Dear Pre-Paid Legal,

It means so much to me to sit down and share these personal things with you and why Pre-Paid Legal Services will forever have a very special place in my heart. But first, I would like to tell you a little about myself.

I am 39 years old, and have been a widow for six years. I have a son, who just turned 18.1, nor has my son, ever needed any kind of legal advice until May 1996.

When my husband passed away, it became too difficult to remain in the home we shared. I very painfully decided to sell it and try to start over. I had. So I thought.

A Realtor, someone I knew and trusted, helped my son and I find that new special place for us to live. After an 11-month escrow, and the hardest time in our lives, I bought my beautiful home here in La Mirada, California. Due to a long escrow, and his poor handling, my property dropped $10,000 in value and my buyers, just two days before closing, became short $15,000. In his quick shuffling and quick talk, second deeds were drawn on both properties.

The people who paid me stopped paying, and I'd soon find out that my Realtor never had the deed recorded. I lost the $15,000 because the bank stepped in and foreclosed. For me that meant I would not have the money to pay my end, and I'd lose my new home. I had no money and there was no way I could afford anywhere between $175 to $200 an hour for a real estate lawyer. I was so lost and so worried.

My very good friend, Terry, and I were talking, and he shared with me that his friend, Richard, had given him some information and it was from Pre-Paid Legal Services.

He shared what he knew and gave me the folder to review. I immediately told him that I didn't have any other need for the service, and that I just needed a lawyer plain and simple. Terry said, "Well, just go over the material and see what you think." I still didn't think it was for me. I even gave the information to another friend to see what he thought. Time was going by, and Terry and I got together again and he said, "Let's call Richard anyway," and we did. We talked on the speaker phone with him. I found him to be very pleasant and concerned about my situation and my future. He made me feel as if I'd known him for quite some time.

Still not being sure, I pushed with questions and different situations. He very calmly found a place for them all, and it was with Pre-Paid. Never did I feel pushed or pressured, as a matter of fact, he said, "Just think about it and I'm here if you need anything," and we hung up. I found myself calling him back within the hour to ask him to sign me up. Out of all the choices I ever had to make, I had no idea what a blessing Pre-Paid would later be to me.

As much as I fought the idea, I will admit I felt a sense of security knowing how many different lawyers I had to back me and support me. If one could not help, they would do the work to find me another. I could feel some of the stress finally lift from my shoulders.

Richard kept in touch, making sure I understood all the great services that Pre-Paid had to offer me. I really appreciated that, and still do. I made my first call and my call was returned within the hour. The lawyer I spoke with was very up front and gave me all my options. What really impressed me, was the fact that she shared how I could handle it, if I choose to, myself. Never did she push. I was very pleased. I signed up July 5, 1996.

About the same time I lost $15,000, my 16-year-old son, came to me with the news that he was going to be a father. Baby is born, and the war starts. I called Pre-Paid and the family lawyer was so wonderful and supportive. With him being a minor, we needed to know what rights he had, and she went over everything in a way we could understand, and to think all this great information for $25 a month. That call was made in August.

So many things were going on for me and after the second mortgage problem, I got behind on my first mortgage. I suffer from manic depression and have for 20 years, but 1996 was the year that the illness was at its worst. The depression had robbed me of my spirit once and for all.

My ex-fiance whom has always been there for us, told me not to worry about the mortgage. He would take care of it and would help us until I got on my feet. Through the grace of God, I finally found the right medication that literally saved my life.

I called the mortgage company with a question on September 11, and had the surprise of my life. My ex had not taken care of the mortgage payment and I needed $10,522 to bring it current, or it was going to be sold October 7. I felt like I was going to die. Pre-Paid was called again, and I got information on how to file for bankruptcy.

My ex kept assuring me he had almost all the money. It's now Friday, October 4. Today is the last day. My house was going to be sold Monday morning at 10:30 a.m. Finally at 3:45 that same afternoon, I received a two page fax from my ex, saying the bank would not accept the money. I was alone in my beautiful home screaming, shaking, and crying. The pain was unbearable.

I somehow got myself together and called Pre-Paid. They could hardly understand me because I was crying so much. [The first representative] talked with me until [another one] took over, both of them assuring me that Pre-Paid would do everything in their power to find a lawyer. But there wasn't enough time to get the right paperwork together. Now I'm crying even more. [The second representative] told me to hang in there. She had some calls to make, and she would call me right back. Within 15 minutes, she did call with good news. She found someone. [The lawyer] called me within minutes. He was very nice. He told me to take a few minutes to calm myself down and he would call me right back to get the paperwork started.

He called me back, got what he needed, and came to my home the next day. I could see by the way he handled himself, that he was a good lawyer and his compassion showed me he was also a good person. My papers were filed in Superior Court on Monday morning, October 7, at 9:45 a.m. Just 45 minutes later my house would have been sold.

I will never forget the warmth and compassion that was given to me that day. If it weren't for Pre-Paid, I would have never found [a lawyer]. Pre-Paid saved my home.

If I could tell the world about your service, your staff, and the way you handle your clients, I would. As a matter of fact, I am. I've joined Pre-Paid's sales team, and am now an Independent Associate. Thanks Pre-Paid!

Sincerely yours,
T.Skonseng
California