William B. Hogg, Attorney at Law

Initial Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2016/09/16) */
Dear Revdex.com of Northern Indiana,
Please review the notes from my paralegal who handles bankruptciesThey provide an outline of our process regarding the clientIn addition, I *** point out the following
The client engaged our services
for filing bankruptcy in January He signed a contract and started making paymentsAt the time the client signed the contract, I explained that we would not file his bankruptcy petition until he paid in full
In 2012, the client paid a total of *** and returned his packet of informationThis information was entered into a petition for bankruptcyBetween the end of and January 2016, the client made two additional payment totaling *** For various reasons, the client was unable or not ready to file bankruptcyThe client's money had been applied, as stated in the contract, to the consultation fee, document processing fee and petition preparation feeAlthough the money paid by the client was insufficient to cover the full cost of these three tasks, we prepared and continued to update petition as we received new informationWe have offered to make available to the client a copy of his petition, but he has not indicated any interest in seeing the contentsBased on the amount of money paid and the work that has been done, the client is not entitled to any refund of his money
The client was happy with our services until he was unsuccessful in obtaining free legal advice on behalf of his brother for a separate legal issueUpon learning that his brother would have to schedule and pay for an appointment to obtain legal advice, the client became angry
I do not believe that the client's unhappiness is based in any way upon the services he paid for and received regarding his bankruptcyThe client's April email indicated no problems, and even apologized for not communicating soonerInstead, the client somehow believes that by entering into an agreement to receive bankruptcy services, he is not entitled to free legal advice on behalf of a third partyFirst, our paralegals cannot and do not provide legal adviceSecond, while this firm may provide pro bono services based on a client's need, we generally expect payment for legal advice or services renderedThe client provided no indication that his brother was unable to pay for legal servicesThird, this firm does not provide legal advice based on one party's description of events and issues faced by a third partyIn such a case, the attorney cannot be assured that the information that he has received is accurate, nor can the attorney be assured that the advice he might give *** be accurately conveyed to the third partyIf the client believes that we did not do the work of preparing a bankruptcy petition, he can simply request a copy of his petitionIf he believes that his brother should receive legal advice, he should advise his brother to contact this firmIf the client believes that the agreement to provide bankruptcy services entitles him to free legal advice on behalf of others concerning additional and different issues that bankruptcy, he should refer to the terms of the agreementIf he has additional questions, he should feel free to contact this firm
Sincerely,
*** B***
Initial Consumer Rebuttal /* (3000, 7, 2016/09/17) */
(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
This "Firm" is a joke, when I went into the office it was made clear they would not do anything until the payment was "Paid in full" They told me they wouldn't talk to anyone on my behalf, *** Hoggs made sure that I was aware of thatSo according to him, they would not start the petition until I had paid all of the money, that was our agreement
***, who I was emailing even lied in recent, because they said they decided to start the petition when I mailed my packet back, which she asked me to, and said that I only had *** but they took it out anyway to start itFirst of all, I hadn't paid near that amount, so it would've been alot less at that time, so they started with very little money, not most of the money
She also sent me a letter awhile after I started, to make sure I wanted to file, which I replied yes, and she said many people start and decide not to file later, so one, if many people don't follow through, you're gonna tell me they're gonna do work, and not get the money, No.not unless they start it when they're not suppose to just for this reason, and to not give the money back
Also instead of replying with an answer, first she ignored what I asked, and just sent back what I sent to her when I decided not to file, saying I guess my questions were paid forYeah, they know they can only keep what they done, I didn't know that, until they ticked me off and I looked into it, they just ignored the factI know I'm not gonna get nothing back from these crooked people
My brother I asked for legal advice, because a carlot sued, they settled and were bringing him back to court, and the car was an illegal car, and if there was anything he could do to fight them, any Lawyer with common sense would have either said, no I can't help you, or yes I can help you with that, let's set up an appointmentNot her response of we don't give legal advice pay *** for 1/an hour if you want to talk to himWhy would anyone want to pay *** just to talk to a lawyer
