U.S. Consumer Group

Review: In February 2013 we signed a contract with the Law Office of Joseph Marino, P.C. ([redacted]) to represent our family in the loan modification process for the mortgage we have on our home with Bank of America. The fee was $3,500.00. Since the time we hired [redacted] firm we have been consistently unsatisfied with their level of service and professionalism. It has, at times, been impossible to reach anybody in the office for long stretches of time when the contract we signed states that we would generally be kept generally apprised as to the status of your modification. Phone calls, voice messages and emails have been either ignored or never returned. Despite the great difficulty in communicating with the firm, we have received several letters of rejection for a loan modification directly from Bank of America since we hired [redacted] firm. Now that the firm cannot procure a loan modification, they also will not issue us a 50% refund as our contract with the firm guarantees (In the event we are unable to receive a modification offer you will be entitled to a %50 refund by The Law Office of Joseph Marino, P.C.). We would like a comprehensive investigation of this Law Firm and its suspect business practices as they seem to be preying upon desperate families who are holding on to the hope that a home loan modification will help save their home and allow them to remain in their family home. What we would simply ask for is the 50% refund due to us according to the contract since a modification was unable to be obtained. As already stated, Bank of America has rejected us several times since we hired [redacted] law firm.This law firm is impossible to communicate with. The owner of the firm is impossible to reach. Even when we showed up at the office unannounced we were told that no one who was in charge was available. We were told that someone would be back later so we waited for over two hours with our infant son and no one ever showed up. The staff was unhelpful and in some cases, outright rude and hostile. The office was a complete mess and disorderly. It did not give the appearance of a functioning law firm. It rather appeared to be a loosely thrown together, makeshift operation that exhibited little professionalism. We were flatly told that the owner of the firm would never grant us a 50% refund. Finally, on 11/**/2013 we were issued a check from the firm in the amount of $1,225.00. This is $525.00 short of the 50% refund amount owed to us according to the contract. The check issued to us has written on it that this is a Final settlement and on the back it is stamped Acceptance of this check is a General Release from any and all claims prior to this date. When I called the firm about this I was told that they would not issue a new check without these things written on it even though a [redacted] agreed that I was absolutely right about his firm owing us the missing $525.00 from the check issued to us. [redacted] told me that he would not pay us our money because a commission in that amount had been paid to one [redacted] and that I would have to call [redacted] to get my money. I do not know [redacted], nor does he even work for the law firm any longer. When I voiced my complete dissatisfaction with these terms, [redacted] told me flatly to come after him. So I am left with a check that I cannot cash unless I am willing to part with an additional $525.00. We are already struggling to make our mortgage payments, which is why we made the unfortunate decision to sign on with this law firm and now we are out another $1,750.00 until this matter can be resolved. This firm is at best inept and unprofessional and at worst simply preying upon desperate working families trying to save their home under the smokescreen of being experts at obtaining home loan modifications. I am completely dissatisfied in general with this law firm and do not feel as though our money was well spent on professional experts in the loan modification process, but all I demand is the entire 50% refund owed to me according to the contract we signed.Sincerely,[redacted]Desired Settlement: $1,750.00Which is %50 of the initial amount paid and the amount due to us according to the contract we signed (as quoted above)