Countrywide is slowly killing us!! HELP!

[sweet2105]

Hello,
I was so happy when I found this website because it made me feel that I was not in this fight alone. Like so many others that I read about in here, I have been going through a horrible nightmare with Countrywide. As I kept reading it floored me that this company gets away with the stuff that they do to us hard working people. My husband and I have been together since the 8th grade, had our first son a month out of high school, we beat the odds, stayed together and finally after nine years together we had our second son and bought our first home!!! We now have three sons but the problem is now we can't even look into our boys face and tell them its ok, because its not. We are getting jerked around by Countrywide so much I am afraid of losing my home.
We applied for a modification back in Nov 07 when our loan switched to ARM and they of course put us over 10%. We continued to pay until Jan. because they told us it would mess up the negotiators numbers. BULL! I never had any questions answered, you call there and speak to 25 different customer service reps and get all different answers. I got my papers for approval in Feb of 08. My husband and I had no clue as to what the figures even meant. So...we tried like so many times before to get to the workout department and reach our negotiator Esperanza. I am actually starting to wonder if they even have a "real" workout department. Its like contacting the CIA or something, the negotiators are untouchable. I was told that the Rep would leave a message and my negotiator would call. I did this repeatedly. No return call. I felt trapped into signing the modification because my questions were never answered, I had no idea of the fees they were charging but we only had like 10 days to ship the documents back to Fed Ex or our modification would be denied. I did not want to start that whole process over, so we just signed them. BIG MISTAKE!! My account and credit is so jacked up now. The statements they send are always wrong, I don't understand where they put our money we sent in during the beginning of the mod or the money we had to send in with the mod documents. We were told we had to pay over 1400.00 just to get the mod. We took a loan out because we had to pay that and then the first "new" payment was due just a couple weeks after that. The "new" payment has not showed up on our statements yet. Our "new" modification has actually made everything worse. My husband and I have called and called. I cannot keep calling these people, its useless. I feel like I am wasting so much time with them when I could be spending time with the kids. We both work full time so its not cool to be on the phone with countrywide every day. Just in June of 08, four months after the modification was done, we get a statement with a misc. charge for over 1300! I called and was determined to get an answer. I was transferred to 13 different employees of countrywide and none of them could figure it out. The last rep I was switched too, after being on the phone over 3 hours and 25 min. got an earful. I let her know I wasn't going over the situation again and to make sure she has someone call me. I let them know I have done my research now and know exactly what they are doing. Last week we get a call from a supervisor who tries to explain to me that the 1300 fee should have been put into the modification, blah blah blah. I sent in my money, they never posted it correctly. When I got my transaction history, it made no sense. When I kept catching problems with the answers this guy was giving me he told me its confusing, he would research and call me back. Two days later I have weird reversal charges on my account, yet my balance didn't go down. I don't know, its truly fishy. I need help, I wonder how much money I actually have sitting there that was not applied to my account. The way it is now, they act like they want me to lose my home, thats how I feel. They didn't help us, they only hurt us. My principal balance is more, my payments never went down, now all of these misc. fees? Were now late two payments again and our credit is ruined. When we do make a payment, I have no idea if it is being applied like we made our payment on time because to tell you the truth, I can't go by what the statement says. How are they getting away with this? I need some advice please, I know they are wrong with their numbers but more importantly wrong in their intent. I've always believed good people will be payed back by good things happening to them. I am losing my faith in the world now. We work so hard, yet have nothing. We can barely feed our kids or keep the lights on....thanks to countrywide and their scandalous ways. We live in Michigan and I have written all major gov. reps here. I am trying to get the word out, something needs to be done. If anyone has any advice for us, we are eager to listen. Moe, thank you for starting this site!
I am studying the "laws" of mortgage in my state right now, no way are they following the laws or the basic human rules of compassion. HELP!

[schwefls]

Hi sweet2105 welcoem to our forum:

I wanted to stop in and say hello. Shortly someone will be reaching out to you with some advice/suggestions. In the interim please hang in there and know that you are not alone, we are here for you.

