Does anyone have this?
I met a guy this weekend that sells this services for a living (along with all aspects of identity protection......credit, health insurance, driver's license #, etc).
Basically you have an attorney on retainer for 26$ a month and can use them for free legal advice and representation depending on what the issue is.
I've heard of this before through some friends that swear by it as it has helped them numerous times on moving infractions, etc.
Just curious if anyone has any first hand experience with it before I pitch it to HR for an acquaintance of mine who sells it for a living.
The law firm they use locally is very well respected and has 55 attorney's in all areas of law.
did he look like this?
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Wb7gmBhM3z4/ST_v3HEUS8I/AAAAAAAABE4/5cYTPEE7vM0/s400/lionel-hutz-iphone.gif)
What kind of service are you really going to get for 26$ a month? I wouldn't expect that much.
Years ago..they offered it at EB and it didn't cover much. For example, they offered a basic will but if you wanted more..the prices shot up quickly!
Basically like going in to buy a new Jeep..the base model 28,000 but with all the amenities I would like..it can easily get up to 40,000.
are booster seats and run flat tires really that much money?
Quote from: redxblack on September 12, 2010, 09:41:57 PM
are booster seats and run flat tires really that much money?
[laugh]
[clap]
;)
[bacon]
Quote from: redxblack on September 12, 2010, 09:41:57 PM
are booster seats and run flat tires really that much money?
>:(
Quote from: redxblack on September 12, 2010, 08:22:18 PM
did he look like this?
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Wb7gmBhM3z4/ST_v3HEUS8I/AAAAAAAABE4/5cYTPEE7vM0/s400/lionel-hutz-iphone.gif)
yes, opinions vary.
Was looking for those of you on here that might have it.
I think it is a con. Its a way for some person the get money out of you in return for free legal advice. Most attorneys will give free legal advice in their initial consultation. Attorneys all blow smoke. This might be a good deal for some, but might not be. I would really push for an in depth conference with this friend of yours and see what you get exacty in return for $26.00 per month.
Remember you are dealing with attorneys. They go to law school not to study law but to learn how to get money from clients. As far as I am cncerned they are blood sucking leaches, pieces of shit and I hope they all burn in hell .......slowly.
But this is America and you have a choice . Your due diligence is needed.
BGB
Quote from: badgalbetty on September 13, 2010, 03:11:57 AM
I think it is a con. Its a way for some person the get money out of you in return for free legal advice. Most attorneys will give free legal advice in their initial consultation. Attorneys all blow smoke. This might be a good deal for some, but might not be. I would really push for an in depth conference with this friend of yours and see what you get exacty in return for $26.00 per month.
Remember you are dealing with attorneys. They go to law school not to study law but to learn how to get money from clients. As far as I am cncerned they are blood sucking leaches, pieces of shit and I hope they all burn in hell .......slowly.
But this is America and you have a choice . Your due diligence is needed.
BGB
I also do my due diligence before making a decision.
As for your comments about attorney's that is a GROSS generalization which may or may not offend people on here, but offends me as you just insulted my oldest brother.
So my brother went to law school just to get money from clients?
Interesting.
He was a prosecutor for 6 years. He was paid by the County, not clients.
Then he was a criminal defense attorney for 3 years.
He didn't "scam" people out of money......he got paid for providing a service. You get arrested for a DUI? You need an attorney, so you pay for one. You want to go to court alone? Go for it.
Apparently you have picked the wrong attorney in your divorce or you ex-husband got a better one.
[popcorn]
Quote from: ungeheuer on September 13, 2010, 04:23:47 AM
[popcorn]
I think I will sit back and watch too.
Typically I end up getting banned when something like this happens due to ignorance.
Settle down ladies. I had prepaid legal once a long time ago. I doubt I would spend the money now considering that I haven't had a need for a long time, but at that time my wife was going through an issue with AT&T. Someone opened an account under her name and they kept trying to charge her. One letter from this attorney completely cleared it up.
This is a basic question of insurance. When you don't have it and you need it you get upset. All the other time when you don't need it, you're upset your spending the money.
As to BGB's comments, I presume they come from bad experiences, but as Cyrus pointed out, many here are attorneys and some of us have family members and friends that are also attorneys. Those comments are like saying that all Ducati owners are douchebags. Previous posters aside, some of us are not douchebags.
I do not have an attorney, cannot afford one.They all want 4k up front retainer and then $150-$200 per hour there after. I make in 2 days what they want for an hours work.
My ex has finacially ruined me and I have lost everything including the pension that I paid into (mostly before we married ) and was 11 years away from collecting. I have lost 40-50% of that. I am not bitter at my ex , just disapointed more than anything.
