ComplaintsforEvergreen Elder Law, LLC

• Initial Complaint

  07/25/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  $1450 charged to CCVI on 06JUN24 Expected full refund Administrator has been stalling

  Customer response

  07/25/2024

  . I called Evergreen Elder Law first because I figured they would be the least likely to take advantage of senior citizens. So I set up a free consultation. Instead of meeting with a lawyer, as I had expended, the meeting was with a salesperson. I explained that all I wanted was a simple will. I even stated more than once that I did not want or need the other things that were being included like the health directive. The advantages of a trust were brought up several times and I very emphatically stated that I did not want a trust ...and only a simple will. I was asked for a credit card and told that a paralegal would be calling me next week. I do realize that I signed the document that was put in front of me. And I now realize that I was being naive, trusting, ***** and ignorant in thinking that I was not locked into anything until I was in touch with the lawyer. ******** was a gentleman; but, he is a salesman. So, the bottom line is that it was definitely not a free consultation, but rather a pushy sales pitch with the objective to get a signature on a contract. So, when I left there I felt that I needed to go to other free consultations before making my final decision on a firm. I got in touch with *** before Monday and before anyone opened my file and before I received a call from *****. ***'s message back to me was: "I will let our firm administrator know. It usually takes about a month to get your refund back. I wish you the best of luck in finding the right estate planning attorney." I wondered why it would take a month to credit a **** card. Little did I know that the plan was to send me a letter a month later to advise me that the company's objective was to rob me of $1087.50 . I called immediately to say that anything other than a full refund is unacceptable. Since then all I have gotten is a reminder that I signed a contract and that they're working on what can be done in my case.
  

  
  

  Refund

  Business response

  08/05/2024

  August 5, 2024
  Dear *******/Better Business Bureau,
  I apologize for the delay in responding to your complaint. I have been out of the office on PTO, and it took some time to address your concerns appropriately.
  I want to clarify that there was no intention to stall the process. We were awaiting a review from the Managing Partner who was out of the country regarding the details of the matter and your request for a larger refund than stipulated in the fee agreement. We communicated that this process would take some time.
  Also, part of the delay was because your initial refund emails were sent to a past employee. We had to involve our IT department to retrieve the necessary information, which took longer than expected.
  Our findings indicate that you are entitled to a 25% refund discount as per the agreement. This refund was processed on August 1, 2024 for $362.50. While we understand the delay was longer than ideal, it was processed three weeks from when we sent our letter to you stating this.
  There appears to be a misunderstanding regarding the terms of the agreement you signed, and the amount of work involved in opening a new file. We uphold our company policies and strive to provide fair and transparent service. The accusations of "taking advantage of a senior" are unfounded, as we are committed to treating all our clients with respect and integrity.
  Moreover, it should be noted that after our fee agreement and working relationship were established, you chose to go elsewhere and shop around to save money. While we respect your decision,this could have saved everyone valuable time if it had been done ahead of time.
  Additionally, we have been informed that you have processed a full refund chargeback with your credit card company.This will also take time to respond to and process accordingly.
  Thank you for your patience and understanding.
  Sincerely,
  
