United Law Group And Sean Alan Rutledge Conversation with Sean Alan Rutledge head of the firm Irvine California

On ULG's testimonials page, they have pictures of the families they have helped, obviously an equal opportunity company. Do a Google image search for African Family.jpg and you will find that the Derek L. - Henderson, NV family pic shows up everywhere. I'm sure it's common to use phony pics in web development, but I thought it was funny to see it on such a personal page that is supposed to be actually depicting real people.

I am fully retracting my previous statements. ULG and Sean Alan Rutledge contacted me and made it right. I am a satisfied customer now.

Dear Joe:

My other attorney is a "Trademark" attorney named Dan Ballard. The other one is a "corporate" attorney named Kevin Badilla. No they did not drop me. In fact we have a very good working relationship even until today. They have told me that I am their favorite client. You see Joe, I have always felt that it was important to have an attorney that is an expert in the area I hire him for. This particular incident dealt with a "loan modification". In which Sean Allan is an expert in loan modifications. This is why I hired him.

Please understand that the tenor in these emails only happened after I was not able to get a hold of him for a month. In other words, the nice tone did not seem to get me anywhere. Never the less, I was just getting ready to update this forum to let everyone know that Sean called me tonight, He was able to resolve my complaint to my satisfaction. He stated that he will be calling tomorrow to work out the more finer details of my complaint. So I am satisfied. I understand that no company is perfect. Mistakes are like spilt milk and not what was is really important. But how the company cleans up the spilt milk is what defines if it is a good company. In which ULG and Sean Allan certainly did a good job cleaning it up thus far.

In conclusion, thank you for your comment Joe. You are right that I should have posted more details. I was very emotional at the time because I thought I had just lost thousands of dollars.

WHY DID YOU WANT TO HIRE THIS ATTORNEY FOR IN THE FIRST PLACE?

IF YOU HAVE SO MUCH EXPERIENCE WITH OTHER ATTORNEYS-- SHOULDN'T YOU HAVE HIRED ONE OF THEM INSTEAD?

OR WAS THERE A REASON WHY THEY WOULD NOT REPRESENT YOU AGAIN?

I ALWAYS HAD THE SAME ATTORNEY WHOM I PAID WITH CASH BEFORE HE RETIRED.

YOU DON'T HAVE ONE ATTORNEY FOR CIVIL MATTERS AND ONE FOR CRIMINAL MATTERS?

YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO MEET WITH THE ATTORNEY FOR THE FIRST INITIAL CONSULTATION SO YOU CAN EACH TAKE EACH OTHER'S MEASURE AND DECIDE IF YOU CAN TRUST THIS GUY OR NOT. DOES HE OR SHE KNOW THE AREA OF LAW IN WHICH YOUR LAW SUIT WILL BE? DOES HE OR SHE HAVE ANY COMPLAINTS FILED AGAINST HIM OR HER WUTH THE STATE BAR ASSOCIATION? WHAT KIND OF CLIENTS HAS HE OR SHE REPRESENTED IN THE PAST? I WAS WANTING REPRESENTATION IN A CASE BUT THE LAWYER I THOUGHT I HAD RETAINED DROPPED ME BECAUSE HE HAD TO REPRESENT A DRUG CARTEL BOSS AND THAT WAS HIS MAIN CLIENT.. NO TIME TO FIGHT FOR ME...

NEEDLESS TO SAY, I DID NOT EVEN CONSIDER USING THAT GUY AGAIN.

BASED ON WHAT YOU HAVE WRITTEN HERE, I HAVE YET TO SEE WHAT YOU RETAINED THIS GUY TO DO FOR YOU AND HOW HE FAILED TO DO IT... IN FACT, THE ONLY THING HE APPEARS TO BE GUILTY OF IS TYPICAL YUPPIE BEHAVIOR AND WHEN HE SEES HOW THIS TURNS OFF POTENTIAL CLIENTS, THIS TOO SHALL PASS...

