Affordable Legal Help reviews and complaints
The good, the bad, and the ugly - discover what customers are saying about Affordable Legal Help
Welcome to our customer reviews and complaints page for Affordable Legal Help. We understand that making informed decisions about where to invest your time and money can be challenging, which is why we've created this platform for our community to share their honest feedback about their experiences with Affordable Legal Help.
On this page, you'll find a comprehensive collection of reviews and complaints from real customers who have used Affordable Legal Help's products or services. Our reviews are authentic and unbiased, providing you with a complete picture of the company, its products or services, and their customer service.
Whether you're considering doing business with Affordable Legal Help, or you've already had an experience with them, our community's reviews and complaints will give you a valuable perspective on what to expect. Our goal is to help you make informed decisions about where to invest your time and money, and we hope that our platform will be a valuable resource for you.
Please feel free to browse our reviews and complaints and share your own experience with Affordable Legal Help. Your feedback is an important part of our community and will help others make informed decisions.
This place was definately A SCAM !!!
We need everyone to send information to Aj Rotella ...they are investigation this co... Edward Maddison AKA Edward Herzstock needs to be stopped this punk is only 24 years old and has taken advantage of all of us please help the sheriffs department get him he will do it again...Ms. Jenkins, Ms. Glessner, and Ms. Wiechec: Thank you all for the recent email...
Read full review of Affordable Legal HelpScammed !!!
Thank you all for the recent emails regarding the Affordable Legal Help company and your suspicion that they may be operating a fraudulent business. I can sense and understand the frustration that you have with the process and the lack of assistance that you have received from the various agencies that you have contacted in the past. As you are now contacting the City of Santa Clarita and its Sheriff's station, please know that we will do review this matter and see if resources can be found or applied to resolve the problem.
As I mentioned on the telephone to you, what I need to begin this process is an actual police report filed by a law enforcement agency by you relating to this case. This will mean that each victim will have to go to their various local agency and report this incident and the loss that each incurred.
To make this process and the potential investigation smoother, I would like you to mail me a packet of the following documents to my attention at the address provided below:
1. Copy of police report
2. Copy of any contracts between Affordable Legal Help and you (or your family member)
3. Any information that you received from the company (brochures, information, advertisements, etc.)
4. Copies of any email correspondence, letters of demand, written responses from the company to you.
5. A brief summary with dates and facts related to your specific case (when you first contacted them, how you found them in the first place, what services were they to provide, how do you feel that you were defrauded, what did or did they not do for the money that you paid, what phone calls did you make, who did you speak to, what was their response, etc.)
I hope that you understand that this case is quite complicated, as each of you resides in different states. The additional 20-30 victims that you have indicated that you are in contact with must each do the same process to truly get an understanding as to what this company is doing and to proceed with any investigation.
As these packets might be quite large in size (based on the number of documents), I would like each to be mailed rather than emailed to my attention.
I have already been in contact with the California Attorney General's office as well as the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office to see if either agency would be able to provide resources or investigation into this matter. As with us, no agency can determine the level of resources needed or whether this is in fact a criminal matter versus a civil matter without first seeing a criminal complaint report -- which begins with you reporting this in person to a law enforcement agency.
As this is a complicated matter, we would not be able to take a telephonic report, nor an email report of the case -- as we need all of the documents associated with the case to review and prepare an investigation.
Any additional victims that you find or are in contact with do not need to personally contact me. If they follow the steps in this email and send their information to my attention, they will be included in the review and possible investigation.
I hope that this email at least provides each of you with a level of comfort that someone is going to review this case to see if it meets the criteria for a criminal complaint. The City of Santa Clarita is diligent in its efforts to keep crime at a minimum and we appreciate that you each have brought this matter to our attention.
A.J. Rotella, Sergeant
Los Angeles Sheriff's Department - Santa Clarita Valley Station
City of Santa Clarita Sheriff's Business Alliance
23740 Magic Mountain Parkway
Santa Clarita, CA 91355
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
they steal your money
you call them and describe your legal matter and they promise you the world. they took my 1500.00 by credit card right away and said they would start my case and get back to me with info. no one calls back and than they don't answer phone calls or emails. when you finally do get a hold of someone they give all kinds of excuses (apparentally everyone gets sick around there ALOT) you than request a refund and get nothing. this goes on for months and nothing is resolved. no services are performed(i mean nothing) and they keep your money.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I spoke with CJ Ward an investigator for Keyt News at 730 Miramonte Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93109 last night. He stated to me that it would be our best interest to inform him of our situations. Please contact him.
Edward was second in charge for Father's Choice and CJ was a part in stopping them.
Here is a link to the News station:
www.keyt.com
Here is a link to information on CJ Ward:
http://www.keyt.com/about/bios/news/2177877.html
Here is proof of the tipline number:
http://www.keyt.com/news/local/15772117.html
Here are some links to the "Father's Choice" problem, from News Station:
http://www.keyt.com/news/local/35107694.html
http://www.keyt.com/news/local/35814014.html
Also, here are some more websites I found to show you who we are dealing with, this is proof that all Edward does is change the name of the company and scams the same way:
On this, you can scroll all the way to the bottom and see "Nadia Nicole" aka Nicole Smith responding to a complaint about Edward. Nadia is her real name and is involved in this even going back to Father's Choice.
/URL removed/
Here is another website about Father's Choice:
/URL removed/
Edward Herzstock was second in command there. If you read the article it states Edward's name several times.
/URL removed/
If you have not contacted the FBI and the proper people about this group I urge you to do so . There are several of us that have been scammed here and it is not right. They need to be shut down so they cant continue taking people's money like this.
I have spoken to this office on numerous occasions once I read this board. I might have made a different decision about using their services but hopefully my comment on this board will help others who stumble across it.
This company has good intentions and does care about helping people. This is clear evidence that it is true as there are several people whom have posted on this board that it is a scam and that no one should use the service - who have posted follow up comments letting all of us know that they have been helped and are satisfied with the service. I mean HELLO? Duh. I work in customer service at a bank and I KNOW what customers deal with when they fell mistreated, I hear it all day. And scams don't have any positive feedback at all - not to mention people who originally posted negative who are now pleased with the service. That ONLY shows effort to fix a problem or concern, everyone has got them. Personally, I would rather know where a company has been and what they are doing than not knowing anything at all.
The majority of the people on here are the same people, with the same stories. Pick up the phone! Call for help - I call every few days and if I leave a message it is returned. I am very thankful that my decision in choosing this company to help my son so far is the right one, he doesn't have a computer and I researched them on the internet for him.
Call their office, ask for help. If they cannot help you or don't try to help, I'd be surprised. They are very helpful and understanding when I came to them about my concern of reading this board. So far my son is getting the service we paid for and I will continue my feedback as it seems appropriate to help others.
Respectfully,
Shellie B.
San Antonio, Tx
The Truth about this company
Setting the record strait is the most important step is resolving the issues some of the clients of Affordable Legal Help have incurred. The individuals who have already been refunded in full or partially have not been refunded because of their complaints, they have not been refunded because of their comments about this company ...they have been refunded...
Read full review of Affordable Legal Help and 11 commentsAffordable legal Lack Of Concern For Clients
Well I wanted to post a positive response on here about this legal group, as they did file the first set of divorce paperwork for my son, but not now as it's in limbo again. This has been the most awful experience for My Son that I could ever imagine for him. A divorce and lack of visitation for his Son and My grandson is hard enough. But when you are on a limit income and people like this take advantage of this situation is just wrong. Ed Maddison and Nicole will not response to us at all now, and I know its because we have been angry with the lack of there communication and following through with there word to do what they said they will do. Ed Maddison says, "well this is the process, " but we called the courts and my sons paperwork is just sitting there waiting for paperwork to be filed for a court date. Oh yeah affordable said they would call and send the proper paperwork to set the date. But they again, stop corresponsing to us at all now. I am going to gather all the emails of complaints and through the BBB and send it on to all who will listen, I am not stopping here now, I am making up packets and sending them to BBB in california, and to the governor of california, and going to JAG as my husband is retired military. I will keep going until someone will listen. I also have messages on my machine that I will send as well.
I believe in the beginning maybe they meant will, but now I am so tried of fighting with them to get this done for my son, it seems like the only response you get it when you post a complaint on here, and then they act shock that you feel this way.
Lack of communication, lack of concern for anyone's situation is just wrong, and I am going to take the steps I can to make sure others don't suffer any more than they have all ready.
This is just so wrong, when good people with limited income, and they say they provide a affordable opition for legal help, and then they take your money and that's the end of that.
If you need to add any complaints or information, please contact me through my normal email, and I will send it on this week.
[protected]@msn.com
See Nicole its always the next's day, but the sad thing is the next's day don't come.
Yes, I did start this off right, and we did from the beginning. You being sarcastic about calling my son, he is here right now with me, and you have not responsed to him nor has Mr. Ed Maddison.
This is so hard, and I can see that to get the paperwork process done with this group it will be like pulling teeth the whole way. The funny thing is, you try to make all of us out the bad guys, and that's not the truth, when it comes to the legal process it's nothing to mess around with, when there are family lives at stake here.
I will not feel quilty for wanting the best for my Son and My Grandson, that is what good parents do.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
This company didn't live up to what it told me it could do. All they wanted after bugging us on the phone about hiring them was the money. After they received the money the phone calls stopped and we haven't heard a thing since. And that has been about 8 months now.
I paid $750.00 for legal service on my child support and coudsty on my child and have not heard from them at all.
Tried to send an email and call but not able to reach the lawyers. I want my god dm money back.
EDWARD H. TOOK OUR MONEY, PROMISED US RESULTS AND DELIVERED NOTHING TO US! ACTUALLY MISSED OUR COURT DATE AND WE REPRESENTED OURSELVES! DO NOT USE THIS GROUP! THEY TOOK $750.00 FROM US LAST SEPT. AND HAVE NOT REFUNDED US! WE WANT OUR MONEY BACK EDWARD AND NADIA! REFUND US!
JAMES AND HEATHER MILLER
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2015/02/yelp-sues-startup-that-claims-it-can-facilitate-all-positive-reviews/
Ed is at it again and finally got himself in some trouble. But if anyone is still looking to serve or sue him, he can be found in court or his companies new address. www.revleap.me
you can reach me at jlu@yahoo.com
Take him to civil court or somthing?
I spoke with CJ Ward an investigator for Keyt News at 730 Miramonte Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93109 last night. He stated to me that it would be our best interest to inform him of our situations. Please contact him.
Edward was second in charge for Father's Choice and CJ was a part in stopping them.
