SUBMITTED: Monday, July 30, 2007
POSTED: Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Addressing your first issue, the pay structure that PPL uses is not only available, but made public. Anyone who wishes can go to the PPL website and it will give them a full description of how sales associates are payed a commission for the plans they sell, not the legal fees collected by the law firm. This is further reinforced when someone goes to the meetings which clearly explain how this works. While you can't control the conduct of an individual (in ANY industry) there is no documentation or push in any way, shape, or form by the PPL Coorporation that implies or states that a sales associate will receive a cut of any legal fees.
They don't claim to prevent Identity Theft. They promise to monitor and inform you of your credit activity. Then they promise to work towards fixing your credit should your identity get attacked.
The Martindale-Hubbell rating system is not affiliated with PPL and has been around long before PPL came into being. PPL makes no claims pertaining to individual attorneys but rather the firms themselves. In order for a firm to receive an AV rating a rather large percentage of their attorneys must be either AV or BV rated. Every PPL associated law firm I've looked up on the Martindale-Hubbell website has had an AV rating (I've looked up 11). Every PPL attorney I've worked with (4) has had either an AV or BV rating verified on the Martindale-Hubbel website. I prefer the website to the book because I find it more user friendly and it's kept up to date where the book can get tricky to read and unless you have the current edition the information is outdated. For those that don't know, the firms and attorneys are rated based off surveys conducted with other attorneys and customers. PPL has no involvement with the survey process.
Additionally, PPL does not have a "referral list", while there are several similar services that do. As a prior customer you well know that PPL contracts with specific law firms in the state in which you live. Currently, most states only have one firm representing the customers of that state. Those that have more are larger states such as California, New York, and Florida. When you sign up you receive a card and a package telling you which firm will be representing your issues. When you call the provided 1-800 number you are connected to that firm.
You are correct in that all states have a state bar and MOST (not all) have a free referral service. Also, most attorneys will give you an initial consultation for free. If you've truly been involved in the legal system then you know that most of those "free" consultations consist of hearing the problem then telling you they can solve your problem for a price. There is no advice given to the person in need. What PPL offers that is unique is UNLIMITED consultations until your problem is solved. This does not guarantee that you can solve all your problems out of court. On the 25% off, by contract this discount is on the normal POSTED hourly rate charged by the law firm. Despite what you want people to believe, they do not hike their rates then discount them afterwards. To do so would not only make them open to civil suits for breach of contract but also constitute a crime in most states.
You are also correct that there are programs that can assist with legal expenses. The main problem is that 80% of the people don't qualify for them. Again, you also use the term ALL way too freely. Not only do MOST states not have the voluntary service you suggest but of those that do MOST still require that you meet certain criteria. Additionally, I haven't found a single lawyer (either through the Yellow Pages, DEX, Law.com, or the Washington, Oregon, Idaho, or California State Bars that will provide 24 consultation for free. I have found some that offer 24 hour service, but they tend to be costly, often exceeding the cost of their normal rates.
Finally, the term Pre-Paid Legal is in no way deceptive as all the services you are entitles to are clearly spelled out in both your contract and your customer package. They are also clarified on the PPL website, in the PPL literature and at the PPL meetings. Where most people get into trouble is that they CHOOSE not to listen or read the information being put out then presume things they aren't entitled too. They do guarantee you consultations, and they do guarantee at least a 25% discount should you case go to court. This is what they say and what they write, if you choose not to listen, that's your fault.
Given your obvious lack of understanding of the system it is highly questionable that you've actually been a PPL customer. Not only do you not understand the little you've written about but you didn't even mention ALL the service PPL offers, including the free comprehensive will, motor vehicle defense, tax audit preperation and defense, and a number of free defense hours should defend yourself if you are takent to court. Some of these are only available in certain states, but for someone who did their research you would know about them. The misinformation you've passed on indicates a lack of true research which makes me question that you've actually worked in the legal field. You don't even mention what legal field you work in. I worked as Clerical Aide for Oregon State Representative Ron Suneri for a year in 99. Worked as a Navy Legal Clerk and Paralegal for six years from 2000 to 2006. Currently I work for the Washington State Department of Employment Securities. Not only did I sell PPL Services from late 2005 until March of this year I still maintain a PPL membership which I use both personally and professionally on a regular basis. The reason I stopped selling the service is that I do not enjoy sales, what can I say, it's not for everyone. I currently maintain a close friendship with many who are associates with PPL, many of whom are rather successful.
My advice is either abandon this very poor atempt to discredit PPL as you obviously did not do your homework, or dedicate a significant amount of time to some real research so you may make a legitimate argument.