Complain about a product or service

Countrywide Mortgage

Kelly of Greenville, KY (07/02/08)
2 1/2 yrs ago i purchased a home with the help of countrywide mortgage my mother was supose to be a co signer on the loan. but in turn somehow my mother is the only person on the loan.

having my loan papers looked at it was found that they used my income with my mothers social security number and credit report. we was never told that this was happening. they also gave us a front ended loan that was never discussed!!! i have been paying payments for almost 3 yrs and still owe the same amount as when it was started.

can someone explain to me how this company can get away with this. and help me figure something out because after dec my interest rate could jump so high i could lose my home.

Laura of Martinsburg, WV (07/02/08)
About a year ago, I lost my job. I called Countrywide & tried to refinance my house to obtain a lower interest rate. I lost $35,000 in equity in a year, thanks to the market, so I was unable to refinance. I fell behind on my payments, but kept in contact each month with Countrywide.

Once I obtained a job, I still maintained contact & asked, up to 2-3 times per month, each time that I called, if I could get on a repayment plan or a loan modification. I was told by several representatives that I could not do a loan modification on my first mortgage, but I could on my second. My payment went up $400/month for my repayment plan on my first mortgage.

I was struggling and when I tried calling for 6 months (approx) on my second mortgage, I was told NOT to make a payment by the representatives. Off & on over several months, I was told this, but I still called in my payment through the automated system. I continued to receive the nasty foreclosure notices, even during this time that I had my repayment plan and was trying to apply for a loan modification on my 2nd mortgage.

When I called lastnight (6/30/08), I was told that I am now EIGHT (8) months behind on my 2nd mortgage thanks to the representatives that lied to me at Countrywide, I am now on the verge of foreclosure!! And, of course - they don't have ANY of THAT in writing, which I repeatedly asked for!!

I feel that they lied to me by saying that they would help me, but NEVER DID.

D. of Glendale, AZ (07/01/08)
I refinanced my home with Countrywide. I paid off some bills, but my payment went up $300 per month. My home was appraised very high, and I was told they would re-finance me in 6 months for no fee's. They said my payment would go down more then. My payment at signing was over $100 more thean I was told. I spoke to my Brett my loan officer and he said to sign the papers and he would fix any issues on Monday. (I signed on a Friday night) When I called on Monday They informed me there was nothing they could do to lower the payment.

I have tried with no luck to re-finance my loan with no luck. As of now I may not be able to keep my home. My payments went from $600.00 per month to $950.00 per month.

Mario of Wellington FL (06/28/08)
I own 2 investment properties and for one of them countrywide keeps returning my payments despite the fact that everymonth their customer service personnel fixes the problem and promisse me that will not happen again.

Well they try allways to report you after 5 days of you being late on your payment, they never let you know your payment is been reuturned. Of course this affects everyone, and I know of a case that forvced the person to accept foreclosure despite an offer of paying up to 15k to get up to date.

Michael of Chicago IL (06/28/08)
I refinanced my mortgage last summer to get some money out. I was very tentative about the mortgage they were offering me. When I hesitated the broker got frustrated and said something like Listen are you doing this or not. You keep going back and forth. I felt badly and agreed to the mortgage. In the middle of the deal the guy I was working with went on vacation and did not return my calls although he gave me his cell number. Although I was not working at the time and the mortgage and interest rate they gave me was outrageous. I felt backed into a corner b/c I needed the money, but the refinance was too much for me to handle when I had to start making payment. Now I am stuck with this mortgage that I cannot pay. All I want is my old interest rate and monthly payments.

All I want is my old interest rate and monthly payments. Now I have called Countrywide monthly to let them know I cannot afford the mortgage. At this point I cannot negotiate my rate to current rate standards. I have accrued foreclosure fees. My dad has to pay the mortgage for me until I get back on my feet.

Jorge of Smyrna GA (06/28/08)
I bought my house with another mortgage company and about3 or 4 months later I receive notice from the mortgage company stating that they sold the company to countrywide about 8 months later I was going to make my mortgage payment and notice a raise in my payment of 100.00 strange I did not receive any notice from countrywide about it; so I called them and they told me it was becouse a raise in my taxes.six months later I got another raise in my mortgage of 125.00 when I called again they told me it was a raise in my taxes AGAIN! so now Im paying 225.00 dollars more than my original mortgage becouse they said that my loan officer misscalculate what the mortgage payment was going to be. their weapon is that we can't do anything about this abuse. theres got to be somebody that can do something about it.