Here is a link to the News station:
www.keyt.com
Here is a link to information on CJ Ward:
http://www.keyt.com/about/bios/news/2177877.html
Here is proof of the tipline number:
http://www.keyt.com/news/local/15772117.html
Here are some links to the "Father's Choice" problem, from News Station:
http://www.keyt.com/news/local/35107694.html
http://www.keyt.com/news/local/35814014.html
Also, here are some more websites I found to show you who we are dealing with, this is proof that all Edward does is change the name of the company and scams the same way:
On this, you can scroll all the way to the bottom and see "Nadia Nicole" aka Nicole Smith responding to a complaint about Edward. Nadia is her real name and is involved in this even going back to Father's Choice.
/URL removed/
Here is another website about Father's Choice:
/URL removed/
Edward Herzstock was second in command there. If you read the article it states Edward's name several times.
/URL removed/
I have spoken to this office on numerous occasions once I read this board. I might have made a different decision about using their services but hopefully my comment on this board will help others who stumble across it.
This company has good intentions and does care about helping people. This is clear evidence that it is true as there are several people whom have posted on this board that it is a scam and that no one should use the service - who have posted follow up comments letting all of us know that they have been helped and are satisfied with the service. I mean HELLO? Duh. I work in customer service at a bank and I KNOW what customers deal with when they fell mistreated, I hear it all day. And scams don't have any positive feedback at all - not to mention people who originally posted negative who are now pleased with the service. That ONLY shows effort to fix a problem or concern, everyone has got them. Personally, I would rather know where a company has been and what they are doing than not knowing anything at all.
The majority of the people on here are the same people, with the same stories. Pick up the phone! Call for help - I call every few days and if I leave a message it is returned. I am very thankful that my decision in choosing this company to help my son so far is the right one, he doesn't have a computer and I researched them on the internet for him.
Call their office, ask for help. If they cannot help you or don't try to help, I'd be surprised. They are very helpful and understanding when I came to them about my concern of reading this board. So far my son is getting the service we paid for and I will continue my feedback as it seems appropriate to help others.
Respectfully,
Shellie B.
San Antonio, Tx
The funny thing is... If you had good service from this law group.. Why are you even on the complaints page looking around...
When I have good service from a company, the last place I am looking is on the complaints board page, expecially after I have had good service...
I have to admit... you guy's think of everything...
Nice Try,
You have awaken a sleeping giant...
I too agree with Bdaddy they did exactly what they said when I first spoke with them. They layed it all out over the phone and in a few weeks and after a couple interviews my case was on its way.
I agree with bdaddy, but my case was finished in about three weeks. They always replied to my emails, and i was done with my case rather fast
FIVE STARS Affordable Law Group.
Rated with a &F& by the BBB
I have been waiting for my refund since being notified by Edward Maddison on December 17th, 2009 per my previous complaint that I registered on this site during the first week of January. I hired this group in Septmeber 2009. Since then a gentleman by the name of Paul Kim was hired in as a person who was to help clean up the mess that Affordable Legal Help had created. He was very ambitious in stating that I would find that my situation would improve and that I would get the money promised to my by ALH. Also received apology emails from a Nicole Smith and another paralegal assuring me that my concerns would be addressed. Since that point Paul Kim has gone back on his word concerning getting my money back by this past Thursday and moreover had even promised to call me everyday until this process was resolved. I receive no calls from Paul and moreover he has become just as impossible to get a hold of as anyone there at the ALH. Edward Maddison who is the Case Manager for my case and responsible for my refund has not returned my phone messages dating back to January 5, 2010. I have also spoken to other Case Managers by the name of Scott and James Underwood concerning where my money is to which they both have become quite defensive stating that they have no control of this process and that it is all up to Accounting. When I ask for contact info to talk to Accounting they told me that was not possible. I can only imagine the volume of complaints they all receive causing such defensiveness. The Better Business Bureau gives this group a grade of "F" can be found at the following site
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.la.bbb.org/Business-Report/Affordable-Legal-Help-100088889
Company Rating F
Our opinion of what this rating means:
We strongly question the company’s reliability for reasons such as that they have failed to respond to complaints, their advertising is grossly misleading, they are not in compliance with the law’s licensing or registration requirements, their complaints contain especially serious allegations, or the company’s industry is known for its fraudulent business practices.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I even filed a complaint with BBB against the ALH and my complaint was never responded to by anyone at ALH. I want surprised though.
STAY AWAY FROM THE AFFORDABLE LEGAL HELP GROUP...Please read the sites like this one and the one at BBB. The many complaints will speak for themselves.
http://www.la.bbb.org/Business-Report/Affordable-Legal-Help-100088889
I am continually amazed that certain individuals choose complaint boards to express their positive experience...moreover none of their comments seem to go into any detail about what exactly ALH did for them to include dates, etc. In addition the comments from MikeMAz or Mustangal overtly attack anyone who posts a negative experience with ALH assuming that the complaints are lies. Please note that this is a complaint board and what you will find are people who are coming together to express a mutual dissatisfaction pertaining to a service rendered or not rendered such as the case with ALH. If you are still puzzled look ALH up on the Better Business Bureau website which is a credible and established agency that has rated ALH and their business practices. My guess though is that you are employees of ALH. Nice try. Here is the link
http://www.la.bbb.org/Business-Report/Affordable-Legal-Help-100088889
I dont know who you are as you have chosen a user name that conceals your actual name, but I have only posted a total of 2 posts on this complaint board. You might wish to have your facts correct as you sound a lot like many of the employees of ALH.
I have not been refunded by the Affordable Legal Help Group...I am due a full refund as evidenced by my phone conversation with Edward Maddison on December 17 2009. Since then absolutely nothing has been refunded to my credit card. Your comment does not answer why noone from your company would respond to my complaint via the Better Business Bureau. I would encourage you to actually read that article about your company...to say a courtesy refund(even though I have received nothing from you) is laughable when the ALH did none of the things listed in the very contract you faxed to me. I am due a refund because you failed to provide the service promised to me since September 15, 2009. At this point your company is nothing more that a fraud as evidenced by my experience, the experience of others and detailed on the website for the Better Business Bureau.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I spoke with CJ Ward an investigator for Keyt News at 730 Miramonte Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93109 last night. He stated to me that it would be our best interest to inform him of our situations. Please contact him.
Edward was second in charge for Father's Choice and CJ was a part in stopping them.
Here is a link to the News station:
www.keyt.com
Here is a link to information on CJ Ward:
http://www.keyt.com/about/bios/news/2177877.html
Here is proof of the tipline number:
http://www.keyt.com/news/local/15772117.html
Here are some links to the "Father's Choice" problem, from News Station:
http://www.keyt.com/news/local/35107694.html
http://www.keyt.com/news/local/35814014.html
Also, here are some more websites I found to show you who we are dealing with, this is proof that all Edward does is change the name of the company and scams the same way:
On this, you can scroll all the way to the bottom and see "Nadia Nicole" aka Nicole Smith responding to a complaint about Edward. Nadia is her real name and is involved in this even going back to Father's Choice.
/URL removed/
Here is another website about Father's Choice:
/URL removed/
Edward Herzstock was second in command there. If you read the article it states Edward's name several times.
/URL removed/
George ... Could you please email me at glessnere@hotmail.com I have been speaking with Anna ... I lost 1500 since Dec09
I have spoken to this office on numerous occasions once I read this board. I might have made a different decision about using their services but hopefully my comment on this board will help others who stumble across it.
This company has good intentions and does care about helping people. This is clear evidence that it is true as there are several people whom have posted on this board that it is a scam and that no one should use the service - who have posted follow up comments letting all of us know that they have been helped and are satisfied with the service. I mean HELLO? Duh. I work in customer service at a bank and I KNOW what customers deal with when they fell mistreated, I hear it all day. And scams don't have any positive feedback at all - not to mention people who originally posted negative who are now pleased with the service. That ONLY shows effort to fix a problem or concern, everyone has got them. Personally, I would rather know where a company has been and what they are doing than not knowing anything at all.
The majority of the people on here are the same people, with the same stories. Pick up the phone! Call for help - I call every few days and if I leave a message it is returned. I am very thankful that my decision in choosing this company to help my son so far is the right one, he doesn't have a computer and I researched them on the internet for him.
Call their office, ask for help. If they cannot help you or don't try to help, I'd be surprised. They are very helpful and understanding when I came to them about my concern of reading this board. So far my son is getting the service we paid for and I will continue my feedback as it seems appropriate to help others.
Respectfully,
Shellie B.
San Antonio, Tx
Mustangal I had good service to, no complaints, hope others see throught some of the false information from other customers on here.
George,
Ok... George I was just satisfied with the service, I'm not trying to glorify the company they just helped me out. My name is Al Newton, you can email me at mustangal27@yahoo.com if you need some help. I usually request to speak with Freddy when I called there, so I would try that. But they just helped my personal situation damn well so I wanted to back them up. Didn't mean to offend ya.
I have stated this before on this website and other concur they are legit. They helped me with my docs and child support. I have no complaints at all. This guy George has like 20 posts on here and continues to say the same thing. I totally disagree they did exactly what they told me they were going to do. Affordable Legal Help does GREAT WORK, end of story.
Here are some more places you can file, please e-mail me at glessnere@hotmail.com:
Please download our Compliant Form here: http://dca.lacounty.gov/Forms/CAComplaint.pdf. Send the completed Complaint Form and copies of any documents you have that prove your claim to:
County of Los Angeles Department of Consumer Affairs
500 W. Temple St., Room B-96
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Attn: Consumer Services Unit
-------------
State Bar Intake telephone line and request a complaint form by calling [protected], or you may visit our web site at www.calbar.ca.gov and download a complaint form. If you have a written complaint, please mail it to: State Bar of California, Intake Unit, 1149 S Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA [protected].
Mrs. Jenkins,
You have already be reviewed and denied for a refund as you received a prepared set of documents from our company. As a courtesy, management is reviewing your file for a courtesy refund.
Sincerely,
Nicole Smith
Affordable Legal Help
[protected] ext 2
nsmith@affordablelegalhelp.org
Mr. Cunningham,
You have already been refunded one half of your payment as courtesy as we were not able to continue your case. The half is the portion that would have been used to pay the representing attorney in your case when it had gotten that far.
You will not be receiving a refund on the documents and document services. If you have nay questions about this, please email me at nsmith@affordablelegalhelp.org.
