I wouldn’t call it a rip off. It usually costs anywhere from $18 - $25 a month, and most of the time you get a free will out of it, which usually costs around $300 bucks, so you’ll get your money back in the first year, which is nice. This also encourages people to get a will, and that is a very good thing because 70 percent of the public dies without a will, which I still don’t understand why anyone would not have a will, but that is another topic all together.But will I recommend that the average Joe and Suzy buy it? I probably would not and here is why: $25 a month is $300 per year. Over ten years, that’s $3,000. My contention is that the typical Joe and Suzy American will not have $3,000 worth of legal needs or average expenses in a given ten-year period. If they did prepaid legal would be losing money, there would be no profit in it. And I don’t think they are in the business of losing money.
Jim on July 12th, 2004 at 3:01 pm
Prepaid legal has to be one of the BIGGEST ripoffs out there. YOU DO NOT NEED LEGAL INSURANCE, which is what they are trying to sell you. When you need legal help, you hire a lawyer, I myself, own a small business, I pay a lawyer $150.00/year to do my necessary paperwork, and if I need additional advice or work, he charges according, but if I don’t, which I usually DON’T, nothing.
Setyo M Djoenaedi on August 8th, 2004 at 2:16 am
I am a living proof that prepaid legal works. I can share with you many benefits that Prepaid Legal have. I can help people who want to sign up or have question on the membership or business opportunity.
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Cuong Le on September 24th, 2004 at 11:13 am
I would have to agree with Setyo. I know in many instances where I wish I had some access to a lawyer but I didn’t. Now, I can say I have a peace of mind.
Carrie Bevill on November 18th, 2004 at 1:38 pm
I disagree also. I have saved thousands of dollars so far. They offer so much more than Dave Ramsey says.
Have you ever wished you could talk to a lawyer, but didn’t because you feared the cost…or thought you could handle the situation yourself?
Get ready to learn about a service that could save you time, money, and provide peace of mind for you and your family. Visit the website http://www.prepaidlegal.com/hub/carrie72 or call me at any hour at 573-470-1731
Chris Kramer on November 28th, 2004 at 6:19 am
I would like to comment that before I became a member, I also wondered as some why pay monthly when I have not used attorneys much in the past. Well, here is the first one year and one half of items we have used Pre-Paid Legal Services for:
1)Ongoing advise on stock we own part of class action between MCI and Worldcom.
2) 3 speeding tickets handled by our attorney in court (myself, wife, and son)No points issued on any of our licenses.
3)Two warantee problems on our home remodeling
4)Housing deposit returned of $ 300(our son) It seems landlords tend (try) to hold deposits on college students more than most.
5)Collection of $ 12,500 retainer for our business
6)Living Will prepared at no cost until our living trust completed saving us $ 1,100 from our previous attorney rate. (I had 3 bids on trust)
7)New barbeque grill warantee replacement where dealer did not want to honor. Not only did I get the new lid, but it was installed by the company from Canada at no cost.
Note: All of the items excluding the living trust as we own a business, and the fines and court costs of the speeding tickets, as they were dismissed as moving violations, were done as part of the monthly fee. The only bill I have received for services beyond the monthly was for our living trust, which was something we had put off for years.
It’s not only the money you save, but the time, as I did nothing but call our law firm and let them handle it. When you do not have to consider the cost of calling your law firm - you just do it. You have to ask yourself when was the last time you heard someone using an AV rated law firm for a problem with a BBQ grill? Is it any wonder that I now market such a valuable service as our second business.
