6/2/2010 8:43 AM (PST)

Laura,

I was not able to locate a report on Defense Law Group. Do you have their contact information? What type of services are you in need of?

Please advise

6/29/2010 3:04 PM (PST)

A friend of mine is using them for a loan modification on his home and I wanted to know if the firm was legit because I never heard of them and because he is paying them a retainer fee of 2000.00 to negotiate for him.

7/1/2010 10:01 AM (PST)

Laura,

I would suggest you ask your friend for the company's contact information so we may look further into this for her and you.

FYI-A recent law effective October 11, 2009, prohibited the collection of an advance fee by both licensed real estate brokers and licensed attorneys whose principal business is negotiating loans secured by real property. (Lawyers for whom negotiating such loans is incidental to the practice of law are not subject to this prohibition.) The prohibition also applies to taking any wage assignment, collateral or other security to secure payment. No power of attorney may be taken for any reason. This newest law also redefines "advance fee"to include a fee of any kind.

Real estate brokers and attorneys, as well as anyone else, who charge for their services after completion are required to provide a notice, in larger than usual print, to borrowers, informing them, in specified language, that they do not need to pay a third party to arrange a loan modification for them and that nonprofit housing counseling services will help them for free.