oops142857
Junior Member
After my wife and I bought a house last year in New York State, we contacted a lawyer to file the property reassessment review (in the hope to bring down our property tax), and signed the Authorization form and agreement, which engaged the lawyer to act on our behalf as the exclusive agent.
The time was in last December, then in this March, having not heard anything from them for a few months. We called their office, but were told the deadline was already passed and we had to wait for the next year. However, this only happened on the phone, no written document can prove it happened.
One month later, we met another lawyer, and realized we were not late, the deadline was actually in June. Without much thought, we signed the authorization form to allow the second lawyer to represent us.
Later, the town officer asked us to choose one to represent us in this case, so we picked the second lawyer.
Then the first lawyer got mad. He first requested $800 for his work on the phone, then send us a letter requesting $1500.
How can we handle with the first lawyer properly ? We had little experience with lawyers. What could be the consequence if no agreement is reached ? Are we going to be on the court ?
Also, the first lawyer's advertisement letter has the following statement,
"As a property owner, your right to chanllenge your tax assessment occurts for a short period of time every year. This year's deadline shall be upon us shortly (January 21, 2011)."
This seems to imply that the deadline was January 2011. This is the major reason my wife and I contacted him right away after we saw his letter in last December. But the deadline is actually in June. Is this misleading ?
Thanks for any help.
The time was in last December, then in this March, having not heard anything from them for a few months. We called their office, but were told the deadline was already passed and we had to wait for the next year. However, this only happened on the phone, no written document can prove it happened.
One month later, we met another lawyer, and realized we were not late, the deadline was actually in June. Without much thought, we signed the authorization form to allow the second lawyer to represent us.
Later, the town officer asked us to choose one to represent us in this case, so we picked the second lawyer.
Then the first lawyer got mad. He first requested $800 for his work on the phone, then send us a letter requesting $1500.
How can we handle with the first lawyer properly ? We had little experience with lawyers. What could be the consequence if no agreement is reached ? Are we going to be on the court ?
Also, the first lawyer's advertisement letter has the following statement,
"As a property owner, your right to chanllenge your tax assessment occurts for a short period of time every year. This year's deadline shall be upon us shortly (January 21, 2011)."
This seems to imply that the deadline was January 2011. This is the major reason my wife and I contacted him right away after we saw his letter in last December. But the deadline is actually in June. Is this misleading ?
Thanks for any help.