for a home-loan modification in-advance of obtaining the actual modified home-loan. We provided the prepayment of $5,250 with the agreements with Legal Aid that they would provide us with a guaranteed modified home load that would decrease our home loan interest rate. The loan processing department of Legal Aid is completely non-responsive, will not pick-up the phone, and will not call us back from messages sent. In one day I called over 30 times throughout the day and they would not pick up the phone. Once I finally got a live person, she will not provide any escalation contacts, or contact information for [redacted] Belsito. In fact, [redacted] has not returned any of our phone messages (once we found his number on the CA Bar Site) and we have NEVER spoken to him. We have NOT received any of our refund to date and Legal Aid has not committed to the refund. Legal Aid, including [redacted] Belsito, is not responding to our several requests to discuss. Again, we have not even spoken to [redacted] Belsito, our retained attorney. He will not call us back and we have left him several voice messages over several days. We expect a full refund based upon the incorrect guarantees that were set with our pre-payment, the lack of response (no response) of Legal Aid, and no contact from any escalation individual, and no correspondence or discussion or returned call from [redacted] our “retained attorney”, as described herein. We expect a full refund of $5,250 based upon the incorrect guarantees that were set with our pre-payment AND no services provided and no response. In fact they have disconnected their phonesDesired Settlement: We expect a full refund of $5,250 based upon the incorrect guarantees that were set with our pre-payment AND no services provided and no response. In fact they have disconnected their phones.

Review: Paid $4,150.00 to secure a modification of my home mortgage. Legal Aid Services, Inc., failed to secure the modification and the company appears to be out of business. All phone lines are no longer in service and Email inquiries to the company and their employees go unanswered. California Secretary of State corporate search for Legal Aid Services, Inc., shows that the corporate license is suspended for failure to pay franchise tax. The owner of the company, [redacted], is a California Attorney who is currently being investigated and is in proceedings before the California State Bar for ethical violations as a result of multiple complaints of the same nature against him and Legal Aid Services, Inc.Desired Settlement: I would like the $4,150.00 that I paid to be refunded.

Review: Legal Aid Services endorsed by Attorney [redacted] Lic.# 103365 contacted me through mail saying I qualified for the HAMP program and they would represent me for a legal fee of $4000.00 for 1st Mortgage and $4000.00 for 2nd Mortgage. They required payment up front for their services and I was required to follow their instructions exactly on submitting all required paperwork.They instructed me when to hold off paying both Mortgage payments for 59 days. I waited 59 days gave payment, Legal Aid submitted paperwork to 1st mortgage company and my application was denied due to the fact I should be 60 days behind. Legal Aid told me to wait 60 days then submit Mortgage payment and they would resubmit application. Did that and was denied again. Legal Aid said I needed to wait 90 days and they would resubmit a 3rd time. From there it became increasingly difficult to contact Legal Aid they kept changing their phone number and wouldn't return my e-mails, calls. They stop communication to my Mortgage company as well. They also told me they would not work with 2nd Mortgage company till 1st Mortgage company was completed. I started this process in March 2014.By December 2014 after not being able to get ahold of Legal Aid I tried to resolve this with Mortgage Company and was told I would have to fax a letter to stop cease and desist order against Legal Aid. At one point I also request $4000.00 be returned since they never worked on the 2nd Mortgage Company. Legal Aid refused. I feel like Legal Aid never finished working on first Mortgage C; or start on 2nd Mortgage. They never contacted me regarding they would be able to help me or close my case they just stop communicating to me my Mortgage Co.as well as kept my $8000.00 dollars. I feel like they scammed me as well as left me in a foreclosure situation with the Bank.Desired Settlement: I would like to have my $8000.00 dollars refunded. Due to the fact we worked on this for 9 months and then they stopped all contact my Mortgage Co. as well as myself.

Review: I'm writing on behalf of my father, [redacted]. [redacted]. My father responded to a notice he received in the mail re: modification of home mortgage. According to the mailer, this company would be able to decrease his house payments by modifying the mortgage. He called the 800 number on the mailer [redacted]. My father spoke with [redacted] and he stated that the mortgage could be modified through the company. In July, my father mailed this company a check for $3800.50 and was told not to make a house payment for 2 months.Two months later, my father received a call from Green Tree Servicing LLC stating that he was delinquent on his house payment 2 months. They also stated that the modification information was sent to Green Tree but the modification was not approved.My father ended up sending another $3300 to Green Tree to catch up with his house payments. My father's calls are being avoided at Legal Aide Services/Mortgage Assistance Center.Desired Settlement: My father feels that he was scammed because not only did [redacted] tell him not to worry about his house payment but he also paid almost $4,000.00 (check #[redacted]) and nothing was fulfilled. My father is demanding a full refund from this company and a full investigation into the company.

