Central District Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney's Association

Would anyone be willing to share a sample retainer agreement? If so,
please email me off list. Thank you.
Christian
On Wed, Aug 7, 2013 at 3:11 AM, Jay Fleischman wrote:
> In the event that I fail to cancel appointment with 24 hours advance
> notice, then I will be charged an additional fee of $100 that must be
> paid prior to my bankruptcy case being filed with the court. I
> understand that Law Firm may not be able to honor an appointment if I
> show up more than 15 minutes late; if this is the case then I will be
> bill as if I did not show up for the appointment.
>
> I enforce it by sending the client a bill each month showing their
> unpaid balance, by having them initial next to this paragraph to
> indicate that they have read and understood it, and by demanding the
> money prior to filing.
>
> -------------
> Jay S. Fleischman, Esq.
> Shaev & Fleischman, LLP
>
> I help people get smart solutions to their bill problems.
>
> http://www.ConsumerHelpCentral.com
>
> 556 S Fair Oaks Ave Ste 101-152
> Pasadena CA 91105-2656
>
> T: 626-808-4343 x704
> E: jay@sflawca.com
>
> Email isn't secure, so it's not confidential. By communicating with
> me by email, you understand that it's not confidential.
>
>
> On Wed, Aug 7, 2013 at 12:36 AM, cdcbaa wrote:
> >
> >
> > Jay:
> >
> > what do you add to your retainer, and how do you enforce it?
> >
> > dennis
> >
> > Sent from mars
> >
> > On Aug 6, 2013, at 2:58 PM, Jay Fleischman wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> > This is something that plagues our profession, in part because we're
> > conditioned to treat the word of the US Trustee's Office as gospel
> regarding
> > our fee structure.
> >
> > We let clients walk all over us because we are too timid to stand up for
> the
> > value of our time. We worry that the client will go elsewhere, taking
> their
> > money with them.
> >
> > I offer a counterpoint.
> >
> > If a client makes an appointment and fails to cancel within 24 hours,
> that
> > client has stolen time that would otherwise be available to someone else.
> > Be it for an appointment or the actual doing of work, that recalcitrant
> > client is a thief of our time. There is a penalty for that, and it is
> > monetary in nature.
> >
> > That penalty is in my retainer agreement, and I repeat it each and every
> > time that someone makes an appointment to speak with me. If you didn't
> show
> > up for Sunday dinner at your mother's house, she'd cuff you - and she'd
> be
> > right to do so. I can't take that action, but I can hit you in your
> wallet.
> >
> > If a trustee doesn't like it, that's a shame. But I document my policies
> in
> > every retainer agreement, and I track my time spent on each matter. I've
> > never been called on it, but would be willing to do so before any court
> that
> > cares to hear the issue.
> >
> > We have value. By letting people run roughshod over us, we diminish that
> > value. If we do so, how can we gripe if our fees are slashed at every
> turn?
> >
> > -------------
> > Jay S. Fleischman, Esq.
> > Shaev & Fleischman, LLP
> >
> > I help people in the Los Angeles area and New York City get smart
> solutions
> > to their bill problems.
> >
> > http://www.ConsumerHelpCentral.com
> >
> > 556 S Fair Oaks Ave Ste 101-152
> > Pasadena CA 91105-2656
> >
> > 1430 Broadway Ste 1802
> > New York NY 10018-3354
> >
> > T: 626-808-4343 x704
> > E: jay@sflawca.com
> >
> > Email isn't secure, so it's not confidential. By communicating with me
> by
> > email, you understand that it's not confidential.
> >
> >
> > On Mon, Aug 5, 2013 at 6:24 PM, Catherine Christiansen
> > wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Hi Steve:
> >>
> >> The UST still supervises what we charge our clients. You have to list
> >> what you receive in the SOFA. The UST looks at the degree of
> difficulty.
> >> If you have a client that plays hide and seek with their appointments
> then
> >> you may be able to justify additional charges. If there is anyone at
> the
> >> UST's office you have a good working relationship with I suggest
> running it