YOU ALSO SENT THIS GUY A COPY OF A COMPLAINT AGAINST HIM AND EXPECTED HIM TO LOVE YOU FOR IT?

I WOULD BE EXTREMELY RELUCTANT TO TAKE A CASE FROM A CLIENT LIKE YOU MYSELF WITHOUT MORE DETAILS ABOUT WHAT YUPPIE LAWYER DID TO YOU OR DIDN'T DO FOR YOU WITHOUT ALL THE CHARACTER ASSOCIATION.

IS HE EVEN A LAWYER LICENSED BY THE STATE BAR?

TOO MANY DETAILS ARE LEFT OUT HERE.

I recieved the following email from Stephanie and I responded:

Hi John,

Thanks for your diligence posting and updating the public your experience with United Law group. After reading all the comments in this complain board, I decided to no longer use their service. Unfortunately, they've already solicited $1500 down payment (they wanted $4500). I was stupid enough to respond to a solicitor's call from a company called Bergstrum Group. I, too, fell to their promise of "fixing" our mortgage crisis. When I asked to speak to my lawyer (who I thought I had hired) Bergstrum Group stated that that Sean Alan Rutledge is busy why not let him handle my case and let him do the work? How can he handle my case when he hasn't even spoken to me? I started gettin suspicious and this was when I started asking around. I found out that many of these "law firms", do not have any lawyers, except in this case, Allan Rutledge who formed the law firm. The service is being performed by non qualified 20 something individuals. These non-attorneys are paid a commission (or a straight $400 for every loan modification fee they collect) paid from attorneys' fees collected by a Legal Retainer Agreement.

I immediately fired United Law group and since I haven't really spoken to anyone from United Law, I've contacted Bergstrum Group (which i believe under the control of United Law Group)for my full refund. Bergstum Group came back to me and said that they will arrange for me to talk to Alan Rutledge. I asked for what? He isnt handling my case? But if by talking to him will get me my refund, then by all means arrange Counselor Rutledge to talk to me because I havent changed my decision in firing him. I am getting ready too to send a complaint letter to the CA State Bar. So far I am getting the run around. I too will continue to post what happens next to warn others.



Dear Stephanie:

I am so happy that the posting of my experience with United Law Group was helpful. It is important for both of us to educate the public of the potentially fraudulent, illegal, and irregular business practices of United Law Group and Sean Alan Rutledge. If you feel you are a victim, I want to urge you to file your complaint with the California Bar Association. I will be sending my complaint to the California Bar Association (http://www.calbar.ca.gov/state/calbar/calbar_home.jsp) next week. Some of the legal buzz words I will be stipulating in my complaint are that United Law Group and Sean Alan Rutledge potentially did not:

1. Perform legal services competently
2. Communicate with his client
3. Refund unearned fees
4. Use accurate, and truthful advertising on his website in regards to an
Attorney named Robert J. Buscho

I will also be including all the responses from this forum as evidence that I am not the only one that it is happening to.

I will also be reporting ULG and Sean Alan Rutledge to the District Attorney's office, Attorney General's Office and various consumer alert forums. If anyone is interested in giving a written statement as proof of such potentially irregular business practices, please feel free to send me your name and phone number by clicking my personal mail box at the top. I in turn will be happy to give my written statement and testimony.

It is important to mention that I have only put in a claim for BOA to reverse the charges. BOA has not processed my complaint yet. So the $3, 000.00 has not been credited back to my account. Sean Alan Rutledge should respond in writing that he will refund the $3, 000.00 no later than 7 working days. This way I can withdraw my request from BOA. It would certainly look better than me having to stop the charges based on potential fraud. I will be sending him this response as a request for a refund. I will keep you posted in regards to whatever response I receive or do not receive from him.

In conclusion, Sean Alan Rutledge and ULG have not responded to my email. Neither has ULG or Sean offered any reasonable settlement to this complaint in the form of services or due process . I have not so much as even received an apology.