Sincerely,
Nicole Smith
Affordable Legal Help
[protected] ext 2
nsmith@affordablelegalhelp.org
I would like to start a civil suite... please contact me at [protected]
business and credit card fraud
I hired these scam artists back in Aug 18, 2009 and paid the first half of 745 then in nov 5, 2009 paid the other half. between the aug and nov they did nothing and barely communicated with me and then only after i called and email with half threats did i get any response and still nothing forthwith but on good promises i still paid the rest of my dues in nov and since then all communication has been zip. no calls no emails nothing. i call constantly and email constantly but to no avail. These guys promise so much but did nothing but take my money. no documents written for me for court, no lawyers to speak with, no court dates set up, nothing at all!
Do Not Trust these people!
I want my money back you scammers! your soposed to be a good standing law firm but all you are is a bunch of con artists. you promise so much and deliver nothing. Top of the line Business Fraud and Credit Card Fraud is all you are! I am contacting the FBI, the BBB, and going to hire my own attorney (one I can trust who will work for winnings) and going to sue you for damages, time, money wasted, Business and Credit Card Fraud, breach of contract, failure to comply with state and national laws... practicing law with out a law degree (all u have is LDA none of you are licensed Paralegals or lawyers)(man how i wish i new all this before hand) you better get in touch with me asap with a refund or your lookin at some hard times!
Quincy Burleson
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I spoke with CJ Ward an investigator for Keyt News at 730 Miramonte Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93109 last night. He stated to me that it would be our best interest to inform him of our situations. Please contact him.
Edward was second in charge for Father's Choice and CJ was a part in stopping them.
Here is a link to the News station:
www.keyt.com
Here is a link to information on CJ Ward:
http://www.keyt.com/about/bios/news/2177877.html
Here is proof of the tipline number:
http://www.keyt.com/news/local/15772117.html
Here are some links to the "Father's Choice" problem, from News Station:
http://www.keyt.com/news/local/35107694.html
http://www.keyt.com/news/local/35814014.html
Also, here are some more websites I found to show you who we are dealing with, this is proof that all Edward does is change the name of the company and scams the same way:
On this, you can scroll all the way to the bottom and see "Nadia Nicole" aka Nicole Smith responding to a complaint about Edward. Nadia is her real name and is involved in this even going back to Father's Choice.
/URL removed/
Here is another website about Father's Choice:
/URL removed/
Edward Herzstock was second in command there. If you read the article it states Edward's name several times.
/URL removed/
I say we all file a lawsuit against these people.
Well good luck to you - I have been asking for my refund since Nov. They arent going to do what they say its all a show for them. LIES LIES LIES that is all they give to any of us. Nicole said she was going to take over and get my situation handled. I have not heard a thing from her or from Edward its all BS . I really dont know how they sleep at night knowing they rip people off that really needed help. I would like to sue them to for all the time of mine they have wasted, the stress I have had dealing with them, the grief, all of it.. sitting there lying to me the whole damn time. PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF BEING TREATED THIS WAY! We all paid you in good faith and you did NOTHING for us. There is NOT a doubt in my mind that ya'll are a SCAM.
fraud scam
This group is a NIGHTMARE! DO NOT USE THEM! Nicole, you have claimed that we have been refunded in full. Funny, when I got my local police involved the TRUTH finally comes out that we infact have not been refunded. You have been LYING TO US SINCE NOVEMEBER OF 2009? What is ethical and legitimate about that? Your company took our money, did nothing for us and has not refunded us (to say the least). Edward Madison who me or my husband have never talked to EVEN HAD THE GUTS TO LIE to my local police department stating that he has spoken with James and I, which he NEVER has. I just keep uncovering more lies. His story is COMPLETLEY different from the comment you responded to stating that we (The Miller's) could not be helped. ALL YOUR COMPANY DOES IS LIE, I THINK THAT IT SAYS ALOT ABOUT A COMPANY THAT IS WILLING TO LIE TO A LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT. IF YOU ALL DO THAT, OF COURSE YOU LIE TO ANYYONE OFF THE STREET. GIVE US BACK OUR MONEY!
WARM REGARDS,
HEATHER MILLER
DO NOT USE THIS GROUP! DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMASTANCES USE THIS GROUP! DO NOT BELIEVE ANYTHING THAT ANYONE IN THE ENTIRE OFFICE SAYS! THEY WILL SCAM YOU OUT OF YOUR MONEY AND DELIVER NOTHING TO YOU! THEY HAVE AN "F" RATING WITH THE BBB. MY LOCAL POLICE OFFICE EVEN TRIED TO GET ENVOLED AND THIS GROUP ASSURED THEM THAT I WAS GOING TO GET REFUNDED AND STILL...NOTHING. IF THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND ONLY POST LIES TO REPLY TO ALL OF US WHO HAVE BEEN SCAMMED DO WE REALLY THINK THAT AFTER 6 MONTHS THAT YOU WOULD HAVE THE DESENCY TO REFUND US? YOU STEALING SCAMMING FRAUDING COMPANY! ANYONE WHO IS CONSIDERING USING THIS GROUP...DO NOT! YOU WILL BE BETTER OFF REPRESENTING YOURSELF! NO LIE! THAT IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE END ANYWAYS AND YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO GET SCAMMED OUT OF MONEY IN THE LONG RUN! XOXOXOXO
HEATHER MILLER
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
This group is a nightmare to deal with. How many of you have received the email stating how they are sorry about us falling thru the cracks and that things are going to change because they fired the people that were the problem? I have emailed them back still asking for my $1500 that I have been asking for since FREAKING NOVEMBER and they have not replied SURPRISE SURPRISE. What a joke ! This is the worst company I have ever dealt with. Still no one has the decency to pick up the phone and call me and talk to me about what I have had to deal with . All the lies, time wasted, money taken, the frustration in dealing with this awful group. LIKE I SAID WHAT A JOKE. We have all been done this way and its really sad we were all taken advantage of. Where is our Money? Why dont you call us and speak to us?Edward I am still waiting since the 26th of Jan when you said you were going to call me. Nicole since your so concerned about everyone why dont you call?
Legal Scam
Man oh Man, I was looking up Edward Maddison name, as he was presented to my son as a Attorney that represents Affordable law and will represent him. I feel awful as I found this group for my son, online it says its a father's advocate group, which I thought what better people to represent my Son, Read there Ad, AFFORDABLE, SOMETIMES FREE, LOW COST.I was even told when my Son give them $400 dollars that, "well that isn't very much money to do anything with. Well they got $700 out of us. WHAT A JOKE! My Son is going through a terrible divorce and custody over his son whom he hasn' t seen in 4 months, because she moved 5 hrs away. They said oh no problem we will file an injuction that never came. Our story is like all above, Oh mr. Edwards isn't in or he will get back to you ASAP. My son was suppose to file his paperwork back in Nov to start visitation of his Son. Well because they did not provide the service or documentation, she now served him paperwork, which means she will get everything she wants and my Son is out. We gave them $700.00, my son lost his job, and this came out of our pocket, my Husband is too Disabled Veteran and I am on Disability. I just don't know what to do now, because to them this money was nothing, but it might as well been a million dollars we now have 20 days to response to her. And when you go to the better bb site, you will see people who waited up until the day of court and nothing was done. How could I of been so trustworthy of theses people, my heart hurts for my Son and grandson, whom I am sure I will never See.
This group needs to be accountable for this.
Please anyone want to response to me concerning this company's practices. please email me your names and email address, I am sure I will response to you quicker than affordable law has. I am fling a complaint with BBB & Federal trade commission. But maybe if I got a petition going with names they will look at that more firmly. I am also a Disabled Veteran whom they took advantage of my son making false promises. Of course everyday is, they are working on it.. but no paperwork has been produced. It makes a person wonder, I will contact my JAG millitary lawyers to see if something can be done. But since my Son is 28 we would again have to pay for another attorney. Since this law practice took $700 of our money, not easy to come up with that again.
We need to stop this from happening to others.
email me at [protected]@yahoo.com
Well I haven't given up but I think Nicole Smith And Ed Maddison have. They will not response to emails or phone calls left or even answer there phone. My Son Lost custody as they took our money and we could not afford to get any more help. We tried every where here in Idaho that we could think of, but legal aid or pro bono attorneys will not take this case.
I have asked Nicely please affordable Return Our Money.. I asked in Angry give us back our money.
I even had a email over a month ago from Ed Maddison saying they were reviewing whether or not to return our money, then the next's breathe he is Praying for our family.. Well that is a nice jestor but it didn't help my son with his case or them do the right thing and return what they took from us.
I feel awlful for my son, we gave him all we had, and it didn't matter to this company that my husband is a disabled Veteran, just as long as they got there money. My husband is very upset that they will not return this money, I am sure he will continue to email them until they do the right thing, but I know he just needs to give up cause that is what this company wants.
thanks for your concerns
Anna
Let's not waste your time, but you have time to answer all the complaints on here.
What is wrong that this company hangs up on people because they are so frustrated when things are not filed on time. Jim is falling through the cracks, and in your email you stated it would be filed by the window time line. Well Monday is a holiday, and it has to be filed by Tuesday, you were hired back in Oct and this is Febuary. And yet your website stated we can file it fast for you. Now if this is not filed by tuesday, guess what he losing all rights to his Son. So your right lets not waste your time .
I will go the exact steps now.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Did they come thru for your son today? I doubt it. They never call people back or even answer the phone at this point ! I have been dealing with these people since Aug and all they did was type up some papers that were not even correct and called it good. They were completely WRONG and I told them I wanted my $1500 back and SURPRISE SURPRISE I still dont have it! I have been asking since NOV and they just keep giving me the runaround and more lies. So if I was you I would start asking for your money back now. Go to justice.gov they have a thing for internet fraud, you can contact the FBI- their website says they will contact the local authority, also go to www.fraud.com, I am looking into Lawyers that do class action law suits. I am so tired of asking for my 1500.00 back and them lying to me. We will call, oh the payment is in the mail, blah blah blah... Lies. It is really sad they dont even have the decency to call ANY of us and talk to us and actually do what they say they will. Its obviously a SCAM. For Nicole to say dont waste her time- Ha ! - ya'll have wasted plenty of my time - didnt file the paperwork to get my son returned like you told me you would! I have spent hours emailing you people and calling for what? to be lied to some more. But thats fine I am pursuing this. When I get my money back I will have nothing else to say to you or about you. I urge all of you not to give up on getting your money returned. I am sure your all hard working people and need that money just like I do. DONT GIVE UP-!
http://www.la.bbb.org/Business-Report/Affordable-Legal-Help-100088889
keep up the good work everyone!
