What to do, or who to call?

[Confused!]

I am so frustrated right now. Short version, ok?
I have made 2 of 3 trial payments under MHA, the 3rd one being due October 1st. So far I have had to resubmit documents 3 times-once for taxes, once for pay stubs, once for child support.
(takes deep breath before going into rant mode)
Ok, so I know I did not have to disclose the child support. Says so right on page two of my trial documents. I just did because I wanted to report all my income...HUGE mistake. They told me I needed to send them a divorce decree. I don't have one since we were not married and told them that. They said send childrens birth certificates, bank statements showing child support deposits, and a letter explaining I was not married and therefore had no divorce decree. So I sent all that, plus a letter from my ex stating the amount he paid and when he pays it, jsut trying to cover all the bases. That was over two weeks ago. They acknowledged the documents and "escalated" the file, but the documents have been stuck in review mode since then. I guess they have been trying to decide whether or not what I sent is sufficient. I have called back every day for updates, and finally found out today that they are saying they need birth certificates, bank statements, and a divorce decree again. Not sure what part of "I WAS NEVER MARRIED" they don't understand...I realize that must be a totally foreign concept because people never have children out of wedlock, right? I'm sure I am the first. (sarcasm) The other items, I've already sent, and then some. I guess I will be sending it all again, with another very specific letter.
I have told them repeatedly that I have sent them all that I can, and if it is not sufficient, then they need to rework the mod and disregard the child support(remember, I was not required to disclose it). It's like talking to a brick wall, I swear. I have also contacted my one time negotiator in OOP...she closed my file after I got the trial docs for MHA but told me I could still call her anytime...and she has emailed them but hasn't gotten a response either. I don't know what else to do. I feel like they are trying not to modify my loan by all means necessary.
Any ideas on what my next steps should be, or another department/person I could call to get this thing moving along? I have been 100% compliant with everything they have asked of me-documents, timely payments, etc., but if this doesn't get resolved they wont modify my loan.
Help!

[Evan Bedard]

Hi confused,

I'm not sure if this will help but try calling the loss mitigation department. Try to get someone on the phone who has a direct fax number and is willing to help. Many times you will just need to hang up and call again. It always seems different reps will have different information to tell you...

[Garry]

I went though the same thing with them over unemployment, They asked me to prove I wasn't drawing unemployment. How in the hell do you prove your not drawing unemployment, and why should you even have to prove it? I guess I could show them my empty pockets. I talked with them today about why they seem to be so hell bent on denying mods. It does not make sense for them to be acting the way they are.

[MommyBook]

Trying e-mailing it with a return/read receipt and/or tracking? It's super easy using outlook.

[hope67]

Confused..if you are sure that you would qualify without the child support income, then by all means tell them that it is a temporary income and you want them to disregard it. By excluding child support your payment will be less. Again make sure first that you qualify without the child support.

[Confused!]

Thanks guys. Evan, what is the number to loss mitigation?
Hope 67, that's the thing that worries me. I am afraid they will say that I don't make enough money to qualify for help without counting the child support.
Something occured to me though. When I first received the solicitation letter and called to give income verbally by phone, the lady just asked me if I received any child support and how much. She didn't tell me that disclosing it was optional. That was another reason that I disclosed it when I sent in the trial period packet-I had already told her about it and felt that it would be best if all my numbers matched what I had given them verbally. So basically they duped me into telling them something that I didn't have to tell them.

[ama125]

Originally Posted by Confused!

Thanks guys. Evan, what is the number to loss mitigation?
Hope 67, that's the thing that worries me. I am afraid they will say that I don't make enough money to qualify for help without counting the child support.
Something occured to me though. When I first received the solicitation letter and called to give income verbally by phone, the lady just asked me if I received any child support and how much. She didn't tell me that disclosing it was optional. That was another reason that I disclosed it when I sent in the trial period packet-I had already told her about it and felt that it would be best if all my numbers matched what I had given them verbally. So basically they duped me into telling them something that I didn't have to tell them.

I also got a solicitation letter, back in April. When did you get yours and was it on Countrywide letterhead? Mine was and the date on it was 4/16. Now for the interesting part...BofA did not sign the servicer participation agreement for the Making Home Affordable Program until 4/17. So, just wondering what happened to all those people who received these solicitation letters? Did any of them actually get the MHA trial or were we all just strung along for months being told to wait for a second packet from FedEx that may have never come? Mine did eventually show up, but it was a forbearance. Just wondering if you were in the same situation.

