It's been more than 2 months since I last updated you on our Countrywide saga. That's because we waited that amount of time to actually get a response from
CW! To sum up our saga, we were approved for a loan modification ONE YEAR ago upon which the 1st payment was due 12/2007. Immediately after our first payment and for several months thereafter we were inundated with notices demanding 2+ times the amount of our payments because of escrows not being included in the modification and other miscalculations. They stopped taking our payments and served us with Notices of Intent to foreclose.
(Lesson One: if you're served with this type of notice don't ignore it!!! Respond in writing vehemently disputing said notice via every possible method (e-mail, fax, mail) but most importantly via certified mail so that you have a receipt.If they serve you with more than one notice, respond to every one you get.)
From Feb. 08 to June we had been communicating via every possible telephone, fax, e-mail and mail address #1 rejecting their foreclosure notice and #2 demanding a correction to the loan modification for which we had already been approved. The only communication we received? Well, we were served with a complaint to foreclose!!
(Lesson Two: Immediately seek legal assistance to properly respond in accordance with the laws of your State. DO NOT IGNORE IT - IT WON'T GO AWAY! The only thing that will go away is your home!! There's lots of legal help out there to help you prepare your own response if you can't afford to retain an attorney. We filed an Answer AND a counterclaim on our own in response.)
Well, what do you know, after filing our Answer we received a letter acknowledging our communications and shortly after that received notification that we had been approved for a loan modification. However, from February to August, $18,000 work of interest had accrued to which they added to the principal. AND they wanted us to pay for the attorneys fees ($1,700) plus other fees in upfront money in order for the modification to be approved!!!!!!!!
(Lesson Three: Do not hesitate to question and attempt to reduce the fees they're proposing - you never know until you try. Do it courteously, do it efficiently. We faxed our questions to our representative and followed up with calls if we didn't hear anything. We questioned the interest and said that, in good faith, how could they pile that onto the loan amount when they caused the delay and accrual? Also, we stated emphatically that we would not pay the attorneys fees because we had made every attempt to avoid the situation and incurred our own expenses in the process)
It took 6 weeks to get a response. However, we didn't just let them sit - we called every week. Guess what.....they waived the attorneys fees! Guess what else.......they put other fees in their place making the upfront monies due jump from $2,400 to $3,000!
(Lesson Four: In the end, they always find a way to scr*w you and they get away with it) I was on fire with fury afterwards and I felt like I had absolutely no choice. And you know what? I DON'T!!
So, is my house saved from foreclosure? Yes. That is worth everything. Am I scrambling to come up with $3,000? Yes. But, even if I have to eat pasta every night and scrimp everywhere else we need the security of our home. I've been in my home for 12+ years and it is our sanctuary. Our yard is simple but pretty and it brings us peace as a family. For years my husband was seriously ill and unable to work let alone tend to our home and yard (hence the beginning of our troubles with our mortgage). He's finally healthy and fit and able to tend to our home. Not with any major rennovations, just simple things, but it's made a huge difference. So, I have a monthly mortgage payment of $3,100 which is pretty hard, let me tell you. But, it's not as hard as trying to find a suitable home in the right area so that your childrens' schools aren't affected and finding a landlord that will allow you to bring along your 11 year old lab. I'm grateful that the stress of the foreclosure action is over but I don't feel completely vindicated. As we watch the economy fall apart because of people like the ones who have control over our homes while they still refuse modifications or present modifications that give you no choice, it's enfuriating to feel helpless. But, I can't focus on that. I've got to go out to work, keep things simple and make the spirit of my family life a peaceful, nourishing one so that we can enjoy our family home.
For every one out there fighting, keep fighting - don't give up. Keep reading this site because it definitely empowers you, informs you and keeps you encouraged to keep on fighting. After we were served with the complaint I just sat and cried because I was so sick of the fight and feeling like a loser because of the state of our affairs. I kept envisioning me living in a dirty rental home with my 2 children and our dog no longer with us. I resented being helpless. But then, I kept reading the site and I realized how ridiculous it was for me to allow those thoughts to enter my mind! I am not a loser! How dare I let these people get me down!!!!! As Eleanor Roosevelt said "no one can make you feel inferior without your consent". I turned my attitude RIGHT around. This site will help you do that. Even when I started to think that we be foreclosed upon and might be headed for a rental I began to envision how pretty I would make it. You can plant flowers ANYWHERE! And what a difference they make. You can paint anything and make it pretty. And, if you have to, you can sneak a dog in. He doesn't bite, he had his shots and he doesn't bark much - he sleeps on the couch all day! You don't need a million dollars to make a house a home.
Keep fighting people - stay POSITIVE people - BELIEVE that good things are coming your way and don't give up!!!!! Fear cannot exist where faith resides!!!
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