John,
Jim's case is very extensive - and has been closely monitored each step of the way as we help him and complete this divorce. About half way through, we he was served documents 12/28/09, which require a swift response. The response has already been drafted, sent to Jim for review as of yesterday, Friday 1/8/10 - with about 10 days to spare to complete this within the required set of time.
This is unbelievable - in a meeting with Mr. Maddison today 1/8/10, I confirmed that communication with this client, Jim, was as early as today. We are have have been doing our part, and we want the best for him. Now, if communication is not happening between the two of you I would be happy to step in and bridge the gap.
This isn't a game - please do not waste my time, I have others that need help. Whatever your relation is to our client - we are servicing him, and we have not let him fall through the cracks. This is just as important to us as it is for our client.
Warm regards,
Nicole Smith
Affordable Legal Help
[protected] ext 2
nsmith@affordablelegalhelp.org
Refund
I first retained the services of the Affordable Legal Group as of the 15th of September of 2009. My goal was to get to have my children more than I was afforded by the current legal system in Virginia which is not father friendly. I spoke with and emailed back and forth to Alexander Brooks who stated that the advantages of the Affordable Legal Group far outweighed anything that I could get from an attorney in VA due to the fact they were a large organization dedicated to advocating for Father's Rites. Mr. Brooks went on to say that I could expect the Affordable Legal Group to work efficiently and once they had the info requested from me would be ready to file a case with VA within 5 business days. After 4 months of continual excuses to include my countless emails and voice messages that were not replied to I grew very dissatisfied. To date I have kept every email concerning my correspondence with Edward Maddison and Nicole Smith as I was unable to continue with Alexander Brooks as it was explained to me he was out due to a family emergency. I requested a full refund in December and was told by Mr MAddison that this decision was being discussed between him and a Mr. Morrison. I sent him the following email detailing my complaint.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I want you to know that I cannot tell you how upsetting this process has been and all I wanted to do is to be able to have my children every other week as opposed to the limited time I have them presently. I originally began this process with Alexander Brooks who disclosed that the advantage of going with the Affordable Legal Group was due in part to your size and ability to pull many resources together to expedite the process and have a case ready to file within 5 days after receiving the pertinent information from the client. Moreover you could instantly retain an attorney on my behalf and for one fee take care of all these issues for me in an expedient manner.
After I faxed over that contract I was called a week later by Jon Fitzgerald who too my information and he told me what to send to the Affordable Legal Group for the legal team. I did so and your records should indicate that you received my information on the 21st of SEPTEMBER.
Two weeks went by and I heard nothing so I began to call, leave messages and email Mr. Brooks however heard nothing back. Finally I heard back from you on or around October 7th to which you apologized for the miscommunication however Mr Brooks was out on Leave. Again much more time elapsed and it soon becomes November to which at no point was anything sent to me concerning Motions to be filed, or who my lawyer would be despite my repeated calls and emails.
I insist by mid November that this is ridiculous that my case has not been prepared as evidenced by the before mentioned statement to which I received a reply from you on the 20th of November that the filing will be complete that afternoon and that I should expect to receive this information along with supplementals that you wished for me to review. You stated in your email on the 20th that I should expect that no later than mid day on Monday the 23rd of November. I received nothing from you on the 23rd...I emailed you again to which you apologized on the 24th of November and stated that you were staying late that evening and that my case was top priority. You went on to allege that I should expect something that Tuesday the 24th. I again received nothing. Thanksgiving rolled around so nothing more would be done if anything had been done in the first place. On December 1 after I had left several more voice messages and sent many more emails you stated that you and a Mr. Nash would be calling me and conferencing with me via the phone at 9am that morning. I called your office that morning after 9 and was told you had not even arrived. I was then told you would call me that same day at 1pm Dec 1st. Again I received no call so I call back again. I was told that it shouldnt be too much longer and that you would call me Dec 1. Again no call. So I email you more and leave more voice messages to which I received an email from you that evening to which you stated you would call me if it was not too late for me. I replied and told you I was available anytime and awaitied your call. Again you did not call. So I emailed you back that next morning on Dec 2. too which you apologized again and that you would demoinstrate to me that my case was well underway and ready to be filed(mind you that you have been saying this since November). That evening I received 2 motions from you finally to my hearts delight. When I opened the first one I found it to be incomplete and left off any mention of my son Grant but only mentioned my desire to have Maddy, my daughter every other week. The second motion pertained to the adjustment in child support from the $595.00 per month that I pay now to $529.00. Now I have my children 105 days out of the year and would be moving to a point of having my children to 182 days. That would cause that figure to be adjusted to about $161 roughly. In my disappointment after waiting 4 months for any evidence that my case was ready you send my something that is wrong on all accounts and only denotes about 20 minutes worth of work if that.
Again I asked for a refund to which you actually act surprised and have the audacity to tell me that you have retained 2 attorneys to which you have not supplied me their names or contact information as I have requested over and over again. You went on to say that you have spent hours on my case getting it togther to which to date after 4 months I have 2 motions that are incomplete and incorrect. I have email Jon Fitzgerald, Nicole Smith, even figured I email Alexander Brooks( in case he is back) simply to get those names for the attorneys you claim you have retained on behalf. You stated you would call me today in 40 minutes when it was 156pm EST. Again...no call but I received email from you that you would be calling me shortly as you were on a conference call. I emailed you as you were obviously able to email me while on the phone to send me those names. Nothing...I have paid over $1500.00 and have nothing to show for it except a lot of frustration and wasted time. You stated that you would be submitting my information to someone for review concerning a refund so I would like to know who is your supervisor is or to whom you report to. I will not sit by and be made a fool no longer. I have kept every email and a detailed log of my dealings with the Affordable Legal Group since day one that will back up everything I am saying.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I also see the many other complaints against this group for the very same issues I have and currently experienced. I expect also that I will get a nice little reply from Nicole Smith as she has done so for the other complaints. I have kept very good records about my experiences with the Affordable Legal Help group and would encourage all who are looking for legal representation to find different representation other than the Affordable Legal Help Group.
Is that way they have gone under or write bad checks to their own employees? Is that why they have been rated with a F by the Better Business Bureau. It is obvious you are an employee of ALH or about to be a former employee trying to fake a good report for ALH. Who are you kidding?
In all honesty at this point I simply request that ALH group follow through with providing me the refund promised to me by Mr MAddison on December 17th 2009. I have emails from you excusing the behaviors of Edward Maddison and ALH group to which I can find no excuse for what I have been through. Please see below:
Dec 21, 2009 5:37pm
George,
If that was told to you by Mr. Maddison I am sure he will follow up with you with that request. I know that we are using every minute possible to respond to requests of our clients before the holiday - I will ask Edward to follow up with you by having the confirmation sent.
Warm regards,
Nicole
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dec 21, 2009 5:50pm
It is not nessasary for you to write emails to several people in our office. If you request was meant to be fulfilled Friday, it is now Monday. Please understand that we will follow through with our word and this week, is a week where there is just enough time to complete all the paperwork everyone is committed to. We are out of the office Thurs and Fri.
Sincerely,
Nicole Smith
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dec 31 2009 2:12pm
Mr. Cunningham,
Mr. Morrison and Mr. Maddison will be in the office on Monday morning.
The schedules have been a little out of the norm with the holiday this week.
Edward is handling your refund.
Nicole
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jan 8 2010 1:08am
Mr. Cunningham,
Can you please send me your fax number?
Thank you,
Nicole
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Still unclear why you emailed me about my fax number as I never received anything from you nor Mr. Maddison via the fax though that was what was promised to me pertaining to this document that Mr. Maddison stated he had received from Mr. Morrison pertaining to my refund.
Respectfully
George O Cunningham IV
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
WE JUST GOT OUR REFUND ON FRIDAY FEB 5th, 2010. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REPORT THAT AFFORDABLE LEGAL HELP FINALLY DID WHAT THEY SAID THEY WOULD DO! THAT AIS NOT THE CASE!
WE GOT OUR REFUND THROUGH OUR BANK! CHECK YOUR BANK THEY MAY HAVE SOME KIND OF FRAUD COVERAGE ON YOUR DEBIT CARD!
THESE PEOPLE ARE ###! AND I HOPE THEY PERSONALLY GO THROUGH A DIVORCE AND GET SOME GOOD OLE FASHIONED KARMA!
CONTACT YOUR BANK AND PUT SOME GOOD OLD FRAUD CHARGES IN THEIR LIFE LIKE WE DID!
HA HA ! NICOLE YOUR GOING TO JAIL!
This is a formal complaint addressed to :
ALL EMPLOYEES OF AFFORDABLE LEGAL HELP
NICOLE SMITH
EDWARD MADDISON
GENE LERNER
TIMOTHY NASH
I am contacting the FBI. TODAY! I am contacting GO DADDY . COM! TODAY!I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF YOUR BS! YOU NEED TO TAKE ALL OF YOUR POSTING OFF THE INTERNET! YOU ARE A FRAUD! THE NEWS WILL BE CALLED TODAY! IN ALL OF MY LIFE I HAVE NEVER WITNESSED A MORE INHUMANE SCAM! IF YOU ARE NOT A SCAM THEN YOU SHOULD BE! MORE THAN ENOUGH PROOF HAS ALREADY BEEN GENERATED! I REALLY DON"T CARE WHERE YOU ARE AT, OR WHAT YOU YOUR NEXT EXCUSE IS YOU CAN EXPLAIN IT TO THE FEDS. GAME OVER!
I AM A FORMER MARINE AND YOU ARE MY MISSION!
I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU PAY PER CLICK FOR EVERY KEY WORD THAT IS GENERATED FROM GOOGLE, BUT THEY KNOW! OH YEAH! I AM CONTACTING THEM TO! IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU PAY ALL YOUR CLIENTS BACK WITH INTEREST, THE BOTTOM LINE IS YOU ARE STEALING FROM PEOPLE. YES STEALING, I SAID IT! YOUR CONTRACTS AREN'T WORTH THE PAPER THEY ARE WRITTEN ON!
SO WITH ALL DUE RESPECT GET OFF MY INTERNET
I was also told numerous times that I would be getting a refund still waiting after 6 months of them making excuses and more excuses. I want my refund how hard can that be? They even filled out paperwork for the wrong thing I found out so that definately warrants a refund...
George,
Father's Choice got an F by the BBB too ... do you see a pattern? haha ...
I spoke with CJ Ward an investigator for Keyt News at 730 Miramonte Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93109 last night. He stated to me that it would be our best interest to inform him of our situations. Please contact him.
Edward was second in charge for Father's Choice and CJ was a part in stopping them.
