Countrywide Success in Modification Process

[Barbara]

Hi Everyone, I wanted to share my CW nightmare. Like many folks I ran into financial trouble and after making only 2 of 4 payments under a repayment plan, CW foreclosed. I contacted CW and explained the hardship was temporary and my desire to apply for loan modification. After faxing 52 pages of documents (I'm self-employed) I was told to check back in 2 weeks. I called immediately though, to verify they had received my documents. I back afterward about 3 weeks later only to learn that the negotiator had never even reviewed the documents and worse, data I had given them had been deleted from the system. That was late December/early January. I called again and again, never once speaking to the negotiator but like everyone else got the rep who assured me negotiator now had the docs and were reviewing it. I called every day after that until Feb. 11 when I was advised that they were looking for investors. So far so good. I called 10 days later and learned my modification request had been approved. Yipee! Now comes the nightmare.

FEDEX lost the loan docs in transit on Feb. 13 (so close but so far!) BUT I did not learn of it officially until Feb. 23. Meanwhile, I received notice of a sale date on my home of March 11. Since then, I have been trying in vain to get the loan negotiator to re-send the docs to me and have called every single day except weekends explaining to both reps and their supervisors the situation. Meanwhile, they keep reassuring me not to worry about the sale date. Someone who referred me to this site also suggested I seek assistance from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, contact my local representative for the area where I live as well as our local congress person (nancy pelosi's office in San Francisco) to help push things along. I'll let everyone know how this turns out. I also faxed a letter to the COO and President of Countrywide for good measure explaining my frustration and requesting his assistance. (We'll see how that goes).

Meanwhile, I am freaking out as I've received no assurances from CW that they have re-sent the documents although they keep telling me they've "emailed" the negotiator and it's been "escalated" to the supervisor. They also advised only the negotiator has the power to postpone the foreclosure. Anyone else have any thoughts? I will also pursue QWR for document gathering. Seems like CW is creating more nightmares by this impossible bureaucracy they've set up. I have an inkling many more homes can be saved from Foreclosure if they were more responsive.

Thanks for allowing me to share! -Barbara

Thank you for joining and welcome to the forum.....

You can get the documents faxed...try having them do that, they will do it...then you can fax the signed documents back and overnight the originals....works like a charm.

Regardless if they have faxed or overnighted the documents that foreclosure can be postponed so I am giving you a legal division of Country Wide for a phone number of their legal department...that is not the attorney foreclosing on you, but you should be able to get some assistance there.

You are right to be concerned, at this point you need to get a postponement of the foreclosure sale and due to the lost documents, they should be more than able to accommodate that request as it is not out of line. You have to get that date postponed so call all of the below numbers and make yourself heard.....tomorrow.

Countrywide's Legal Dept Direct Line

Mary Archer-paralegal 972-526-3610

ALINE RAMIREZ IS A SUPERVISOR OF ABOUT A QUARTER OF CW'S NEGOTIATORS.

DIRECT LINE
661-951-5100
ext: 5143

Adrienne Ely-executive Specialist Office Of The President

800-601-2522 Ext 8026


OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
ATTN: ADRIENNE ELY
400 COUNTRYWIDE WAY
MS SV-314
SIMI VALLEY, CA 93065
800-669-6093

[Barbara]

Thank you, Poppy. To clarify they can fax both the loan docs I am waiting for as well as the documentation I request through my QWR letter? I will start my assault as soon as they open using those numbers you provided.
Will let everyone know my progress!

The modifications and forbearance's can be faxed to you they are able to do so, unless there is a state prohibition that requires a title signing...I do not know if you are in one of those states...but ask for a faxed copy of the modification/forbearance agreement that you can then fax back the signed copy and return the original copy by overnight.

[Barbara]

I called Customer Service to find out the stats this morning and was told the negotiator had requested new figures on 3/4/08 as the old figures expired on 2/21/08. This is notwithstanding I called them on 2/21/08 and was never told this and only learned on this day that my docs had indeed been sent to me.

I was also told that this takes 5 - 7 days. My home is scheduled for sale in 5 days so that won't work. I have since called the legal department and Aline Ramirez to request my docs be faxed to me but got dumped immediately into voice mail.

I was also told that the sale date could only be postponed 2 days before the sale. Is this true? I keep hearing different things from different people at CW. The "helpful" rep put in an "urgent" request to have the date postponed for a supervisor's review.

What a workout! But I will not give up and am faxing and sending out my QWR letter today as well as faxing everyone in the food chain until they get sick of me.

I was also advised on another board on Foreclosures to file Chapt 13 bankruptcy to buy time which will stop the sale and postpone for 2 months if push comes to shove. Then if no further action on my part is taken, the matter will be dismissed by the court. Anyone tried this or advise this? This sounds like a last ditch effort and I may have to utilize it if necessary. Am keeping my options open.