Im struggling to make my payments and Im very afraid that they raise my mortgage even more to the point that I wont be able to pay it and have to let my house go on foreclosure. is very frustrating to know that companies with such power can destroy lifes so easy and get away with it.

Walter of Santee CA (06/26/08)
chris hoover sold us loans through country wide mortgage and other mortgage company promising that if we made six months of good payments we could refinance the loans and get a fixed loan when we tried to refinance the loan we were on variable we were at 4.5 and our loan shot to 6.5 payments went from 2400 a month to 3400 a month we had to short sell our condo we paid 350,000 had to short sell it for for 320,000.

we lost 30,000 dollars plus 15-20 thousand in retirement money and down payment money. i lost my first home and ever since its been a struggle to recover. I would like to be considered in the law suit against country wide because if we werent eligibble to buy the house country wide shouldnt of given him loans so that he could get us into homes that we werent eligible to buy. chris hoover has brokered loans but he is no longer realestating due to bad business practices he also is being investigated by board of realetors. please call me to let me know if we have a case and were eligible to file a claim against country wide 

Carol of Proctor MN (06/26/08)
I put my house on the market with Prudential/Pladson Realty. I then had a offer for my house the offer fell threw, I continued to keep my house on the market, I then had another offer for a short sale to keep me out of foreclosure, this was sufficient enough to cover the loan and country wide denied the short sale and my house went into foreclosure and I lost my house December 2007. This would have been avoided if they allowed the short sale. Country Wide is not on my side I went down in foreclosure, and lost everything.

house, credit, financial, mental and physical stress.

Charleseta of Los Angeles CA (06/25/08)
Charles Hill of Thorton Realty in association with New Century Mortgage, misrepresented, forged my mame, made up financials etc. and put me into a loan with a house, that I not only could not afford, but their promise to take care of the costs to repair the house, was never done and refinancing it 6 monts from the date of purchase to get me a loan I could afford, also did not happen. My son and daughter have struggled to pay for this house so that My credit would not be ruined, but cannot afford to do so any longer.

Countrywide who bought this loan from New Century, will not do anything at all to modify my loan with them, refy to a fixed and affordable payment or give me any referral. They say there is nothin g that can be done until I default and go into foreclosure. All I want to do is be able to get a better loan and rate that I can afford. I do not want any money. My son and daughter cannot continue to pay for me because of financial hardship.

In a house that I have never been late on the payment. The house was purchased at 750,000. and has lost over 30% of value to 520,000. so I am unable to refinance and have been told by Countrywide that modification is not an option for me either. I will inevitably join the many people who have lost their homes and i am devasted, exausted and see no reason to live if I am homeless on top of everthing else that is going on in our country. Somebody please help?

Michelle of Fredericksburg VA (06/20/08)
I bought my home in Dec 2004 with a 2 yr ARM. At which point in Oct 2006 I started the process of contacting Countrywide to refinance/adjust my rate since the rate was fit to adjust in Jan 2007. At the time they couldn't do anything because of the market and having to equity in the home, however I had a possible company I could have gone with to do something with the rate, but my contract as I found out right before hand with Countrywide, if I refinanced with someone other then them before the 2 yr period was up then I paid a penalty. If this penalty would have been minor change I would have proceeded however it was going to be approx. $11k! So obviously on top of closing costs, appraisals, etc. I chose to not take that option.

Either way, since Oct 2006 until and including now (June 2008) I have been back and forth with countrywide to refinance, adjust/fix my rate or something to get it to the point of affordable. My rate adjusts every 6 months and it has gone up 4 times since the first adjustment. I was originally paying $2350.00 mo for my mortgage (not including 2nd mortgage which is a fixed rate with Navy Federal) - and now I am paying $3400.00 mo. with them due to the added amount so that's actually a total of $4200.oo I am paying. I haven't tried to get money out of the house for the refinance, I have just been asking for the rate to be fixed. All i get from them is unless I am late 60 days on my mortgage they can't help me - well I'm not going to ruin my credit by not paying to hope they can do something.

I have paid all of my mortgage payments on time and struggled to do so, to include getting a part time job to help with it. I get the run around every time I speak to someone there and I have never gotten anywhere with them! I have explained the no refinance option since the market is so low and they continously tell me that since my house won't appraise for at least what I bought it at they won't help me. I have been laughed at on the phone about the interest rates not being their fault, and I still get phone calls and mail from them continuously about them being able to adjust my rate, etc - when I answer I ask them why are they continuing to call/mail me with this crap that they can't actually do anything or wont do anything about and take me off their lists - they still have continued to call, and mail with these offers!!!