[so-cal-gal]

Moe,

I know that we are not ENTITLED to ANY modification. However, shouldn't the lender be treating all of us equitably? It sure looks like there is a wide range of how applications are 'qualified'. Look how they 'CANCELED' all the CA AG mod contracts (these were CONTRACT that were canceled after the contract was signed, notarized and returned by the borrower).

Is there any 'lending' standard that comes into play or any other aspect of affording fair and equitable treatment?

I know with the AG mods, those that sued got them implemented. That in itself seems inequitable. Seems like if they 'undid' a few of the 'CANCELS' they need to 'undo' all the 'CANCELS'.

Likewise with applications, shouldn't they need to have some standard they use and stick to? Maybe with differences based on program, but something that would be used as the criteria, not this 'find a reason to refuse' criteria that seems to be in place especially with BofA and Litton?

Also, what regulations ARE in place at the federal level for any of these modifications? I know that CW cancelled contracts, yet refused to tell people that the contract was 'canceled'. They NEVER informed people. You had to call and find out that 'something was not right'.

For example: I never have actually been told mine canceled yet the 'investor funding' that was to pay the arreages was backed out of the account on 4/30/09. They continued to tell me that the mod was still being processed for two months after that, even after the note transferred to Litton. I was later told my mod did not go thru because of not getting that 'investor funding'. Funny thing, there is not an SINGLE clause in either the famous cover letter OR the mod contract itself that gave them any such condition. It was an AG mod. CW was supposed to pony up some damages for their prior bad practices. Looks like they got off the hook really cheap, only paying the state fine, never paying for any of the mods other than when people sued them.

Others have made payments for 6 months, with the contract supposedly taking effect 7 months prior. Then they finally get further info from a supervisor when they persist in requesting the signed-by-BofA copy of the contract. Then they are finally told the contract canceled prior to any of those payments and they were reported late or making partial payment on credit bureau info.

So, IF there are not any regulations being broken with this example, Moe, how long before someone proposes some changes? Years? I know there are state laws being broken, just wondered about banking/lending regulations also?

[Confused!]

Originally Posted by ama125

I also got a solicitation letter, back in April. When did you get yours and was it on Countrywide letterhead? Mine was and the date on it was 4/16. Now for the interesting part...BofA did not sign the servicer participation agreement for the Making Home Affordable Program until 4/17. So, just wondering what happened to all those people who received these solicitation letters? Did any of them actually get the MHA trial or were we all just strung along for months being told to wait for a second packet from FedEx that may have never come? Mine did eventually show up, but it was a forbearance. Just wondering if you were in the same situation.

Mine was dated 4/15. I received the trial period packet on July 8th. During the time I was not so patiently awaiting my packet, I contacted OOP and was assigned a negotiator. She was nice, asked me to fax in a few things, but never really offered me any solutions. While I was waiting on her to get something done, the trial period offer arrived. She closed my file but told me I could still contact her if I had problems. Hopefully if this mod does not work out, she wil be willing to explore other options for me. She has told me that the MHA was better than anything she could have offered me though. When I finally got this offer I was so happy, I thought it would be the answer to all my worries. But it's caused me nothing but stress and aggravation.

[ama125]

Originally Posted by Confused!

Mine was dated 4/15. I received the trial period packet on July 8th. During the time I was not so patiently awaiting my packet, I contacted OOP and was assigned a negotiator. She was nice, asked me to fax in a few things, but never really offered me any solutions. While I was waiting on her to get something done, the trial period offer arrived. She closed my file but told me I could still contact her if I had problems. Hopefully if this mod does not work out, she wil be willing to explore other options for me. She has told me that the MHA was better than anything she could have offered me though. When I finally got this offer I was so happy, I thought it would be the answer to all my worries. But it's caused me nothing but stress and aggravation.

When you got that letter and called, were you ever asked to fax anything over or did the packet just arrive on July 8th and then you were asked to fax information? I got a forbearance agreement on June 20th (Fannie Mae HomeSaver Forbearance) and when I looked it up on efanniemae.com it basically said that if the borrower is not eligible for MHA/HAMP, than offer this forbearance. I ended up not taking it because my husband just got a raise right before it came. I've been trying ever since to have my case reviewed for HAMP and even after contacting OOP and asking for that, I'm still not being reviewed for it (my nego submitted a non-HAMP mod that got declined though he insists he submitted it under MHA guidelines, whatever that means). I even asked OOP if my file had ever at any point in time been reviewed for HAMP and was told no. So, how did I get that forbearance then?? You are saying the nego from OOP told you MHA was better than anything she could offer you... does this mean OOP does NOT do MHA mods???? If that's the case, I've been wasting my time with them. Any idea who I should contact? Do you have a number for the dept that sent you your trial? Of course, given the joy that the MHA trial is bringing to you and everyone else on it, I'm not even sure I want one now! LOL!

