Complaint Review: Jeffrey A Smith Law Group - Stuart Florida

In 2011 we began having trouble making our mortgage payments due to the economy collapse, and my wife losing a significant amount of her income.  In April of 2012, we were contacted electronically (email) by a law firm out of Florida named Jeffrey A Smith Law that claimed to specialize in mortgage modification assistance, with a sales pitch of being able to get us out of trouble with our mortgage, and guaranteed loan modification.  We entered into an agreement with them, paid over $2,300 in fees, with the agreement that if they could not reach an agreeable modification with our lender, all of the fees would be refunded.

We were also instructed/advised at the time to stop making our current mortgage payments and concentrate on paying off other debt and saving a cash reserve, as this would help get us approved for the modification.  Over the next few months we submitted all the paperwork and forms necessary for the modification process NUMOROUS times.

As time passed, and we went longer and longer without making a mortgage payment, it became evident that nothing was happening between the JAS team and our lender.  We continued to get correspondence from our lender, as well as phone calls.  When asked about the progress of our modification, our lender would respond that they had not received any of the necessary paperwork required, and had no record of correspondence from the JAS team.

Countless phone calls and emails went un-answered from JAS, and in the rare event we did get a response, it was from a different person each time, and usually in partial sentences, and broken English, with nothing that addressed any of the questions or issues we were raising.  After about a year, all communications were cut all together, until I requested the refund I was promised due to no progress in getting our modification taken care of, at which time magically contact resumed, with yet another customer service rep.

I began working directly with our lender, and within a couple of months, an offer of modification was received, although the modification was unacceptable, did not follow any of the guidelines set forth by HUD, or the Federal Mortgage Letter guidelines, so the offer was rejected, with reasons given.  The JAS "team" closed my file, claiming their obligation was met, even though the offer of modification that they had absolutely NOTHING to do with obtaining, actually INCREASED our monthly mortgage payment by over $200.

They offered zero of the negotiation tactics/skills their website claimed they had at the time of the agreement, there was never any contact with an actual lawyer, or anyone with any legal experience whatsoever.  The team consists of what amounts to a few car salespersons, making promises and claims that they have no intensions of being able to keep.  So now, after nearly two years of not making mortgage payments as advised by "legal counsel", we are no closer to reaching any kind of hope of keeping our home, and in fact, are most likely much FURTHER away from being able to stay in our home.

At no time during the nearly 2 year battle, did I speak with an actual attorney, or were any of the aggressive negotiation skills advertised in their original spam email come to light.  I would advise ANYONE with a similar experience with them to check the Florida Bar Association website where you will discover Jeffrey A Smith is no longer certified to practice law in the state of Florida, for the very reasons described above.  There are judgements against him from the Supreme Court requiring numerous refunds to those filing complaints to the FBA.  I would advise anyone with a case, to file a complaint as well, perhaps we can prevent anyone from getting scammed further in the future.