Why Choose Us ?

When it comes to choosing a lawyer to handle a matter, most people are concerned with two main aspects with who they hire. How much will it cost, and will this attorney do a good job for me.

Cost

While every case is different, the cost for a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 Bankruptcy is very competitive at the Law Office of William J Collins, PC. I can't quote prices over the Internet, but if you call us and spend a few minutes explaining your situation to me, then I will most likely be able to give you a rough idea of how much it will cost you over the phone. Compare this to many other offices where most likely you won't be able to talk to the attorney when you call (1st warning sign), and they won't quote you a price until they have you trapped in their office.

Payment Plans

I understand that most people don't have a large sum of money up front to pay for the entire legal and filing fees. However, I do offer payment plans that work with your budget. You actually can create your own payment plan to determine how the legal and filing fees get paid. Of course, there is a certain amount of money that I will need up front before I actually file the case. This amount is dependent on the complexity of the case and your personal situation.

Why do a payment plan? The payment plan aspect is critical for most clients because they are currently being harassed by different creditors and collection agencies. However, once you retain an attorney, then debt collectors must stop contacting you. So the payment plan is a great benefit for most people as it allows them to start working on their case, and allows them to get relief from debt collectors.

Personal Service

Let’s be honest, the office you hire to do your Bankruptcy will most likely succeed in obtaining your discharge and/or getting your plan confirmed. What happens in between that process is the difference. Our office has personal service. One attorney works on your case, answers questions, represents you at the hearing, etc. Most clients are able to e-mail me or call me on my cell phone to get questions answered on a pretty regular basis. Let’s compare this with many firms on the area who are what I consider Bankruptcy Mills.

What is a Bankruptcy Mill?

Bankruptcy attorneys refer to law firms who have a high turnover of cases, poor client services, and handling of cases mainly by a paralegal as bankruptcy mills. Bankruptcy Mills may charge you less for bankruptcy services (or at least make it seem that in advertising), but it will come at a price. What are some signs that you are being represented by a bankruptcy mill?

• Too good to be true advertising - many times you will see these types of firms on the radio and TV. Additionally, there internet advertising seems too good to be true. They may advertise a Bankruptcy case for $500. This is a deceptive practice; nobody will do a Bankruptcy for $500. This is simply the upfront amount in a Chapter 13 (where majority of fees or paid through the plan)
• Meet Only With Paralegal - If your case was initially evaluated by a paralegal and you rarely see or never see the attorney then you may be represented by a paralegal rather than an attorney. I see this situation all the time at the hearing day where the clients have no idea who their attorney is. The attorney shows up and says "Smith" --looking for Mr. and Mrs. "Smith."
• Attorney Never Returns Calls - If it is a high volume law firm the attorney may be too busy to bother returning your call. Bankruptcy mills are notorious for poor client assistance.
• High Pressure Sales Tactics - Did you feel like you were at a used car sales lot when talking to the attorney or paralegal at your initial consultation? Bankruptcy mills generally employ high pressure sales techniques to try to get you to retain their law firm. These law firms generally require that they attorneys or paralegal meet a specified quota for retained clients and will pressure attorneys and paralegals to push clients to sign.

If you encounter any of these signs then I would run. I get cases all the time from clients who have been at Bankruptcy Mills and have Internet in the results and service.

Personal Comparison

I recently had a question from a person who filed a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy with another attorney in the area. She has already received her discharge. She was concerned about whether or not she was supposed to sign a reaffirmation agreement on her home. Understandably, she emailed her former attorney in a panic asking for clarification. The attorney's response was, "A discharge has been entered in your case. That is all the legal representation I have been retained to perform. If you and your lender wish to enter into a Reaffirmation Agreement at this time, and you require my assistance, you will need to retain me to perform that service..." What is wrong with this picture? Sure, her former attorney probably did just what he was hired to do and he probably did a decent job. But, don't you want to be able to contact your attorney, even after your case has been closed? That’s something that would make the difference between a good attorney and a truly compassionate attorney. If I had received that email from a former client, I would have taken the time to explain what a reaffirmation agreement is and put her mind at ease, even if my representation of her had "officially" ended (and even if I had explained it before). This is a perfect example of why it is so important to take the time to choose the right attorney.

Summary

Obviously with the current economy, there is a lot of choice out there in who you choose to handle your Bankruptcy matter. We hope that you treat this as an important decision and do your research. But here are some of the highlights of our office:

• Reasonable Prices
• Payment Plans Available
• Attorney contact
• Personal Attention
• Weekend and Evening Appointments

Of course I also encourage you to see my testimonial page.