Below please find a copy of a letter send to any executive I could find on the internet related in anyway to Vanderbilt Mortgage & Finance, Inc. This was send August 18 via Fax Transmission. As of this posting I have not received one phone call with regard to this letter. I have, however, received several phone calls from the rude customer service dept. So it looks like we won't get any help and Vanderbilt wins again!
Mr. Warren Buffett
BERSHIRE HATHAWAY, INC. DELIVERED VIA FAX TRANSMISSION
1440 Kiewit Plaza
Omaha, NE 68131
Dear Mr. Buffett:
I am a consumer who doesnt know where to turn anymore. I currently have a mortgage with your newest acquisition Vanderbilt Mortgage & Finance, Inc. Unfortunately, I have
had nothing but problems with this company.
Let me back up a bit and give you some insight. I purchased my mobile home in November, 1999 and received a mortgage from 21st Century Mortgage. Prior to the closing my wife, Ruth, called 21st Century Mortgage to inquire on the interest rate. She
was quoted 13%. At the closing we were informed that the rate would be much higher. Unfortunately, we were not at liberty to fight this situation as we had to quickly move from Chicago, IL to Pharr, TX because my Mother-in-law was terminally ill. All our things were already in Pharr, TX when we closed on the mobile home.
Anyway, we closed and had our mortgage with 21st Century Mortgage. Not six weeks later our loan was sold to Associates Housing, Inc. We were properly notified and things were moving right along. We ran into hardship as my Mother-in-law passed and my wife became ill. The bills were mounting. We contacted Associates Housing, Inc. And worked out a hardship package. We provided everything that they required.in December
we called Associates to make a payment by phone and were instructed to call another number. When my wife placed that call she was told that Associates Housing, Inc. Had sold our mortgage to Vanderbilt Mortgage & Finance, Inc. This is where the problems really began. First, we NEVER received anything in writing from either Vanderbilt or Associates Housing, Inc. State that our mortgage had been sold. We spoke repeatedly to
Vanderbilt asking for this information. We have never received anything from Vanderbilt until Saturday, August 16.
Vanderbilt Mortgage & Finance, Inc. Admits that we had a hardship agreement with Associates Housing, Inc. However, Vanderbilt claims that we didnt follow-through. Vanderbilt would not and has never attempted to work with us. And our history with them shows that we have and continue to struggle. We have been told to take money from my wifes sister SSI checks. We have been told youve done this all to yourself.
Why should we try to help you? We have attempted to speak to others than the Customer Service Reps and the Collection Reps at Vanderbilt to no avail. According to these people they are the bottom line.
On Thursday, August 14 we were visited by Mr. Jose Castillo. He is a Field Representative for Vanderbilt. Ruth sat down, at length, with him and explained everything. She explained that we have offered to prove the medical expenses my wife has incurred since January of this year. Mr. Castillo was very nice, and attempted to apologize for the treatment we have received from the Customer Service Representative. Ruth pushed to find out who we could speak to other than the Customer Service Reps and the Collection Reps. He only could provide the same telephone numbers. He informed my wife that our mortgage had to have a payment of roughly $1,700.00 on or before
August 20 or our home would be placed in foreclosure.
Since January, my wife, Ruth, tore and folded back the cornea on her left eye. This put her out of work for 6 weeks. Then on February 14 she had to have a cyst removed from her back, more time off work. We had another death in the family in June, and now she is home due to an severe infection in her colon due to unknown causes and a bicep tendon rupture. The rupture will take at least 4-6 weeks to heal. Thus she is out of work
again. However, as she told Mr. Castillo, she was working with her physician to get a letter stating the medical problems so she could apply for unemployment as quickly as possible. This truly has not been a good year for us financially.
Mr. Buffett, the last thing we want to do is lose our home. We just want Vanderbilt to treat us like real people. We just Vanderbilt to work with us. Is that really too much to ask for? We cant believe that we are the only people who have run into financial difficulties and the only option is for their mortgage company to say too bad instead of working with them. We are not saying forget the $1,700.00 we would like to defer the
$1,700.00 or at least part of it so we can start clean.
Saturday, August 16 we received a letter post-marked August 13; and today received the same letter via Certified Mail. Ive enclosed a copy. Basically it says that we
have to come up with $37,000.00 by the 20th of August or we lose our home. This notification gives us 4 days to come up with $37,000.00. This definitely counterdicts what Mr. Jose Castillo told my wife on the 14th of August. Furthermore, Mr. Castillo said that our prior mortgage company was Conseco; and that there were two different dates in his computer as to when the $1,700.00 had to be in Vanderbilts office - August 20 and
August 23. This information leads to more confusion and make our complaints more real.
According to the only written notice weve received from Vanderbilt we have only 2 more days before we lose our home. Is there anything you can do to help us? Is there anyone you can forward this on to that can help us? Time is of the essence. We dont know where to turn anymore. We certainly cannot afford any legal services. We dont want to lose our home. Anything you can do to help us would be greatly appreciated. We know
you are an extremely busy man.
We would welcome a telephone call, please be sure to leave a message if we are unavailable and we will return the call.
Thank you in advance,
Cc: Marc Hamburg
Bershire Hathaway, Inc.
Kevin T. Clayton
Clayton Homes, Inc.
John J. Kalec
Clayton Homes, Inc.
James L. Cayton
Clayton Homes, Inc.
0 comments