Months of Frustration

[veejmar]

Like many of you on here, this process has been extremely frustrating and dragged out, even with the "help" of someone in the OOP. If anyone has any, it would be greatly appreciated because I feel like I'm just banging my head against a wall and getting nowhere.

I started my Trial payments in October. I made the October, November and December payments on-time. In December, a person from the Office of the President told me that my file had been sent to the investors for final approval and that it takes about 30-45 days. Again, this was around December 18. Then in late January I get a letter from BofA telling me that while I made my October payment, they see that I haven't paid my November, December and January payments and that I had 30 days to do so! I immediately contact the OOP and they told me these letters were going out to "everyone" and to ignore it, but to "be safe" I should provide them with proof of my payments. I find this fascinating since I cannot understand why they can't LOOK AT MY ACCOUNT AND SEE MY PAYMENTS when I can easily do so, just as every customer can do so. But I decided to jump through yet another hoop and I sent proof of my payments, including copies of checks, copies of bank statements and copies of documents from the BofA site showing I made ALL of my payments at that point.

Last month, in February, I made a payment over the phone for my trial amount, the customer service rep read everything back to me and gave me the confirmation number--no different than every other month. Except THIS time they took my regular payment amount out of my checking account, not the trial amount! They took a payment that was over $400 more than my trial payment. When I contacted the OOP, they told me "Yep, it looks like you authorized them for the old payment amount." Ridiculous---I would never do that and it would never cross my mind to do that! I was then told by customer service that they could take another payment from me for the correct amount right now, but it would take 6 weeks to get back my overpayment. Nice! Only six weeks! How generous of them. The other option was I could make a lower payment in March--$400+ less, to equal the overpayment. I agreed to this.

Last week I get a call from the person at the OOP in response to my email asking whatever happened to the 30-45 day timeline I was given in DECEMBER? I was told that when they sent out the letter to me--the one that supposedly went to "everybody" saying I hadn't made my November, December and January payments (which I had), that when this letter went out to me, my file was "flagged" and pulled into a separate department that had to verify my payments from those months before anything could proceed. I was told that on February 25th this department verified that I made these payments after receiving the paperwork and that my file would now proceed. However, he "recommended" I make my full trial payment amount this month, not the lower payment that customer service told me I could make. AAAAAAAAAARGH!!!! I am so angry and so frustrated that I'm at a point where I don't even care about anything anymore. No matter how many hoops you jump through, no matter how difficult they make the obstacle course, as soon as you do the right thing, they make things even more difficult--and in ways I never imagined or thought possible! I have made all of my MHA Trial payments on-time since October. One of the payments wound up being $456 more than it should have been, I had to send proof of payment on payments I already made months before, my file was flagged and delayed because they didn't know I made these payments and now they give me no idea when any of this will be done. It is an absolute nightmare. I was two payments behind when this started and I have made all of my payments since, on-time, because the payment amount is affordable--isn't that supposed to be the point? Why do they keep messing with people's heads and playing games like this??

Does anyone have any suggestions on who I can call or write to in light of this mess? I know everyone on here has similar nightmare stories and I am wondering if a letter or call to someone would help. I would rather send a letter detailing these incidents to someone, but I don't know who and I don't know if it would matter. But I am tired of just sitting and waiting. Thanks.

Vince

[Evan Bedard]

hi veejmar,

I would write out a detailed letter to BofA explaining with is going on and all of the BS you have had to put up with. you may also want to send a letter to your state's attorney general and local congress as well. Get as much attention as you possible can to your case..

[veejmar]

Evan,
Thanks for your post. Should I send the letter to the OOP? Should I bother addressing it to someone specific, or should I just send it to Office? I agree with you about sending a letter--I think it would be better than an email because I've been reading that emails have been getting bounced recently. Also, I like your idea of sending it to the NY State Attorney General and my local congressman.

Best,
Vince

[calgirl67]

We have all been through this. It is now quite evident they do not want to modify anyone's loans. The best thing to do is accept this and instead turn your efforts towards staying as long as you can without paying.

It is just a house.. there will be plenty more in your lifetime.

[timmywit]

Originally Posted by veejmar

Like many of you on here, this process has been extremely frustrating and dragged out, even with the "help" of someone in the OOP. If anyone has any, it would be greatly appreciated because I feel like I'm just banging my head against a wall and getting nowhere.