I believe that there are countless stupid lawsuits filed and the only people to get rich are the attorneys. Yes it was a generalisation and if it offends people here who are honest then I am big enough to say sorry.
SORRY IF YOU ARE AN ATTORNEY AND I HAVE INSULTED YOU.
Now that being said, you know that there is some truth in what I said. Attorneys are not always good people . There are bad seeds in all walks of life.
I think that Cyrus was specifically asking about pepaid legal, so lets try to narrow the scope of this thread to that.
Quote from: badgalbetty on September 13, 2010, 04:58:49 AM
I do not have an attorney, cannot afford one.They all want 4k up front retainer and then $150-$200 per hour there after.
That's because they go four years to college, spend hours and hours studying to have a high GPA as well as participating in countless organizations to build a resume, then taking the LSAT (which is not an easy examination), and then an additional 3 years of hell to become an attorney.
They can charge what they want.
Some will complain about doctors in the same way. Well, through in college, 4yrs med school, residency, and then a fellowship if you sub-specialize after that. Not to mention the sacrifices you give up in your life to do this profession. I hardly recall my Father growing up. He worked 14-15 hour days for years. He earned the income he did for a reason and there were many costs to his job within my family.
I agree with you on the dumb lawsuits and injury attorney's; I am not a fan of them myself.
And no..........the plaintiff makes more money than the attorney. Typically in an injury lawsuit or any of the sort, the lawyer takes it on contingency. Standard fee is about 33-35% of the settlement cost. Deduct that from 100 and that is the percent the plaintiff takes home.
Quote from: duccarlos on September 13, 2010, 05:06:28 AM
I think that Cyrus was specifically asking about pepaid legal, so lets try to narrow the scope of this thread to that.
Thanks.
We are at an interesting time where we are dealing with identity theft with an urgent care, douchebag hits my wife's car (actually my insurance company will go after them I think), and my wife needs to set up an LLC/Ltd/Whatever else is out there because she is finally at the point with her side photography business she has her first paying job in 3-4 months, so we need to get her as a registered business, tax ID number, etc. I know you can set this up on your own, but I have no idea how to and my cousin who is an attorney locally.......not his area of law so he is of very little help. My brother is not from Ohio, so he can't of much help either. I'd pay Tizzy with sexual favors (as he prefers) but again, he is no licensed in Ohio and the process is probably different then what he knows.
I think you should just pay a local attorney a few hundred to set up an LLC and do all the papers. your brother might even give you advice for free on what to do.
I had prepaid legal once myself and did not find it worth the money, all you get is advice. maybe better advice than you get here. [roll]
As it was said most attorneys will give you a free consultation or charge you a small fee say $60
I agree. Prepaid legal is only good if your business will require a lot of legal documentation. You can setup an LLC pretty easily with a half decent lawyer. And it will be cheaper in the long run.
Quote from: D Paoli on September 13, 2010, 06:08:27 AM
I think you should just pay a local attorney a few hundred to set up an LLC and do all the papers. your brother might even give you advice for free on what to do.
I had prepaid legal once myself and did not find it worth the money, all you get is advice. maybe better advice than you get here. [roll]
As it was said most attorneys will give you a free consultation or charge you a small fee say $60
That's pretty much the answer I was looking for.
People have mixed reviews on it, and if they just give you advice and not actual service.........there is no point.
Yeah, I am not sure I even need a lawyer for the LLC, if I do, my cousin can do it for me since he is barred in Ohio.
Just need to get the right documents together.
Perhaps it's different in Ohio, but in LA or TX, you can register your llc and get your tax ID by filling out 10 minutes' worth of forms on the state secretary of state website. Both myself and my fiancée have done this within the last couple of months. Mine is a medical practice and hers is a business selling her own art. Cost us each around $80. Good luck.
it should be that simple in Ohio as well. it truly is a simple matter, but Cyrus tends to hire a Lawyer for just about anything, so why should this be any different. I do like the convenience of having the lawyer do all the footwork and I just walk in and sign.
I know somebody who had prepaid legal....said it was only good for intial consultations and whatnot for the most part, and then they would offer you a discount incentive if you were a prepaid plan customer on anything further...like Price Club kind of discounting on further legal representation...so it is a kind of sham in a way...and kind of not...depends on your usage...kinda like an extended warranty...only a benefit for if you use it and it benefits you...otherwise..you are paying for nothing...
sham..
Quote from: herm on September 13, 2010, 02:29:15 PM
sham..
ducarlos
did liken it to insurance... ;)
...and not all lawyers suck.
