I basically had the same thing as Vicki happen to me with Steve Messer and his law firm. We paid them back in March 2009 to begin our loan modification. All contact was initiated by me. Every time I called their office, I had to start over with a new employee. When I finally was able to follow up with the same person 2 times in a row, and after 7 months, I was told they were working on a «telephone qualification» with my lender. Wouldn’t that step take place when they received my money and my file and countless re faxed documents? The telephone pre-qual was denied that day. That was in October. All of November, I went back and forth with Steve Messer’s assistant saying that the person that cut the refund checks was out o the office on medical leave. I still don’t have my money. I have contacted the State Bar and the Attorney General. DON’T USETHISFIRM. I would NOT recommend them to anyone. ** Follow up: The upfront fees we paid to Steve Messer were refunded by my Visa. This attorney was reprimanded and paid fines to the State Bar for our case(and multiple others)!(June 2011)