Here is a link to the News station:
www.keyt.com
Here is a link to information on CJ Ward:
http://www.keyt.com/about/bios/news/2177877.html
Here is proof of the tipline number:
http://www.keyt.com/news/local/15772117.html
Here are some links to the "Father's Choice" problem, from News Station:
http://www.keyt.com/news/local/35107694.html
http://www.keyt.com/news/local/35814014.html
Also, here are some more websites I found to show you who we are dealing with, this is proof that all Edward does is change the name of the company and scams the same way:
On this, you can scroll all the way to the bottom and see "Nadia Nicole" aka Nicole Smith responding to a complaint about Edward. Nadia is her real name and is involved in this even going back to Father's Choice.
/URL removed/
Here is another website about Father's Choice:
/URL removed/
Edward Herzstock was second in command there. If you read the article it states Edward's name several times.
/URL removed/
FYI to everyone who reads this. Cvaughn_1971 is a real person. I am a third party and I do have the right to post comments about there business. They are a SCAM and are actively stealing peoples money. Remember strength lies in numbers and there time is running out! So feel free to contact me if you have any questions. It is also apparent that any post on complaints board that renders positive feedback is total BS. That's okay because those individuals that participate in their deception will also be held accountable.
I have spoken to this office on numerous occasions once I read this board. I might have made a different decision about using their services but hopefully my comment on this board will help others who stumble across it.
This company has good intentions and does care about helping people. This is clear evidence that it is true as there are several people whom have posted on this board that it is a scam and that no one should use the service - who have posted follow up comments letting all of us know that they have been helped and are satisfied with the service. I mean HELLO? Duh. I work in customer service at a bank and I KNOW what customers deal with when they fell mistreated, I hear it all day. And scams don't have any positive feedback at all - not to mention people who originally posted negative who are now pleased with the service. That ONLY shows effort to fix a problem or concern, everyone has got them. Personally, I would rather know where a company has been and what they are doing than not knowing anything at all.
The majority of the people on here are the same people, with the same stories. Pick up the phone! Call for help - I call every few days and if I leave a message it is returned. I am very thankful that my decision in choosing this company to help my son so far is the right one, he doesn't have a computer and I researched them on the internet for him.
Call their office, ask for help. If they cannot help you or don't try to help, I'd be surprised. They are very helpful and understanding when I came to them about my concern of reading this board. So far my son is getting the service we paid for and I will continue my feedback as it seems appropriate to help others.
Respectfully,
Shellie B.
San Antonio, Tx
I have spoken to this office on numerous occasions once I read this board. I might have made a different decision about using their services but hopefully my comment on this board will help others who stumble across it.
This company has good intentions and does care about helping people. This is clear evidence that it is true as there are several people whom have posted on this board that it is a scam and that no one should use the service - who have posted follow up comments letting all of us know that they have been helped and are satisfied with the service. I mean HELLO? Duh. I work in customer service at a bank and I KNOW what customers deal with when they fell mistreated, I hear it all day. And scams don't have any positive feedback at all - not to mention people who originally posted negative who are now pleased with the service. That ONLY shows effort to fix a problem or concern, everyone has got them. Personally, I would rather know where a company has been and what they are doing than not knowing anything at all.
The majority of the people on here are the same people, with the same stories. Pick up the phone! Call for help - I call every few days and if I leave a message it is returned. I am very thankful that my decision in choosing this company to help my son so far is the right one, he doesn't have a computer and I researched them on the internet for him.
Call their office, ask for help. If they cannot help you or don't try to help, I'd be surprised. They are very helpful and understanding when I came to them about my concern of reading this board. So far my son is getting the service we paid for and I will continue my feedback as it seems appropriate to help others.
Respectfully,
Shellie B.
San Antonio, Tx
I have spoken to this office on numerous occasions once I read this board. I might have made a different decision about using their services but hopefully my comment on this board will help others who stumble across it.
This company has good intentions and does care about helping people. This is clear evidence that it is true as there are several people whom have posted on this board that it is a scam and that no one should use the service - who have posted follow up comments letting all of us know that they have been helped and are satisfied with the service. I mean HELLO? Duh. I work in customer service at a bank and I KNOW what customers deal with when they fell mistreated, I hear it all day. And scams don't have any positive feedback at all - not to mention people who originally posted negative who are now pleased with the service. That ONLY shows effort to fix a problem or concern, everyone has got them. Personally, I would rather know where a company has been and what they are doing than not knowing anything at all.
The majority of the people on here are the same people, with the same stories. Pick up the phone! Call for help - I call every few days and if I leave a message it is returned. I am very thankful that my decision in choosing this company to help my son so far is the right one, he doesn't have a computer and I researched them on the internet for him.
Call their office, ask for help. If they cannot help you or don't try to help, I'd be surprised. They are very helpful and understanding when I came to them about my concern of reading this board. So far my son is getting the service we paid for and I will continue my feedback as it seems appropriate to help others.
Respectfully,
Shellie B.
San Antonio, Tx
I am a customer of ALH. I read your messages on the board. You are missing the point of 27 people on that board! These people have hurt people's lives, hurt children! Read what they write! And stay off that board b/c you don't know what your talking about!
INTERNET FRAUD
AFFORDABLE LEGAL HELP IN A NUTSHELL!
A crime in which the perpetrator develops a scheme using one or more elements of the Internet to deprive a person of property or any interest, estate, or right by a false representation of a matter of fact, whether by providing misleading information or by concealment of information.
As increasing numbers of businesses and consumers rely on the Internet and other forms of electronic communication to conduct transactions; illegal activity using the very same media is similarly on the rise. Fraudulent schemes conducted via the Internet are generally difficult to trace and prosecute, and they cost individuals and businesses millions of dollars each year.
From computer viruses to Web site hacking and financial Fraud, Internet crime became a larger concern than ever in the 1990s and early 2000s. In one sense, this situation was less a measure of growing pains than of the increasing importance of the Internet in daily life. More users surfing the Web, greater business reliance upon E-Mail, and the tremendous upsurge in electronic commerce have raised financial stakes. A single virus outbreak in 1999 was blamed for more than $80 million in damage, while Web site hacking in early 2000 purportedly cost hundreds of millions more. Adding new wrinkles were complaints about rampant fraud on popular online auction sites. Together, the problems drew tough rhetoric from U.S. officials, who announced new initiatives, deployed cyber-crime units, made numerous arrests, and even pursued international manhunts.
According to a u.s. justice department Web site devoted to the topic, Internet fraud refers to any type of scheme in which one or more Internet elements are employed in order to put forth "fraudulent solicitations to prospective victims, to conduct fraudulent transactions, or to transmit the proceeds of fraud to financial institutions or to others connected with the scheme." As pointed out in a report prepared by the National White Collar Crime Center and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in 2001, major categories of Internet fraud include, but are not limited to, auction or retail fraud, Securities fraud, and Identity Theft.
Securities fraud, also called investment fraud, involves the offer of bogus stocks or high-return investment opportunities, market manipulation schemes, pyramid and Ponzi schemes, or other "get rich quick" offerings. Identity theft, or identity fraud, is the wrongful obtaining and use of another person' personal data for one's own benefit; it usually involves economic or financial gain for the perpetrator.
In its May 2002 issue, Internet Scambusters cited a study by Gartner G2 that demonstrated online merchants lost $700 million to Internet fraud in 2001. By comparison, the report showed that "online fraud losses were 19 times as high as offline fraud." In fact, the study pointed out that in the same year more than five percent of those making purchases via the Internet became victims of credit card fraud.
The IFCC, in its 2001 Internet fraud report, released statistics of complaints that had been received and then referred to law enforcement or regulatory agencies for action. For the 12-month period covered by the report, the IFCC received more than 17 million inquiries to its Web site, with nearly 50, 000 formal complaints lodged. It must be noted, however, that the number of complaints included reports of computer intrusions and unsolicited Child Pornography.
Significant findings in the report revealed that Internet auction fraud was the most reported offense, comprising 42.8 percent of referred complaints. Besides those mentioned above, top fraud complaints also involved non-delivery of merchandise or payment, credit/debit card fraud, and confidence fraud. While it may seem easy to dismiss these concerns as obvious, the schemes used to defraud customers of money or valuable information have become increasingly sophisticated and less discernible to the unsuspecting consumer.
The "IFCC 2001 Internet Report" revealed that 81 percent of those committing acts of fraud were believed to be male, and nearly 76 percent of those allegedly involved in acts of fraud were individuals. According to the report, California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Illinois were the states in which half of the perpetrators resided. The report also provided a shocking example of just how difficult a task tracking down those involved in Internet fraud can be. According to the report, out of the more than 1, 800 investigations initiated from complaints during 2001, only three arrests were made.
One example of the growing sophistication of Internet fraud cases can be seen in a 1997 case brought by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). FTC v. Audiotex Connection, Inc., CV-970726 (E.D.N.Y.), dealt specifically with a scam in which Internet consumers were invited to view or to access free computer images. As reported in a February 10, 1998, FTC statement made before a Senate Subcommittee on Investigations of the Governmental Affairs Committee, when viewers attempted to access the images, their computer modems were surreptitiously disconnected from their local Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and were reconnected to the Internet through the defendants' expensive international modem connections. Exorbitantly priced long-distance telephone charges continued to Accrue until the consumer turned off the computer, even if he or she had exited the defendant's Web site and moved elsewhere on the Internet. Approximately 38, 000 consumers fell for this scam, losing $2.74 million.
The U.S. Department of Justice Web site that addresses the major types of Internet fraud reports the following recent examples of various types of illegal activity carried out using the medium.
Two separate Los Angeles cases demonstrate the intricacies of securities fraud and market manipulation. In the first case, defendants bought 130, 000 shares of bogus stock in NEI Webworld, Inc., a bankrupt company whose assets had previously been liquidated. Defendants in the case then posted e-mail messages on various Internet bulletin boards, claiming that NEI was being acquired by a wireless Telecommunications company. Within 45 minutes of the posting, shares increased from $8 to $15 each, during which time defendants "cashed out." The remaining stock was worth 25 cents a share within a 30 minute period. The second example involves a case in which an employee of PairGain Technologies set up a fraudulent Bloomberg news Web site and reported false information regarding the company's purchase by a foreign company. The employee then posted bogus e-mail messages on financial news bulletin boards that caused a 30 percent manipulation of PairGain stock prices within hours.
In another example of investment fraud, perpetrators used the Internet, along with telemarketing techniques, to mislead more than 3, 000 victims into investing almost $50 million in fraudulent "general partnerships involving purported high-tech investments, such as an Internet shopping mall and Internet access providers."