> >> by them for input.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Law Office of Catherine Christiansen
> >> 17011 Beach Blvd. Ste 900, Huntington Beach, CA 92647
> >> Tel: (714) 375-6651 Fax: (562) 490-8572
> >> attorneychristiansen@gmail.com
> >>
> >> ________________________________
> >> To: cdcbaa@yahoogroups.com
> >> Sent: Monday, August 5, 2013 2:20 PM
> >> Subject: [cdcbaa] Rescheduled appointments policy in a bankruptcy law
> >> practice
> >>
> >>
> >> Dear List mates:
> >>
> >> The following regards office management in a bankruptcy practice, not
> the
> >> finer points of the law. I hope this is an appropriate topic for the
> list
> >> serve. I apologize in advance if it is not. There is no price fixing
> or
> >> anything else that should affect the competitiveness of our marketplace
> in
> >> this particular question.
> >>
> >> My office spends considerable time rescheduling clients. As the week
> >> approaches, or during the week of the scheduled appointment (often the
> day
> >> of) at least 3 per week and sometimes more clients ask to reschedule.
> On
> >> some odd occasions they just dont show up.
> >>
> >> Ive been thinking about creating a policy, integrated into my retainer
> by
> >> reference, that gives them one free cancelation and then starts charging
> >> them up to 3, and then its my option to terminate. The three strikes
> >> termination is already in the retainer letter because we occasionally
> get
> >> someone who just falls off the face of the earth or nearly so.
> >>
> >> Yet Ive been chicken to charge for the ones that give me the run around
> >> but still manage to muddle through to filing. It does cost me on a
> flat
> >> fee when they either flake or deprioritize us to the point of making us
> last
> >> on their list. It interferes with work flow.
> >>
> >> I think this rescheduling phenomenon is partly due to the flat fee
> policy
> >> that puts all the costs on the firm and not on the client. Therefore,
> I am
> >> trying to shift the costs by modifying the flat fee to charge a
> reasonable
> >> cost.
> >>
> >> Any opinion or experience shared would be appreciated. If you dont
> >> believe it is appropriate for everyone, then please share off list.
> >>
> >> Thank you
> >>
> >> Steve
> >>
> >> Law Offices of Steven B. Lever
> >> >
> >> > Steven B. Lever
> >> >( Tel. (562) 436-5456 ext. 1
> >> >( Fax (562) 485-6886
> >> >* sblever@leverlaw.com
> >> > www.leverlaw.com
> >> > ******************************************************
> >> > This Internet e-mail contains confidential information
> >> > which is intended only for the addressee and which may
> >> > be privileged under applicable law. Do not read, copy
> >> > or disseminate it if you are not the addressee. If you
> >> > have received this message in error, please notify the
> >> > sender immediately and delete it. Thank you.
> >> > ******************************************************
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> > Reply via web post Reply to sender Reply to group Start a New Topic
> Messages
> > in this topic (3)
> >
> >
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
Christian T. Kim
Dumas & Associates
3435 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 990
Los Angeles, CA 90010
(p) 213-368-5000
(f) 213-368-5009
ckim@dumas-law.com
www.dumas-law.com
NOTICE: This communication is intended for the use of the individual or
entity to which it is addressed and may contain attorney/client information
that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under
applicable law. If the reader of this communication is not the intended
recipient or the employee or agent responsible for delivering this
communication to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any
dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly
prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify
us immediately by reply email or by telephone and immediately delete this
communication and all its attachments.
Would anyone be willing to share a sample retainer agreement? If so, please email me off list. Thank you.ChristianOn Wed, Aug 7, 2013 at 3:11 AM, Jay Fleischman <bankruptcy@gmail.com> wrote:

