Charge my attorney billed me for--WHAT THE HECK???

[wallyworld85]

Okay,  It appears that my ex's mother called my attorney to talk crap about me and to dispute a recent letter my attorney sent to my ex's attorney stating that I needed to be given a forwarding address and telephone number (My ex moved back to Pensacola from Tallahassee without notifiying me.  My daughter's school actually notified me.  I guess my ex's mother trash talked me to my attorney.

Well guess what?  I get my monthly statment in the mail AND low and behold by attorney charged me for the call!  Okay I did NOT tell him to accept calls from my ex's parents.  I was charge for .40 of an hour which would equal about  50 dollars for that ONE conversation that I did NOT authorize.

I cant fire him court for the final court date (hearing ALL matters) is only a week away in FL


1.  Am I responisble for that charge?

2.  Is there anything I can do to make sure he credits it to my account?

3.  Can he charge my ex's mom as SHE was the one that called him!



It makes me want to call their attorney and talk BS for an hour so they get billed!

[DecentDad]

Hi,

I'm not Soc, but just my thoughts...

If you'd consider firing your attorney over a $50 line item, you may wish to take a look inward.

First, talk to you attorney.  There have been a few times I've felt something was unreasonable on my bill (e.g., extra work in their office to correct something that they didn't handle well in the first place), I addressed it with my attorney's office, and they've never had a problem agreeing to credit my account an extra 30 minutes or 60 minutes (i.e., I pay my bill in full every month, so I'm a good client, and it ain't worth their while to argue over a couple hundred bucks every now and then).

Second, you can ask the court for your ex to repay all unreasonable attorney fees you incurred as a result of her and her families inappropriate contact with your attorney.

Times are probably tense as you're approaching trial, but don't lose sight of what's most important.  Fifty bucks due to your former mother-in-law isn't important.

DD

[socrateaser]

>1.  Am I responisble for that charge?

Well, the question is whether his conversation was reasonably providing you with a service that you authorized. I'm not certain without reading your retainer agreement. Even then it's a gray area. Tell him you don't think that it was a reasonable charge.

>
>2.  Is there anything I can do to make sure he credits it to
>my account?

there is nothing sure in life.

>
>3.  Can he charge my ex's mom as SHE was the one that called
>him!

No.

>It makes me want to call their attorney and talk BS for an
>hour so they get billed!

Do it.