[iwantmybaby]

My agency just wrote to me and said the attorney is sending her final invoice today. I am completely freaking out over this!! For one thing, we have a discrepancy where the attorney says she was paid less than what we sent. Then she is asking for 17 months worth of foster care expenses, plus an overpriced amount for the birth mom interview. I'm falling to my knees and praying right now. We barely have the money to pay her what we originally agreed upon!!

Sorry, I just realized there was no question in there just venting. Here is my actual question, at what point in the process did you guys pay your final bill?

Thank you,
Tracy

[SCMom7]

We paid upon approval and release from PGN.
Laura

[mommytoEli]

wow...sounds like someone is holding you hostage. did you expect all these charges? i know for us, we paid our final payment when we exited pgn. it was the second half of our atty fee. as much as i complained about my agency while i kept getting delayed, no surprise fees came up. as a matter of fact, my contract said i may have to pay foster fees after 6 months.....and it took 10 months, and we were not charged. i know some agencies are different as to when the final payment is made....i know some make you pay upon enterrring pgn, but don't give it to the atty until after.

my problem with your post is it *sounds* like the atty just figures you will pay in order to get your child. if your contract does not say you will pay foster fees, then don't...your agency should work that out with the atty. look at the amount in your contract, and your receipts for what you have paid. if the amount you know you owe is different than the amount the atty says you owe, again, i think this is something your agency should be mediating for you. is the amount they are charging you for hte interview more than you agreed on before it happend? if none of this was agreed upon before hand, you may be stuck.

[MargotV]

I paid the 2nd half of the fee plus the agreed upon monthly charges for care upon exit for PGN.

I had the same experience - the original contract included 6 months care and it was closer to 11 months of care but my facilitator only charged me for an additional 3 months.

You have had such a long wait - I hope it all works out and that you bring your son home soon.

Margot

[JillnChris]

We paid 1/2 at referal and 1/2 after exiting PGN. But that was about a year ago so I don't know if that helps.

[iwantmybaby]

I just got the bill!! The attorney wants almost as much as her final payment is, for the foster care expenses. The reason it took us 2 years is because of a mistake on her part and I do not feel that it is fair to pass those charges on to us. During that time we weren't even sure if this adoption was going to go through. Please if you are a praying person please pray for us. this is tough.

[jandc]

We sent the second half after entering pgn. About a month after we were home we got an invoice for the extra 3 months of care: foster family, doctor visits, formula, etc. ALL the receipts were included and the notation asked for payment at our convenience. This made me believe that if it was a lot then we could break it up. Nothing we were charged extra was excessive and with the receipts, we were totally ok with paying it.

[GuatMommy2Be]

We paid our first half upon referral - in our contract it stated that we would not be charged foster care fees unless it was due to something on our part (IE: gathering paperwork for the dossier...) My daughter was in foster care for 16 months and I would have flipped my lid if they tried to charge us that. Were you expecting the extra foster care fees? Our second half was due when we entered PGN - however, our agency never billed us for it, 10 months later they were sending us e-mails for the money, and we ignored them until we were out of PGN. At that point (the 10 month mark, we were KO'd for 6 months and our help wasn't sure if this adoption was going to finish..)

I think your attorney might be trying to get your for extra cash, since adoptions have stopped. I'm sure the financial situation of these attorney's and facilitators isn't as "sweet" as it used to be..

[angieandstever]

We signed a contract which indicated a portion of the agency fees was do when we were accepted into the program. The second portion was due upon completion of our dossier.

The first half of the attorney fees was due when we accepted the referral and the second half upon exiting PGN. I would think your contract should for the most part lay out what needs to be paid and when!!! It sounds to me like they are trying to get more money out of you too. I will pray that everything works out for you all.

[ana-mom]

We paid 1/2 base fee upon referral and the balance (1/2 base fee, DNA expense, document fees) upon final birthmother signature.

[w8ting4Thomas]

1/2 at referral and 1/2 after 2nd DNA (which I was THRILLED about) because if she wanted her $$ she had to hurry through BC, passport and orange and DNA.

GOOD LUCK...saying a prayer for you.

[OpenThemAll]

Tracy,

I am so sorry to hear this.

We had a very similar experience. OUr agency tried to mediate for us - in our case it was the hogar directors asking for fees we had been repeatedly told in writing we would not have to pay. We paid a large portion of final fees at the exit of PGN. The rest at 2nd DNA minus the extra fees. We were threatened that if we did not pay the fees that we should not come for our pick up trip (though we already had pink). Basically we finally had to pay if we wanted to get our son.

I don't share this to upset you - I just want you to know our experience. I agree with the others who said get out the contract. See what foster care fees were included in the original fees. Get your cancelled check (or what proof you have of first payment) and then get your agency to communicate with the attorney.

I wouldn't pay everything until you know all the work is done - just to keep a little power in your hands.

I'm so sorry. I have been there - and it hurts like nothing else in our long wait did. It feels like you are being extorted and your child taken advantage of. It still hurts today.

Praying,
Erin

[bogeydog]

It really doesn't mean anything of what others paid, did, etc.

Obviously you should check the contract and compare to what has happened and what it being requested. Most of the contracts do specify some sort of treatment and extra fees for long term cases. it would be best if you find the contract has language that spells all of the terms out. Without it, then you are subject to possible verbal contract terms which are hard to prove, etc. Was this your agenices contract? I doubt you have a contract with the attorney in Guatemala. Lean on teh agency to live up to their contract and if need be enforce their agreement with the attorney.

[cbmstephanie]

Tracy:
With Maria's adoption we too paid for 3 months extra foster care. I was worried that with Flora's adoption she would charge us more since we weren't using an agency, but she didn't, she charged us the same monthly rate, we had to pay for 6 months though for Flora. I think it's pretty standard practice for her. I know that doesn't help, but at least you know that she is nothing if not consistent.

I know I wasn't pleased to pay the extra foster care, but didn't think it was outlandish. Our processes were relatively normal though, I don't know that I would feel the same had I been in your shoes, where there was an extended process, with complications that were created by the attorney.

We also didn't have to have a BMI so I can't relate to the amount that you're being billed for that. If you want to PM me I can tell you what we paid per extra month of Foster Care to see if the attorney is being consistent on that front.

It is tough, there's no way around feeling like you are being taken advantage of when it's this late in the game and the rules seem to change. Good Luck and let me know if there is anything I can do to help.
Stephanie

[JustBarbara]

[quote=bogeydog]It really doesn't mean anything of what others paid, did, etc.
quote]

Exactly - seriously, carefully check out your contract. As for me I had to pay 100% at referral and there was a clause that if it took longer than six months it would be $400 per month thereafter. But really, each case is individual - reread your contract. Good luck.