[pre-paid legal] is Being Sued

[Topbuilder]

"It’s nice to have that option: Under the terms of [pre-paid legal]’s contract, the company doesn’t have to cover any of its members’ own appeals."

In the class I went to I don't think we had the option to "opt out" of that portion of the class. But, I automatically assumed the range was receiving a flat rate per class or per enrollee fee, for the captive audience.

[MechAg94]

I am new this issue. I find it odd that there isn't already some DPS rule about doing sales presentations in the mandated CHL class. I never had this happen in the classes I have taken. I think I would be a bit upset if I were required to sit through a sales pitch in a govt mandated class. I know the test is easy, but I would rather get more class time on the details of the law.

[Keith B]

I am new this issue. I find it odd that there isn't already some DPS rule about doing sales presentations in the mandated CHL class. I never had this happen in the classes I have taken. I think I would be a bit upset if I were required to sit through a sales pitch in a govt mandated class. I know the test is easy, but I would rather get more class time on the details of the law.

There is a rule that says any presentation made like this is NOT part of class time and you cannot require a student to participate in the presentation.

[mr1337]

I am new this issue. I find it odd that there isn't already some DPS rule about doing sales presentations in the mandated CHL class. I never had this happen in the classes I have taken. I think I would be a bit upset if I were required to sit through a sales pitch in a govt mandated class. I know the test is easy, but I would rather get more class time on the details of the law.

There is a rule that says any presentation made like this is NOT part of class time and you cannot require a student to participate in the presentation.

My instructor made it clear that sitting through the presentation was completely optional and not part of the class time. Anyone who didn't want to sit through it could hang out in the break room and get a drink/snacks.

[suthdj]

I am new this issue. I find it odd that there isn't already some DPS rule about doing sales presentations in the mandated CHL class. I never had this happen in the classes I have taken. I think I would be a bit upset if I were required to sit through a sales pitch in a govt mandated class. I know the test is easy, but I would rather get more class time on the details of the law.

There is a rule that says any presentation made like this is NOT part of class time and you cannot require a student to participate in the presentation.

My instructor made it clear that sitting through the presentation was completely optional and not part of the class time. Anyone who didn't want to sit through it could hang out in the break room and get a drink/snacks.

If they had it in the middle of class time I would call foul, granted you dont have to sit through it but you would still have to hang around until the rest of the CHL instruction was complete this tactic to me is just pressure on the student to be bored in break area or a little less bored in a sales pitch. So unless it is before or after class so you can completely avoid it, FOUL! This is just my 2 cents.

[thetexan]

My last renewal class that I took we were held "captive" to the [pre-paid legal] spiel - they would not dismiss the class or hand out tests until the sales pitch was completed. It made me quite a bit angry as I felt it was just wasting my time, and it was (in my opinion) definitely presented as actually "part" of the class and expected to sign up. If I recall a solid 30+% of the fairly large class signed up. The forms were handed out by the instructor's assistants to everybody, regardless of if you expressed interest or not, just like it was an actual class/CHL form.

Very shady, and very irritating. Glad to see this practice coming under scrutiny, it makes the the entire CHL instructing/testing experience look underhanded.

That's not right. It's not right to include it as any part of the time they are taking for the course. After everyone has passed and ready to go home I ask if anyone would like to hear about [pre-paid legal]. Most of the time they go home. Sometimes a few will stay and listen and then maybe one or two will sign up.

But I agree. No fair holding them hostage to anything. I have heard of someone (who happens to sell custom holsters) using the 'hostage' technique to make holster sales. Whether they keep track of the actual DPS teaching time or not, when I take a course I want to get in and get out. I don't even lile being required to fill out a course review as a requirement of graduating.

tex

[mojo84]

My last renewal class that I took we were held "captive" to the [pre-paid legal] spiel - they would not dismiss the class or hand out tests until the sales pitch was completed. It made me quite a bit angry as I felt it was just wasting my time, and it was (in my opinion) definitely presented as actually "part" of the class and expected to sign up. If I recall a solid 30+% of the fairly large class signed up. The forms were handed out by the instructor's assistants to everybody, regardless of if you expressed interest or not, just like it was an actual class/CHL form.

Very shady, and very irritating. Glad to see this practice coming under scrutiny, it makes the the entire CHL instructing/testing experience look underhanded.

That's not right. It's not right to include it as any part of the time they are taking for the course. After everyone has passed and ready to go home I ask if anyone would like to hear about [pre-paid legal]. Most of the time they go home. Sometimes a few will stay and listen and then maybe one or two will sign up.