Review: full payment was requested and services not rendered. I have tried to call the business and call does not go through, has this company moved?Desired Settlement: where about of this company,new name? or location? please help me or lead me to the right location to find out the information I am seeking. Thank you

Review: In late July early August of 2014 I received a letter from Legal Aid Services claiming that they could reduce my house payment and interest. Since I am hearing impaired and cannot use the phone, my father contacted them for me and set everything up. I was given a lawyer, [redacted], and the account number [redacted]. I was promised that they would be able to modify my loan and was also promised that everything would be ok. I therefore payed the firm a total of $7250.00. They promptly took the money and did nothing to solve my home mortgage situation, except to get me in trouble with both of my lendors, [redacted] and [redacted]. In November, I recieved an email from them stating that all email accounts had been changed and that we were to only call a certain number to get through. My dad called constantly and both of us sent emails constantly trying to talk to Nancy or anyone else at the firm. None of our calls were ever returned. I sent a package to the firm of things that I had agreed to send, bank accounts, etc, and that was signed for. In that package that was sent in early Dec of 2014, I asked to talk to someone immediately to find out what was going on with my account. No one ever responded. I am sure that the orginal contract I signed also stated that they would remain in contact with me on a monthly basis keeping me informed of how the account was progressing. We have not heard from them since October.Desired Settlement: Since they have failed to finish the job, I wish to have my funds returned in full, so that I can look for another lawyer and firm to represent me. Another alternative is to finish the job, keeping in contact with me on a monthly basis as agreed, on the status of my modification.

Review: I received a notice in the mail for assistance in home modification loans. I called the number but they would only help if I gave them the notification number listed on the paperwork. Otherwise they will not speak to anyone and hang up. The company needed two payments of $1850 for home modification. They said they would take care of my house payments. They told me to not contact the lender. They told me to hide some of my income in a separate bank account because my income was too high to receive help. In return, I was notified of a house foreclosure and have bad credit. Both were never explained to me or in the contract that this would happen. I requested a refund because I believed they were a fraud They said it would take 120 to refund my money, if they could. They would never give me an update status on my case. Once they had the money, the phone calls stopped. The info on the back of my check they cashed states Comerica Bank, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 / for deposit only/ Legal Aid Services Inc / , [redacted] / [redacted] is in legal dept. / Google map of the office is in a small shopping centerDesired Settlement: I would like a refund given back to me and anyone else who was affected. Mostly I want this business shut down and the employees held accountable for their actions.

Review: In July of 2014 I received a card from a company called legal aid services. They said this was the only communication I would receive from them. When I called they said they could reduce my mortgage payments so I sent them approximately $6000.00 to do so. My husband is in a nursing home which is very costly so I really need to reduce my monthly payments. At any rate, it is now 2015 and they are not responding to anything. I am very concerned because they told me I shouldn't pay for 2 months of my mortgage to be able to qualify for the government loan they were going to get for me. Now I have no service from them and am continually harassed by the bank for the 2 months I owe them. This is a living nightmare.

I have read the other complaints which mirror mine and I wonder how many more people out there have also been scammed but have not filed a formal complaint. I would like my money returned so I can pay for the 2 months I am in arrears with the bank as this is the first time in my life I have been delinquent on my mortgage.Desired Settlement: I would like my money returned as it appears that no service is forthcoming.

I've spent over $9000 with this company, and started the process over a year ago (like many others on this complaint list). No email response, no phone response now (for over a month), and when I did briefly hear from someone, they were incredibly rude, and couldn't understand why I was upset???

