Back in March Countrywide purchased two loans that I had with Seasons Mortgage. Originally, they were VA Foreclosures.
On and off, starting in May my payments began being rejected. When I called to find out why, customer services claimed I was not MAKING the payments. When transfered to the loan department, they told me the same thing. When transfered to the collections department, they told me the same thing.
After much arguing, and proving my electronic transfers were going out to them each month, on time, paid in full, I was placed in foreclosure in February.
In the meantime, I was having a second problem with Countrywide. For peace of mind, I had decided to purchase flood insurance for $221 from Prudential. I received my check back from Prudential with a note that it had been cancelled. I thought I had done something wrong so I purchased flood insurance from a second, and then a third company, each time having it cancelled.
After speaking with the third company, I found out that Countrywide had placed forced flood insurance on this same property for over $1100, so the policies were being cancelled due to being "double insured." I faxed Countrywide a copy of the Elevation Certificate that I received with my VA Closing Papers showing that this property was no longer in a flood zone (not even in a "special" flood zone, meaning the 100 year floods), and telling them to cancel their forced insurance.
They questioned the Certificate from the VA because the "Insurance Maps" from back in 1989 (before these houses were built) showed the area in a "special flood zone." I then faxed copies of the Certification of Compaction, and the FEMA Letter of Map Revision, that I received from Clarson and Associates (the surveyors). The woman in the Countrywide Flood Unit accused me of "making them up" on my computer! I then had Ron Kenholster, the Duval County Developement Manager call her and tell her, that yes, this house was no longer in a special flood zone, but in an "X" Zone, meaning NOT in ANY flood zone.
After much arguing, Countrywide FINALLY canceled their flood insurance with a note on the log that just said "cancelled due to dispute!" Nothing at all about the VA's Elevation Cert, or the Cert of Compaction, or the FEMA LOMR, or the phone call from Ron Kenholster. Just "cancelled due to dispute."
Countrywide, later, re-purchased forced flood insurance AGAIN! I spoke with a woman named Eddie in HUD "RESPA" and she called Countrywide and told them to "cease" placing their forced flood insurance. Countrywide got ahold of the wrong loan (my OTHER loan account that Countrywide had purchased), and had cancelled my Home Owner's Policy! I called to find out why, and they claimed that RESPA had told them to. I called Eddie back and told her what they had said. She said she would take care of it. The forced flood insurance was finally canceled, I was re-instated in MY flood insurance with Hartford.
I went to the durogatory for the foreclosure in Sept and after proving, again, with statements, and a letter from the electronic payment department of Wescom Credit Union, that all payments were still going out each month, paid in full and on time, but that the payments were being rejected, their lawyer finally found out that this foreclosure was actually due to Countrywide placing forced flood insurance on my account and had raised the amount of the monthly payments.
I went before a judge last month, July. I get to keep the house, and we were told to go to an arbertrator, which we have not done yet. The judge told the Countrywide lawyer that he was NOT to add charges for lawyers fees. However, when I received my first payment schedule, due on Aug 1, they added 5 years on to my loan time, and also added $250 per month on to the payment amount.
I believe that this lawyer is in contempt of court. I believe that the extra time added was to make up for the last five years of "non-payment, " but the extra $250 is the lawyer's fees, which would amount to $78 grand over the next 26 years. The loan amount due is actually $77 grand, so the lawyers fees would double the amount due.
I might add that this whole thing has caused an untold amount of losses to me and my business. I am a real estate investor. I purchase old broken down houses, repair them, and resell them. You need to have impeccable credit accounts, and a high FICO score to run my business. I have had to sell properties when they should NOT have been sold, just to have enough money for food and gas. Several times I was in financial crisis, and had to take donations of food from churches, which was degrading and humiliating.
I have lost chances at great investments, because I could not qualify for the loans. I have even had to move to Jacksonville FL because I could not afford $3000 each time to keep flying out from Arizona for derogitories, court appearences etc. Etc.
Because of the foreclosure on my credit report, I have also been targeted for identity theft. I have since been cleared of most of these issues, but a bank manager told me that these "smartsters" target accounts in foreclosure because the victim has less believablility, it takes longer to start an investigation, and gives the perp more time to disappear.
You can imagine how much I have aged over the last five years. I feel like I'm 20 years older, and am now prone to having crying and panick attacks. I used to weigh 265 pounds, but am now 185 do to worry and lack of sleep over this whole matter. I feel like I have lost my life, my business, and my home.
My lawyer, says he feels that I am not the only one who is going through all this with Countrywide. If you are a lawyer, and know of something that may be of help to us, please email me at [email protected] Please, only if you are a lawyer. I can not pay you, but your help would be appreaciated.
Annie
Jacksonville, Florida
U.S.A.
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