ComplaintsforDeCurtins Law Office

• Initial Complaint

  05/15/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I was detained by Clayton County jail on March 1 for a pending charge in ******, **************. I had to wait to be expedited to **. After waiting 10 days my boyfriend contacted ****** Decurtins inquiring to retain him to take my case and get me expedited quicker. ****** office clerk informed us of his Free Consultation and said he will speak to me about the case for free once we discussed everything over 1 recorded call he told us he would take my case for 5k total and 1k down which includes him getting me expedited within days. After paying him the 1k via debit card we wasnt ever able to get in touch with him again and he didnt enroll as my attorney. Nor was there anything he could do to help me get expedited quicker per the law and safety transporting reason which any attorney should know. I was transported through an agency by the state which was already scheduled 1 week before ever contacting ****** however he pretended as if he could help and did help. I was informed by the agency that it wasnt nothing no one could do to help and that my lawyer took money for something he couldnt do. I was transported and bonded out on 3/15/24. I tried and family tried contacting ****** to inform him and see could he help and still no response until I filed a dispute with the bank for a refund . Then he tried to have his clerk email me and even took a call from me finally and stated that he never enrolled or took my case bc he was waiting to be paid in full after agreeing to the 1k down and charging it . So I asked could I get a refund since nothing was done or could be done and he said no bc he charged me for the phone call we had and coming to the jail which never happened. So I asked for proof of enrolling or coming to the jail on my behalf and he refused that as well. I then informed him that no agreement or paperwork was given stating any terms or conditions or charges and he proceeded to ignoring me and stated via text he glad he didnt help me. I deserve a refund

  Business response

  05/22/2024

  The Complainant (Hereafter ref'd to as Comp) was charged w/ Consp. to Commit ID Theft out of ************, **. She was arrested in **************, ** on a Fugitive Warrant. Our office was hired on 3/13/24 by the Comps boyfriend (bf) to handle the Union County matters for a total attorney's fee of $5,000. The Com's bf made a $1,000 credit card pymnt on a **** ending in 3190. The next morning our office located the Comp in custody in **************, **. On 3/15 she was trans'd to ***************** in **. No one let our office know that she'd been trans'd. On 3/18 we confirmed her transfer to **. On 3/19, Brandon **********************, attempted to visit the Comp in ***************** & was told that the Comp had already bonded out. At this point in time, our office still didn't have Comp's phone #. Our office left a message on 3/19, w/ her bf, asking for her phone #. ****** ********************** attempted to contact the Comp's bf to discuss the case. On 3/27, we emailed the Comp's bf, letting him know that he was still our only contact, & that the Comp had not made contact with our office. We needed her phone # and that we would take no further action on the case unless the Comp made contact. The same day, BF responded with her phone #. Mr. ********************** spoke with the Comp, she voiced that she wanted her money back. She told him that she would be contacting the credit card company to dispute the charge. Our credit card merchant provider issued a $1,000 chargeback to the card ending in 3190, the card that made the payment. The merchant provider processed the chargeback on 4/8, and on 4/10 our bank debited $1,000 from our account. The Comp made the complaint with the BBB on 5/15, over a month after the money had been refunded. We have had no contact with her since, and believe that she is fraudulently attempted to obtain funds that have already been refunded, and have acted in good faith.

  Customer response

  05/22/2024

   
  I am rejecting this response because: This is a lie I have yet to receive my refund and he verbally told me he wasnt giving it to me. However all I want is my refund and if I do receive it it will be proof by the bank . Everything has a paper trail and nothing fraudulent could possibly happen if you returned the money . I contact the bank daily to get an update and they said they are still waiting to get your to refund the money or they will cover it under their protection plan .  Where is the proof of your refunding the money ? 
  
  

  Business response

  06/06/2024

  Our firm chose not to continue to argue with the complainant and permitted chargeback of the $1,000.00 retainer fee without objection, to the card account which made the payment.  We originally responded on 5/22/2024 giving explanation of our representation and sending confirmation of the chargeback and transfer to card account ending in #****.  If complainant has issue with payment, her conversation would be with the friend whose card has now been credited the $1,000.00.  I am again attaching bank confirmation of the completed chargeback and transfer on 4/10/2024.  This complaint was filed on 5/15/2024 over a month after the fee was refunded.

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