Also I'm glad I didn't go through with this laywer, one thing didn't set right with me when we talkedHe told me to fill the papers out, and if he didn't think the judge would like something, he'd change it to something the judge would like so it'd go smootherI'm not sure, but that's wrong and should be illegal if it's notI get making the bankruptcy easier, but to change thing to make it easier
They're crooked, and lawyers, so I know they're not gonna give any of the money back, but the facts are that I was told that they wouldn't start anything until I paid them in full, which was *** the only thing that should've been done according to him was the paperwork, and the consultation, which according to her would've left *** That should've been returned, they weren't suppose to do anything, and the only reason they would've started was to not pay it back, when they weren't suppose toAnd they can send me the petition they wrote, yeah, they could write something up with the original papers they got in no time, they were responding, then they didn't for a 2-hours, so they probably wrote something quickly just to say they got it
When I sent her my packet, she said with my pay stubs, looking over it, I wouldn't be able to file bankruptcy, cause I worked overtime, and made more than what I was spending, so if that was the case, why would she start the petition with that information, she'd be writing it when I couldn't fileThen she knew I lost my job, and house, and was hospitalized, and had dr.'s bills, which they said to hold off with everything, and I told her I would need another packet to fill out cause everything changed, so there was never a time the stuff was correct, or able to file, so there was NEVER any reason to even start the petition
Let's look at the factsShe got the paperwork and *** in 2012, I sent her the packet back in October and got an email saying this
I received your information, thank youI looked into your account and you have paid a total of *** which leaves a balance of *** Depending on how soon you get this paid in full, I will need the past months of paystubs from the month we actually file the petitionThat being said, just hold on to them and when it gets closer to being paid off, I will ask you for them
TO me that sounds like she wasn't going to start the actual petition until it was paid in full
She also told me that month
I am showing that your income for the past months has been an average of *** per week of regular wages, *** of Overtime, *** in Taxes, *** for *** *** for Voluntary Life Insurance, and *** for the PAI on your pay stubsThis is showing an overage of *** per month after I include your expenses you provided to me
You have to be able to account for EVERY dollar you make and EVERY dollar you spendThe Trustee will not grant you a discharge if you have extra income
So in October of she knew that I made too much to file, it would have to be months of making less money to be able to get a lower average every week so it would workNovember I quit due to harassment, January I was hospitalized, so at that time stuff was changedI told them that while I was in the hospital, and recovering for a month, the mortgage company sent someone who broke into my house and trashed and stole stuff, so I decided I wasn't gonna try to keep it, then I got a job I think May to June, then got a job at Owens in August 2013, In june she said to hold off on everything until all the drbills come in, May I said I'd need new papers cause so much has changed, she replied with Hoggs would need all the unemployment stuff
So when she got the paperwork, she knew I wouldn't be able to file, so why would she start the petition, the next month I quit, two months later I was hospitalized, they said to hold off on everything, so still no reason to start the paperwork, May they knew I got some stuff out, and everything was changed, so still no reason to start after that, cause they were never sent anything elseSo explain any valid reason they would start writing the petition when they knew I couldn't file, then they knew everything changed, there is no reason
Final Business Response /* (4000, 10, 2016/09/22) */
*** ** ***
Revdex.com of Northern Indiana *** *** ***
Fort Wayne, IN XXXXX
In re: Case #XXXXXXXX
Dear Ms***
I have received and read the additional correspondence you received from the consumer included in your letter dated September 19, The client's comments are simply full of lies and misconceptions
In your letter you asked that I indicate what steps can be taken to resolve this matterI don't know of any way to resolve this matter with himI believe he is making things up because he was angry upon learning that his brother would have to schedule and pay for an appointment to obtain legal advice regarding a separate legal matter
I feel there is no realistic way to respond to the client's additional comments, and I would hope that would be obvious to anyone reading his complaintsIt is absolutely that I told him if I "didn't think the judge would like something," I would "change it to something the judge would like so it'd go smoother."