The post was migrated from Yahoo.

With my clients, I imagine that the person sitting across the table from me
is actually me, my spouse, or my mother. This helps me do my job better,
and it also puts me in the shoes of my PC.
It is a rewarding practice, improves my job satisfaction, and I recommend it
to all my fellow attorneys.
Arsen
Connected by DROID on Verizon Wireless

The post was migrated from Yahoo.

In the event that I fail to cancel appointment with 24 hours advance
notice, then I will be charged an additional fee of $100 that must be
paid prior to my bankruptcy case being filed with the court. I
understand that Law Firm may not be able to honor an appointment if I
show up more than 15 minutes late; if this is the case then I will be
bill as if I did not show up for the appointment.
I enforce it by sending the client a bill each month showing their
unpaid balance, by having them initial next to this paragraph to
indicate that they have read and understood it, and by demanding the
money prior to filing.
Jay S. Fleischman, Esq.
Shaev & Fleischman, LLP
I help people get smart solutions to their bill problems.
http://www.ConsumerHelpCentral.com
556 S Fair Oaks Ave Ste 101-152
Pasadena CA 91105-2656
T: 626-808-4343 x704
E: jay@sflawca.com
Email isn't secure, so it's not confidential. By communicating with
me by email, you understand that it's not confidential.
On Wed, Aug 7, 2013 at 12:36 AM, cdcbaa wrote:
>
>
> Jay:
>
> what do you add to your retainer, and how do you enforce it?
>
> dennis
>
> Sent from mars
>
> On Aug 6, 2013, at 2:58 PM, Jay Fleischman wrote:
>
>
>
> This is something that plagues our profession, in part because we're
> conditioned to treat the word of the US Trustee's Office as gospel regarding
> our fee structure.
>
> We let clients walk all over us because we are too timid to stand up for the
> value of our time. We worry that the client will go elsewhere, taking their
> money with them.
>
> I offer a counterpoint.
>
> If a client makes an appointment and fails to cancel within 24 hours, that
> client has stolen time that would otherwise be available to someone else.
> Be it for an appointment or the actual doing of work, that recalcitrant
> client is a thief of our time. There is a penalty for that, and it is
> monetary in nature.
>
> That penalty is in my retainer agreement, and I repeat it each and every
> time that someone makes an appointment to speak with me. If you didn't show
> up for Sunday dinner at your mother's house, she'd cuff you - and she'd be
> right to do so. I can't take that action, but I can hit you in your wallet.
>
> If a trustee doesn't like it, that's a shame. But I document my policies in
> every retainer agreement, and I track my time spent on each matter. I've
> never been called on it, but would be willing to do so before any court that
> cares to hear the issue.
>
> We have value. By letting people run roughshod over us, we diminish that
> value. If we do so, how can we gripe if our fees are slashed at every turn?
>
> -------------
> Jay S. Fleischman, Esq.
> Shaev & Fleischman, LLP
>
> I help people in the Los Angeles area and New York City get smart solutions
> to their bill problems.
>
> http://www.ConsumerHelpCentral.com
>
> 556 S Fair Oaks Ave Ste 101-152
> Pasadena CA 91105-2656
>
> 1430 Broadway Ste 1802
> New York NY 10018-3354
>
> T: 626-808-4343 x704
> E: jay@sflawca.com
>
> Email isn't secure, so it's not confidential. By communicating with me by
> email, you understand that it's not confidential.
>
>
> On Mon, Aug 5, 2013 at 6:24 PM, Catherine Christiansen
> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> Hi Steve:
>>
>> The UST still supervises what we charge our clients. You have to list
>> what you receive in the SOFA. The UST looks at the degree of difficulty.
>> If you have a client that plays hide and seek with their appointments then
>> you may be able to justify additional charges. If there is anyone at the
>> UST's office you have a good working relationship with I suggest running it
>> by them for input.
>>
>>
>>
>> Law Office of Catherine Christiansen
>> 17011 Beach Blvd. Ste 900, Huntington Beach, CA 92647
>> Tel: (714) 375-6651 Fax: (562) 490-8572
>> attorneychristiansen@gmail.com
>>
>> ________________________________
>> To: cdcbaa@yahoogroups.com
>> Sent: Monday, August 5, 2013 2:20 PM
>> Subject: [cdcbaa] Rescheduled appointments policy in a bankruptcy law
>> practice
>>
>>
>> Dear List mates:
>>
>> The following regards office management in a bankruptcy practice, not the
>> finer points of the law. I hope this is an appropriate topic for the list
>> serve. I apologize in advance if it is not. There is no price fixing or
>> anything else that should affect the competitiveness of our marketplace in
>> this particular question.
>>
>> My office spends considerable time rescheduling clients. As the week
>> approaches, or during the week of the scheduled appointment (often the day
>> of) at least 3 per week and sometimes more clients ask to reschedule. On
>> some odd occasions they just dont show up.
>>
>> Ive been thinking about creating a policy, integrated into my retainer by
>> reference, that gives them one free cancelation and then starts charging
>> them up to 3, and then its my option to terminate. The three strikes
>> termination is already in the retainer letter because we occasionally get
>> someone who just falls off the face of the earth or nearly so.
>>
>> Yet Ive been chicken to charge for the ones that give me the run around
>> but still manage to muddle through to filing. It does cost me on a flat
>> fee when they either flake or deprioritize us to the point of making us last
>> on their list. It interferes with work flow.
>>
>> I think this rescheduling phenomenon is partly due to the flat fee policy
>> that puts all the costs on the firm and not on the client. Therefore, I am
>> trying to shift the costs by modifying the flat fee to charge a reasonable
>> cost.
>>
>> Any opinion or experience shared would be appreciated. If you dont
>> believe it is appropriate for everyone, then please share off list.
>>
>> Thank you
>>
>> Steve
>>
>> Law Offices of Steven B. Lever
>> >
>> > Steven B. Lever
>> >( Tel. (562) 436-5456 ext. 1
>> >( Fax (562) 485-6886
>> >* sblever@leverlaw.com
>> > www.leverlaw.com
>> > ******************************************************
>> > This Internet e-mail contains confidential information
>> > which is intended only for the addressee and which may
>> > be privileged under applicable law. Do not read, copy
>> > or disseminate it if you are not the addressee. If you
>> > have received this message in error, please notify the
>> > sender immediately and delete it. Thank you.
>> > ******************************************************
>>
>>
>>
>
> Reply via web post Reply to sender Reply to group Start a New Topic Messages
> in this topic (3)
>
>

The post was migrated from Yahoo.