I refuse to not pay or be late on a payment for fear of my credit and think that there has to be some justice in this whole interest rate issue - especially when I am not asking for money out of the house for a refi just a mere adjusted fixed rate that is affordable to closer to what I was originally paying! I have taken many hours off work to discuss this with them outside of the office, mental frustration of bills and possibly losing my house. With the market being low I have tried other banks for them to adjust the rates but the house won't appraise for what I bought it at , I am at a loss of what to do but can't continue to keep paying these outrageous prices!

Alan of Ann Arbor MI (06/19/08)
I have an ARM which has just adjusted, and trying to refinance to a fixed rate. Have been dangled on a piece of string for 3 months by them told that they would and could help but was to soon as I would incur a penalty. Was then told at the last moment that they could not help. When complaining to their complaints department and to the Office of the President of Countrywide was informed that they could help but that I would have to default on my mortgage first. Something that I am not willingly prepared to do.

I believe that they are deliberately trying to force ownwers int forclosure.

Christina of Elk Grove CA (06/17/08)
Starting June 2007 I submitted a request for loan modification because my husband retired from the military and finding a job had become more difficult than we thought. At the first sign of trouble I called Countrywide explained my situation and started the Loan modification process. I was told NOT to make any mortgage payments because this would stop the Loan Modification process, I was also told that if I was approved for a loan mod that we would not have to pay any up front fees, we would just have to start over with our new payments - which will decrease. I was told to wait 2-3 wks for a negotiator to call me. No one called so I called back and was told I needed to make an up front payment of aprox. $2700.00 in order to be considered for a loan mod, so I did.

A few weeks passed and still no word from a negotiator. So I call back and I am told that because I made that payment my loan mod was cancelled but that I can schedule a repayment plan for over $5K a month. Ouch! I told them to start the process over. Weeks passed, I called and called again - I went through approx 7 work out negotiators only hearing back from 2 (a woman named Rowley and a man name Clint Johnson) Clint Johnson NEVER returned any of my phone calls and set us up on this ridiculous pay back plan because our loan mod had been denied and we needed to be on a repayment plan for 6 mos in order to be on a loan modification. I kept trying to call him because it made no sense. And we received a letter in the mail that our rate was going to increase so our mortgage was going from $2700.00 - $5300.00, we could not pay $5300.00.

Finally my husband found work in November 2007. Well still no response from Countrywide. We were transferred to another workout negotiator (Rowley) who said that our file has been all over the US and she is going to take care of us. I never heard from her again - we were transferred to another workout negotiator (Ellen Floyd) who did nothing, and now we are with Michael Hallum who finally got our Loan modification approved 1 year later, which means 12 mos of delinquency on our credit report. We now pay more than we originally did. It went from $2700.00 to 3700.00, that is just our first mortgage. There is still $476.00 that goes to our 2nd mtg (Litton Loans) Countrywide sold our 2nd to them.

What is really messed up, we put approx $60,000 down on this house and that include upfront payment for upgrades. Now Countrywide financed us for $632K, Well we found out too late that our house will only sell for $380K. What is this? I understand we should have done more research but when you trust in professionals you hope to get professionalism. I WANT JUSTICE!

James of Medina OH (06/16/08)
I had signed on to a 5 year fixe intrest only load with Counrtywide back in March 2003. In october of 2007 I called Countrywide to see about refinancing my load to a fixed mortgage. I was told that because of the housing market beign what it is that I owe more on my house then it is appraised at so I am not able to refinance. They informed me of a service they provide a home retention department that I can submit my payments to and they will hold my payments for three months so I will look as if I can not pay the mortgage and that will qualify me for a the home retention program. This will allow me to fix my rate from the adjustable rate. I was very reluctant to do this becuase they were not able to put this in writting.

I did how ever follow there instructions and allow them to hold the payments. After all I had my cancelled checks to prove I made the payments. After the three months my load was sent to negoations and the needed thirty days to work on the paperwork to fix my loan. I just come to find out that they advised me that my loan can not be fixed because of the present market my present adjustable rate went down 1/4 percent. When I asked them about next year or the year after they advised me that we can work on that next year. but I do not qualify for this program.