Just the one that beats yours. ;D
Quote from: cyrus buelton on September 12, 2010, 07:59:42 PM
-snip-
Just curious if anyone has any first hand experience with it before I pitch it to HR for an acquaintance of mine who sells it for a living.
-snip-
Not sure how your company operates, but wouldn't this be considered a conflict of interest?
I think we should all be proud of JuddDd for keeping this civil. Good job bro. [thumbsup]
Quote from: Randimus Maximus on September 13, 2010, 02:52:48 PM
Not sure how your company operates, but wouldn't this be considered a conflict of interest?
Nah, conflict of interest would be if he was selling it.
Quote from: cyrus buelton on September 13, 2010, 06:37:25 AM
That's pretty much the answer I was looking for.
People have mixed reviews on it, and if they just give you advice and not actual service.........there is no point.
Yeah, I am not sure I even need a lawyer for the LLC, if I do, my cousin can do it for me since he is barred in Ohio.
Just need to get the right documents together.
Ever heard of Legal Zoom ?
Just put it in a Google search.
Dolph
Quote from: Randimus Maximus on September 13, 2010, 02:52:48 PM
Not sure how your company operates, but wouldn't this be considered a conflict of interest?
****Edited**********
How would it be a conflict of interest if my company offered me as a benefit???
That makes zero sense
I have pre paid legal as one of my benefits at UPS, and yes I can not use it to sue UPS, or the Teamsters. ;D
Other than that I've used it for wills, traffic tickets and such. Many drivers end up using it in divorces. [roll]
Legal Zoom is a Legal Entity run by Robert Shapiro, from the OJ defense team.
He advertises Legal work on line for a set fee.
Like Wills , Incorporating etc.
Dolph
Testie testie Cyrus. It's not a conflict of interest to have a friend present it to HR. It would be a conflict of interest if A) Juddy was the one selling it or B) that Juddy was working in the HR dept. Please lighten up.
Quote from: duccarlos on September 14, 2010, 03:31:30 AM
Testie testie Cyrus. It's not a conflict of interest to have a friend present it to HR. It would be a conflict of interest if A) Juddy was the one selling it or B) that Juddy was working in the HR dept. Please lighten up.
I edited it.
Randy,
We have a huge ethics policy at my company and presenting a service that a friend of mine sells to the company is not unethical.
If I got some sort of kickback from it........then yes, it would fall under those terms. However, I am not receiving a benefit, just helping a friend out with his business. Once I pass on his contact information, I step out of the equation.
Is it unethical at your employer to give HR a Resume from a friend of yours?
I was just asking the question.
Playing devil's advocate.
Here's another scenario:
Employee A: "what's this new prepaid legal service HR is offering?
Employee B: "not sure, but I heard that it wa a buddy of Jud's"
Employee A: "I bet Jud is getting a kickback"
Perceptions. They can be a pregnant dog.
Quote from: Randimus Maximus on September 14, 2010, 06:13:17 AM
I was just asking the question.
Playing devil's advocate.
Here's another scenario:
Employee A: "what's this new prepaid legal service HR is offering?
Employee B: "not sure, but I heard that it wa a buddy of Jud's"
Employee A: "I bet Jud is getting a kickback"
Perceptions. They can be a pregnant dog.
Nope, only HR would know where that info came from.
My company will pay you $4,000 if you find them a candidate for a salaried position.
You get 2k up front........another 2k when they hit their one year anniversary.
I doubt with the highly qualified unemployed that are current plaguing this economy that your company is still paying that much. 1 posting on Career Builder will gardner about 100,000 resumes. They might pay you that much to go through all the resumes.
Quote from: duccarlos on September 14, 2010, 06:26:11 AM
I doubt with the highly qualified unemployed that are current plaguing this economy that your company is still paying that much. 1 posting on Career Builder will gardner about 100,000 resumes. They might pay you that much to go through all the resumes.
They are still paying it, dude.
We use headhunting services, local staffing agencies, etc.
Yeah, we waste a lot of money.
Damn, they probably still pay a recruiter. Those were the first jobs that went away.
Quote from: cyrus buelton on September 13, 2010, 05:58:40 AM
We are at an interesting time where we are dealing with identity theft with an urgent care, douchebag hits my wife's car (actually my insurance company will go after them I think), and my wife needs to set up an LLC/Ltd/Whatever else is out there because she is finally at the point with her side photography business she has her first paying job in 3-4 months, so we need to get her as a registered business, tax ID number, etc. I know you can set this up on your own, but I have no idea how to and my cousin who is an attorney locally.......not his area of law so he is of very little help. My brother is not from Ohio, so he can't of much help either. I'd pay Tizzy with sexual favors (as he prefers) but again, he is no licensed in Ohio and the process is probably different then what he knows.