Jay:
what do you add to your retainer, and how do you enforce it?
dennis
Sent from mars
On Aug 6, 2013, at 2:58 PM, Jay Fleischman wrote:
> This is something that plagues our profession, in part because we're conditioned to treat the word of the US Trustee's Office as gospel regarding our fee structure.
>
> We let clients walk all over us because we are too timid to stand up for the value of our time. We worry that the client will go elsewhere, taking their money with them.
>
> I offer a counterpoint.
>
> If a client makes an appointment and fails to cancel within 24 hours, that client has stolen time that would otherwise be available to someone else. Be it for an appointment or the actual doing of work, that recalcitrant client is a thief of our time. There is a penalty for that, and it is monetary in nature.
>
> That penalty is in my retainer agreement, and I repeat it each and every time that someone makes an appointment to speak with me. If you didn't show up for Sunday dinner at your mother's house, she'd cuff you - and she'd be right to do so. I can't take that action, but I can hit you in your wallet.
>
> If a trustee doesn't like it, that's a shame. But I document my policies in every retainer agreement, and I track my time spent on each matter. I've never been called on it, but would be willing to do so before any court that cares to hear the issue.
>
> We have value. By letting people run roughshod over us, we diminish that value. If we do so, how can we gripe if our fees are slashed at every turn?
>
> -------------
> Jay S. Fleischman, Esq.
> Shaev & Fleischman, LLP
>
> I help people in the Los Angeles area and New York City get smart solutions to their bill problems.
>
> http://www.ConsumerHelpCentral.com
>
> 556 S Fair Oaks Ave Ste 101-152
> Pasadena CA 91105-2656
>
> 1430 Broadway Ste 1802
> New York NY 10018-3354
>
> T: 626-808-4343 x704
> E: jay@sflawca.com
>
> Email isn't secure, so it's not confidential. By communicating with me by email, you understand that it's not confidential.
>
>
> On Mon, Aug 5, 2013 at 6:24 PM, Catherine Christiansen wrote:
>>
>> Hi Steve:
>>
>> The UST still supervises what we charge our clients. You have to list what you receive in the SOFA. The UST looks at the degree of difficulty. If you have a client that plays hide and seek with their appointments then you may be able to justify additional charges. If there is anyone at the UST's office you have a good working relationship with I suggest running it by them for input.
>>
>>
>>
>> Law Office of Catherine Christiansen
>> 17011 Beach Blvd. Ste 900, Huntington Beach, CA 92647
>> Tel: (714) 375-6651 Fax: (562) 490-8572
>> attorneychristiansen@gmail.com
>>
>> To: cdcbaa@yahoogroups.com
>> Sent: Monday, August 5, 2013 2:20 PM
>> Subject: [cdcbaa] Rescheduled appointments policy in a bankruptcy law practice
>>
>>
>> Dear List mates:
>>
>> The following regards office management in a bankruptcy practice, not the finer points of the law. I hope this is an appropriate topic for the list serve. I apologize in advance if it is not. There is no price fixing or anything else that should affect the competitiveness of our marketplace in this particular question.
>>
>> My office spends considerable time rescheduling clients. As the week approaches, or during the week of the scheduled appointment (often the day of) at least 3 per week and sometimes more clients ask to reschedule. On some odd occasions they just dont show up.
>>
>> Ive been thinking about creating a policy, integrated into my retainer by reference, that gives them one free cancelation and then starts charging them up to 3, and then its my option to terminate. The three strikes termination is already in the retainer letter because we occasionally get someone who just falls off the face of the earth or nearly so.
>>
>> Yet Ive been chicken to charge for the ones that give me the run around but still manage to muddle through to filing. It does cost me on a flat fee when they either flake or deprioritize us to the point of making us last on their list. It interferes with work flow.
>>
>> I think this rescheduling phenomenon is partly due to the flat fee policy that puts all the costs on the firm and not on the client. Therefore, I am trying to shift the costs by modifying the flat fee to charge a reasonable cost.
>>
>> Any opinion or experience shared would be appreciated. If you don>>
>> Thank you
>>
>> Steve
>>
>> Law Offices of Steven B. Lever
>> >
>> > Steven B. Lever
>> >( Tel. (562) 436-5456 ext. 1
>> >( Fax (562) 485-6886
>> >* sblever@leverlaw.com
>> > www.leverlaw.com
>> > ******************************************************
>> > This Internet e-mail contains confidential information
>> > which is intended only for the addressee and which may
>> > be privileged under applicable law. Do not read, copy
>> > or disseminate it if you are not the addressee. If you
>> > have received this message in error, please notify the
>> > sender immediately and delete it. Thank you.
>> > ******************************************************
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> Reply via web post Reply to sender Reply to group Start a New Topic Messages in this topic (3) > RECENT ACTIVITY:
> Visit Your Group
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The post was migrated from Yahoo.