The client's charge, as I see it, is that he feels he should have been given free legal advice for his brother's separate legal matterIf you determine there are different charges here, please inform us what they would beEnclosed is a copy of my initial letter to you, dated September 14, 2016, in response to this complaint
Sincerely,
*** ** ***
Enclosure

Initial Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2016/09/16) */
Dear Revdex.com of Northern Indiana,
Please review the notes from my paralegal who handles bankruptciesThey provide an outline of our process regarding the clientIn addition, I *** point out the following
The client engaged our services
for filing bankruptcy in January He signed a contract and started making paymentsAt the time the client signed the contract, I explained that we would not file his bankruptcy petition until he paid in full
In 2012, the client paid a total of *** and returned his packet of informationThis information was entered into a petition for bankruptcyBetween the end of and January 2016, the client made two additional payment totaling *** For various reasons, the client was unable or not ready to file bankruptcyThe client's money had been applied, as stated in the contract, to the consultation fee, document processing fee and petition preparation feeAlthough the money paid by the client was insufficient to cover the full cost of these three tasks, we prepared and continued to update petition as we received new informationWe have offered to make available to the client a copy of his petition, but he has not indicated any interest in seeing the contentsBased on the amount of money paid and the work that has been done, the client is not entitled to any refund of his money
The client was happy with our services until he was unsuccessful in obtaining free legal advice on behalf of his brother for a separate legal issueUpon learning that his brother would have to schedule and pay for an appointment to obtain legal advice, the client became angry
I do not believe that the client's unhappiness is based in any way upon the services he paid for and received regarding his bankruptcyThe client's April email indicated no problems, and even apologized for not communicating soonerInstead, the client somehow believes that by entering into an agreement to receive bankruptcy services, he is not entitled to free legal advice on behalf of a third partyFirst, our paralegals cannot and do not provide legal adviceSecond, while this firm may provide pro bono services based on a client's need, we generally expect payment for legal advice or services renderedThe client provided no indication that his brother was unable to pay for legal servicesThird, this firm does not provide legal advice based on one party's description of events and issues faced by a third partyIn such a case, the attorney cannot be assured that the information that he has received is accurate, nor can the attorney be assured that the advice he might give *** be accurately conveyed to the third partyIf the client believes that we did not do the work of preparing a bankruptcy petition, he can simply request a copy of his petitionIf he believes that his brother should receive legal advice, he should advise his brother to contact this firmIf the client believes that the agreement to provide bankruptcy services entitles him to free legal advice on behalf of others concerning additional and different issues that bankruptcy, he should refer to the terms of the agreementIf he has additional questions, he should feel free to contact this firm
Sincerely,
*** B***
Initial Consumer Rebuttal /* (3000, 7, 2016/09/17) */
(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
This "Firm" is a joke, when I went into the office it was made clear they would not do anything until the payment was "Paid in full" They told me they wouldn't talk to anyone on my behalf, *** Hoggs made sure that I was aware of that So according to him, they would not start the petition until I had paid all of the money, that was our agreement
***, who I was emailing even lied in recent, because they said they decided to start the petition when I mailed my packet back, which she asked me to, and said that I only had *** but they took it out anyway to start it First of all, I hadn't paid near that amount, so it would've been alot less at that time, so they started with very little money, not most of the money
She also sent me a letter awhile after I started, to make sure I wanted to file, which I replied yes, and she said many people start and decide not to file later, so one, if many people don't follow through, you're gonna tell me they're gonna do work, and not get the money, No.not unless they start it when they're not suppose to just for this reason, and to not give the money back
Also instead of replying with an answer, first she ignored what I asked, and just sent back what I sent to her when I decided not to file, saying I guess my questions were paid for Yeah, they know they can only keep what they done, I didn't know that, until they ticked me off and I looked into it, they just ignored the fact I know I'm not gonna get nothing back from these crooked people
My brother I asked for legal advice, because a carlot sued, they settled and were bringing him back to court, and the car was an illegal car, and if there was anything he could do to fight them, any Lawyer with common sense would have either said, no I can't help you, or yes I can help you with that, let's set up an appointment Not her response of we don't give legal advice pay *** for 1/an hour if you want to talk to him Why would anyone want to pay *** just to talk to a lawyer