Please don't pay an attorney to do this for you. It is so incredibly easy to do yourself. Take 15 min to spend on Google or call your local SBDC, seriously.
Quote from: DesmoLu on September 14, 2010, 06:41:48 AM
Please don't pay an attorney to do this for you. It is so incredibly easy to do yourself. Take 15 min to spend on Google or call your local SBDC, seriously.
There was a lot of info in that quote.
What were you specifically referring to?
If it was LLC, I am not.
Spidey sent me a link.
oh good! make sure you actually need an LLC too. I'm not sure if it might be the most appropriate formation for photography. I advise my clients on entity formation all the time, although it is food related. shoot me a PM with details if you want some advice about it.
+ all your tax ID filing is done online through IRS website, even payment
I need to speak with my cousin and brother (both attorneys) on what set up to do for her. There might be a better one out there, but last I spoke with my brother, LLC was what he recommended setting up.
I imagine a lot of it probably depends on revenue?
Quote from: humorless dp on September 13, 2010, 02:52:21 PM
ducarlos did liken it to insurance... ;)
...and not all lawyers suck.
Just the one that beats yours. ;D
never said they all did. but the ones who concoct scams like this do. they must be down on their luck ambulance chaser types...
Quote from: cyrus buelton on September 14, 2010, 04:49:30 AM
Is it unethical at your employer to give HR a Resume from a friend of yours?
where i used to work, it was definitely frowned upon. in fact, i know of a few instances where the right candidate did not get the job because there was a perception of impropriety over in HR. so, if you knew someone for the job, about all you could do was point them in the right direction and offer yourself as a reference.
Quote from: cyrus buelton on September 14, 2010, 07:15:24 AM
I need to speak with my cousin and brother (both attorneys) on what set up to do for her. There might be a better one out there, but last I spoke with my brother, LLC was what he recommended setting up.
I imagine a lot of it probably depends on revenue?
A lot of it depends on protecting your assets, if you actually have any.
Quote from: MrIncredible on September 14, 2010, 11:36:51 AM
A lot of it depends on protecting your assets, if you actually have any.
which i wouldn't think would be at risk for a photographer...
here's a good sole proprietor or llc comparison:
http://hubpages.com/hub/Sole_Proprietorship_vs_LLC-Know_the_Difference (http://hubpages.com/hub/Sole_Proprietorship_vs_LLC-Know_the_Difference)
and here is a good comparison of the various corporations:
http://www.bizfilings.com/learn/compare-business-types.aspx (http://www.bizfilings.com/learn/compare-business-types.aspx)
everyone send me 5 bucks. I'll post opinions for no further charge in a forum for those who paid.
;D
Quote from: Statler on September 14, 2010, 01:24:16 PM
everyone send me 5 bucks. I'll post opinions for no further charge in a forum for those who paid.
;D
Can you legally define a structure, for permitting purposes?
[popcorn]
Quote from: Statler on September 14, 2010, 01:24:16 PM
everyone send me 5 bucks. I'll post opinions for no further charge in a forum for those who paid.
;D
I injured myself trying to get the first buck into the envelope, it gored me badly with it's antlers.
You'll be hearing from my lawyer.
Quote from: Dan on September 14, 2010, 02:06:32 PM
Can you legally define a structure, for permitting purposes?
The only important person in that equation is the AHJ.
dumb mothermake the beast with two backsers that they are... [bang] [bang] [bang] [bang] [bang] [bang]
Incorporating a Business is a way to protect the owners from liabilities , lawsuits and debts incurred by the Corporation.
Incorporating offers various forms of Bankruptcy protection including reorganization, Chapter 7,11 and 13.
LLC is a limited form of a Corporation .
Dolph :)
Quote from: MrIncredible on September 14, 2010, 11:36:51 AM
A lot of it depends on protecting your assets, if you actually have any.
Yes, we have assets.
Setting it up as an LLC protects personal assets and puts the only ability for someone to "sue" on the insurance carried by the LLC. I spoke to our tax manager today and she says LLC is the way to go.
Setting it up as a Corporation means you pay double taxes.
Quote from: Statler on September 14, 2010, 01:24:16 PM
everyone send me 5 bucks. I'll post opinions for no further charge in a forum for those who paid.
;D
Nah, don't need your legal opinion. Have enough contacts for that.
Was really looking to see if that pre-paid service was worth it, and it seems from people that have/had it........sounds like a joke.