[Val Rye]

Hello sweet2105,

Wow, as sad as this sounds, you really are NOT alone. I can't, for the life of me, understand the tactics of Countrywide. I do understand that this market and economy have turned their business and their employees into a frenzy. But someone at Countrywide needs to get it together. Homeowners are desperately crying out for help, most with money in hand to make the payments to keep their homes. Trying everything they can to just make ends meet. And Countrywide don't need more houses, especially not ours, right?

AND, please don't loose faith ! ! Good things do happen to good people. You have your family and that will always be most important.

Now, as for your loan modification. I will guess that you provided a hardship letter and budget to Countrywide. You say you are now two months behind in payments. Does your budget confirm that you could actually make your payments if you had a reasonable modification to your rate and term? The lender will only modify the loan if it makes sense that you will be able to make the new payment.

Keep track of every payment you have made to Countrywide, so that you can compare your payments with their payment history. You are doing the right thing by learning everything you can about the 'laws', loan modification, and Countrywide. Use ALL this infomation to confront Countrywide about the details of your loan. It might not help your phone time, but it will help when you get them on the phone.

Take a deep breath, remember to spend time with your family, and then make another phone call. If you have any new updates, please let us know.

[Ron Higgins]

Hi Sweet2105,

For starters, you have an incredible testimony! Praise God for having the type of relationship and commitment that you and your husband have! I'm sure that you both have experienced a few ups and downs throughout the course of your marriage...right? Well guess what? You got through it all before...and you will get through it now. Your marriage tells me that you ARE survivors!!!

This TEST is no different. I know things are extremely difficult, frustrating, confusing, and EXHAUSTING right now but you MUST remain strong for your family. Countrywide does NOT have the right to take away everything that you've worked so hard for...and they won't, if you don't give up.

Everything that's happening to you right now is so much bigger than Countrywide. Your FAITH is being tested. Maybe your long-lasting MARRIAGE is being tested without you realizing it. So be careful. Like Val said, "Be sure to spend time with your family". Remain prayerful and be encouraged. The Lord will provide for those who remain faithful. But you have to do your part as well and fight. Remember David & Goliath?

If you have any specific questions or if you would like to take your fight to the next level, then feel free to contact us. We are here to help, if you need that BIG BROTHER BACK-UP!!! :-)

[Cat Damiano]

Hi sweet2105,


Welcome to the forum and thank you for joining................

Put together a QWR (Qualified Written Request)

In that letter demand your Life of Loan History, Copy of Note, Deed of Trust, Riders, all Assignments of the Deed of Trust, TIL, Right of Rescission (if refi), Lender Final HUD-1, Copy of Initial Loan Application and Final Lender Loan Application, all Disclosures and all Loan Documents in your file, Copy of Appraisal, and a copy of the payment stream and how and to where each payment is being applied..........


There is a blank copy of the request in the Homeowner's Tool Box to the Left of the Forum for you to use..........

Make sure you send it certified mail return receipt required to the addresses below:

COUNTRYWIDE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
CORPORATE HEAD QUARTERS
4500 PARK GRANADA
CALABASAS, CA 91302
1-818-225-3000

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
400 COUNTRYWIDE WAY
MS SV-314
SIMI VALLEY, CA 93065


Also put a call into the executive team to go over what is going on with your modification...........

1-800-405-0078


Please keep us posted on your progress and what you are able to find out......

[sweet2105]