That's what I was going to do-add it to the quoted flat fee (the one that I always presume they will cooperate fully and efficiently).
So my questions are:
Does this reduce the amount of missed/canceled appointments?
And
When it happens, does it cost much consternation with the client that you've evaporated too much good will?
Steven B. Lever

The post was migrated from Yahoo.

Yes, I add the amount to the sum due prior to filing.
On Aug 6, 2013 8:02 PM, "Mark J. Markus" wrote:
> **
>
>
> I have that in my agreement too. But has anyone, ever, successfully
> collected the $XXX fee from a PNC when they miss an appointment?
>
>
> *************************
> Mark J. Markus
> Law Office of Mark J. Markus
> 11684 Ventura Blvd. PMB #403
> Studio City, CA 91604-2652
> (818)509-1173 (818)509-1460 (fax)
> web: http://www.bklaw.com/
> Certified Bankruptcy Law Specialist--The State Bar of California Board of
> Legal Specialization
> This Firm is a Qualified Federal Debt Relief Agency (see what this means
> at
> http://www.bklaw.com/bankruptcy-blog/20 ... efinition/
> )
> ________________________________________________
> NOTICE: This Electronic Message contains information from the law office
> of Mark J. Markus that may be privileged. The information is intended for
> the use of the addressee only. If you are not the addressee, note that any
> disclosure, copy, distribution or use of the contents of this message is
> prohibited.
> IRS CIRCULAR 230 NOTICE: To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by
> the IRS, we inform you that any U.S. tax advice contained in this
> communication (or in any attachment) is not intended or written to be used,
> and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the
> Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to
> another party any transaction or matter addressed in this communication.
> On 8/6/2013 4:22 PM, Nicholas Gebelt wrote:
>
> Dear Jay, et al., ****
>
> ** **
>
> My retainer has the following statement:****
>
> ** **
>
> When we schedule an appointment for you, we set aside three hours of time
> for you. Thus, if you do not keep the appointment we lose three hours
> worth of time we could devote to serving someone else. Therefore, in order
> for us to plan our schedule we ask that if you are unable to keep an
> appointment you give us twenty-four hours notice so we can set the time
> aside for someone else. Accordingly, you agree that if you fail to keep an
> appointment and do not give us at least twenty-four hours notice, you will
> pay us $XXX to compensate us for the lost opportunity to serve someone else.
> ****
>
> ** **
>
> I have redacted the dollar amount to avoid Sherman antitrust problems. ***
> *
>
> ** **
>
> All the best,****
>
> ** **
>
> Nick****
>
> ** **
>
> *Nicholas Gebelt*
>
> ** **
>
> Nicholas Gebelt, Ph.D., J.D.****
>
> Attorney at Law****
>
> Certified Bankruptcy Law Specialist****
>
> ** **
>
> [image: Description: Description: Description:
> cid:image003.jpg@01CC076B.B14D73C0]****
>
> ** **
>
> Law Offices of Nicholas Gebelt****
>
> 15150 Hornell Street****
>
> Whittier, CA 90604****
>
> Phone: 562.777.9159****
>
> FAX: 562.946.1365****
>
> Email: ngebelt@goodbye2debt.com; ngebelt@gebeltlaw.com****
>
> Web: www.goodbye2debt.com****
>
> Blog: www.southerncaliforniabankruptcylawblog.com/****
>
> ** **
>
> *Important notice required by 11 U.S.C. 528:*We are a debt relief
> agency. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code.
> **
>
> ** **
>
> *Confidentiality Note*: This e-mail is intended only for the person or
> entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is
> privileged, confidential, or otherwise protected from disclosure.
> Dissemination, distribution, or copying of this e-mail or the information
> herein by anyone other than the intended recipient, or an employee or agent
> responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, is
> prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify us
> immediately at 562.777.9159 or e-mail info@gebeltlaw.com and destroy the
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>
> ** **
>
> *Representation Note*: If you have not signed a contract of
> representation, the Law Offices of Nicholas Gebelt do not represent you,
> and this email does not contain any legal advice for you.****
>
> ** **
>
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> intended to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding
> penalties under the Internal Revenue code, or (ii) promoting, marketing, or
> recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.*
> ***
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* cdcbaa@yahoogroups.com [mailto:cdcbaa@yahoogroups.com]
> *On Behalf Of *Jay Fleischman
> *Sent:* Tuesday, August 06, 2013 2:58 PM
> *To:* cdcbaa@yahoogroups.com
> *Subject:* Re: [cdcbaa] Rescheduled appointments policy in a bankruptcy
> law practice****
>
> ** **
>
> ****
>
> This is something that plagues our profession, in part because we're
> conditioned to treat the word of the US Trustee's Office as gospel
> regarding our fee structure.****
>
> ** **
>
> We let clients walk all over us because we are too timid to stand up for
> the value of our time. We worry that the client will go elsewhere, taking
> their money with them.****
>
> ** **
>
> I offer a counterpoint.****
>
> ** **
>
> If a client makes an appointment and fails to cancel within 24 hours, that
