|
In today's society anybody can be
sued for anything at any time. In order to protect themselves, more and more
people are availing themselves of a prepaid legal service. Both business people
and individuals can find these services valuable. They work much like an
insurance policy. However, it is not insurance. In actuality it is a network of
legal service providers. It is when these providers do not give adequate
service that prepaid legal service becomes a prepaid legal scam.
The
prepaid legal scam takes two forms. The first scam targets people who want to
be covered for future legal expenses. These folks think that they are buying
insurance. Usually these people pay monthly fees of about $15 to $25 in
exchange for discounts from attorneys. The prepaid legal service covers simple
legal matters which need review. If you need basic legal help such as writing
letters, drawing up a will, buying a house, problems with insurance companies,
and more a prepaid legal service can save you a lot of money.
It
becomes a prepaid legal scam when you need help from an attorney and can't find
one who is part of your plan. If and when you do find one, it turns out that
the services you need are not covered by your plan. The services are excluded
by the fine print which, of course, you did not see and you wind up paying
twice for the service.
Generally speaking, the prepaid legal service
works very well when you can find a reputable provider. If you are considering
buying this service, you need to do your homework. First, shop around. Price is
not the only barometer. There is no shortage of providers. To avoid being
victimized by a prepaid legal scam you should get references. Ask people you
know who already have a prepaid legal service plan. Read the proposed contract
very carefully. Know exactly what is, and what isn't , provided before you
sign.
The second form of the prepaid legal scam is targeted at people
who want to start their own business. Selling prepaid legal service plans is a
multi-level marketing opportunity. The idea is to sell these plans to your
friends and relatives, and then recruit them to sell the plans also. You will
receive a commission on each plan they sell and also on each person that they,
in turn, recruit. Like most other MLM schemes the participant is promised a
road to instant riches. In fact, some do make big money selling these plans. In
reality, most don't. They get discouraged and quickly abandon the effort after
they realize how much work is involved. Many quickly run out of friends and
relatives to whom they can sell the either the plan itself or recruit for the
alleged money making opportunity.
The judgment as to whether or not the
entire concept, from buying a plan to selling a plan, to getting others to sell
plans for you is a prepaid legal scam is left to each person individually. If
buying a plan for your own protection is beneficial to you, then it is not a
prepaid legal scam. It is a legitimate product. If you want to become involved
with selling the plans to others and you believe that the product you are
selling to others has value, then, obviously, you must conclude that it is not
a prepaid legal scam. It is, instead, a legitimate business
opportunity.
|
|