P.S. Here is the contact information I have on him:
Sean Alan Rutledge email is: Sean@unitedlawgroup.com
Sean Alan Phone Number that came up on my caller ID is: 949-943-5503

I recieved the following email from Stephanie and I responded:

Hi John,

Thanks for your diligence posting and updating the public your experience with United Law group. After reading all the comments in this complain board, I decided to no longer use their service. Unfortunately, they've already solicited $1500 down payment (they wanted $4500). I was stupid enough to respond to a solicitor's call from a company called Bergstrum Group. I, too, fell to their promise of "fixing" our mortgage crisis. When I asked to speak to my lawyer (who I thought I had hired) Bergstrum Group stated that that Sean Alan Rutledge is busy why not let him handle my case and let him do the work? How can he handle my case when he hasn't even spoken to me? I started gettin suspicious and this was when I started asking around. I found out that many of these "law firms", do not have any lawyers, except in this case, Allan Rutledge who formed the law firm. The service is being performed by non qualified 20 something individuals. These non-attorneys are paid a commission (or a straight $400 for every loan modification fee they collect) paid from attorneys' fees collected by a Legal Retainer Agreement.

I immediately fired United Law group and since I haven't really spoken to anyone from United Law, I've contacted Bergstrum Group (which i believe under the control of United Law Group)for my full refund. Bergstum Group came back to me and said that they will arrange for me to talk to Alan Rutledge. I asked for what? He isnt handling my case? But if by talking to him will get me my refund, then by all means arrange Counselor Rutledge to talk to me because I havent changed my decision in firing him. I am getting ready too to send a complaint letter to the CA State Bar. So far I am getting the run around. I too will continue to post what happens next to warn others.



Dear Stephanie:

I am so happy that the posting of my experience with United Law Group was helpful. It is important for both of us to educate the public of the potentially fraudulent, illegal, and irregular business practices of United Law Group and Sean Alan Rutledge. If you feel you are a victim, I want to urge you to file your complaint with the California Bar Association. I will be sending my complaint to the California Bar Association (http://www.calbar.ca.gov/state/calbar/calbar_home.jsp) next week. Some of the legal buzz words I will be stipulating in my complaint are that United Law Group and Sean Alan Rutledge potentially did not:

1. Perform legal services competently
2. Communicate with his client
3. Refund unearned fees
4. Use accurate, and truthful advertising on his website in regards to an
Attorney named Robert J. Buscho

I will also be including all the responses from this forum as evidence that I am not the only one that it is happening to.

I will also be reporting ULG and Sean Alan Rutledge to the District Attorney's office, Attorney General's Office and various consumer alert forums. If anyone is interested in giving a written statement as proof of such potentially irregular business practices, please feel free to send me your name and phone number by clicking my personal mail box at the top. I in turn will be happy to give my written statement and testimony.

It is important to mention that I have only put in a claim for BOA to reverse the charges. BOA has not processed my complaint yet. So the $3, 000.00 has not been credited back to my account. Sean Alan Rutledge should respond in writing that he will refund the $3, 000.00 no later than 7 working days. This way I can withdraw my request from BOA. It would certainly look better than me having to stop the charges based on potential fraud. I will be sending him this response as a request for a refund. I will keep you posted in regards to whatever response I receive or do not receive from him.

In conclusion, Sean Alan Rutledge and ULG have not responded to my email. Neither has ULG or Sean offered any reasonable settlement to this complaint in the form of services or due process . I have not so much as even received an apology.