> client has stolen time that would otherwise be available to someone else.
> Be it for an appointment or the actual doing of work, that recalcitrant
> client is a thief of our time. There is a penalty for that, and it is
> monetary in nature.****
>
> ** **
>
> That penalty is in my retainer agreement, and I repeat it each and every
> time that someone makes an appointment to speak with me. If you didn't
> show up for Sunday dinner at your mother's house, she'd cuff you - and
> she'd be right to do so. I can't take that action, but I can hit you in
> your wallet.****
>
> ** **
>
> If a trustee doesn't like it, that's a shame. But I document my policies
> in every retainer agreement, and I track my time spent on each matter.
> I've never been called on it, but would be willing to do so before any
> court that cares to hear the issue.****
>
> ** **
>
> We have value. By letting people run roughshod over us, we diminish that
> value. If we do so, how can we gripe if our fees are slashed at every turn?
> ****
>
> ** **
>
> -------------****
>
> Jay S. Fleischman, Esq.****
>
> Shaev & Fleischman, LLP****
>
> ** **
>
> I help people in the Los Angeles area and New York City get smart
> solutions to their bill problems.****
>
> ** **
>
> http://www.ConsumerHelpCentral.com****
>
> ** **
>
> 556 S Fair Oaks Ave Ste 101-152****
>
> Pasadena CA 91105-2656****
>
> ** **
>
> 1430 Broadway Ste 1802****
>
> New York NY 10018-3354****
>
> ** **
>
> T: 626-808-4343 x704****
>
> E: jay@sflawca.com****
>
> ** **
>
> Email isn't secure, so it's not confidential. By communicating with me by
> email, you understand that it's not confidential.****
>
> ** **
>
> On Mon, Aug 5, 2013 at 6:24 PM, Catherine Christiansen christiansenlaw@yahoo.com> wrote:****
>
> ****
>
> Hi Steve:
>
> The UST still supervises what we charge our clients. You have to list
> what you receive in the SOFA. The UST looks at the degree of difficulty.
> If you have a client that plays hide and seek with their appointments then
> you may be able to justify additional charges. If there is anyone at the
> UST's office you have a good working relationship with I suggest running it
> by them for input.****
>
> ** **
>
> ****
>
> ** **
>
> Law Office of Catherine Christiansen
> 17011 Beach Blvd. Ste 900, Huntington Beach, CA 92647
> Tel: (714) 375-6651 Fax: (562) 490-8572
> attorneychristiansen@gmail.com****
>
> ** **
> ------------------------------
>
> *From:* Steven B. Lever
> *To:* cdcbaa@yahoogroups.com
> *Sent:* Monday, August 5, 2013 2:20 PM
> *Subject:* [cdcbaa] Rescheduled appointments policy in a bankruptcy law
> practice****
>
> ** **
>
> ****
>
> Dear List mates:****
>
> ****
>
> The following regards office management in a bankruptcy practice, not the
> finer points of the law. I hope this is an appropriate topic for the list
> serve. I apologize in advance if it is not. There is no price fixing or
> anything else that should affect the competitiveness of our marketplace in
> this particular question.****
>
> ****
>
> My office spends considerable time rescheduling clients. As the week
> approaches, or during the week of the scheduled appointment (often the day
> of) at least 3 per week and sometimes more clients ask to reschedule. On
> some odd occasions they just dont show up.****
>
> ****
>
> Ive been thinking about creating a policy, integrated into my retainer by
> reference, that gives them one free cancelation and then starts charging
> them up to 3, and then its my option to terminate. The three strikes
> termination is already in the retainer letter because we occasionally get
> someone who just falls off the face of the earth or nearly so.****
>
> ****
>
> Yet Ive been chicken to charge for the ones that give me the run around
> but still manage to muddle through to filing. It does cost me on a flat
> fee when they either flake or deprioritize us to the point of making us
> last on their list. It interferes with work flow.****
>
> ****
>
> I think this rescheduling phenomenon is partly due to the flat fee policy
> that puts all the costs on the firm and not on the client. Therefore, I am
> trying to shift the costs by modifying the flat fee to charge a reasonable
> cost.****
>
> ****
>
> Any opinion or experience shared would be appreciated. If you dont
> believe it is appropriate for everyone, then please share off list.****
>
> ****
>
> Thank you ****
>
> ****
>
> Steve ****
>
> ****
>
> Law Offices of Steven B. Lever****
>
> > ****
>
> > Steven B. Lever****
>
> >( Tel. (562) 436-5456 ext. 1 ****
>
> >( Fax (562) 485-6886****
>
> >* sblever@leverlaw.com****
>
> > www.leverlaw.com****
>
> > **********************************************************
>
> > This Internet e-mail contains confidential information****
>
> > which is intended only for the addressee and which may****
>
> > be privileged under applicable law. Do not read, copy****
>
> > or disseminate it if you are not the addressee. If you****
>
> > have received this message in error, please notify the****
>
> > sender immediately and delete it. Thank you.****
>
> > **********************************************************
>
> ****
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> ****
>
>
>
>
Yes, I add the amount to the sum due prior to filing.
On Aug 6, 2013 8:02 PM, "Mark J. Markus" <bklawr@yahoo.com> wrote:
I have
that in my agreement too. But has anyone, ever, successfully
collected the $XXX fee from a PNC when they miss an appointment?