First of all I am very upset because I have been speaking the company about this loan since OCT 2007. I have talked to at least 30 different customer service reps because I was never able to speak to the previous one for one reason or another. Secondly I am upset beacuse my home has appraised now 35, 000.00 less then in 2003 and I do not have the equitly. So now I have to wait another year to start the process all over again.

I am certain that my home will not increase 30,000.00 with in the year and with my present adjustable morgtage I stand a chance if my rate rising to a rate that I can not pay the monthly payment and I may loose my house. All I can say is that they do not seem to be trying to help there customers.

Myra of Cape Coral FL (06/15/08)
I was a victim and a good customer of Countrywide. Unfortunately I lived in Southwest Florida where Countrywide made lots of ARM loans and I was one of them. I should have listen to my instincts instead of the Financial Advisor at Countrywide. I got an ARM and had to refinance several times to keep my head above water. Countrywide made tons of money from us.

Now when I need help they will not even consider a small restructure of my loan so that we can survive doing this difficult economic time. I talked to their hope line and the representative at Countrywide and she told me to rent a room or sale my jewelry. Thanks Countrywide for nothing but a hard time.

Cee of Fort Worth TX (06/11/08)
Countrywide Home Loans is firing its employees without just cause. They are making up fictitious situations and/or watching for any small thing in order for them to get rid of tenured employees. As a result of Bank of America's buyout of Countrywide, Countrywide feels as though they no longer need the service of some of their employees and instead of officially laying people off, or offering some sort of package, they resort to the ever so easy task of firing people. There have been several individuals that have been called in for acts that would supposedly warrant termination, only to be told they must go to the Collections Department or lose their job. Now if the action was so bad that I should be fired, why is it that [they] are asking me to go to the ever so popular collections dept, a department where my paycheck would be cut in half, as I would no longer get the bonuses upwards of $400 that I have been racking in on or the raise that my performance allows me every quarter.

Countrywide is trying to save themselves money and is putting everyone else in the poor house while doing so. So many people have been affected by this. Everyday, there's another person's life being played with by Countrywide Home Loans. Everyday, they make not only their customers homeless, but their employees homeless as well. I am a person who has received countless awards and certificates because of the great work that I put forth, now, Countrywide Home Loans has left me feeling less than what I truly know I am worth. They have reduced me and so many other good people down to nothing.

Paul of North Andover MA (06/09/08)
On May 21, 2008 the mortgage lender (Countrywide Home Loans) sent me a letter stating I am now required to have windstorm insurance on my home owner's insurance policy, and if I do not provide proof of such by 7/9/8 they would purchase it for me at an additional $2,811.44 per year. Each year I am required to provide Countrywide proof of my homeowner's insurance. If they bothered to check my policy they could see for them self's that I already have windstorm coverage.

More important, the price they are forcing people to purchase the windsorm coverage is at more than twice the going market cost. At least for me and my policy it is. What Countrywide is trying to do does not seem fair. For one, they could be checking with the homeowner's insurance company to see if the coverage they now require is already in the policy instead of forcing the policy holder to do so. Second, and more importand it appears to me that Countrywide is charging more thad double what the windstorm insurance actually costs. You can bet thousands of comsumers are not going to read the form letter Countrywide sent out notifying homeownwes of this pending action.

If I did not respond to the letter sent by Countrywide I would have been charged over $2,800 dollars a year on insurance coverage I already have in my homeowner's policy. All because Countrywide did not bother to check the homeowner's insurance policies they make us prove to them each year we have as valid.

Monalesia of Central Islip NY (06/08/08)
I started dealing with Countrywide Mortgage in October 2007 when I closed the deal on a new condominium I purchased. Everything went smoothly until I recently checked my May and June 2008 bank statements and noticed that without any notification whatsoever, Countrywide Mortgage had upped my monthly mortgage fees by nearly five hundred dollars!

I contacted Countrywide and spoke to two people (Joshua and then Patricia). Patricia proved to be very helpful, although her subsequent promise to send via email a detailed accounting of the extra fees attributed by Countrywide to my account, has yet to happen.

The short version is that Countrywide claims that the previously unassessed County Taxes had been submitted to them and that was the reason for the huge increase in my monthly payments. However, they could never explain to me why I was not notified of this in the first place. I contacted the County Tax Assessor's Office and was informed in no uncertain terms that they had not yet assessed county taxes for 2008 and that both Countrywide and Wells Fargo had apparently been using these tactics with numerous customers, as they had been receiving a lot of calls asking them what was going on. Of course, Countrywide denied this.