Also I'm glad I didn't go through with this laywer, one thing didn't set right with me when we talked He told me to fill the papers out, and if he didn't think the judge would like something, he'd change it to something the judge would like so it'd go smoother I'm not sure, but that's wrong and should be illegal if it's not I get making the bankruptcy easier, but to change thing to make it easier
They're crooked, and lawyers, so I know they're not gonna give any of the money back, but the facts are that I was told that they wouldn't start anything until I paid them in full, which was *** the only thing that should've been done according to him was the paperwork, and the consultation, which according to her would've left *** That should've been returned, they weren't suppose to do anything, and the only reason they would've started was to not pay it back, when they weren't suppose to And they can send me the petition they wrote, yeah, they could write something up with the original papers they got in no time, they were responding, then they didn't for a 2-hours, so they probably wrote something quickly just to say they got it
When I sent her my packet, she said with my pay stubs, looking over it, I wouldn't be able to file bankruptcy, cause I worked overtime, and made more than what I was spending, so if that was the case, why would she start the petition with that information, she'd be writing it when I couldn't file Then she knew I lost my job, and house, and was hospitalized, and had dr.'s bills, which they said to hold off with everything, and I told her I would need another packet to fill out cause everything changed, so there was never a time the stuff was correct, or able to file, so there was NEVER any reason to even start the petition
Let's look at the facts She got the paperwork and *** in 2012, I sent her the packet back in October and got an email saying this
I received your information, thank you I looked into your account and you have paid a total of *** which leaves a balance of *** Depending on how soon you get this paid in full, I will need the past months of paystubs from the month we actually file the petition That being said, just hold on to them and when it gets closer to being paid off, I will ask you for them
TO me that sounds like she wasn't going to start the actual petition until it was paid in full
She also told me that month
I am showing that your income for the past months has been an average of *** per week of regular wages, *** of Overtime, *** in Taxes, *** for *** *** for Voluntary Life Insurance, and *** for the PAI on your pay stubs This is showing an overage of *** per month after I include your expenses you provided to me
You have to be able to account for EVERY dollar you make and EVERY dollar you spendThe Trustee will not grant you a discharge if you have extra income
So in October of she knew that I made too much to file, it would have to be months of making less money to be able to get a lower average every week so it would work November I quit due to harassment, January I was hospitalized, so at that time stuff was changed I told them that while I was in the hospital, and recovering for a month, the mortgage company sent someone who broke into my house and trashed and stole stuff, so I decided I wasn't gonna try to keep it, then I got a job I think May to June, then got a job at Owens in August 2013, In june she said to hold off on everything until all the drbills come in, May I said I'd need new papers cause so much has changed, she replied with Hoggs would need all the unemployment stuff
So when she got the paperwork, she knew I wouldn't be able to file, so why would she start the petition, the next month I quit, two months later I was hospitalized, they said to hold off on everything, so still no reason to start the paperwork, May they knew I got some stuff out, and everything was changed, so still no reason to start after that, cause they were never sent anything else So explain any valid reason they would start writing the petition when they knew I couldn't file, then they knew everything changed, there is no reason
Final Business Response /* (4000, 10, 2016/09/22) */
*** ** ***
Revdex.com of Northern Indiana *** *** ***
Fort Wayne, IN XXXXX
In re: Case #XXXXXXXX
Dear Ms***
I have received and read the additional correspondence you received from the consumer included in your letter dated September 19, The client's comments are simply full of lies and misconceptions
In your letter you asked that I indicate what steps can be taken to resolve this matterI don't know of any way to resolve this matter with himI believe he is making things up because he was angry upon learning that his brother would have to schedule and pay for an appointment to obtain legal advice regarding a separate legal matter
I feel there is no realistic way to respond to the client's additional comments, and I would hope that would be obvious to anyone reading his complaintsIt is absolutely that I told him if I "didn't think the judge would like something," I would "change it to something the judge would like so it'd go smoother."
The client's charge, as I see it, is that he feels he should have been given free legal advice for his brother's separate legal matterIf you determine there are different charges here, please inform us what they would beEnclosed is a copy of my initial letter to you, dated September 14, 2016, in response to this complaint
Sincerely,
*** ** ***
Enclosure