Residents of Lviv accuse the "Legal Aid Center," located at 41 Pekarska Street, of fraud. ZAXID.NET spoke with three city residents who paid for the services of the center's lawyers but received no assistance, and their money has not been refunded.
Olena Vlasenko is raising three young children on her own. In September, she contacted the "Legal Aid Center" for assistance in submitting an application to government authorities for benefits for large families. The center estimated this service at 12,500 UAH. The woman paid this amount but did not receive any receipt for the payment. Subsequently, Olena was told that it would take time to prepare all the documents and they promised to call her back. However, they never did.
“They said: wait for the call, you will come to us, we will prepare the documents for you to sign with our lawyer, and we will send them out to obtain all the benefits. I waited, waited for two days, called back, and they said: a lawyer will contact you. Ultimately, our contract was from 18.09 to 30.09, and they did not contact me,” said client Olena Vlasenko.
The money for the promised but unprovided services has not been returned to the woman.
“They want me to write a request for a refund. As if I refuse to cooperate with them, and they want, I think, despite the fact that they missed their deadlines, to cover their backs,” added Olena Vlasenko.
On October 4, Olena Vlasenko reported to the police. Her statement was attached to a criminal proceeding already opened against the "Legal Aid Center" under part 3 of Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – fraud committed in conditions of war or emergency, which caused significant harm to the victim.
“Currently, there are statements from three citizens in the criminal proceeding regarding the possible illegal actions of certain employees of the ‘Legal Aid Center’. The pre-trial investigation in this criminal proceeding is ongoing, and necessary and possible investigative (search) actions are being conducted aimed at a complete, comprehensive, and impartial investigation to make a lawful procedural decision,” stated the police's response to the information request from journalists of 24 Channel and ZAXID.NET.
Tetiana Kolomiiets also did not receive the promised services from the "Legal Aid Center." She learned about this center online. Tetiana needed help regarding the unlawful mobilization of her son. They charged her 120,000 UAH, but the woman decided to initially pay 40,000 UAH. When the lawyers, according to her, did not perform their duties properly, Tetiana Kolomiiets requested a refund. She claims that during the cooperation, the lawyers provided services worth only 10,000 UAH, and they do not return the rest.
“And here is where the most interesting part began. When the agreement is drawn up, all the points are stated in such a way that their organization owes you nothing, you have no right to contact anyone or involve third-party employees. They do not return the money. Advance payments are not refunded. Even if they do not perform their services and you terminate the agreement, this is all considered as termination of the agreement on your part. Furthermore, I also have to pay them a penalty of 40% of the entire contract,” explained client Tetiana Kolomiiets.
At the "Legal Aid Center," journalists met two more people who had not received the promised but already paid services. Mykhailo Pantelei is a displaced person from Kharkiv and is the father of a soldier who died in 2022. He approached the center to arrange a gift of his property in Kharkiv to another son and paid the center 10,000 UAH.
“It turned out that the documents disappeared. We have a war there. I signed a statement that it was a force majeure, they take 40%, and 60% should be returned to me. They said to wait a month and a half; I waited for more than two months,” said client Mykhailo Pantelei.
Journalists from 24 Channel and ZAXID.NET contacted the "Legal Aid Center" for a comment. A representative stated that the Center performs its work properly and is ready to continue providing services to Olena Vlasenko and Tetiana Kolomiiets. She claimed that these women refuse to cooperate.
“They can contact us again with requests, or we can resolve this issue through negotiations. That is, we are not refusing. We are all for them to receive their assistance,” noted the representative of the "Legal Aid Center," Olha Lahoda.
Regarding the refund of money to Olena Vlasenko and Tetiana Kolomiiets, Olha Lahoda stated that the women can submit a request, and the center will review it. As for Mykhailo Pantelei, according to her, he signed a document stating that he has no claims against the center.
“He signed an agreement to terminate cooperation, stating that he has no claims against us, that we ceased to work with him,” added Olha Lahoda.
The main office of the "Legal Aid Center" is located in Kyiv. The company's branches operate in Lviv, Dnipro, Odesa, Kharkiv, Chernivtsi, Cherkasy, Ternopil, and Ivano-Frankivsk. The company is managed and founded by Maksym Dziis.
Recall that earlier ZAXID.NET already reported on this center. At that time, the private legal aid center was accused of fraud by the wives of military personnel.