To make matters worse, when Countrywide finally admitted that they had not in fact received new tax information from the County Tax Assessor's Office, but rather, from some other independent tax agency, I also discovered that they had assessed my taxes against someone else's parcel number! That person's property was valued at almost double mine, which explained the nearly five hundred dollar per month increase in my mortgage payments.

Countrywide promised to reimburse me the nearly nine hundred dollars in over-charges they'd taken from my account, but they then claimed that because the sanitation fees had not previously been set for late 2007 and the period of 2008 leading up to June, they would take those charges out of the nine hundred they owed me and reimburse me only around one hundred and fifty dollars.  It is my intention to report Countrywide to the State Attorney General's Office for predatory practices and I sincerely hope other people do the same.

Countrywide over-charged my account for May and June 2008 to the total tune of nearly nine hundred dollars. This was based on their computation of someone else's parcel code that had been put on my account.

Diana of Cheyenne WY (06/07/08)
I financed my home with an ARM with the promise Countrywide would give me a better percentage rate when my 3-year period was up. When the time came, by interest rate went up to more than 9%, resulting in a more than $500 a month increase in my mortgage payment effective Feb 2008. In January of 2008, when I realized I could not handle the payment, I filed paperwork with Countrywide's Home Retention team for a home loan modification. After finally being contacted by my counselor and filling out the loan information, I again called several weeks later to find out the loan had been approved. However, she did not know this, and it became immediately apparent Countrywide's internal communication methods were and are very poor. She had told me when my application was pending not to make any payments until my loan modification papers were received and, at that time, I should make my new payment. I finally received the papers, signed, and returned them with a check covering late escrow fees and some processing fees to the tune of over $1400. I was also assured my account would be returned to current standing when the loan modification was finalized.

However, I continued to receive phone calls and letters telling me I was delinquent, and even though I have made my first new payment under the loan modification terms, I am still receiving threatening and harassing calls and certified letters. When I call to complain to customer service and explain the process I started many months ago to avoid just this situation, I am told just to tell the callers, for the umpteenth time, what is going on and explain to them my situation. I am told the letters and calls I have been receiving are automated and cannot be stopped.

Countrywide's internal communication methods are extremely poor. Also, since receiving my modification package, I have tried many times to speak with my counselor who is always unavailable. She does not return messages left, and her supervisor has also been left messages in this regard. The customer service representatives also have left messages asking the Home Retention Office to update my account, and this still has not been done. I just received another call from a debt collector asking what I intended to do about my overdue account, and I lost it for the first time.

I am in a customer service field for the US Government, and this is no way to treat your customers, especially those who anticipate they will have a problem, contact the company, do all they are asked to do, and then are still harassed with calls and threatening letters. I never had a late payment on either my first or second mortgage prior to this time, and I will never again work with Countrywide. I will also make sure none of my friends or family do either. This is very sad. I, too, would like to be included in any lawsuits resulting from Countrywide's poor service and harassment.

I have been emotionally badgered and my credit rating ruined. I am having difficulty trusting any financial institutions.

Lisa of Carrollton VA (06/05/08)
Our loan was transferred to Countrywide Home Loans in February 2007 without our knowledge from New Century Mortgage. In September 2007, we fell behind one payment due to family-owned business and our payroll being reduced. My husband and I decided to be proactive with Countrywide and request a foreberance and loan modification because our ARM is scheduled to change in September 2008. We submitted the requested paperwork (2 times!) and called Countrywide at least 1-2 per month but heard nothing. Like others I was told no decision was made and a negotiator would call. We went through at least 3 negotiators with only 1 ever calling back (Tina Suarez).

But the kicker is from the beginning, the customer reps told us not to pay on our loan because it would delete the request from the system. We asked for this in writing but of course nobody would send it. Even Ms. Suarez verified that the payment would negate the workout process but she refused to send something in writing.

Fast forward to May 31st almost 8 months since we started the process and only 1 return phone call - We received a letter from ReConstruct/Samuel White that our home was being foreclosed on for nonpayment. I called Countrywide and spoke with Myra Flores a supervisor in the workout department who said that back on April 29th, our loan modification request was denied by the investor and we failed to send in 30% for a repayment plan. I told her we NEVER even received notice our request was denied either written or verbal and no request for 30%. She said Countrywide didn't have to send anything to us, it was our responsibility to call them. However, she did offer to start the process again and have it assigned to a new negotiator.