[Andrew]

If you file Chapter 13 while trying to get a modification, it might screw you up because lenders will be barred from trying to collect debts or contacting you. It would also trash your credit even worse then it may be now. Bankruptcy would be a last resort at the very least. Have you contacted an attorney, because I advise you do ASAP on this matter.

[Barbara]

I spoke with an Attorney who advised me to write a letter to Countrywide which I did (I got better advice from this board!). I have a call in to another attorney who was referred to me and am waiting his call back.

Per what Andrew sez.....you can not get modification during the Chapter 13 process. It is only a stalling tactic to forestall the foreclosure process and depending on your case, they may enter a relief of stay and then that does not work.

Please try HOPE 888.995.HOPE to try and get the Foreclosure postponed...they are Country Wide a part of the Hope Project and will postpone foreclosure way before that 2 day window that you refer to. Been there done that...

Call HOPE immediately and also keep calling and getting this situation fixed, you did not lose the documents, Fed X did and as such you should not be on this "hot seat".

Also as Andrew sez, get an attorney involved that will and can stop/postpone the foreclosure immediately.

Try this number at Country Wide...866.344.4172...then use the 0000 until it asks a SECOND time if you wish to speak to a human, say yes....then you should be able to get into a CSR in the Loss Mit side of the world there, they should be able to e-mail the negotiator or get you through to them. Early AM is best about 9:00 Mountain Time.....

How did it go today, let me know please.

[Barbara]

I finally got a call back from the Loss Mitigation Department (Nancy Whitaker) at 3:30 pm today who responded to my faxed letter to the President of Countrywide requesting loan docs reissuance and fax of same. (I was actually on the other line with Parker Stanbury-- my Prepaid Legal membership counsel on a Chapter 13 bankruptcy consultation when she called.

Nancy told me immediately that she was going to send out the documents to me and fax it as well. She went over the figures with me to ensure I understood what I was agreeing to made arrangements for me to sign them at a title company rather than being sent again by FEDEX. She made the process painless and I couldn't help wonder why it was so difficult in the first place.

The difficult and most frustrating and time consuming aspect of this whole ordeal was being heard and finding the RIGHT person with the ability to do something. I don't know how many times a Countrywide rep has apologized to me for not being able to do anything but email my loan negotiator and encourage me to call back and speak to someone else.

CW seems to waste a lot of energy and resources giving people the run around when all they need to do is open the lines of communication and stop relying on this email-only sytem.

Thank you SOOOO much for your encouragement and assistance and this great website. It helped to validate for me that my efforts were not in vain. I have told several other people about this amazing board and the commitment of its moderators.

Thank you!!! I'll check in again when I sign my docs tomorrow and transfer the funds I agreed to send. I was told once they receive the confirmation number of the funds transfer, they terminate the foreclosure proceedings. Here Nancy's number in the hope it can help someone else: 800-405-0078 ext. 8255.

Get that done tomorrow and if there are problems, let me know.....

I told you that they would fax them, they could have done that originally, sorry you were not around before, but it seems that it is getting tamed. Please, please get those funds off ASAP and sign those docs., it helps to both fax them the day that you sign them and to also then FedX the original docs back. This is important since your Foreclosure date is so close.

So send $$$ tomorrow, sign and both fax the docs and Fed X overnight......

Let us know how everything is going, please.

[Barbara]

I wanted to follow up and say that everything finally worked out and I Western Union'd the funds via Quick Collect last evening, signed & notarized the loan docs, faxed then Fedex'd the documents this morning back to CW. Calling and faxing the Office of the President definitely works. They were very very responsive.

To Andrew and Poppy, THANK YOU SO MUCH for taking the time to provide such effective advice and for monitoring my situation.

I am truly grateful!

Thank you, thank you, thank you...you are the hero!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


YOU WON !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


CONGRATULATIONS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now they should call you with a Confirmation Call on Monday to reflect the agreement and receipt of funds.....Make sure in that call that the foreclosure action is terminated.

Also once you have the confirmation call, then you need to fax Country Wide with the understanding and the Attorney (on the back page of the foreclosure proceeding) for Country Wide with the understanding that foreclosure action is terminated....fax it 3 times and put your name, property address, loan # and last 4 off SS# on every page of the fax. You need to establish in that confirmation call that the foreclosure proceeding was terminated, kaput, dead, outta here......

PS....I am moving you to Success

You are a success and be proud....

[Andrew]

Congrats, Another Home Saved!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[CWs nightmare]

WAY TO GO BARBARA!!! Yeah, that's what I'm talking about! I am so frustrated with the state of plain and simple--GOOD customer service and follow thru--these days! I am so happy to hear you were able to get such a quick response with positive results...thanks for sharing your process/fight with the rest of us!

Isn't this site remarkable? I like the kinda grassroots feel it has...empowering!

Barbara ---- Please remember to make sure that that F/C date is terminated and that the process is kaput.....that is really a very fine detail that has to be attended to.

[Moe Bedard]

Conratulations Barbara! This is what? 31 now!!!!!! I commend you for following through with the teams advice and way to fight back.