Kevin on December 28th, 2004 at 4:29 pm
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Eric Clark on August 20th, 2005 at 8:22 pm
If anyone thinks prepaid legal services is a ripoff, you should get informed. the services offered through prepaid are unprecedent. We have all been intimidated by lawyers and knew we could not afford them anyway. Many middle income families have only had as much legal access as they could afford. Most of the time it would be none at all. For more info go to http://www.prepaidlegal.com/hub/ericclark13
paul on November 20th, 2005 at 12:58 pm
Being a member for the past 3 months has already saved me $800 when Capital one made a derogatory remark on my credit and refused to remove it, even though I had a letter from them that they screwed up! What amazes me are people who speak negatively on Pre-paid legal. This company does exactly what it says on its website, brochures and DVD’s. As Americans, we are always looking a for a good deal, where else can you have the best Law Firms at your disposal. These naysayers are usual people without a clue, what something for nothing, expect to pay nothing for a divorce and then complain because Pre-Paid didn’t do it for free! 80% of Europe has a Pre_paid legal plan…so everyone here needs to get a clue!Pre_paid legal is awesome!!!
Steven on November 22nd, 2005 at 9:12 am
For just the $26/Month plan a person could have Telephone Consultation,Letters and Phone call placed on there behalf, Legal Document Review, Will preparation, Motor Vehicle Legal Services, Trial Defense Services IRS Audit Legal Services, as well as Preferred Member Discount(and because of regulatory requirements,benefits and rates vary in certain states)but I would love to have any one find all that in one company and still only pay $26 a month, $312 a year, and only $3120 after TEN YEAR of services. that less than what most of us well pay for a cup of coffee every workday.
Nikki on February 4th, 2006 at 8:35 am
In my experience I have been misled by the individuals who sold me the memebership and the Pre-paid Legal company membership guide.
In the guide it says under Title II: Motor Vehicle Related Benefits
If the Covered Person, while driving any licensed motor vehicle ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,the covered person will be entitled to the following services from the Provider Attorney, in the court of original jursisdiction.
A. Defense of all moving traffic violaions durring the memebership year.
I am incredibly disappointed with the results of my two cases. I was told that traffic tickets would be taken care of similarly to that when you hire a one time $45 lawyer to appear in court and either remove or at least delay your tickets. This is the only real reason I signed up for this service. I drive at least 4-6 hrs a day and I am on the road frequently. When I called about the first ticket I recieved, they told me to file deferred adjuication, well no kidding, I know I can do this, I am asking for defense in court! I am paying a montly fee of $40 to tell me to do something I can do myself????? And to inform me of the same things the court will inform me of. WASTE of money if you ask me. The second ticked I received 2 weeks later that I called about…they told me well the first one would go on my record, and I would have to request defensive driving for this offense. AGAIN, something I could have done for myself without having paid $240 over the last 6 months!! I almost feel insulted, while they were very legally professional in sending me a letter on how to file for defensive driving, any idiot can figure this out by reading the back of their ticked.
Unless you are completely ignorant, you don’t need a lawyer to tell you that you can take deffered adjudication or defensive driving. I have asked to be removed from the plan, and I still have not received any information regarding my request to be removed. I would actually prefer a refund on the portion of the last six months of UNUSED and pointless payment to services that led me nowhere!
Tony on May 21st, 2006 at 7:45 am
Stupid people shouldn’t own a Prepaid Legal Membership.
Martin Garcia on August 9th, 2006 at 2:15 pm
I am an Independent Associate of Prepaid Legal Services, Inc. and they have saved me over a thousand dollars when a furniture store was charging me for a bunch of insurance I didn’t want or need. The attorney I spoke to was very friendly and actually stayed on the phone with me for over an hour. There is no smoke and mirrors here. Everything is layed out before you sign on the dotted line. Come and see for yourself.
Mel on August 16th, 2006 at 5:18 pm
I’ve paid approx $100.00 a month (some months more)for auto insurance since I was 16 a total of $15,600.00. Guess hom many times I’ve been in a wreck or needed some kind of compensation….. $0.00. Pre-paid legal services is a great product and I’m proud to have their membership!! I’ve used the membership more than I’ve needed my auto insurance.