  *******************************
  Firm Administrator

  Customer response

  08/06/2024

   
  Complaint: 22043217
  
  I am rejecting this response because:  I was promised a full refund and only rcvd 25%. The only resolution is the full refund of $1450.  I want to appeal directly to the owner ********************** who might not be aware of the unethical practices of her CDA office and her administrator.  I set up a FREE consultation.     Instead of meeting with a lawyer, as I had expended, the meeting was with a salesperson.   I explained that all I wanted was a simple will. I even stated more than once that I did not want or need the other things that were being included like the health directive.  The advantages of a trust were brought up several times and I very emphatically stated that I did not want a trust ...and only a simple will.  I was asked for a credit card and told that a paralegal would be calling me next week.    I do realize that I signed the document that was put in front of me.  And I now realize that I was being naive, trusting, ***** and ignorant in thinking that I was not locked into anything until I was in touch with the lawyer.   ******** was a gentleman; but, he is a salesman.  So, the bottom line is that it was definitely not a free consultation, but rather a pushy sales pitch with the objective to get a signature on a contract.   So, when I left there I felt that I needed to go to other free consultations before making my final decision on a firm.  I got in touch with *** before Monday and before anyone opened my file and before I received a call from *****.   ***'s message back to me was:  "I will let our firm administrator know.  It usually takes about a month to get your refund back.  I wish you the best of luck in finding the right estate planning attorney."  I wondered why it would take a month to credit a **** card.   Little did I know that the plan was to send me a letter a month later to advise me that the company's objective was to rob me of $1087.50 .   I called immediately to say that anything other than a full refund is unacceptable. Since then all I have gotten is a reminder that I signed a contract.  ******* has even stated they are entitled to the $1087.50 because of the amount of work spent opening a file. A file could NOT have been opened because I only talked to a salesperson, not the paralegal so the company had no information to start.  And I called to cancel beforehand and was promised a refund.  Before I proceed with any other action, I just wanted to let you know of the reprehensible practices in CDA  And then to see if you agree that a full and immediate refund is warranted .
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***********************

• Initial Complaint

  11/29/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I contacted Evergreen Estate and Elder Services on 06/21/2023, and paid a retainer of $8500.00. I submitted completed questionnaire and documentation to them. On 07/20/23 I met with the attorney and paralegal for approximately an hour. Since then, the only communication has been receipts of bills and an email from them with a couple questions which I answered. On 10/25/23 I emailed *************************** that I was dissatisfied with their services; she suggested I meet with the managing partner. On 11/01/23 I canceled that appointment and terminated their service, requesting a refund of the remaining retainer. I called them on 11/27/23 to speak with the firm administrator and left a message. I have not heard from her.

  Business response

  12/01/2023

  Thank you for your patience! Since you requested a time entry review it took a little longer to process your refund of trust money along with the holiday last week and limited staffing. I apologize for the inconvenience, please see the attached letter and correspondence that was mailed out. Please call if you have any additional questions. 

  Customer response

  12/04/2023

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***********************

• Initial Complaint

  08/26/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Consolation, 3 appointments for long term care for ********* Never drafted documents or reviewed nothing of documents. Did not exist. Charged $4,750.00 for seven documents that did not exist & withdrew my case by someone in the office never formally met afterwards. When signed agreement withdrew & paid something that never existed.

  Business response

  09/13/2023

  Please see letter sent today to the client regarding the reasoning for withdrawal. We apologize for not responding sooner as this email was sent to our SPAM folder. 

  Customer response

  09/21/2023

  I had one Consolation with paying $8,500.00  Evergreen set up three meetings with staff (**********************************) & Paralegal ************************* to handle my Elder Law & Estate for 80 yr old  *********************** placed in *********** facility, ****** Place- after Hospitalized 17 days. I paid them with my personal funds as DPOA to help & take care of ******'s long term care & Financial affairs. August 11th-- after signing of second agreement from retainer fee for $4750.00 to draw up "seven legal documents" the third meeting meeting. I received email from Evergreen--that the Paralegal assigned to handle my case: ************************* they received his resignation with Evergreen Elder law Attorney, ******* **. Then a ******/****** would be assisting me & very knowledgeable. I received a phone call August 18th 2023 1:26pm from a person I had never meet  "************'s" & demanding me to bring *********************** out of town 4 trips 400 miles to their office when ****** is in a *********** facility. Bring in to office to removed my name off legal document which is one of the seven to be produce that were never drafted!  Drafted Produced or reviewed after signing contract states in agreement for $4750.00. Signed by me August 11th, ****.

