Staying in the Right Subforum?

[Paul Molinaro Esq.]

NO LEGAL ADVICE HERE - JUST GENERAL INFORMATION - ANY SIMILARITIES TO ANYONE'S ACTUAL SITUATION IS JUST ONE HECK OF A COINCIDENCE.

While it is great to have forums like loansafe... and there are many more out there on the Internet where people can educate each other about solving common problems, I have been posting less and less here. Let me explain why... and moderators, please correct me if I'm wrong... this subforum section should be where people discuss how to find good attorneys, what attorneys can do for them, ask attorneys GENERAL questions, and get answers to GENERAL questions from attorneys. What seems to have happened is a Wild West of legal advice being given by non-attorneys.

That might be okay for other subforums, though it makes me cringe when I see all the misinformation and just plain BS being slung around... but this subforum was a bit more civilized, shall I say.

So, may I ask... 1) If you are not an attorney, please don't answer as if you are... even when you say you are not an attorney and then give legal advice, it really doesn't make this subforum more valuable; 2) If you have a general question, just post it simply and in plain language... the long story with lots of specifics means the answer is more likely to involve legal ADVICE, and that is something I and most of the other attorneys here will not provide in an Internet forum... keep the questions simple so they can be answered quickly; 3) Search the forums before asking a GENERAL question... since there are so many people in the same boat, chances are it's been asked and answered already; 4) If you have a specific legal question and need legal advice, visit (that means in person or at least by telephone if you trust that attorney) an attorney and pay for that advice. The few hundred dollars will be well worth it.

- Paul

[caldwellb02]

Paul - thanks. Here's the question:
I didn't pay August first mortgage (I paid the second. I know. Dumb. Live and learn). Have enough now to pay one month for the first, and can pay that right away. If I pay the first this month (thus keeping me one month total behind) are they definitely gonna apply it to my mortgage or some other holding tank? I'm in CA. My servicer is Chase.

I'm just trying to up my chances of having Christmas in this home....

[Paul Molinaro Esq.]

NO LEGAL ADVICE HERE - JUST GENERAL INFORMATION - ANY SIMILARITIES TO ANYONE'S ACTUAL SITUATION IS JUST ONE HECK OF A COINCIDENCE.

When a borrower is one month behind and pays, GENERALLY the late fees are deducted from the payment, the rest is applied to the payment - the borrower is then on a "Rolling 30" as in thirty days late again and again...

Best to call the lender when making the payment to see how it will be applied, and at the same time do some "begging" (aka negotiating) to remove the late fee.

- Paul

[CW California]

Originally Posted by Paul Molinaro Esq.

NO LEGAL ADVICE HERE - JUST GENERAL INFORMATION - ANY SIMILARITIES TO ANYONE'S ACTUAL SITUATION IS JUST ONE HECK OF A COINCIDENCE.

While it is great to have forums like loansafe... and there are many more out there on the Internet where people can educate each other about solving common problems, I have been posting less and less here. Let me explain why... and moderators, please correct me if I'm wrong... this subforum section should be where people discuss how to find good attorneys, what attorneys can do for them, ask attorneys GENERAL questions, and get answers to GENERAL questions from attorneys. What seems to have happened is a Wild West of legal advice being given by non-attorneys.

That might be okay for other subforums, though it makes me cringe when I see all the misinformation and just plain BS being slung around... but this subforum was a bit more civilized, shall I say.

So, may I ask... 1) If you are not an attorney, please don't answer as if you are... even when you say you are not an attorney and then give legal advice, it really doesn't make this subforum more valuable; 2) If you have a general question, just post it simply and in plain language... the long story with lots of specifics means the answer is more likely to involve legal ADVICE, and that is something I and most of the other attorneys here will not provide in an Internet forum... keep the questions simple so they can be answered quickly; 3) Search the forums before asking a GENERAL question... since there are so many people in the same boat, chances are it's been asked and answered already; 4) If you have a specific legal question and need legal advice, visit (that means in person or at least by telephone if you trust that attorney) an attorney and pay for that advice. The few hundred dollars will be well worth it.

- Paul

I agree. Since you are kind enough to spend your time answering questions, for free I might add, then we all ought to be kind enough to not answer your posts for you or play attorney on this subforum. Thanks for your time and effort!