Like several other readers, my problems with GMAC Mortgage began when they acquired my mortgage from another company.
GMAC sent a letter asking for my December payment (the letter was dated December 5 but I received it on December 10) after the payment was sent to my former mortgage company!
Being a good consumer, I called to let GMAC know that the payment was mailed to the former company. I was told that it wasn't a problem - they would contact the company to collect payment.
Within a week, I began receiving annoying computerized phone calls from GMAC's collections department. I spoke to several representatives about stopping the calls and resolving the problem. Each representative made it clear that I need to call my former mortgage company myself to arrange for the payment to be transfered. I was told that it is standard operating procedure for GMAC to send new accounts to collections to "make sure that they keep on top of things". I told GMAC that I was not playing middleman in their transaction with the other company.
On January 16, I received a call from a collections department representative who told me that GMAC applied my January payment to the December payment (that they claim was never received) and that my January payment is now considered late! I told her that I wasn't about to send another payment and to contact the other company to get the payment.
I was told that GMAC has millions of accounts and that they do not have the time to follow up on all of them! The representative then told me to get a copy of my check (front and back) to prove that I made the payment. I explained that this would cost me money as my bank charges for research and that GMAC should have a research department to handle this. The representative told me that GMAC would look into this and contact me shortly. I waited two more months and they contacted me all right - with a threatening letter that says my account is in default! They threatened to send my home to foreclosure because they keep poor records and are too lazy to do the research themselves!
I could see that I was going to have problems with GMAC early on, so by the first week of January I had already written several letters to different government agencies asking for help. The only agency offering help was the MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL REGULATION. I even had trouble with this agency as my request laid on someone's desk for nearly 2 months with no action taken. I finally had to call the agency and demand action - working my way up the supervisory ladder till I found someone who could help me. I was fortunate as this person was in a management position and filed a complaint with GMAC the same day that I spoke with him. I also called the corporate office of GMAC and left messages in every mailbox that I could access. This made them sit up and take notice. I actually received a couple of returned phone calls!
It is now mid-April. I still receive harrassing phone calls every day but they should be stopping soon. I have been assured by GMAC's Voice of the Consumer Group that there was an error in processing my payment (it went to the wrong account) and they will not foreclose on my home.
It frightens me to read about this company foreclosing on innocent people - we must all fight back today!
I urge everyone to contact your state department of financial regulation and do not stop until you receive help. Also, contact gmac's corporate office at: 215 682-1000 and complain to anyone and everyone who will listen.
If things did not work out for me, I was also going to contact the media - CALL YOUR LOCAL NEWS STATION OR BETTER YET, CONTACT A STATION IN A MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREA NEAR YOU. I live in the Washington, DC area and had planned to contact major national news stations there.
Another tip, do not bother with the Iowa office of GMAC - I received absolutely no help at all from them - just a corporate run-around.
Ann
Middletown, Maryland
U.S.A.
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