Hello and thank you to everyone that responded. Just a little update...we are seeing a credit counseling serv in our hometown who deal with past due mortgages and possible victims of mortgage fraud. With everything going on with countrywide, we decided to check over our original Note in the pkg we received from the title company. WOW.....We now think we were scammed from the very beginning. We have an 80/20 loan and we noticed last night something WE DID NOT SIGN, although it appears as if we did. Its on the Fedreal thruth and lending act disclosure statement that our second mortgage was in the amt of 39,385.06 . It goes on to say that we will make 179 payments of 242.41 and then one payment in the year 2020 of $22,169.91!!!! What? We are not mortgage professionals by any means, this was our first home but come on now, we are not dumb enough to think we would be able to come up with 22,000 for the final payment...So exactly what this means, I don't know? Our original loan was with MLSG, INC. Has anyone had any problems with them or know of anything helpful? So not only are we dealing with scandoulous countrywide, we are now dealing with this. Countrywide was supposed to call me today regarding those misc. fees and still has not. I am sending my qualified written request this week as well. Hopefully the credit place will be able to help us, if not it is eminent that we will lose our home.
I am still so sick that this can happen to good, honest working families. We have worked so hard for what we have, payed twice the amount as wealthier families, and now its on the line to be taken back?
Countrywide bought my loan really soon after we purchased the home and its been nothing but headaches ever since. GMAC has the 20% part.
All of this is very overwhelming and its taking all the energy I have.
I'm still shocked they think I can come up with $22,000 after paying on my loan for 30 years. I did contact a lawyer who is the one who set me up with this counseling service but he didn't sound very promising, he said that we cannot sue a company for us "not understanding" what we were signing. He did say that without seeing any of the paperwork but still, today we feel a little defeated.
Any advice....we are willing to listen.
Thanks again to all of you for your words of hope....The lord knows we need them!

[Ron Higgins]

Originally Posted by sweet2105

Hello and thank you to everyone that responded. Just a little update...we are seeing a credit counseling serv in our hometown who deal with past due mortgages and possible victims of mortgage fraud. With everything going on with countrywide, we decided to check over our original Note in the pkg we received from the title company. WOW.....We now think we were scammed from the very beginning. We have an 80/20 loan and we noticed last night something WE DID NOT SIGN, although it appears as if we did. Its on the Fedreal thruth and lending act disclosure statement that our second mortgage was in the amt of 39,385.06 . It goes on to say that we will make 179 payments of 242.41 and then one payment in the year 2020 of $22,169.91!!!! What? We are not mortgage professionals by any means, this was our first home but come on now, we are not dumb enough to think we would be able to come up with 22,000 for the final payment...So exactly what this means, I don't know? Our original loan was with MLSG, INC. Has anyone had any problems with them or know of anything helpful? So not only are we dealing with scandoulous countrywide, we are now dealing with this. Countrywide was supposed to call me today regarding those misc. fees and still has not. I am sending my qualified written request this week as well. Hopefully the credit place will be able to help us, if not it is eminent that we will lose our home.
I am still so sick that this can happen to good, honest working families. We have worked so hard for what we have, payed twice the amount as wealthier families, and now its on the line to be taken back?
Countrywide bought my loan really soon after we purchased the home and its been nothing but headaches ever since. GMAC has the 20% part.
All of this is very overwhelming and its taking all the energy I have.
I'm still shocked they think I can come up with $22,000 after paying on my loan for 30 years. I did contact a lawyer who is the one who set me up with this counseling service but he didn't sound very promising, he said that we cannot sue a company for us "not understanding" what we were signing. He did say that without seeing any of the paperwork but still, today we feel a little defeated.
Any advice....we are willing to listen.
Thanks again to all of you for your words of hope....The lord knows we need them!

Hi Sweet2105:

It sounds like what you have is a balloon payment. It was probably amortized over 30 years to keep your payments low through out the course of the loan but then the balance is due at the end of 15 years. In mortgage terms this is called a 30 due in 15 or 30/15. This is one of many different available loan programs. So don't fret...you're o.k. Most people don't worry about the balloon payment because they plan to refinance their 2nd mortgage well before their 15 years are up.

Now unless "Spanish" is your primary language and your loan documents were not in spanish, then your attorney is right..."you cannot sue a company for not being able to understand what you signed". Unfortunately, it's your responsibility to get clarification before you sign ANY document.

This doesn't mean that you do not have a case for a modification. So...keep up the fight. STAY STRONG & BE ENCOURAGED.