I started my Trial payments in October. I made the October, November and December payments on-time. In December, a person from the Office of the President told me that my file had been sent to the investors for final approval and that it takes about 30-45 days. Again, this was around December 18. Then in late January I get a letter from BofA telling me that while I made my October payment, they see that I haven't paid my November, December and January payments and that I had 30 days to do so! I immediately contact the OOP and they told me these letters were going out to "everyone" and to ignore it, but to "be safe" I should provide them with proof of my payments. I find this fascinating since I cannot understand why they can't LOOK AT MY ACCOUNT AND SEE MY PAYMENTS when I can easily do so, just as every customer can do so. But I decided to jump through yet another hoop and I sent proof of my payments, including copies of checks, copies of bank statements and copies of documents from the BofA site showing I made ALL of my payments at that point.

Last month, in February, I made a payment over the phone for my trial amount, the customer service rep read everything back to me and gave me the confirmation number--no different than every other month. Except THIS time they took my regular payment amount out of my checking account, not the trial amount! They took a payment that was over $400 more than my trial payment. When I contacted the OOP, they told me "Yep, it looks like you authorized them for the old payment amount." Ridiculous---I would never do that and it would never cross my mind to do that! I was then told by customer service that they could take another payment from me for the correct amount right now, but it would take 6 weeks to get back my overpayment. Nice! Only six weeks! How generous of them. The other option was I could make a lower payment in March--$400+ less, to equal the overpayment. I agreed to this.

Last week I get a call from the person at the OOP in response to my email asking whatever happened to the 30-45 day timeline I was given in DECEMBER? I was told that when they sent out the letter to me--the one that supposedly went to "everybody" saying I hadn't made my November, December and January payments (which I had), that when this letter went out to me, my file was "flagged" and pulled into a separate department that had to verify my payments from those months before anything could proceed. I was told that on February 25th this department verified that I made these payments after receiving the paperwork and that my file would now proceed. However, he "recommended" I make my full trial payment amount this month, not the lower payment that customer service told me I could make. AAAAAAAAAARGH!!!! I am so angry and so frustrated that I'm at a point where I don't even care about anything anymore. No matter how many hoops you jump through, no matter how difficult they make the obstacle course, as soon as you do the right thing, they make things even more difficult--and in ways I never imagined or thought possible! I have made all of my MHA Trial payments on-time since October. One of the payments wound up being $456 more than it should have been, I had to send proof of payment on payments I already made months before, my file was flagged and delayed because they didn't know I made these payments and now they give me no idea when any of this will be done. It is an absolute nightmare. I was two payments behind when this started and I have made all of my payments since, on-time, because the payment amount is affordable--isn't that supposed to be the point? Why do they keep messing with people's heads and playing games like this??

Does anyone have any suggestions on who I can call or write to in light of this mess? I know everyone on here has similar nightmare stories and I am wondering if a letter or call to someone would help. I would rather send a letter detailing these incidents to someone, but I don't know who and I don't know if it would matter. But I am tired of just sitting and waiting. Thanks.

Vince

Vince- all it comes down too is a idiot who cannot process payments right. There was one time they processed a payment less then my trial payment luckly I made my trial payment a week before its due and I watch my account like a hawk. I have seen this many times in here, one word that comes to mind with BoA is neglence. As Even stated I would fire off a letter to your states attny Gens office aswell as your congressional leaders. agetaka posted a nightmare she is going through yesterday, ******** typed up a very good letter for her to send to the BoA OOP. I would follow that format.
I now the same time frame when you got that fed ex package I got one too along with many others. Well my case was fairly easy it was sent out in error go figure.

Another thing there investor approval is a line a Sh%t. I took it upon my self to call my investor after they told me my investor needs to approve it got told the magical up to 90days BS. My investor came back and said we dont have anything to do with the decision making with these modification, they have our guidelines in this process so its all in the hands of BoA.

[timmywit]

Here is the letter ******** wrote for another poster! very well written then ending hits it on the spot. Each paragraph timelies.

Hello All,

I was told today, after months of contact with your offices regarding my loan modification request, that I had been denied more than a month ago due to an amount in my savings account which was, in fact, my student loan and is now gone. I wish to be reconsidered for a modification, based on the fact that this money never really was an asset, as it was a loan and has now been applied to my school costs.

I first contacted your bank on October 15th, when one of your representatives prequalified me instantly for a trial modification over the phone. He incorrectly referred me in the system and my application was never filed.