P.S. Here is the contact information I have on him:
Sean Alan Rutledge email is: Sean@unitedlawgroup.com
Sean Alan Phone Number that came up on my caller ID is: 949-943-5503

I recieved the following email from Stephanie and I responded:

Hi John,

Thanks for your diligence posting and updating the public your experience with United Law group. After reading all the comments in this complain board, I decided to no longer use their service. Unfortunately, they've already solicited $1500 down payment (they wanted $4500). I was stupid enough to respond to a solicitor's call from a company called Bergstrum Group. I, too, fell to their promise of "fixing" our mortgage crisis. When I asked to speak to my lawyer (who I thought I had hired) Bergstrum Group stated that that Sean Alan Rutledge is busy why not let him handle my case and let him do the work? How can he handle my case when he hasn't even spoken to me? I started gettin suspicious and this was when I started asking around. I found out that many of these "law firms", do not have any lawyers, except in this case, Allan Rutledge who formed the law firm. The service is being performed by non qualified 20 something individuals. These non-attorneys are paid a commission (or a straight $400 for every loan modification fee they collect) paid from attorneys' fees collected by a Legal Retainer Agreement.

I immediately fired United Law group and since I haven't really spoken to anyone from United Law, I've contacted Bergstrum Group (which i believe under the control of United Law Group)for my full refund. Bergstum Group came back to me and said that they will arrange for me to talk to Alan Rutledge. I asked for what? He isnt handling my case? But if by talking to him will get me my refund, then by all means arrange Counselor Rutledge to talk to me because I havent changed my decision in firing him. I am getting ready too to send a complaint letter to the CA State Bar. So far I am getting the run around. I too will continue to post what happens next to warn others.



Dear Stephanie:

I am so happy that the posting of my experience with United Law Group was helpful. It is important for both of us to educate the public of the potentially fraudulent, illegal, and irregular business practices of United Law Group and Sean Alan Rutledge. If you feel you are a victim, I want to urge you to file your complaint with the California Bar Association. I will be sending my complaint to the California Bar Association (http://www.calbar.ca.gov/state/calbar/calbar_home.jsp) next week. Some of the legal buzz words I will be stipulating in my complaint are that United Law Group and Sean Alan Rutledge potentially did not:

1. Perform legal services competently
2. Communicate with his client
3. Refund unearned fees
4. Use accurate, and truthful advertising on his website in regards to an
Attorney named Robert J. Buscho

I will also be including all the responses from this forum as evidence that I am not the only one that it is happening to.

I will also be reporting ULG and Sean Alan Rutledge to the District Attorney's office, Attorney General's Office and various consumer alert forums. If anyone is interested in giving a written statement as proof of such potentially irregular business practices, please feel free to send me your name and phone number by clicking my personal mail box at the top. I in turn will be happy to give my written statement and testimony.

It is important to mention that I have only put in a claim for BOA to reverse the charges. BOA has not processed my complaint yet. So the $3, 000.00 has not been credited back to my account. Sean Alan Rutledge should respond in writing that he will refund the $3, 000.00 no later than 7 working days. This way I can withdraw my request from BOA. It would certainly look better than me having to stop the charges based on potential fraud. I will be sending him this response as a request for a refund. I will keep you posted in regards to whatever response I receive or do not receive from him.

In conclusion, Sean Alan Rutledge and ULG have not responded to my email. Neither has ULG or Sean offered any reasonable settlement to this complaint in the form of services or due process . I have not so much as even received an apology.

P.S. Here is the contact information I have on him:
Sean Alan Rutledge email is: Sean@unitedlawgroup.com
Sean Alan Phone Number that came up on my caller ID is: 949-943-5503

This is an email I received from Sean Alan Rutledg. Please be advised that the tenor of this email he sent is nothing like what he sounded like on the phone. It is apparent that he is trying to make me look like I am the unreasonable one and he is the good guy. Which is a typical attorney trick.



Sent: Saturday, March 14, 2009 6:06 PM
Subject: RE: Bar Complaint Update


Mr. XXXX:

I never said we would not refund your money, however, you already charged back the money from the bank, as far as I understand. No one is threatening you, we are interested in any ideas you have as to how to resolve any dispute you feel you have. However, our employees feel uncomfortable dealing with you and further, your behavior difficult for us to ascertain your intentions.

Your loan modification has been handled according to the contract. We are always willing to work with clients to resolve disputes as this is our policy.