*************************
Mark J. Markus
Law Office of Mark J. Markus
11684 Ventura Blvd. PMB #403
Studio City, CA 91604-2652
(818)509-1173 (818)509-1460 (fax)
web: http://www.bklaw.com/
Certified Bankruptcy Law Specialist--The State Bar of
California Board of Legal Specialization
This Firm is a Qualified Federal Debt Relief Agency (see what
this means at
http://www.bklaw.com/bankruptcy-blog/20 ... efinition/)

The post was migrated from Yahoo.

This is something that plagues our profession, in part because we're
conditioned to treat the word of the US Trustee's Office as gospel
regarding our fee structure.
We let clients walk all over us because we are too timid to stand up for
the value of our time. We worry that the client will go elsewhere, taking
their money with them.
I offer a counterpoint.
If a client makes an appointment and fails to cancel within 24 hours, that
client has stolen time that would otherwise be available to someone else.
Be it for an appointment or the actual doing of work, that recalcitrant
client is a thief of our time. There is a penalty for that, and it is
monetary in nature.
That penalty is in my retainer agreement, and I repeat it each and every
time that someone makes an appointment to speak with me. If you didn't
show up for Sunday dinner at your mother's house, she'd cuff you - and
she'd be right to do so. I can't take that action, but I can hit you in
your wallet.
If a trustee doesn't like it, that's a shame. But I document my policies in
every retainer agreement, and I track my time spent on each matter. I've
never been called on it, but would be willing to do so before any court
that cares to hear the issue.
We have value. By letting people run roughshod over us, we diminish that
value. If we do so, how can we gripe if our fees are slashed at every turn?
Jay S. Fleischman, Esq.
Shaev & Fleischman, LLP
I help people in the Los Angeles area and New York City get smart solutions
to their bill problems.
http://www.ConsumerHelpCentral.com
556 S Fair Oaks Ave Ste 101-152
Pasadena CA 91105-2656
1430 Broadway Ste 1802
New York NY 10018-3354
T: 626-808-4343 x704
E: jay@sflawca.com
Email isn't secure, so it's not confidential. By communicating with me by
email, you understand that it's not confidential.
On Mon, Aug 5, 2013 at 6:24 PM, Catherine Christiansen wrote:
> **
>
>
> Hi Steve:
>
> The UST still supervises what we charge our clients. You have to list
> what you receive in the SOFA. The UST looks at the degree of difficulty.
> If you have a client that plays hide and seek with their appointments then
> you may be able to justify additional charges. If there is anyone at the
> UST's office you have a good working relationship with I suggest running it
> by them for input.
>
>
>
> Law Office of Catherine Christiansen
> 17011 Beach Blvd. Ste 900, Huntington Beach, CA 92647
> Tel: (714) 375-6651 Fax: (562) 490-8572
> attorneychristiansen@gmail.com
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Steven B. Lever
> *To:* cdcbaa@yahoogroups.com
> *Sent:* Monday, August 5, 2013 2:20 PM
> *Subject:* [cdcbaa] Rescheduled appointments policy in a bankruptcy law
> practice
>
>
> Dear List mates:
>
> The following regards office management in a bankruptcy practice, not the
> finer points of the law. I hope this is an appropriate topic for the list
> serve. I apologize in advance if it is not. There is no price fixing or
> anything else that should affect the competitiveness of our marketplace in
> this particular question.
>
> My office spends considerable time rescheduling clients. As the week
> approaches, or during the week of the scheduled appointment (often the day
> of) at least 3 per week and sometimes more clients ask to reschedule. On
> some odd occasions they just dont show up.
>
> Ive been thinking about creating a policy, integrated into my retainer by
