In July my husband had a unexpected health problem and missed two weeks from work. When he returned to work, his employer said his business was hurting and cut his pay in half. We struggled to pay all of our bills and fell behind on our mortgage with Countrywide Home Loans. We tried to work with Countrywide for several months but to no avail. We were working extra jobs to make ends meet but the payments Countrywide offered were way to high.
We heard an advertisement on a popular radio station for HomeSavers USA. We took off from work March 28 and drove the 60 mile trip each way to meet with a HomeSavers counselor. We were told to bring $900 cash with us and to bring our financial information. At that time, we were less than $6000 past due on our mortgage. We were assigned a case worker, Mary Mack, with HomeSavers USA and was told by Ms. Mack that HomeSavers USA had helped many customers with Countrywide. She told me we "were good candidates and that our finances did not look that bad." She said they "felt sure they could help us". We were so relieved!
At first everything was going well. Ms. Mack returned our calls within a 48 hour period. I sent them anything they needed. I called once a week to touch base with Ms. Mack. Ms. Mack said Countrywide was "dragging their feet". Then, in the summer of I called Ms. Mack several times and left messages but she did not return my calls. I even emailed her and said I had not heard from her in weeks. I finally called and said I would report her to the CEO if she did not call me back. She returned my call and said that she had our account "was closed and resolved and someone named Michael Taylor dropped the ball". I asked if we would have received a letter from Countrywide and HomeSavers USA stating an agreement had been reached. Ms. Mack said "uh-huh". I pushed her for more info and asked what date she spoke with Mr. Taylor. I felt her answers were very vague and I began to have a sinking feeling.
I called Countrywide and finally spoke with a supervisor in the workout dept. I told her what Ms. Mack had said and the supervisor said "she is giving you the wrong information. It was Michelle Taylor not Michael Taylor and she denied it for a workout plan". I asked Ms. Mack on three different occasions for copies of the work done on our entire file and I have never received it.
Finally our home went into foreclosure and Countrywide said they could no longer help us. I tried to contact HomeSavers on May 29 and all of their phone numbers and email addresses and websites were not functioning. I called the tollfree number and was told by another agency "they are no longer in business". She gave me the phone number for David Moakler and I received his voice mail. On May 29, I left a message with my telephone number and asked for a full refund. No response.
HomeSavers has a gurantee that if they could not resolve the issue for you, they would refund your money. It also says in their brochure under FAQS "if the mortgage is in your name, you have income to pay your bills each month, you have not been recently dismissed from Chapter 13 bankruptcy due to non-payment under the plan, you follow our instructions, and we have ample time before a sale date, you can be assured that you will not lose your home". Our home was auctioned off a couple of weeks ago, July 6.
I have filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and the NC and SC Dept of Consumer Affairs. I did a search on Google a few months ago to see what Mr. Moakler was up to these days and I found a press release dated Feb 27, where Illinois Atty General Robyn Ziegler stating "According to the settlement announced today, HomeSavers USA, Inc. And its CEO, David Moakler, will cease offering and accepting money for foreclosure rescue services in Illinois. Customers of HomeSavers USA have until March 21, to file a complaint with the Illinois Attorney General's office for full or partial refund of the fees they paid to the defendants. My office is working aggressively to help consumers who were defrauded by this company, Attorney General Madigan said. I encourage consumers who were involved with this company to file complaints with my office.
I sincerely feel Mr. Moakler and his staff took advantage of hundreds of people in their time of need. All of the brochures included go on and on about what a reputable company HomeSavers is. Really? In Illinois as well? I would love to see this man behind bars.
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