Best regards,
Sean Alan Rutledg


Dear Sean:

No, that is not correct. In fact, your last words before you irresponsibly hung up on me were, "Then there will be no refund!!!!" Sean, you were on speaker phone and there were other people in the room with me that heard exactly what you said. Not to mention that your behavior was so irregular, that I certainly have a clear memory of every word that you said. I think our disagreement was over the fact that you were trying to force me to minus whatever expenses that you felt I owed you from any refund. But you most definitely said there would be "No refund", and hung up. For the record, yelling at me in that kind of tenor and then hanging up on me is a threat. Nevertheless, I will accept your response here to mean that you will not be challenging the bank of the full reversal of my $3,000.00. Is this correct?

For the record, your previous statement, "has been handled according to the contract", is simply false. It is readily apparent, Counselor, that you feel such statement is going to dismiss the many evidences that I have printed out in my file that suggest otherwise. As you know, Mr. Robert J. Buscho #122556 is "not eligible to practice law" according to the California State Bar. Therefore, your website is "misleading" and "fraudulent". Especially since your phone solicitor, Tom Saleen, used it as a point of reference to close the deal. Nowhere on your website at www.unitedlawgroup.com does it state that Mr. Robert J. Buscho has been suspended and is "not eligible to practice law." In addition, your potentially incompetent staff spelt my name wrong on the legal papers to my lender. It has been my experience in the past that the attorney sends the legal work to me for my approval before sending it to the respondent. Never the less, for the record my name is "John" and not "Jon". Also, the phone number at the bottom of the letter head your staff sent to my lender and to myself of 800-670-5717 was wrong. I then received no phone call back in regards to the 7 messages I left notifying your firm that they had spelt my name wrong.

However I was not surprised, because it was consistent with my experience of not receiving a call for two weeks after 5 messages before. So, unfortunately Sean, and contrary to your delusion, the evidence will display that my loan modification was not handled according to the contract.

Sean, for you to dismiss these evidences and further add insult to injury with your statement of "However, our employees feel uncomfortable dealing with you and further, your behavior difficult for us to ascertain your intentions," is simply irresponsible. If this was my company, I would have called the customer immediately, apologizing, trying to regain the customers faith by assuring them that the corrections would be made. To further regain their faith, I might have even offered a substantial discount if my company made this many mistakes. But then again this is the reason my company has an A+ rating with the BBB after 20 years and yours has a "D" rating after 4 months. Your decision to make your first point of contact with me 1 month later with a forceful, inexperienced and purely disgruntled tone was irresponsible. In actuality, it was pretty stupid because the whole reason that you called me was you received a copy of the complaint form I was going to send in to the Bar Association. Nevertheless, it was consistent with the horrible customer service that I received from your firm for the entire month.

Also, the aforementioned statement makes it seem as though you fired me Counselor. For the record, I fired your firm because I felt uncomfortable with dealing with your firm and found your firm's behavior difficult for me to ascertain your firm's intentions. I think my letter of "cancellation" and request of a refund will substantiate this fact. My original intention was to have them spell my name correctly on the legal papers to my lender. Nevertheless, I can clearly understand that your staff would have a hard time ascertaining my intentions when I clearly sent my intentions to them by fax. I already knew they could not spell, but now I learn they can not read either. As far as I see it, your company should only feel obligated to make sure that my loan modification goes through at any cost. Let me be clear here Counselor, if I establish that your firm wasted precious and valuable time and effected my good relationship with my lender, my credit score, or my position to get a good modification in reasonable time, I stand ready to pursue any and all legal remedies afforded to me by the law. Which may involve punitive damages.

Therefore, unless I hear otherwise, I will accept this email as your official response to my request that my refund has herby been granted by you by your insinuating that you will not be challenging the bank reversal fee. This official response will be submitted to my bank as further evidence that you are not challenging the reversal of the charge.

In conclusion, nothing you have stated here has changed my position at this time