> reference, that gives them one free cancelation and then starts charging
> them up to 3, and then its my option to terminate. The three strikes
> termination is already in the retainer letter because we occasionally get
> someone who just falls off the face of the earth or nearly so.
>
> Yet Ive been chicken to charge for the ones that give me the run around
> but still manage to muddle through to filing. It does cost me on a flat
> fee when they either flake or deprioritize us to the point of making us
> last on their list. It interferes with work flow.
>
> I think this rescheduling phenomenon is partly due to the flat fee policy
> that puts all the costs on the firm and not on the client. Therefore, I am
> trying to shift the costs by modifying the flat fee to charge a reasonable
> cost.
>
> Any opinion or experience shared would be appreciated. If you dont
> believe it is appropriate for everyone, then please share off list.
>
> Thank you
>
> Steve
>
> Law Offices of Steven B. Lever
> >
> > Steven B. Lever
> >( Tel. (562) 436-5456 ext. 1
> >( Fax (562) 485-6886
> >* sblever@leverlaw.com
> > www.leverlaw.com
> > ******************************************************
> > This Internet e-mail contains confidential information
> > which is intended only for the addressee and which may
> > be privileged under applicable law. Do not read, copy
> > or disseminate it if you are not the addressee. If you
> > have received this message in error, please notify the
> > sender immediately and delete it. Thank you.
> > ******************************************************
>
>
>
>
>
This is something that plagues our profession, in part bec
The post was migrated from Yahoo.

Dear List mates:
The following regards office management in a bankruptcy practice, not
the finer points of the law. I hope this is an appropriate topic for
the list serve. I apologize in advance if it is not. There is no price
fixing or anything else that should affect the competitiveness of our
marketplace in this particular question.
My office spends considerable time rescheduling clients. As the week
approaches, or during the week of the scheduled appointment (often the
day of) at least 3 per week and sometimes more clients ask to
reschedule. On some odd occasions they just don't show up.
I've been thinking about creating a policy, integrated into my retainer
by reference, that gives them one free cancelation and then starts
charging them up to 3, and then it's my option to terminate. The three
strikes termination is already in the retainer letter because we
occasionally get someone who just falls off the face of the earth or
nearly so.
Yet I've been chicken to charge for the ones that give me the run around
but still manage to muddle through to filing. It does cost me on a
flat fee when they either flake or deprioritize us to the point of
making us last on their list. It interferes with work flow.
I think this rescheduling phenomenon is partly due to the flat fee
policy that puts all the costs on the firm and not on the client.
Therefore, I am trying to shift the costs by modifying the flat fee to
charge a reasonable cost.
Any opinion or experience shared would be appreciated. If you don't
believe it is appropriate for everyone, then please share off list.
Thank you
Steve
Law Offices of Steven B. Lever
>
> Steven B. Lever
>( Tel. (562) 436-5456 ext. 1
>( Fax (562) 485-6886
>* sblever@leverlaw.com
> www.leverlaw.com
> ******************************************************
> This Internet e-mail contains confidential information
> which is intended only for the addressee and which may
> be privileged under applicable law. Do not read, copy
> or disseminate it if you are not the addressee. If you
> have received this message in error, please notify the
> sender immediately and delete it. Thank you.
> ******************************************************

The post was migrated from Yahoo.