Legal Question in Legal Ethics in California

Billing for services not rendered

I secured an interpreter today for immigration meeting with my wife. He showed up after the meeeting had started, and the government authorized using an employee to interperet. I was instructed to wait in the lobby near the end of the interview and encountered the interpreter for the first time. He said he would pay for anything over 10 dollars for parking. When I got home he billed me for parking and a 2 hour minimum ($160) plus 7.50 for parking. On the same invoice, he acknowledged the $20 I gave him for parking, that it was $7.50 to park, and billed me for $167. I thought I was being generous giving him 20, and he showed up 30 minutes into a 40 minute meeting, and didn't translate word one. Does he have the authority to bill for his two hour minimum?


Asked on 6/15/09, 9:46 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Stone Law Offices of Michael B. Stone Toll Free 1-855-USE-MIKE

Re: Billing for services not rendered

Write the interpreter a letter saying that you are not going to pay him because he was late for court; and if he persists in trying to collect, you will write to the judge.

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Answered on 6/15/09, 10:21 pm


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