Thanks for your input and I hope you get a final mod soon!

[montana59451]

Check out the contact sticky and look for montana59451 contribution.
this gal is the head of home retention and I posted her direct line. Can't say where I got this from...lets just say a little bird told me. good luck

[ama125]

Originally Posted by montana59451

Check out the contact sticky and look for montana59451 contribution.
this gal is the head of home retention and I posted her direct line. Can't say where I got this from...lets just say a little bird told me. good luck

I did see that and my ears perked up . I may just wait a bit and see what my nego (and complaints I just emailed to a number of agencies) do for me. I have a feeling that my passing and failing the NPV test will hinge on getting my property taxes lowered and I won't know what they will be until October. In the meantime, I have the HEMAP loan from the state of PA that keeps me safe from foreclosure. It is a "rescue" loan to pay off my arrearage and subsidize future payments. It's a third lien on the house but has not gone to closing yet (estimated to be within 60 days but depends on info from BofA and tax office). So, I don't see that waiting things out a bit can do me any harm. Thanks for all your help! I really appreciate it!

[hope67]

Originally Posted by Confused!

Thanks guys. Evan, what is the number to loss mitigation?
Hope 67, that's the thing that worries me. I am afraid they will say that I don't make enough money to qualify for help without counting the child support.
Something occured to me though. When I first received the solicitation letter and called to give income verbally by phone, the lady just asked me if I received any child support and how much. She didn't tell me that disclosing it was optional. That was another reason that I disclosed it when I sent in the trial period packet-I had already told her about it and felt that it would be best if all my numbers matched what I had given them verbally. So basically they duped me into telling them something that I didn't have to tell them.

Confused, you can do the calculation to see if you still qualify, your income has to be sufficient to cover the mortgage payment (31% of gross income) + any other debt payments (2nd, credit cards etc..etc) + living expenses (food, utitlities, gas etc..etc)
You probably can ask them point blank if you would qualify without child support!

[Confused!]

Originally Posted by ama125

When you got that letter and called, were you ever asked to fax anything over or did the packet just arrive on July 8th and then you were asked to fax information? I got a forbearance agreement on June 20th (Fannie Mae HomeSaver Forbearance) and when I looked it up on efanniemae.com it basically said that if the borrower is not eligible for MHA/HAMP, than offer this forbearance. I ended up not taking it because my husband just got a raise right before it came. I've been trying ever since to have my case reviewed for HAMP and even after contacting OOP and asking for that, I'm still not being reviewed for it (my nego submitted a non-HAMP mod that got declined though he insists he submitted it under MHA guidelines, whatever that means). I even asked OOP if my file had ever at any point in time been reviewed for HAMP and was told no. So, how did I get that forbearance then?? You are saying the nego from OOP told you MHA was better than anything she could offer you... does this mean OOP does NOT do MHA mods???? If that's the case, I've been wasting my time with them. Any idea who I should contact? Do you have a number for the dept that sent you your trial? Of course, given the joy that the MHA trial is bringing to you and everyone else on it, I'm not even sure I want one now! LOL!

Thanks for your input and I hope you get a final mod soon!

Thanks. I was asked to send in documents with the trial packet, and I have been asked to fax things on 4 separate occasions since then. I will look through my documents and give you all the numbers I can find. Not sure they can help you if they don't already have a file on you, but it is worth a try.

Originally Posted by montana59451

Check out the contact sticky and look for montana59451 contribution.
this gal is the head of home retention and I posted her direct line. Can't say where I got this from...lets just say a little bird told me. good luck

Tried to call this # this AM and it's coming up as a "non working number" for some reason. I bet they have more people dedicated to monitoring this site than they do working on mods.

Anyhoo, I faxed over all the things they asked for again, and sent them overnight certified mail today too. I will be following up on Monday to see where I am. My letter of explanation probably was more than a little hostile, but considering I was up til 1AM gathering and preparing these documents again, I think my frustration is valid.

[montana59451]

Confused-

I just double checked the # I posted and it is correct so I just tried to call it and got her voicemail so the # is a good one. Perhaps you have mis-dialed