So how long is MHA Mod supposed to take?

[Confused!]

Ok, I am just starting to get nervous and frustrated. About a month ago, I received a Fedex letter from Countrywide, telling me I was prequalified for a Home Affordable mod. There was a number to call and give your financial info, which I promptly did. At that time they told me that I would receive a packet within 7-14 days. Once that time frame passed and I called, they said it could take up to 4 weeks, just be patient. Now it has been more than a month, and they are telling me to call back if I haven't gotten anything by June 1st. I have also called various departments at Countrywide, and they tell me it can take 60-90 days!
I'm trying to be patient, really, I am, but as you all know it's hard to be patient when your home is on the line and you feel like you are getting the runaround. Honestly, I would rather see the Fedex man show up on my doorstep right now than Ed McMahon! I am that desperate to get this resolved.
So I am wondering two things at this point. First, has ANYONE gotten any further in this process than I have? And I really wanted to handle this with Countrywide, but I'm wondering if it might be time to just go ahead and try to get NACA involved. Can I have both irons in the fire at once, or will one cancel out the other? I tried calling 995HOPE, they are pretty much a joke. I just dont know what to do. I worry about this so much it's not even funny.
Thanks for taking the time to read and for any advice you may have!

[ItsJustMe]

No, I don't think anyone has gotten further than you. Can't think of a single person who has posted to confirm a MHA CW mod. I would look at NACA. I tried 995HOPE and for sure they were a joke. They were a division of Consumer Credit Counseling Service. Perfectly nice, but basically just told me I needed a higher income (duh!). NACA didn't once lecture me about my finances. Just took my info and put together a proposal.

[morainac]

The first thing you should do is type a harship letter explaining your situation and specify that you want the home affordable modification because that will be a long term solution. Once you have the hardship letter, fax it to cw home retention team along with your most recent pay stubs. I never heard of a packet. I would not wait for that. Make sure you register online so you can check for updates with the modification. They respond better to faxes.

[kr1959cw]

Confused, I got the same letter on 4-23..I could have wrote every single thing you said...that is exactly what I am going through...they tell me to just wait on the next Fed-x for the next step...I am the same...my ears perk up every time I hear a truck in my neighborhood, hoping it is the Fed-X man...lol...If you can go with NACA I sure would, I cant because I own 2 property's. Good Luck!

[Horsegirl]

Wait a minute!!?? You actually were told you were pre-qualified? I have called almost everyweek since the program was introduced back in March and all I ever get is, they haven't implemented the program, they don't have the criteria yet, or they are only doing the MHA refi's now, how did you swing it? Did they tell you what pre-qualified you exactly? I'm so curious...

[Confused!]

Well, "pre-qualified"...I take that with a grain of salt because that can mean alot of things. But, the 800# that is on the letter they send(the one you call to give financials to) has a bit of canned info that you listen to before being transferred that tells you that "you are pre qualified for this exciting offer, blah blah blah".
I did the hardship letter and all that stuff a while back, when they were trying to put me into some of their other "wonderful programs". I check the website but my status has been the same since March, which is in review, whatever that means.

kr1959cw,
I think I got my letter the week before you did. I call them every day, no progress. They once even told me Fannie Mae was holding up the process, so I called Fannie Mae. Was told by Fannie Mae nothing had been submitted to them, and that they don't "hold up" the process, it's pretty much a matter of yes or no once it gets to that stage. The servicer blames the investor when really it seems the servicer has alot more power than they are letting on. Fannie Mae told me as long as it met the guidelines, there was no reason it should be delayed or denied on their part. I could almost hear the CW rep backpedaling after I called them out on pointing the finger at Fannie Mae.
I may check into this NACA thing. I just was holding on to some hope for help through the Obama plan, but I honestly don't have the patience it takes to do that, and untimately there's no guarantee anyway. I could wait all this time and still get denied. Calling them every day sure doesn't seem to be getting me anywhere!
Good luck to you all, I will keep you up to date on what's happening.