More than 100 U.S. military officers were involved in a case of identity theft. Defendants in the case illegally acquired the names and Social Security numbers of the military personnel from a Web site, and then used the Internet to apply for credit cards issued by a Delaware bank. In another case of identity theft and fraud, a defendant stole personal information from the Web site of a federal agency and then used the information to make applications for an online auto loan through Florida bank.
The Department of Justice Web site also gives an example of a widely reported version of credit card fraud. In the elaborate scheme, a perpetrator offers Internet consumers expensive electronics items, such as video cameras, at extremely low prices. As an incentive, they tell consumers that the item will ship before payment is finalized. When terms are agreed to, the perpetrator uses the consumer's name and address, but another party's illegally obtained credit card number, to purchase the item through a legitimate online vendor. Once the consumer has received the item, he or she authorizes credit card payment to the perpetrator. In the meantime, when the credit card holder, whose card number was used to purchase the item, stops payment on the unauthorized order, the vendor attempts to re-collect the merchandise from the consumer. The defrauded consumer, the victim of the credit card theft, and the merchant usually have no simple means of redress, since by the time they "catch on, " the perpetrator has usually transferred funds into untraceable accounts.
In March 1999 the FBI became involved in a highly publicized hunt for a computer virus author. Electronic viruses are malicious software programs written to cause harm to unsuspecting computer users. They are designed to spread from computer to computer. Their propagation traditionally relied upon computer users sharing disks or software. On March 26, 2000, the appearance of the Melissa virus announced a new, dangerous breed of viruses delivered by e-mail, and it prompted heightened interest from federal law enforcement.
The virus was less deadly than those that erase data on a computer's hard drive. At heart, Melissa was an e-mail that contained a list of Pornography Web sites, along with programming code that sent up to 50 copies of itself to names found in a victim's e-mail address book. This self-replicating behavior had the potential to strain and disable computer networks, as the FBI warned on March 28 in an alert issued through its National Infrastructure Protection Center (NIPC). Within days, these fears were realized as dozens of corporate e-mail servers slowed under a flood of Melissa e-mail. In all, the infection reached nearly 19 percent of U.S. corporations and an estimated 1.5 million computers.
Less than a week later, the FBI nabbed the virus author. David L. Smith, a 30-year-old, Aberdeen, New Jersey, computer programmer, had unintentionally left his name in similar
virus code. Charged with conspiracy, theft of computer services, and interruption of public communications, he pleaded innocent. After striking a plea bargain with state and federal prosecutors on December 11, however, he pleaded guilty to a single state count of computer theft along with a single federal count of sending a damaging computer program. Smith acknowledged that the virus had caused upwards of $80 million in clean-up costs.
The FBI issued a second virus advisory in June 1999, and then in May 2000, U.S. and Philippine officials cooperated in a manhunt for a third virus author. Like Melissa, the so-called Love Bug worm transmitted and replicated itself via e-mail, but it differed by damaging files on victims' computers. As authorities deemed it the fastest-spreading virus in history, the NIPC traced its origins to Manila. Prompted by U.S. officials, the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation arrested 27-year-old Reomel Ramones. The case hit snags, however, as authorities were at a loss to find physical evidence and even to know what to charge Ramones with, since virus writing is not a criminal offense under Philippine law.
Hackers also launched assaults on U.S. government systems. For several years, hackers penetrated federal computers belonging to the Pentagon and other agencies, often eluding authorities. They occasionally publicized government data in works such as 2600: The Hacker Quarterly and created a daring image celebrated in popular culture. In 1999 the White House declared war. President bill clinton targeted hackers in get-tough speeches in January and May. An FBI dragnet culminated in the arrest of 20 suspected hackers in six states. Apparently as retaliation, hackers defaced Web sites belonging to the FBI, the Interior Department, the U.S. Senate, and even the White House, forcing some to shut down for hours. A few days later, on June 2, White House press secretary Joe Lockhart announced a government-wide review of computer security and vowed to punish the responsible parties. Yet the government's effectiveness came into question in early 2000 as high-profile attacks crippled major Web sites.
As the government grappled with hackers, a famous hacker was released from prison. Kevin Mitnick, held in federal custody without bail or a trial since 1995, entered a plea bargain with the Los Angeles district attorney's office on charges pending from his arrest for intrusion into several corporate computer systems. A cause celebre in the computer underground since fleeing a manhunt in the early 1990s, Mitnick's case had prompted public protests and even hacks of Web sites proclaiming the message, "Free Kevin." On August 9, U.S. District Judge Mariana Pfaelzer sentenced the 35-year-old hacker to 46 months in federal prison and ordered him to pay $4, 125 in restitution. He was released on January 21, 2000. Mitnick's Parole terms forbid him from using computers in any way for another three years. When authorities subsequently barred him from accepting lucrative speaking engagements, Mitnick retained famed First Amendment attorney Floyd Abrahms, filed suit, and successfully proved that the terms of his parole violated his right to Freedom of Speech.
As Internet auction sites gained popularity, fraud also attracted federal attention. In February 2000, the FTC announced a multi-agency effort to combat what it said was a hundredfold increase in complaints about Web-based fraud. The FTC reported that complaints had soared from 107 in 1997 to 10, 700 in 1999. In response, it announced plans to work with the Department of Justice, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and other federal and state authorities to increase the number of cases it files in court, which to date amounted to only 35. The leading Internet auction site eBay separately announced that it would cooperate with authorities to sniff out con artists. According to statistics from the National Fraud Information Center, fraud in online Auctions accounted for 90 percent of the total incidents of Internet fraud in 2002.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I spoke with CJ Ward an investigator for Keyt News at 730 Miramonte Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93109 last night. He stated to me that it would be our best interest to inform him of our situations. Please contact him.
Edward was second in charge for Father's Choice and CJ was a part in stopping them.
Here is a link to the News station:
www.keyt.com
Here is a link to information on CJ Ward:
http://www.keyt.com/about/bios/news/2177877.html
Here is proof of the tipline number:
http://www.keyt.com/news/local/15772117.html
Here are some links to the "Father's Choice" problem, from News Station:
http://www.keyt.com/news/local/35107694.html
http://www.keyt.com/news/local/35814014.html
Also, here are some more websites I found to show you who we are dealing with, this is proof that all Edward does is change the name of the company and scams the same way:
On this, you can scroll all the way to the bottom and see "Nadia Nicole" aka Nicole Smith responding to a complaint about Edward. Nadia is her real name and is involved in this even going back to Father's Choice.
/URL removed/
Here is another website about Father's Choice:
/URL removed/
Edward Herzstock was second in command there. If you read the article it states Edward's name several times.
/URL removed/
I have spoken to this office on numerous occasions once I read this board. I might have made a different decision about using their services but hopefully my comment on this board will help others who stumble across it.
This company has good intentions and does care about helping people. This is clear evidence that it is true as there are several people whom have posted on this board that it is a scam and that no one should use the service - who have posted follow up comments letting all of us know that they have been helped and are satisfied with the service. I mean HELLO? Duh. I work in customer service at a bank and I KNOW what customers deal with when they fell mistreated, I hear it all day. And scams don't have any positive feedback at all - not to mention people who originally posted negative who are now pleased with the service. That ONLY shows effort to fix a problem or concern, everyone has got them. Personally, I would rather know where a company has been and what they are doing than not knowing anything at all.
The majority of the people on here are the same people, with the same stories. Pick up the phone! Call for help - I call every few days and if I leave a message it is returned. I am very thankful that my decision in choosing this company to help my son so far is the right one, he doesn't have a computer and I researched them on the internet for him.
Call their office, ask for help. If they cannot help you or don't try to help, I'd be surprised. They are very helpful and understanding when I came to them about my concern of reading this board. So far my son is getting the service we paid for and I will continue my feedback as it seems appropriate to help others.
Respectfully,
Shellie B.
San Antonio, Tx
Why don't you go look at the BBB.org ... ALH does not have one case that was closed satisfactory! I AM ONE CASE THAT WAS CLOSED BECAUSE THE COMPANY DID NOT RESPOND TO! KEEP READING EMPLOYEE OF ALH! THIS FAKE BS IS NOT WORKING NICOLE!
This is just an employee of the company... If they were not then they would post real information such as all the other victoms on here. The victoms post personel information... They did not!
Cvaughn_1971 NOT A REAL CUSTOMER
Do not take anything that Cvaughn into consideration THEY ARE A FAKE USER.
This user does not ever leave a real name, email etc. They must be from another company or something.
I continue to read their posts and found out they know nothing about Affordable Law Group. This person is a disguntled user who is making things up. I used affordable law group and had great services provided, don't read anthing this user submits!
My case was finished in about three weeks. They always replied to my emails, and i was done with my case rather fast. If you request to have your case manager email you, they got to me within the hour. FIVE STARS, Case is complete and Thank god!
They reduced my Child support and I have no complaints. Good luck to you all that are having trouble, but I paid in full and my case is complete, I only started back in the beginning of Feb. 10'!
Here are some more places you can file, please e-mail me at glessnere@hotmail.com:
Please download our Compliant Form here: http://dca.lacounty.gov/Forms/CAComplaint.pdf. Send the completed Complaint Form and copies of any documents you have that prove your claim to:
County of Los Angeles Department of Consumer Affairs
500 W. Temple St., Room B-96
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Attn: Consumer Services Unit
-------------
State Bar Intake telephone line and request a complaint form by calling [protected], or you may visit our web site at www.calbar.ca.gov and download a complaint form. If you have a written complaint, please mail it to: State Bar of California, Intake Unit, 1149 S Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA [protected].
Nicole,
I have contacted your company for the past 3 months trying to get my refund that was promised through e-mail that I will get it back! This is horrible what you are doing to people!
[protected]
http://www.la.bbb.org/Business-Report/Affordable-Legal-Help-100088889
keep up the good work everyone!
Fraud
AFFORDABLE LEGAL HELP:
MY SUGGESTIONS CONCERNING AFFORDABLE LEGAL HELP ARE AS FOLLOWS.
Go to this website and report your complaint to the FBI. The address is as follows. FYI. You can be a third party ( such as myself ) and file a complaint with the FBI.
http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx
Second report ALH to the BBB in Santa Barbara.
http://www.trustlink.org/BusinessProfile.aspx?ID=206069771
Remember that STRENGTH LIES IN NUMBERS and to STOP this WE MUST BAND TOGETHER!