Mike on August 19th, 2006 at 6:41 pm
I bought my prepaid legal membership for my business less than six months ago and it has already saved me over 8 thousand dollars. I wouldn’t own a business without it. As for the family membership, it is well worth the cost even if you only use it for the will preparation. A will prepared by a good attorney in my area costs about $800. The question is.. Why would you not own a prepaid legal membership?
Sean Matteson on February 27th, 2007 at 6:41 pm
Maybe I can offer an unbiased point of view. I was a PPL associate for almost five years and reached the ED level. I am no longer with the company, but still have the service and always will. While I worked with the company I was convinced that everyone needed it, but now that the blinders have come off I feel differently. If someone sees the need for the service then they should get it. If they don’t, then they shouldn’t. Plain and simple. It has been a tremendous value to my wife and I (and my mom), but some people may not find the same use for it.
Maybe some day it will catch on, but it hasn’t yet and doesn’t appear it will any time soon.
Barbrae on June 28th, 2007 at 5:36 pm
I think Prepaid Legal is sorely needed America. Europeans have legal protection, so what’s wrong with us? Even if you don’t use your service weekly, the protection and peace of mind is worth it’s weight in gold!
Bill on August 6th, 2007 at 9:37 pm
“Your sales people “puff” the benefits but do not tell you the real story, you take the 26$ a month then fight you on everything , benefits are not set up for the real world and what a real law suit cost, Our whole system is run by lawyers, the courts and judiciary system is made up and run by lawyers, we have no option but to hire a lawyer, the avg person can not navigate the legal system alone, no wonder as the laws are made by lawyers and the system is set up so you have no choice but to use a lawyer. And don’t even start talking price fixing., the way Pre Paid Legal is set up it does not cover the “real cost” of a lawyer, and makes you the user pay for the difference, and you nickel and dime what is covered. Lawyers live by billable hours and you even profess that in your sales pitch but your actual coverage does not even approach what it really cost. Takes lawyers to figure out a legal pyramid scheme that anybody else would go to jail for. Bill Oliver”
Paydex on August 21st, 2007 at 11:15 am
Why is the commenst area here full of people spamming/ shilling customers for their own prepaid legal commisions??
shame, shame! to have all you prepaid legal people ocme here advertising- AT LEAST SAY YOU ARE NOT AN OBJECTIVE COMMENTER, for crying out loud!
Angela on August 21st, 2007 at 6:47 pm
Quite honestly I liked Pre-Paid Legal. I was an Associate for a short while, as well as a member. Unfortunately I couldn’t afford to keep the membership and I found out fast that I don’t have the sales skills and the nerves to put up with rejection.
When it comes to the services Pre-Paid Legal offers, I like it. I’ve known many people who would have benefited from having a membership. I even got my own will done so at least I wouldn’t have to worry about my daughter if I died tomorrow. Who can say they wouldn’t enjoy having a lawyer on hand to talk to about any possible legal problems that might arise? I got that on something like $16 a month.
On the other hand, if someone wanted to become a Pre-Paid Legal Associate, I would want to warn you about one major thing: If you don’t have the skills needed to make sales, don’t try. The investment is much too high, and if you don’t pay monthly for the “optional” website, the chances of you making any sales are much lower than the average person that has one. If you do have the knack for selling things to people, even if they don’t want it, then it just might be for you.
Jack Bauer on October 3rd, 2007 at 11:20 pm
Here is more info about a Pyramid Scheme
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramid_scheme
dean sutherland on October 24th, 2007 at 6:17 am
Prepaid Legal inc (PPD- nyse symbol) collects millions of dollars advance money as an insurance against legal problems. It then spends all its net earnings plus borrowing more to prop up its share price by buying up its own shares. All this while the company insiders have been steadily selling off their shares. There is a high likelihood of such companies going belly up or bankrupt(if not now but in the foreseeable future). In all this the people subscribing to its prepaid legal plans can be left high and dry. Any business that charges money in advance has to setup an escrow account at arms length so that clients who paid advance money can get service even in the eventuality of bankruptcy. All insurance companies have escrow accounts, whereas PPD does not. The company is already highly in debt by 78 million dollars(by its own admission). We have a history of bankruptcies by companies that spend more than they earn. FTC or regulators have to step in and intervene, so we don’t have repeat of similar corporate scandals.