[Confused!]

Ok, so I still don't have my packet(surprise!). I have been calling relentlessly, sometimes multiple times a day, just not getting any different answers. So, I know today is a holiday and all, but I thought I'd give it a try anyway. All my other calls have transferred me to the home retention team-today it automatically transferred me to the foreclosure department. Of course there was no one there to speak with, but that definitely makes me nervous. Can hardly wait for tomorrow to get here so I can call and get some information. I am very scared right now.
I sent an email to Barbara DeSoer(because I have seen here that some of you have done it) explaining the situation and pleading for some resolution. We will see what happens.

[kr1959cw]

confused, the exact thing happened to me...i called after hours on a Sunday I think ....it sent me to foreclosure department too...i tell them i am being reviewed for a mod...they say they don't see anything..I was so freaked out i called the home retention number the very next day and they assured me that it was still in review and how they have a lot and how it can takes 3 to 4 weeks...blah blah...same ole thing...I am so scared, and I cant call NACA because i own 2 houses.... uurrgghhhh it is frustrating! i have to read the success post to ease my mind!

[Confused!]

Thanks kr1959cw. I wish you could use NACA too. I think I'm about to go that route myself.
A little update...I still don't have my packet(I know that just shocks you all) and as I mentioned, I had emailed Barbara over the weekend. I did get a call today from Sergio-he seems really nice-and he asked me to fax a bunch of stuff directly to him. Even though I have faxed all this stuff multiple times, I guess I am gonna go out and do it again after I get my girls from school in a few minutes. He said once he gets that, he can assign me a negotiator and I'll be "in the family" at that point. Whatever that means. He couldn't tell me anything about the status of the mod I supposedly already have in progress, only that doing this would get me results faster. I sure as heck hope he's right. I swear, I even dream about this stuff lately. It's getting to be a bit much.

[Confused!]

Ah, another update, I just thought I would tell you all this since we all could use a dose of happy right now. I went to the gas station to get my docs faxed(that is the closest place to do such things out here in the sticks) and it was $ 1.00 per page, 7 pages. The only cash I had was a $10 bill, I said WTH just give me 3 scratch off lottery tickets for the change. So she did, and one was a loser, one was a free ticket winner, and the last one was a hundred dollar winner! Totally awesome, since we could really use the money right now!
Anyhoo, just felt like sharing. Will go back to lurkdom for now and update you guys when I hear more from my new boyfriend Sergio lol.

[HereinNY]

Congrats on winning the $100!

[kr1959cw]

Confused, I did my weekly check in today with Home Retention , same story just a different day, says that they are back logged and not to panic, just watch for Fed-X, crap the Fed-X guy might be my new boyfriend...lol...i will be so glad to see him...can you give the the numbers you are calling to talk to Sergio? and what fax number are you faxing your info in to? they havn't ask me for any of that yet.....BIG SIGH....I am jealous of your new boyfriend!

[rozuki]

No news on my loan mod...just wanted to say congrats to confused on the winning ticket!
I also am glad to see some of us still have our sense of humor, too.. Good luck with your new boyfriends!

[Confused!]

kr1959cw,
I know how you feel, I am still waiting on the Fedex man too(I'm a two timer that way lol). I ended up in Sergio's hands because I had e mailed the office of the president. He works in the Advocacy department and sure you can have the number, you just didn't get it from me(wink) It's 800-669-2443 x3390. The fax is 800-658-9364. If you haven't yet e mailed Barbara Desoer, it's probably not a bad idea to do so-that's how I got this ball rolling(although I'm not really any further than I was, it makes me feel better to have a higher up's attention). It's barbara.j.desoer@bankofamerica.com.
rozuki, the winning ticket absolutely made my day! I hardly ever buy them and just did it on a whim and got lucky. At least now I don't have to worry about groceries and diapers for the baby for a few days! And we have to keep our sense of humor, they can't take that away too, right!

