lawyer fees

What is the name of your state? Vermont
I had a verbal contract with a lawyer in Vermont for a closing. He told me the cost would be $450.00. The closing was delayed due to the buyers lawyer was out of town and also the buyers bank had some delays. The closing happened about 15 days later. There were some phone calls between myself and the realtor to this lawyer giving him updates on how things were going. At the closing his bill was for $825.00. After the closing I questioned him on the extra cost and he said we talked about additional fees if the closing went past the original closing date. It was a very busy time and I do not recall this conversation and there was nothing in writeing on the extra costs. He billed me for 3 hours of phone calls with myself the realtor and the buyers lawyer. Most calls where just to keep him in the loop on what was going on. He did not have to act on anything I called him on. He also charged $125.00 for " Unanticipated preperation as settlement agent, Closing and post Closing. ( Usually conducted by the bank or buyers lawyer)" For some reason the buyers lawyer made all the proceedes of the sale made out to my lawyer. after the closing we went upstairs and my lawyer deposited the checks into his account and then new cashers checks were made out to me. This was odd since the buyers bank was the same as mine so I do not understand why the cashers checks could not be made out to me.
Are these fees accessive? What did I get for the agreed upon amount of $450.00.
Thanks

[HomeGuru]

Originally posted by c00lhand
What is the name of your state? Vermont
I had a verbal contract with a lawyer in Vermont for a closing. He told me the cost would be $450.00. The closing was delayed due to the buyers lawyer was out of town and also the buyers bank had some delays. The closing happened about 15 days later. There were some phone calls between myself and the realtor to this lawyer giving him updates on how things were going. At the closing his bill was for $825.00. After the closing I questioned him on the extra cost and he said we talked about additional fees if the closing went past the original closing date. It was a very busy time and I do not recall this conversation and there was nothing in writeing on the extra costs. He billed me for 3 hours of phone calls with myself the realtor and the buyers lawyer. Most calls where just to keep him in the loop on what was going on. He did not have to act on anything I called him on. He also charged $125.00 for " Unanticipated preperation as settlement agent, Closing and post Closing. ( Usually conducted by the bank or buyers lawyer)" For some reason the buyers lawyer made all the proceedes of the sale made out to my lawyer. after the closing we went upstairs and my lawyer deposited the checks into his account and then new cashers checks were made out to me. This was odd since the buyers bank was the same as mine so I do not understand why the cashers checks could not be made out to me.
Are these fees accessive? What did I get for the agreed upon amount of $450.00.
Thanks

**A: send this person a certified rrr letter stating the same thing as in this post.
Then wait for a response. I do not deem the fees out of the ordinary. As to the question of him getting the proceeds instead of you directly, it was because he acted as the closing agent.