[sweet2105]

I was reading the Truth In Lending Act and think maybe some of our rights were violated there. Also...can we sue in small claim's court the actual mortgage company who put us in this lose /lose Note in the first place? Our original lady told us that she would refinance us in 6 months to get out of our 80/20 loan. Obviously she didn't otherwise we wouldn't be in this modification nightmare we are in now. We were never late for that first year and beyond either. It seems like a viscious circle...get tricked into a loan with promises of getting out of it and its perfectly legal? Then to make matters worse you get sold to Countrywide who further ruins your credit and puts you into a modification they know doesn't work for you. I'm sad that in this day we are almost destined to lose when your economically challenged compared to others. Like I said before, we work hard and make decent money, have three children and this is what America's Dream has done to our family alone. The impact is just going to trickle down into the communities and crime rate and everything else negative will raise. Were going to keep fighting this fight but if something doesn't give soon we'll be part of the ******** statistic. My biggest concern right now is how that will affect our children.
Thanks again for all your words of encouragement.
Fighting and Desperate in Michigan

[Ron Higgins]

Getting caught in a legal battle may be more draining than what it's worth. However, if you feel strongly about your case, then present it to an attorney and ask them of your chances of success.

In the meantime...Hang in there.

[sweet2105]

Hello everyone...I was printing some info off of the countrywide website today and decided to look at my past statements. I received my modification the end of Feb so beginning March's statement my interest was at 7.5% instead of 10.5% My mod said I would stay at 7.5% until 2013. April's statement 7.5, May 7.5, June 9.75, July 9.75, Aug. back down to 7.5%. I printed all of these docs to show the homerepair counselor tomorrow. It does NOT make any sense! Plus the fees, I am getting charged 5% on late payment and prinicipal, the problem with that is they are still charging me late fees that accrued before the FEB Mod...my mod doesn't even show up. I am also supposed to switch ARMS again scheduled 10-08. None of what countrywide does and is doing makes and sense to me. You cannot get a hold of one single decent person in the whole place. I am half tempted to just let this house go...problem with that is we'll be ******** and our three sons lives we'll be put through hell! Right when the new school year starts too! I wish the Gov. would have been modifying this "sub-prime" Crisis before everyone ended up in over their heads. I read on beware of pred mortgage postings on HUD"S website and one of the signs are if you are being charged 5% on late fees.
I am keeping my fingers crossed that the homerepair people will be able to help us but if they can't, I give up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!1
Also, what Note statements are supposed to be viewable on countrywide's website. When I click on my NOTE, it doesn't show me much.
One more question, when you receive your packet from the Title CO when you first buy your home, shouldn't all of your paperwork be included?
HELP and PRAY for us please!!!!!
Sweet2105 Desperate and in Dispair in Michigan!

[sweet2105]

We went to the home counseling place, which is free by the way, and the counselor there was in awe when she seen our loan, our statements from countrywide, and the service even she got while trying to find out more about my modification and why its still not updated, all the outrageous fees,etc.
Imagine looking at legal documentation of a modification you think you in, getting statements for months and months that say something different, call get a different answer depending on who you talk to, thousands in wierd fees that nobody can explain, go to a HUD approved counselor who is shocked??!! This lady has been in the business for over 20 years and has never witnessed, saw, whatever nothing like our situation.
Anyways, after she spoke to 14 different employees, we found out that although we got the paperwork and sent it back, WE WERE NEVER IN A MODIFICATION AND NOBODY EVER TOLD US SINCE FEB 08 AND WE CALLED HUNDREDS OF TIMES! I even had a manager by the name of Steven Pavlov reversing fees just last week saying it should have been in the modification. WHAT? When I say reverse fees, I don't mean take them off either, he moved them around and told me someone should have caught this months ago, but still not a word about not being in a MOD.
BEWARE OF COUNTRYWIDE EVEN IF YOU HAVE THE PAPERS IN FRONT OF YOU!!!!
The counselor is still working on our case, wish us luck and if anyone has any advice, were listening.
Sweet2105

[Cat Damiano]

sweet,

It sound like you are in very good capable hands with a counselor who has been working with HUD for 20 years................keep in touch with her frequently for updates...............

Good Luck!!

Please keep us posted on your progress................