[Confused!]

Posted this question somewhere but can't find it now, anyway, hope someone can answer. I have seen some old posts on there that say you must show a surplus in order to be approved for a mod....is this still the case or is that old info? This has me really worried!

[Confused!]

Just me coming in here being a pest again....does anyone out there know the answer to the above question(hears echo) lol

[Confused!]

Ok, so Sergio....yeah, not so good about returning calls. I had left 2 voice mails since faxing in my documents 2 days ago, no return calls. Finally today someone else in the Advocacy department tracked him down. My documents "have been received, but the images aren't available to him" yet. WTF?! And he was borderline rude about it this time, insisting that he would call me when he could see the images, blah blah blah. Needless to say, I am pissed at this point. I can't talk to anyone else at Countrywide because when I put in my account # it automatically transfers me to that department now. Two days ago I thought I was actually getting somewhere, no I realize I am still right where I was, just dealing with a different department of bozos is all.
Some advice please. Should I e mail Barbara again? Or does anyone have a different number for me to try?

[kr1959cw]

I am so with you on this...I am so darn frustrated! I had a message to call BOA again yesterday, I knew good and well it was collections...I called this morning and just got off the phone, took me right to foreclosure again..I talked with a collector that acts like she doesn't know what I am talking about when I say they told me to wait on the next fed-x that will request my information, pay stubs...etc....She ask for the 17000,00. that I am now behind on....if I had that I would not be calling the foreclosure department!!!!!!!!!!!! grrrrrrrrr .....so, now she tells me to get my financials together and call back and who ever answers to give them that info...I am beyond aggravated!!!

[Confused!]

Hugs to you kr, I hope you get some resolution soon. I know your frustration, this crap keeps me up at night. I try to keep my sense of humor and a positive attitude about it, but the worry creeps up on me. I'm pregnant so I am trying to keep the stress at bay because I know it's not good for me or the baby. I just get so aggravated because I have so many things in life to be happy about yet I am having the hardest time enjoying those things right now. For the first time ever, I actually dread the weekends because I know those are just days that Fedex isn't going to bring me anything and I am not going to get any calls with good news. How pathetic is that? lol I just want to get back to living my life again...I'm not getting any younger here!
Anyway, I'll stop whining now. I just got off the phone with a rep from the prez's office, she said the documents are viewable in the system now and I should be expecting a call to discuss them. I won't be holding my breath, but I know for the time being I just need to stop spazzing out about this and wait to see what happens. Maybe I'll work on the laundry or something...that's always therapeutic, right!
Seriously, thank you all for being here so I don't have to do this alone. If I didn't have this place to run to, I would be crazy by now.

[Confused!]

Thank you "overworked and underpaid" for the encouraging response, it was very kind of you to drop in and offer kr and I some much needed reassurance!
My status on the BOA site is changed now. Here is what it says....

Our records indicate that there is more than one workout plan associated with this account. Please select "view the details" for each section below to expand the page. You may collapse individual sections by selecting "hide the details."

Recast	View the Details	Hide the Details

Workout Status Details:	Your request for assistance is under review. During the review process, a thorough examination and analysis of your loan will be completed. During this time, we may or may not need additional information from you. It is common that you will not hear anything from us during the review period, but please be advised that all collections activities have been temporarily suspended during this review period. We expect more information to be available on 04/27/2009. If your status remains unchanged after the 04/27/2009, please call and speak to a customer service representative. Please do not call back before 04/27/2009 as that will delay the process. Please respond promptly to any calls or requests that you may receive from us during this period. Lack of response will cause your workout to be delayed or cancelled. Thank you.
Information as of:	03/23/2009
Workout Stage:	Processing
Phase/Sub-Phase:	Active Processing