  Then after receiving a phone call August 18th ************'s demanding the impossible. ************'s sent a letter withdrawing my case. Stated a refund in letter which also never existed.  Evergreen Elder law Attorney took my funds retainer fee $8,500.00 & part of those funds signed agreement for seven documents drawn up for $4,750.00. Then set email no longer had my Paralegal no longer working for Evergreen. Assigned some one I never met & found rude & asking me to bring *********************** to office to remove me off Deed. If this was possible *********************** would not need me & could handle her longer affairs herself.  I was annoyed by this person ************'s I had never met & asking the impossible. She also wanted me to review or revise the entire meeting the took place with Attorney ******* August 11th. 2023. I received nothing from them but producing Invoice of nothing done just word of fluff. Nothing was ever done in the original agreement for ******** care plan & placed on ********* Attorney made a statement at meeting that *************************** home was only Property Estate $165,000.00. Found value of home *****. That Property estimate was from **** when her current Home Property was valued by Realtor $489,000.00. I'm left with no long term care plan for her Estate or a Will if something should happen to *********************** 80yrs. I'm her only friend 41 years, she has no family to help & as her DPOA for Financial & Medical. I'm planning on revoking my position because of all the burdens & extra stress complied upon me. Selling her home to pay her ******** Care--Bishops Place first month May $10,579.33, June, July, Aug.,$7,570.00 & monthly rent went up to $7,870.00 September. I have enough funds till November. I have been attacked by DSHS/APS after three years keeping all her bills paid Financial affairs in great standings. Saved funds $50,000.00 for three years in account for her placement longterm care facility when this day would  happened April 14th, 2023. Now to be taken advantage by Evergreen Elder law Attorney that only cares about making money. I've been taken Financial at age 61 exploitation by Evergreen Elder law Attorney helping my Mom/friend *********************** 80 years old never stop her longterm future. 

  Customer response

  09/21/2023

  I just reviewed what they sent you & have never received this check. Will go to Bank with information date, check # & amount does not exist.  Never sent this check to me. Will get Banks processes never existed. 

  Customer response

  09/21/2023

  Have not received this check from Evergreen Elder law Attorney. Will go to Bank to confirmation doesn't exist. 

  Business response

  09/25/2023

  The refund and letter were mailed out to ******************* **************************************************** on September 13, 2023. Please double check your mail. At this time, we are not showing that the check has cleared but we have also not received any mail back? I can process a STOP PMT with the bank and reissue if not received. Please allow up to 10 business days for this to process once confirmed that you have not received the letter with the refund check enclosed. Thank you! 

  Customer response

  10/04/2023

  August 11, 2023 ********************* had me sign a petition to draw up seven documents that never existed. Then had a legal assistant call August 18, 2023. Demanding the impossible & withdrawing my case. This was a week  after collecting $4,750.00 for four documents that never existed.  Refund never received the seven documents  nor $450.00 which should be for $4,750.00.

  *********************

  Business response

  10/19/2023

  The documents were printed and mailed out today to ***********. As she will see they are date stamped from when they were drafted 7/25/23. We received her letter requesting copies on October 11, 2023. 

• Initial Complaint

  06/28/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  My wife is suffering from *********** disease and at the advice from the *********************** I contacted Evergreen Estate and Elder Law for help with financial planning and for legal advice for managing my wife's illness. I met with a representative from this company who requested payment of $7,400 for their services which I paid. During this meeting we discussed the cost of long term care for *********** patients and I was told that this would cost me between $12,000 and $20,000 per month. Later when I checked on that cost I found that he had grossly overstated the amount. When I contacted the company, one of the legal representatives implied that this high cost was correct. However I know that the average cost of long term care in ***** is approximately $6,000 per month.As a result of this misinformation, I have lost all confidence in Evergreen Law. I believe that instead of acting as my fiduciary, this company has inflated the cost of *********** care in order to secure my business. I have requested that my payment be refunded but they are unwilling to comply. They have not completed any work on my behalf and have not incurred any costs.

  Business response

  06/29/2023

  Please see refund letter mailed to the client yesterday. We received his refund request on June 12th, 2023 and it takes a few weeks for us to process and have accounting process a refund check. We never stated that we would not receive a refund. He was verbally abusive to our team while having conversation and therefore we chose to stop contact and send through the mail. Please reach out if you have any further questions. 

  Business response

  06/29/2023

  Please see refund letter mailed to the client yesterday. We received his refund request on June 12th, 2023 and it takes a few weeks for us to process and have accounting process a refund check. We never stated that we would not receive a refund. He was verbally abusive to our team while having conversation and therefore we chose to stop contact and send through the mail. Please reach out if you have any further questions. 

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