Watch this video. I believe these are the culprits. Goleta is 10 miles from Santa Barbara.
http://www.keyt.com/news/local/35107694.html
Also, to all you that are satisfied. Why would you be on complaints bored. I sure in the hell don't defend people who give me "Good Service". I go on with my life. Oh! By the way thanks for the paper trail you guys are leaving us. There is such a thing as an IP address. So just defend your little comrades at Affordable Legal Help, but don't be suprised when I subpoena you to court to testify.! Yes I did say TESTIFY! If you need to look up what that word means just google it, because we know you don't know anything about the law.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I too have had problems with this group and they have done nothing but lie to me and jerk me around. I have numerous emails I have sent them asking for information on my case and there is either no answer or some lie saying that they are working on my case. I have paid them $1500.00 and have asked them repeatedly to send it back to me and they make an excuse saying they are doing all they can. My child has not been returned and I have not seen him since June 13th. The paperwork they have sent me is all messed up and not even correct- then they expect me to go thru it and correct it and tell them what it needs to say. They have said that a lawyer will call me and they NEVER do. I have had so much anxiety and mental anguish and stress due to the people lying to me this whole time it is unreal. I am having to find another route to take even though I dont have the extra money to do so . I am going to end up losing my son over their incompetence! I have turned them into the better business bureau and I am waiting to hear something back on that. It has been a TOTAL NIGHTMARE dealing with these people. Someone needs to investigate what they are really doing. I know I am not the only one having these problems and now I am out $1500.00 I need. They always have an excuse of why they cant talk to you. Edward Maddison is the person that is supposedly working on my case and all I usually get is Kenneth who says he will have Edward call me in a few minutes which usually does not happen.This is the worst service I have ever received in my life. I think this is just a fraud.
Nicole,
the time has passed that you said to allow for both banks to process our refund and WE STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED IT! Also- Kenneth has told me two times this week he would email me your bank number so I can see what is going on since no onne from your end will, and I still have not received those emails either. Was someone in your office at athat time so you had to actually answer the phone and "look" like you guys were actually doing something besides frauding and scamming people? I have contacted you many times, voicemails, emails ect. to notify you that our money has NOT been refunded, and all you say is it is processed. Well, the PROCESS time has come and gone soooooooooooooo, what is your excuse now Nicole? Where is our money? Stop stealing it and GIVE IT BACK!
Heather Miller
This company has now been claiming for over a month that they would refund us our money. Nicole keeps stating that our money has been refunded, she is otified everyday that it has NOT been and chooses to not return my phone calls made to her. She also claims that she will send me her bank information proving that it has been refunded (last week), I told her to do so and she still has done NOTHING! I spoke with Kenneth yesterday who promised me the "billing manager" would be calling me in 30 minutes (which he/she NEVER did)., Kenneth also yold me to call him if noone called me and he would follow up, I phoned him many times yesterday afternoon and of course he would not answer his phone! Also while on the phone with Kenneth I asked him what email they were sending information to as I have NEVER received not even one of his promised emails and he could not tell me the information ! This company took our money, states that they will refund us and they HAVE NOT AND THEY CHOOSE TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT, JUST LIKE OUR CASE, THEY DID NOTHING ABOUT IT EITHER! BIG SUPRISE!
GIVE US OUR MONEY BACK!
HEATHER MILLER RN
Ok let's see, last MondayI called and Kenneth told me that a "billing manager" would be calling me in 30 minutes and if I didn't receive a phone call to call him back and he would answer his phone! LOL. SURPRISE! No one called and when I called Kenneth he did not answer that day. Then Tues. I called and informed him that no one had contacted me and Kenneth told me to call after 4 p.m. his time and he would have answers for me. Well I did call all day Wed. and Thursday and still no answer. This company took our money stating they could help us, did nothing for us after they took our money and now state that they have refunded us (and they have not) and we notify them everyday that we do not have our money back and choose to keep stealing and frauding and scamming us out of our money. GIVE US OUR MONEY BACK.
Heather Miller
DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY! They claim that they can assist with child custody or child support and they convince you that they will do whatever they can to help you. Well, once you pay them you never hear back from them or if you do you get the line "We can have Edward Maddison call you back in 20 minutes. Do not believe any of it!
Hear are some more people who you cannot trust...(just to prove to you reading this that I am serious)
Timoth Nash
Alexander Brooks
Freddy Perez
Edward Maddison
Kevin (Mr Maddison Assistant) a real ###!
Abby (Mr Maddison sectretary)
Do not waste your money or time with this fraudulous company. Most of all don't put your legal hopes in their hands.
Patrick (Columbus, OH)
Well here we are in to the middle of January of 2010. Been trying to get resolve with this company since October of 2009. They took our money did nothing for us, have "claimed" that they have refunded our money and infact have not! Nicole again has posted another statement on 1-5-09 stating that we were refunded and we were not. NICOLE and ET- AL. Give us our refund! You took our money, did not follow through with anything and now we need our money for a REAL lawyer! SURPRISE. Everyday I call to see if the money has been refunded and everyday it is not! STOP lying and just give it back! All you people do is just give your customers the runaround never getting any resolve! I think that you do not want resolve or all of the complaints would not be posted on here! You just want to continue to steal people's hard earned money and waste their time.
Heather Miller
ATTENTION ANYONE WHO IS USING THIS GROUP OR THINKING ABOUT USING THIS GROUP! DO NOT USE THEM! THEY TOLD ME AND MY HUSBAND THAT THEY COULD HELP US IN OUR COURT CASE, TOOK OUR MONEY AND NEVER DID ANYTHING FOR US! THEY SCAMMED US AND FRAUDED US OUT OF OUR MONEY AND NOW WILL NOT REFUND US! DO NOT GIVE THEM YOUR MONEY UINDER ANY CIRCUMSTAQNCES, IF YOU DO GIVE THEM YOUR MONEY, EXPECT TO RECEIVE NOTHING FROM THEM AND NO REFUND! WE WANT OUR MONEY BACK! STOP FRAUD NOW!
This company STILL has not refunded our money as promised. YES NICOLE, THIS IS my 28th complaint! I still call, and I will still complain to the BBB and FBI everyday until we are refunded in full, as we have REAL legal representation now and need the money that your company scammed us and frauded us out of returned ASAP as they do REAL WORK and we NEED to pay them! Unlike affordable law group whpp took our money in October of 2009, did nothing for us except create a web of lies and now owes us a REFUND as nothing was done in our case! No promised papers filed to the court, no representation, AS A MATTER OF FACT... NOTHING was done for us or many other people who payed this group after this group took there money! This is pathetic! People waiting longer than me to get their refunds. Nicole and Edward Madison, I have called and emailed MANY times and NEVER received a call or remail back! DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES USE THIS GROUP! You will give them your money, they will take it and never do a thing for you, and then NEVER refund you! This is the WORST business practice as it has been well over 6 months and we still have NOT received our money. IS IT REALLY GOING TO COME DOWN TO A CIVIL SUIT NICOLE AND EDWARD? DO NOT TRUST THIS COMPANY! CALL ME WITH ANY QUESTIONS! [protected]. Heather Miller
I spoke with CJ Ward an investigator for Keyt News at 730 Miramonte Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93109 last night. He stated to me that it would be our best interest to inform him of our situations. Please contact him.
Edward was second in charge for Father's Choice and CJ was a part in stopping them.
Here is a link to the News station:
www.keyt.com
Here is a link to information on CJ Ward:
http://www.keyt.com/about/bios/news/2177877.html
Here is proof of the tipline number:
http://www.keyt.com/news/local/15772117.html
Here are some links to the "Father's Choice" problem, from News Station:
http://www.keyt.com/news/local/35107694.html
http://www.keyt.com/news/local/35814014.html
Also, here are some more websites I found to show you who we are dealing with, this is proof that all Edward does is change the name of the company and scams the same way:
On this, you can scroll all the way to the bottom and see "Nadia Nicole" aka Nicole Smith responding to a complaint about Edward. Nadia is her real name and is involved in this even going back to Father's Choice.
/URL removed/
Here is another website about Father's Choice:
/URL removed/
Edward Herzstock was second in command there. If you read the article it states Edward's name several times.
/URL removed/
PLUS "SMARTIES" AT ALH, DON'T YOU THINK THAT PEOPLE HAVE BETTER WAYS TO SPEND THEIR TIME IF THEY HAVE BEEN REFUNDED? I KNOW THAT I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MOVE ON INSTEAD OF ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT THE MONEY OWED TO US, IF WE HAVE RECEIVED THE MONEY WHY WOULD WE KEEP COMPLAINING? WHAT WOULD WE HAVE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IF YOU GAVE US OUR MONEY BACK, EXCEPT THAT YOU LIED, SCAMMED AND TRIED TO FRAUD US? WHEN YOU REFUND PEOPLE THE MONEY OWED TO THEM, I SURE THEY WOULD NOT BE ON HERE COMPLAININ ANYMORE, BUT SINCE ALH HAS NOT REFUNDED US, WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO COMPLAIN
HEATHER MILLER
Legal Services
I signed the agreement on 11/19/09 and have yet to have anyone "do" anything on my case. They have missed one court date, there are two more scheduled in January and all I receive is "I promise someone will get back to you".
Under NO circumstances should anyone retain this law group with the intention of receiving anything. They will "act" and have you believe as if they will help you with your case, have knowledge, but so far, all I have received is the run around. Constant promises without any follow through.
My guess is that they will put you off for as long as you will take it in hopes that you will eventually fire them for their lack of responsiveness.
If anyone would like to discuss this and my experiences with me, feel free to contact me at [protected].
I would also like to add that I am thankful for Richard Mears for posting his complaint. I have spoke to him many times and he is not friends with this group as they may claim, he has not received anything from this group and retained them in July 2009.
Tamara Molde
Minnesota
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I spoke with CJ Ward an investigator for Keyt News at 730 Miramonte Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93109 last night. He stated to me that it would be our best interest to inform him of our situations. Please contact him.
Edward was second in charge for Father's Choice and CJ was a part in stopping them.
Here is a link to the News station:
www.keyt.com
Here is a link to information on CJ Ward:
http://www.keyt.com/about/bios/news/2177877.html
Here is proof of the tipline number:
http://www.keyt.com/news/local/15772117.html
Here are some links to the "Father's Choice" problem, from News Station:
http://www.keyt.com/news/local/35107694.html
http://www.keyt.com/news/local/35814014.html
Also, here are some more websites I found to show you who we are dealing with, this is proof that all Edward does is change the name of the company and scams the same way:
On this, you can scroll all the way to the bottom and see "Nadia Nicole" aka Nicole Smith responding to a complaint about Edward. Nadia is her real name and is involved in this even going back to Father's Choice.