After calling multiple times to the Home Retention Team I was told that I had not been prequalified and I would not be receiving any paperwork. I then contacted the office of the chairman and Mary Adams was nice enough to straighten out the mess.

I soon received the package including the loan modification agreement and instructions. I followed every single request you have asked me of me. Then I kept in touch with the Hope team who was gathering all my documentation to send it back to the Retention Team for review.

I am a graduate student. Since I cannot afford to pay for my school anymore due to my husband loosing his job and my taking another much lower paying job at the campus, I applied for a student loan, and was granted $9,000 for my education. I received the money in October. The money was placed in savings account since my following semester's tuition was due in January - approximately $4,000.

I asked the Hope team representative - Monica if I should include the savings account as a part of my financial documentation since the money was not savings, but a loan kept in savings account, so I could pay for my school. I explained everything in the hardship letter and provided the proof that the money was a DEBT NOT SAVINGS, and it needed to be repaid.

Today I found out from Rodney Brown from your office that my loan has been denied since January 28th!!! It was denied due to having too large amount in my savings account. I have several questions:

1. Why was a denial letter was not sent to me? According to the government guidelines your institution is required to send a denial letter when the MHA application has been denied with an explanation of the reason.

2. Why I was not told about this denial, since I kept in touch twice a week with your representatives at Home Retention Team asking about the update on my loan!

3. Why was I denied if the money in my account was not savings, and you can clearly see that by reviewing my documentation and my credit report that you pulled 3 times already. My credit report shows that I have a loan in an amount equaling the amount in my savings account. Are you expecting me to pay the obligation I have with your company with other debt such as student loan? That would be fraud on my part, since I specifically applied for the student loan for the purposes of paying for my education.

Rodney said that my loan is being reviewed again by "a second look team" to see if there are any other options for us. However, he pointed out that this process might take another couple of weeks or even months. I don't know if I have any strength left in me to deal with this ridiculous process and uninformed people at the Home Retention Team.

Your bank has not contacted me once during the entire 6 months process! I was the one calling each week. The way you do business is unacceptable, illegal and unethical. I will be contacting the Attorney General in this matter and I am expecting a reasonable solution to this mess from your office by the end of this month.

I do believe someone has made a serious mistake in the handling of my case. I would love to be able to stay in this home with an affordable modification. Please contact me immediately.

[veejmar]

Timmywit,
Thanks so much for your comments and for posting that letter-greatly appreciated. I am going to prepare one this afternoon and send it out. It may not accomplish anything--maybe it will. But at least I'll feel like I'm doing something. Sitting back and dealing with this stuff is no longer an acceptable option. Thank you again--I really appreciate it.
Best,
Vince

[chowder]

Originally Posted by timmywit

Here is the letter ******** wrote for another poster! very well written then ending hits it on the spot. Each paragraph timelies.

Hello All,

I was told today, after months of contact with your offices regarding my loan modification request, that I had been denied more than a month ago due to an amount in my savings account which was, in fact, my student loan and is now gone. I wish to be reconsidered for a modification, based on the fact that this money never really was an asset, as it was a loan and has now been applied to my school costs.

I first contacted your bank on October 15th, when one of your representatives prequalified me instantly for a trial modification over the phone. He incorrectly referred me in the system and my application was never filed.

After calling multiple times to the Home Retention Team I was told that I had not been prequalified and I would not be receiving any paperwork. I then contacted the office of the chairman and Mary Adams was nice enough to straighten out the mess.

I soon received the package including the loan modification agreement and instructions. I followed every single request you have asked me of me. Then I kept in touch with the Hope team who was gathering all my documentation to send it back to the Retention Team for review.

I am a graduate student. Since I cannot afford to pay for my school anymore due to my husband loosing his job and my taking another much lower paying job at the campus, I applied for a student loan, and was granted $9,000 for my education. I received the money in October. The money was placed in savings account since my following semester's tuition was due in January - approximately $4,000.

I asked the Hope team representative - Monica if I should include the savings account as a part of my financial documentation since the money was not savings, but a loan kept in savings account, so I could pay for my school. I explained everything in the hardship letter and provided the proof that the money was a DEBT NOT SAVINGS, and it needed to be repaid.

Today I found out from Rodney Brown from your office that my loan has been denied since January 28th!!! It was denied due to having too large amount in my savings account. I have several questions:

1. Why was a denial letter was not sent to me? According to the government guidelines your institution is required to send a denial letter when the MHA application has been denied with an explanation of the reason.