It may be of interest that the company operates as a MLM(multi level marketing) scheme. It has several lawsuits in the past and pending in various courts as well as before the FTC.
Jacob Corregidor on October 24th, 2007 at 9:02 pm
A pyramid scheme, you don’t need wikipedia to tell you what a pyramid is. All traditional jobs are pyramids from corporate to small business as well as chains of commands in rank and caste from CEO & Generals all the way down to the employee and private.
Now MLM scheme? wth is an MLM scheme? Any well educated individual geared towards entrepreneurial ambition would know that leverage and residual income building business models are a far more superior form of conducting a truly secured financial interest of their future. Research Trump, Kiyosak, and Pilzer.
Success through helping others become successful is a very noble way of doing business to consider. As opposed to conventional business models where only CEO’s and Presidents receive most the earnings. Meaning, there’s a lot of employees getting screwed with failing 401k’s and social securities working well in to their 50’s and 60’s (when their supposed to be retired) on part time jobs just to make ends meet..
Leon Snave on November 16th, 2007 at 9:59 pm
Jacob Corregidor, you are right on the money!
Dean Sutherland, I’m sorry but you simply have no clue. Your statement that “the company operates as a MLM (multi level marketing) scheme” illustrates that you apparently define and lump all MLM companies as “schemes”, which again is indicative of your lack of understanding. One company that adopts the MLM business model can be legitimate while another can be unscrupulous. However, being an “MLM” has nothing to do with the intent and the operation of the company. FYI, many business schools now teach the MLM strategy (aka Direct Selling, Network Marketing) as a part of their curriculum. As for lawsuits, IBM, and many other non-MLM companies have lawsuits pending right now. But here’s the key: how does an “MLM-Scheming” company get 2700 top law firms to participate in their program? How does an “MLM-Scheming” company come to have it’s stock traded on the NYSE, where you’re thoroughly checked out before they trade your stock? And how is it that the founder and CEO of an “MLM Scheming” company has been invited over the past 3 years to sit on the board of directors of the National Chamber of Commerce? While you’re busy trying to impress people with your brilliance, I think the sad thing is that people in need will listen to you, when you obviously have no clue of what you’re talking about. And they’ll miss their opportunity because of your off-base comments.
RJ Stevens on May 17th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
I think for the money 26.00 or lower costs to have everything that is offered is worth the small,fee associated with prepaid legal/Identity theft what a deal!Please refer to my website but,before you do listen 800 605-0293 explains services,price,most of all bussiness opprotunity. Any futher Questions please call me at 801 815-4972
Thomas Hargreaves on July 23rd, 2008 at 11:33 am
this comment is to the one who thinks PPL is a rip off. I have literally saved thousands of dollars since being a member. And as far as running a small business, maybe the reason it is not a big business is because you do not have a prepaid legal business plan
Mark Tomson on August 19th, 2008 at 12:09 am
MLM (Independent, unsalaried salespeople of multi-level marketing, referred to as distributors (or associates, independent business owners, franchise owners, sales consultants, consultants, independent agents, etc.), represent the parent company and are awarded a commission based upon the volume of product sold through each of their independent businesses ).
How is this not a Pirimid Scheme? Even if you want to tell me that it is not technically not, I would call you a liar to your face. If you sell a product to someone and then make money off of that person and the people they sell too, then then that is a pirimid Scheme. Anyone that is trying to sell their “product” will only say good thing about it. and to the retarded person who commented about the car insurance. Its the law that you need car insurance. If you want to drive a car legally then you need car insurance. one last thing. If you have a good business, a lawyer will not make you business grow. Thomas Hargreaves your RETARDED!