/URL removed/
Here is another website about Father's Choice:
/URL removed/
Edward Herzstock was second in command there. If you read the article it states Edward's name several times.
/URL removed/
Nicole All I keep being told is it is going thru the process. I understand there is a process but like I said there have been several times I was told you should already have the money - they are done processing your refund per Kenneth.Then he said well i told you wrong, then he told me it was done last week. So what else am I supposed to think? when I am told its there and its not? I would just like the 1500.00 returned, I need that money for the new lawyer I have had to hire. People come to your company because they need help, and to be put off and have to go thru this when your already having a hard time is not right.
Ms. Miller,
As long as your account is still standing, even if you have canceled a card - it will be credited to your account. You made three separate payments of which all are refunded. You have received the first and please confirm with me via email when you receive the others.
Thank you,
Nicole Smith
Affordable Legal Help
[protected] ext 2
nsmith@affordablelegalhelp.org
I am still waiting for our refund in full as we gave this group $750.00, they did nothing for after many promises and we have only received $250.00 back from this company. Nicole as you have stated that the total refund was made all at the same time, and Yes we used 2 different cards to process our payment and your company made three seperate transactions off of our two cards we still have NOT received anything more but the $250.00 back from your company. I left a voicemail regarding this yesterday with still no returned call and it is going well into 6 weeks of "this process" to refund our money. Please contact me inoreder to resolve this.
Heather Miller
Ms. Molde,
Mr. Mears was the first individual to post negative feedback online. I cannot say anything about how he feels, I can only say that we tried our best to help him.
It is no doubt that period with our communication and his skepticism led him to post the comment, but with out a doubt he was refunded in full and has had several conversations with our office about his experience which we are implementing for a better experience.
Sincerely,
Nicole Smith
Affordable Legal Help
[protected] ext 2
nsmith@affordablelegalhelp.org
Ms. Britt,
Again, your request was received and submitted already. I have sent you an email confirming this and I will send you another. There is a process we must follow, as I have escalated you already as well. We can touch base again on Monday via phone or email if I am unavailable.
Sincerely,
Nicole Smith
Affordable Legal Help
[protected] ext 2
Ms. Molde,
Your court date was not missed - when you retained our services you brought it to our attention that you will be attending the hearing without representation as there was not enough time for our group to prepare.
You have allowed us to prepare your case and retain an attorney for your hearings. Mr. Horowitz and Mr. Nash will be speaking with you tomorrow.
Sincerley,
Nicole Smith
Affordable Legal Help.
[protected] ext 2
nsmith@affordablelegalhelp.org
I would start looking for another avenue. I gave them all the money they said it would take to get their help and the paperwork was totally incorrect - they asked me what changes need to be made? I have had to hire another attorney and have been contacting these people on a daily basis just trying to get my money back. All i get is a total runaround saying its done and then im told its not, then it is and I should already have it etc...I would hate for anyone to go thru what I have been thru.
Dissatisfied
To whom it may concern, September 20, 2009
I hired this company, Affordable Legal Help, on July the 12, 2009 to help in a custody situation. They were our only option at the time. In the 8 week time frame, the experience was terrible and nothing was done or resolved. They did not communicate with us at all, we were never kept updated on what was going on with our case. The only time we heard from them was when I would call and try to get some information. I would call and get the run around from who ever answered the phone they would tell me that someone would call me back and they never did. I was told the case worker would call and he never did. I must have called evey day, sometimes a few times a day just trying to get any information. My son even called a few times and all he would get was a recording to leave a message so he did and he would never hear back from them.
That is no way to run a business, especially when we paid for the services in full. We finally got frustrated with them and thats when I decided to fire them. I felt I was lied to on numerous occasions and not given results in a timely manner. The case worker told me he was faxing over the paperwork and surprise it never came. Only after I fired them did we receive something in the mail which I sent back (refused ) so I don't know why they took it upon themselves to send anything to the County, as we were done messing around with their so called service.This went on for weeks I was begining to think that this wasn't a legitament company because of the way things were being handled. I decided to end anymore communication with them because nothing was getting done. I emailed Edward Maddison the case worker and told him we were done with them and we would be finding someone else. We never recieved any services from them. The last time I talked to anyone was the 28th of August and have not heard a word since. I would never recommend them to anyone and have filed a few complaints. I do not trust them.
In regards to the letter from Affordable Law Group that was sent to you, the case has not been completed, we have no idea what has been done and what paperwork have been filed with the County. In the 8 week timeframe, because of the lack of response and communication, it has cost us over $800.00 in garnishments that we could have avoided if the case was taken care of in a timely manner. Therefore, I do not feel that I owe this company $745.00. I had to hire another leagal representative, Micheal Johnson, to assist me in the case.
On 8/18 I told them I was not happy with their services.
On 8/21 I told them I wanted a refund, never heard back from them.
On 8/26 I told them I no longer wanted their service, again.
On 8/27 I told them I was done with them.
On 9/18 I told them since we had not heard anything from them in at least 3 weeks that we were finding other reprensentation and told them
they were fired.
Have not heard a word since. I have most of this in E-mails to Edward Maddison.
Our new attorney has managed to get things done in 2 weeks where it had taken Affordable Legal Group much longer.
Thank You, Patricia Jenkins 4887 Amethyst Drive [protected]
Good for you I am glad they were able to help you but there are alot of people they did not and are waiting for refunds!
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Wow...
I give you a round of applause...
Nice Try folks...
I have spoken to this office on numerous occasions once I read this board. I might have made a different decision about using their services but hopefully my comment on this board will help others who stumble across it.
This company has good intentions and does care about helping people. This is clear evidence that it is true as there are several people whom have posted on this board that it is a scam and that no one should use the service - who have posted follow up comments letting all of us know that they have been helped and are satisfied with the service. I mean HELLO? Duh. I work in customer service at a bank and I KNOW what customers deal with when they fell mistreated, I hear it all day. And scams don't have any positive feedback at all - not to mention people who originally posted negative who are now pleased with the service. That ONLY shows effort to fix a problem or concern, everyone has got them. Personally, I would rather know where a company has been and what they are doing than not knowing anything at all.
The majority of the people on here are the same people, with the same stories. Pick up the phone! Call for help - I call every few days and if I leave a message it is returned. I am very thankful that my decision in choosing this company to help my son so far is the right one, he doesn't have a computer and I researched them on the internet for him.
Call their office, ask for help. If they cannot help you or don't try to help, I'd be surprised. They are very helpful and understanding when I came to them about my concern of reading this board. So far my son is getting the service we paid for and I will continue my feedback as it seems appropriate to help others.
Respectfully,
Shellie B.
San Antonio, Tx
Paid $745 back in December, by Jan 20th the case was over my child support was reduced. I disagree with these posts entirely.
Dear Skreeti87
I also was ripped off for $745.00
Feel free to use my name with the FBI as well.
If you need my contact information please let me know
Thanks,
Ron Harper
nothing2prove
Miss Smith,
you dear have done me so wrong I'm now in dire striats because of you guys at ALH I want my money back also. The whole 745 i gave to you. I will be contacting the FBI and other sources to get you for business and credit fraud!
QB
"Enki25" -
If you are or have been a client of this organization, all information gathered is kept strictly confidential and used solely for completing documents.
We have 1, 200 clients, and there have been 25 individuals who have not gotten the desired outcome, most of whom have already been refunded or are in the process of being refunded.
I beleive you may have emailed me earlier today about this, please let me know if you have any further questions.
Warm regards,
Nicole Smith
Affordable Legal Help
[protected] ext 2
nsmith@affordablelegalhelp.org
Anyone have any luck getting there money back?
Or filing a claim with there credit Card Company?
I am worried about the info that I gave them. SSN's etc
http://www.la.bbb.org/Business-Report/Affordable-Legal-Help-100088889
keep up the good work everyone!
Ms. Jenkins,
After a carefully review of your case it is evident during that time the communication was not satisfactory. Our system has evolved to better handle the communication needs of our clients, although it is no reflection of the work our team has put into these cases.
This case was completed a few weeks longer than expected, and your family was informed of this. After completion, the final case was sent overnight to your home, after which nothing was sent back and it can not be verified that you actually had to retain another attorney. The case very well could have been filed - we have continued support that the fee would allow you access to our group.
The entire case was completed and sent to your home, and there is delivery confirmation of this, so a refund is not available at this time. You did pay for the $745 service, which did not include physical attorney representation. You are entitled to have consultation time with an attorney and I can schedule this for you any time, please email me. If you had paid the $1550 option, you would have an attorney retained on your behalf at that flat rate for the case.
My direct contact information is below, please email me to schedule a time to consult with an attorney - as that would be included in the document service.
Warm Regards,
Nicole Smith
Affordable Law Group
[protected] ext 2
nsmith@affordablelegalhelp.org
Giving a Voice to Consumers
At ComplaintsBoard, we know how real consumer issues matter. Our platform is a special place for honest opinions, where people share their reviews openly and honestly, whether good or bad.
Our team checks each complaint or review thoroughly to confirm that each one comes from a real customer experience, keeping our platform trustworthy.
We're totally cool with complaints, as long as you've got some evidence to back it up. Whether it's a photo, a detailed story, or documents, providing evidence makes your complaint more believable and helps others make smart choices.
ComplaintsBoard is more than just a place to share complaints; it's a community where we talk things out fairly. We welcome reviews that not only point out problems but also mention any positive experiences, giving a balanced view.
We're dedicated to providing a fair and unbiased platform for all complaints. Every complaint is important to us, no matter what it's about, ensuring your concerns are heard and respected.
I spoke with CJ Ward an investigator for Keyt News at 730 Miramonte Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93109 last night. He stated to me that it would be our best interest to inform him of our situations. Please contact him.
Edward was second in charge for Father's Choice and CJ was a part in stopping them.
Here is a link to the News station:
www.keyt.com
Here is a link to information on CJ Ward:
http://www.keyt.com/about/bios/news/2177877.html
Here is proof of the tipline number:
http://www.keyt.com/news/local/15772117.html
Here are some links to the "Father's Choice" problem, from News Station:
http://www.keyt.com/news/local/35107694.html
http://www.keyt.com/news/local/35814014.html
Also, here are some more websites I found to show you who we are dealing with, this is proof that all Edward does is change the name of the company and scams the same way:
On this, you can scroll all the way to the bottom and see "Nadia Nicole" aka Nicole Smith responding to a complaint about Edward. Nadia is her real name and is involved in this even going back to Father's Choice.
/URL removed/
Here is another website about Father's Choice:
/URL removed/
Edward Herzstock was second in command there. If you read the article it states Edward's name several times.
/URL removed/