2. Why I was not told about this denial, since I kept in touch twice a week with your representatives at Home Retention Team asking about the update on my loan!

3. Why was I denied if the money in my account was not savings, and you can clearly see that by reviewing my documentation and my credit report that you pulled 3 times already. My credit report shows that I have a loan in an amount equaling the amount in my savings account. Are you expecting me to pay the obligation I have with your company with other debt such as student loan? That would be fraud on my part, since I specifically applied for the student loan for the purposes of paying for my education.

Rodney said that my loan is being reviewed again by "a second look team" to see if there are any other options for us. However, he pointed out that this process might take another couple of weeks or even months. I don't know if I have any strength left in me to deal with this ridiculous process and uninformed people at the Home Retention Team.

Your bank has not contacted me once during the entire 6 months process! I was the one calling each week. The way you do business is unacceptable, illegal and unethical. I will be contacting the Attorney General in this matter and I am expecting a reasonable solution to this mess from your office by the end of this month.

I do believe someone has made a serious mistake in the handling of my case. I would love to be able to stay in this home with an affordable modification. Please contact me immediately.

Now that's pretty silly. They pay no attention to a long explanation about what the money is in the savings account. How to correct this? By sending an even LONGER explanation!!

[johngor]

Vince,
They did the exact samething to me in Feb took out the full payment amount. I called them up to try to reverse it was told 6 weeks aswell, but I was advise diffrently from you. I asked about just to make a diffrent amount for March, the rep said no the computer will see you did not make a full trial payment and kick you out of the HAMP. My diffrence was refunded to me in about 2 weeks. I am sorry you where advised to make a lower amount for your trial payment. There seems to be no accountablity at Bank of America.

[veejmar]

Well now I've been told that my that I was over-charged last month because my trial payments "ended." Isn't that nice? There's never been any mention of this and they keep adding documents to my list when I check the modification status online, yet now they claim that my trial payments ended (last month no less!) and that's why I was charged my old payment. Doesn't seem to matter that they took the trial amount over the phone and then helped themselves to $400+ more without mentioning anything to me. Doesn't matter that at first they told me they made a mistake and that they could either refund me or I could pay a lower amount this month. Nope. Now suddenly the line is that my trial payments ended. I really think this bank gets off on torturing its customers at this point. I have never seen anything like this. If they're not going to modify my loan, fine. All I ask is that they bring me current (I was one month behind) and then I'll pay my old amount. At this point, I cannot take this anymore. The lies and the b.s. and the confusion and the pointless, ridiculous emails I get from the OOP and their "advocates". I made my payments on time and received a letter saying I never made any of my trial payments. I sent proof of my payments, they acknowledge proof and then they over charge me without warning. They say they made a mistake and I could pay less and now suddenly my trial payments ended last month without any notification--yet the person at OOP says my file is still under review for modification. I give up, I really do.

[faith]

Originally Posted by veejmar

Well now I've been told that my that I was over-charged last month because my trial payments "ended." Isn't that nice? There's never been any mention of this and they keep adding documents to my list when I check the modification status online, yet now they claim that my trial payments ended (last month no less!) and that's why I was charged my old payment. Doesn't seem to matter that they took the trial amount over the phone and then helped themselves to $400+ more without mentioning anything to me. Doesn't matter that at first they told me they made a mistake and that they could either refund me or I could pay a lower amount this month. Nope. Now suddenly the line is that my trial payments ended. I really think this bank gets off on torturing its customers at this point. I have never seen anything like this. If they're not going to modify my loan, fine. All I ask is that they bring me current (I was one month behind) and then I'll pay my old amount. At this point, I cannot take this anymore. The lies and the b.s. and the confusion and the pointless, ridiculous emails I get from the OOP and their "advocates". I made my payments on time and received a letter saying I never made any of my trial payments. I sent proof of my payments, they acknowledge proof and then they over charge me without warning. They say they made a mistake and I could pay less and now suddenly my trial payments ended last month without any notification--yet the person at OOP says my file is still under review for modification. I give up, I really do.

Please don't give up now, you've been so patience for too long, and if you just hold on for just another week or so, the answer is just around the corner and before you know it the approval is knocking at your door. Have you tried to get hold of their CEO. Executive team, President, Supervisor to ask for their help? I know this experience is very frustrating and emotional and I pray that God will give you favor for a speedy processing and approval of your Loan Modification and a lower interest and payment, hopefully they will reduce the principal balance too.

Take care and God bless you always.