I too, would like to file some kind of class action suit against these people and try and at least get my money back. If anyone would like to discuss a similar situation - please contact me - Jim - [redacted]

Review: I was told Legal Aid could get me a modification for my home loan. I followed all of their instruction, sending in my bank statements, pay stubs and letters from my mortgage company. After several months of following their instructions, I contacted Legal Aid to let them know that my home was going into foreclosure. After several calls I finally spoke with someone and was told that their was nothing they could do. I requested my money back and was told to complete a form and I would hear from them. I have not heard from anyone. I spoke with [redacted] and sent emails to [redacted]@secured-loanprocessing.com. That number no longer work and I have not heard from Legal Aid. I am very distraught and upset because I trusted Legal Aid. Now I must find another way to keep my home. I paid $4200.00 in good faith and I want to be refunded. Legal Aid did not get a modification for my home loan. AREY ESTRADA SR. CASE MANAGER - STOPPED RETURNING MY CALLSDesired Settlement: I want my money refunded.

This company is a scam. I paid them. They allowed my modification package to expire and have not responded to my inquires nor did they resubmit the package. The contract says money back guarantee if they do not perform, but they do not answer phones or respond to emails.

I need the physical address to send a registered letter and cannot get it.

Review: We were contacted by mail by this company offering a HARP modification of our mortgage to lower the payments. At that time we were not behind in any payments. We were advices not to make any more payments and that once we were 2 payments behind they could file for a HARP modifiation lowering our mortgage payment by $300+. Additionally we were advised by Angelica Alvarado not to make any payments nor were we to speak to our mortgage company directly. We signed a contract on March 10, 2014 and paid them $3600.00. Other than a cease and desist letter sent to our mortgage company, no other work has been done. It has been over a year since this has been started and we are in eminent danger of losing our home of 17 years.Desired Settlement: We would like a full refund as well as any moneies required to keep our home current.

Review: This company was paid to help me do a modification loan. It has been a year and nothing has been resolved. Lately, in the last month, I have been having communication problems. No one answers the phones have been changed or disconnected. Something "Fishy" is going on. Is this one of these SCAM companies that trick people like me?Desired Settlement: I paid this company over $3,000 for services that have not been provided. They either settle my case or I would like my money back so that I can deal with a more respectable and responsible company.

Review: I was contacted by Legal Aid Services via a "misleading" post card leading me to believe it was from my former Mortgage Holder

They talked me into paying $3,700.00 for their services to help me obtain a Modification to my mortgage with [redacted].

They told me to not pay two mortgage payments for January and February of 2014.

They told me to not communicate at all with [redacted], answer their phone calls or have any contact or it would

void my contract with them.

They had me sign a Cease and Desist letter to be sent to [redacted]. It was never done because I was HOUNDED for a year by [redacted].

I am now being threatened with foreclosure. They never obtained my Modification, even though somebody by the name of "[redacted]" called me in December of 2014 to tell me I was approved for the Modification.

I never received the modification and [redacted] finally turned me over to a debt collector who is threatening me with foreclosure.

I am almost 73 years old. That was my entire savings that they stole from me.

I want full reimbursement of all my money. I would greatly appreciate your help.

After no help received from Mr. [redacted], who finally never returned my calls, I contacted the owner of the company, Attorney [redacted], who promised everything would "be taken care of" I called back again many times and never was able to speak to anyone. I only received a recorded message.Desired Settlement: I want a full refund and to see this awful SCAM COMPANY closed down for good the the Attorney who runs it, Mr. [redacted] to be punished to running this company

Review: Legal Aid Services said they will help me to apply for mortgage loan modification via a government program. The case manager that I got in contact with was [redacted]. I have given this company information they requested as follow: Proof of income August, 2014, most recent mortgage statement, 2012 and 2013 tax returns, two month bank statements, utility bills, Hardship letter and a check to Legal Aid Services of $3,595. I mailed these documents to them on 09/10/2014 and they promised to submit these documents to US Bank (my mortgage company). In November 2014, I called [redacted] to follow up on the Loan Modification process. The number that I usually call him on (714-619-3534) was "no longer in service". On November 13, 2014 I also emailed him at this email address to follow up ([redacted]). There was also no reply via email. I became very concerned and suspected that Legal Aid Serivces, Inc. is a Scam. So, on November 13, 2014 I called US Bank Mortgage department to see if they received any of the documents. US Bank Mortgage have not seen any documents described above.Desired Settlement: I would like all my documents that I submitted to Legal Aid Services along with the refund for the fees they charge me $3,595 returned to me as soon as possible. I especially need all my sensitive documents back to me.