It started in 2007 when I lost my job. I filed Chapter 7. I did not include my mortgage. I was calling Countrywide to see about a loan modification because we were 3 months behind in mortgage. Calling Countrywide several times their employees answering the phones would constantly tell me that they could not talk to me because I was in bankruptcy. I went through this for 4 months. I finally called Countrywide and was transferred to the Foreclosure Department. I was shocked I was in foreclosure. The foreclosure person at Countrywide told me there was no reason for Countrywide employees to not help me because the bankruptcy did not include the mortgage and that they should have known that.
Anyway, I finally was told about applying for a loan modification. I requested the loan modification at the end of January. I was told I would know something in 30 days. I was told the past due mortgage payments would be put at the end of the loan and modified to where our payments would go up a little. After several phone calls and 30 days later getting no answer from anyone, I was told that the person who was just then assigned to my application would have to review it and it would take them about 30 days. I said I was told the 30 days was from when I called for the modification. Every time I called and talked to a different person every time I got a different story every time. I was then told that the lender had up to 90 days to make their decision if they wanted to give me a loan modification.
I called and called and called for 5 months getting different answers and no instructions on what to expect or what to do but just keep calling back. I was told that they wanted to help people like us and don't want to foreclose on people. This department is called "The Home Retention Team". One person suggested I call Reconstruct, the company that was handling the foreclosure. The person at Reconstruct gave me the same information that they want to help and not foreclose.
Through all this I was told not to make any payment because they would not accept it. I was told just to have some money set aside. I finally in May asked someone from Countrywide how much money am I supposed to have set aside for a down payment for this loan modification. It wasn't until I asked that question that I found out that it would be 33% of what I owe but they would let me know. Each month during all my calling I kept getting told they would have to recalculate because time had passed and the amount had increased. I finally got an answer after one of my several calls that May 16 I would know if I got the loan modification. I had gotten a call May 2 from Countrywide a female asking me how much money I had in the bank and that I needed a certain amount when it came time to do the loan modification. I said no problem, we can have that to just let us know when we need to pay it. That was all the conversation was about.
I decided to call on May 8 to see if anyone knew anything at Countrywide at this time. I was told that the loan modification was denied. I was shocked. I said was anyone going to call me or send a letter? The girl had said that they are going to send a letter. I called my husband in such shock and he called them himself. They told him that even if we had a couple more thousand than what they are requesting there is no guarantee that we will get the loan modification. A letter was never received and a default notice was taped to our door a couple days later. I immediately went back to my bankruptcy attorney and had to file a Chapter 13 and am in the process of that.
After filing the Chapter 13, my attorney said we could start paying mortgage. We made our payment for June.in June we get a letter from Countrywide attorney stating our mortgage payment was going up effective July 1 due to shortage of escrow.
Again, after several phone calls to Countrywide and talking the people who answer the phones that don't know anything about your loan, I finally demanded to be transferred to the Tax Department. The girl I spoke to in the Tax Department said they were collecting for taxes paid for the first part of the year. This is the time period would not let us pay mortgage due to the request for our loan modification. They didn't get any money from us but had to pay the insurance and taxes. So they were trying to collect this through higher mortgage payments AND through my Chapter 13. They CANNOT collect in 2 different ways collecting twice the money. I wrote a letter to that attorney and faxed it to Countrywide, their attorney and my trustee.
Now, just have to wait and see what happens. This company has caused my husband and I so much stress and grief. I just don't see how this can be legal and/or fair. Who is supposed to help us with complicated situations like this? Where are we supposed to go? There is nothing out there in plain site to help us through such an ugly mess that we did not cause.
Tina lemay
Ramona, California
U.S.A.
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