Loan Modification	View the Details	Hide the Details

Workout Status Details:	Your request for assistance is under review. During the review process, a thorough examination and analysis of your loan will be completed. During this time, we may or may not need additional information from you. It is common that you will not hear anything from us during the review period, but please be advised that all collections activities have been temporarily suspended during this review period. We expect more information to be available on 07/03/2009. If your status remains unchanged after the 07/03/2009, please call and speak to a customer service representative. Please do not call back before 07/03/2009 as that will delay the process. Please respond promptly to any calls or requests that you may receive from us during this period. Lack of response will cause your workout to be delayed or cancelled. Thank you.
Information as of:	05/29/2009
Workout Stage:	Processing
Phase/Sub-Phase:	Active Processing

That first one has been there for a while, but the new one appeared yesterday. Hopefully this is good news!
Hey, what is a recast anyway(referring to the first workout listed)?

[Confused!]

Well I found out today I have been assigned a negotiator-Tabitha. He told me to call on Thursday if I haven't heard from her before then. Hopefully this is one step closer to success. Does anyone know how long to expect the process to take from here?
Oh, and still no Fedex packet from Making Home Affordable.

[Cassietw]

Hey Confused, I looked up recast as I too did not know what it meant. This is what I found.....

Interest-only and negative amortization payments cannot go on forever. At some point, the loan balance must be paid in full. For all adjustable rate mortgages, there is a mandatory recast after a fixed period of time where the loan reverts to a conventionally amortizing loan to be paid over the remaining portion of a 30 year term.
A recast is not the same as an interest-rate reset. A reset is a change in the interest rate being charged on a particular loan. The amount of the payment may go up or down (although it usually goes up) when a reset occurs. A recast is a change in payment necessitated by a change in the amortization method. This recast eliminates the options for negative amortization and interest-only payments and requires the fully amortized payments on an accelerated schedule for what is often an increased loan balance. The payment after a recast is always higher.
For instance, if an interest-only loan is fixed for 5 years, at the end of 5 years, the loan changes to a fully-amortized loan with payments based on the remaining 25 year period. The longer interest-only or negative amortization is allowed to go on, the more severe the payment shock is when the loan is recast to fully amortizing status. Also, in the case of negative amortization loans, the total loan balance is capped at a certain percentage of the original loan amount, typically 110% but sometimes higher. If this threshold is reached before the mandatory time limit, the loan is also recast as a conventionally amortizing loan. Since many borrowers were qualified based on their ability to make the minimum payment at the teaser rate, when the loan recasts and the payment significantly increases (double or triples or more,) the borrower is left unable to make the payment, and the loan quickly goes into default.

Wishing you luck!!!

[kr1959cw]

hey Confused! at least there is a change, how long after you faxed your info in did you see any work out info ? Mine has always said there is no work out for this loan. I am wondering when they will update mine, I faxed everything this morning.

[Confused!]

Thanks Cassie!

kr, I think I faxed it last Wednesday and they acknowledged them Friday and then the site updated. It took a couple of days for the documents to "image" where he could see them. And today I was assigned a negotiator. All this happened within a week of my emailing Barbara, so I think it's happening fairly quickly. I am trying this route first, and if I get nowhere I will try NACA. Honestly I am hesitant to do that, because I see how long it is taking other people here to get through that process, and reading about having to postpone sale dates and all that stuff is rather unnerving. Even though I am 4 months late now, I have not received a single call trying to collect a payment from me or been threatened with foreclosure. (yet anyway) And furthermore, I feel like there is a plan out there that I clearly qualify for, and I should not have to go through and outside agency to get it. My goal is to badger them into giving me a modification without having to do all that, but if I have to, I will.

[rozuki]

I submitted through NACA 4/15, emailed office of president 5/19, received a letter today informing me the name and number of my "senior" negotiator, Teresa. Got home too late today from work to call but will be calling NACA and this negotiator tomorrow for my 45 day update...give or take a day or two!! PS. i am 3 months behind as of today....my stbxh told me he checked his credit rating....went from 700+ to 565!! I am fighting to also have my credit rating restored if and when I get a loan modification!!