But I agree. No fair holding them hostage to anything. I have heard of someone (who happens to sell custom holsters) using the 'hostage' technique to make holster sales. Whether they keep track of the actual DPS teaching time or not, when I take a course I want to get in and get out. I don't even being required to fill out a course review as a requirement of graduating.

tex

Do you accept a fee from [pre-paid legal] for those that sign up?

[b322da]

...Texas attorneys cannot take a referral fee from anyone, period. It is legal to share fees under specific circumstances as I noted before. If you want to know what is required, then go to the Texas Bar web page and read the attorney disciplinary rules. I don't care what you think about the tobacco litigation, the fees paid, or who got the fees. You don't know squat about what went on, other than rumors. That has nothing to do with the class action lawsuit against [pre-paid legal]. If you want to launch a global attack against attorneys, you're going to have to do it somewhere else....

Chas.

+a bunch

Jim

[thetexan]

My last renewal class that I took we were held "captive" to the [pre-paid legal] spiel - they would not dismiss the class or hand out tests until the sales pitch was completed. It made me quite a bit angry as I felt it was just wasting my time, and it was (in my opinion) definitely presented as actually "part" of the class and expected to sign up. If I recall a solid 30+% of the fairly large class signed up. The forms were handed out by the instructor's assistants to everybody, regardless of if you expressed interest or not, just like it was an actual class/CHL form.

Very shady, and very irritating. Glad to see this practice coming under scrutiny, it makes the the entire CHL instructing/testing experience look underhanded.

That's not right. It's not right to include it as any part of the time they are taking for the course. After everyone has passed and ready to go home I ask if anyone would like to hear about [pre-paid legal]. Most of the time they go home. Sometimes a few will stay and listen and then maybe one or two will sign up.

But I agree. No fair holding them hostage to anything. I have heard of someone (who happens to sell custom holsters) using the 'hostage' technique to make holster sales. Whether they keep track of the actual DPS teaching time or not, when I take a course I want to get in and get out. I don't even being required to fill out a course review as a requirement of graduating.

tex

Do you accept a fee from [pre-paid legal] for those that sign up?

Of course.

[cb1000rider]

Of course.

I've got absolutely no beef with an instructor that discloses and has "[pre-paid legal] time" at the end when we're free to leave... Unfortunately, that's not how they're all doing it.

[JALLEN]

...Liability policies almost always exclude intentional acts....

I find your use of the word "almost" interesting, Jim, given your experience with insurance.

....

With the respect you know that I have for you, Jim, can you clarify your interesting use of the word "almost?" I am not challenging your statement, Jim, but I cannot come up with an example to support it. I, for example, like you, are familiar with Lloyds of London, and I suppose that there may be some truth to the ancient myth(?) that it will insure anything, for appropriate premiums.

Thank you,

Jim

I say "almost" because I don't know everything, despite decades of effort, intense interest and lifelong ambitions. I've never seen nor heard of one, but who knows.... maybe there is one out there, although it seems like a perfect example of "moral hazard" which insurers go to great lengths to prevent.

I am somewhat familiar with insurance. I was counsel at a couple of very large title insurers for parts of my professional life. One of my most interesting courses at UT, and most memorable, was a course in the fundamentals of insurance taught, by coincidence, by a Lloyds of London professional, a most interesting and charming British fellow.

Title insurance is not really insurance, which I pointed out here recently. It is actually merely a settlement agreement for the company's own negligence negotiated in advance.

[TXBO]

I don't know anything about the actual attorneys at [pre-paid legal]. Experience has taught me that if you need an attorney:
1) Do your due diligence in choosing
2) Get the best in a particular field that you can find
3) You get what you pay for

Choosing the wrong attorney in my business life has cost me money. I don't want to risk my freedom on an attorney chosen for me by someone I paid $10 a month.

[b322da]

...I say "almost" because I don't know everything, despite decades of effort, intense interest and lifelong ambitions. I've never seen nor heard of one, but who knows.... maybe there is one out there, although it seems like a perfect example of "moral hazard" which insurers go to great lengths to prevent....

That is a statement by a wise man, and funny to boot. But I must also say to our readers that it supports my point.

Thanx, Jim.

Jim

[greenbeer]

Hey guys despite the lawsuit [pre-paid legal] is still in classrooms. I took my class on Saturday and about halfway through class, their sales rep showed up and gave her presentation. It was basically a "you'll be up the creek financially if you ever use your gun without us" type pitch. I didn't enroll, but a fair amount of people did. Mostly the folks at the older end of the age spectrum. She even offered a discount to those who signed up immediately. I was pretty annoyed by the fact it was in the middle of class, so I just pulled out my phone and read a few threads here.