I called today and of course no negotiator has been assigned after she said she sent 2 requests. I have not faith in their process again and it looks like we will go to foreclosure unless we do a quick sale. Now our credit is ruined with late payments and a possible foreclosure. I also filed a complaint with the Office of Thrift Supervision which oversees Countrywide as a national bank. They overnighted our complaint to Countrywide who has to respond in 30 days, which may be too late for us.

Sandra of Clearwater FL (05/27/08)
In May 2006 with the assistance of Rick, a former Countrywide Mortgage Broker, I secured a mortgage to purchase my home. At the time of securing a mortgage, I was just coming out of a paid off Chapter 13 bankruptcy and I requested a fixed loan. Mr. D steered me away from a fixed loan and assured me that within two years I could refinance the ARM mortgage ( because the appraisal was for $ 104,000 and I purchased my home for $ 94,000.

On or about October 2007 I began to call Countrywide and try to refinance as I knew I could not afford the interest rate of over 14% from the current interest rate of 12.6%. I talked with many different individuals and was told many different things to do. In January 2007 I faxed all the documents requested of me to begin the process for deed in lieu of foreclosure for which I have never received an answer.

Next I was assigned a Workout Negotiator, Cindy C, a person whom never negotiated anything with me. Again ,I was assigned another Workout Negotiator, a Ms. K, an individual that NEVER returned my many calls or emails sent by supervisors. Again, an negotiator that NEVER negotiated anything with me.

Moreover, I recently received a letter from the Home Retention Team dated 5/14/2008 stating they were pleased to advise me that my loan modification has been approved. The forms are enclosed for review and the papers include no interest or terms; without a modification or an interest rate stated. Please note in paragraph three of the May 14,2008 letter that my payment is subject to change if my escrow account is reanalyzed or if I have an adjustable rate loan type( which I do).This proves to me that no one helped me and nothing has changed.

Lastly, Mr. M, I have been following this in the news and I was under the distinct impression that you promised President Bush that you would help people like me and you received funding to do so. I would like to be considered in any class action law suit which may result from the practices of Countrywide as a consumer that has been forced into foreclosure.

Margaret of Huntington Beach CA (05/26/08)
I am a widow, 84 years old.My income property was financed by Countrywide. The home was sold in May 2005. Countrywide was holding $2,185.45 of my funds. I was unaware of this. They sent payment to my income property and not my home or mailinmg address. They had the address in their file . They neglected to revilew the file,. When the the check was returned to them they failed to review the file for my mailing address.

The money remained in my account. After more that a year the money was removed by a 3rd party. This wauld not have occurred if the chck had been properly sent to me in a timely fashion. They offer invalid excuses and refuse to send me my money. Can you contact them? I am unable to go to SC Ct.

William of Miami, FL (05/25/08)
I have been paying my first mortgage though my internet banking since loan inception.I sent payment on 05/09/2008 on 05/24/2008 my bank called me and said that payment was being returned. I then called countrywide and spoke with a representitive addressing the issue she told me that the problem was with my bank, yet all other internet banking through my bank had no issues. I then recheduled payment to be made on 05/15/2008 the next call I get is from their collection deparetment, at that point I checked my internet banking and it showed payment was made on 05/15/2008.

I am concerned now with my credit rating being effected. I am unable to reschedule any payment until funds are returned to my account as of yet 05/24/2008 they are not posted to my account. I made sure that the representive noted on my account that I addressed this issue on 05/14/2008.

I am in final stages of interview process for employment and although I have already I assume been through background and credit check that this could be a problem and may effect hiring.

David of Kaneohe HI (05/20/08)
i sent letter explaining all about situation to pay but service unwilling to take payments on timely matter. ihave names and documents, confirmation numbers

im concerned that unfair practice has happened in the collections department.  im not looking for money i just want payments to be recorded as said it would be to stop any late fees. please call , this may be a big problem

Garrett of Las Vegas NV (05/19/08)
I have 2 loans with Countrywide. Approximately one year ago they bagan to phone me to tell me I was late on payments. I had not been late. They had been applying the payments into the wrong account. (applying all to one or another of the loans). After much fighting over the phone I sent them copies of the checks that were cashed by them. It took about a month and a half to fix it.

I asked them how I could avoid having this happen in the future. They said to sign up for automatic debit from my account. There was no way for that to go wrong.

Well, about four months ago I got another call from them saying I was five months behind on my mortgage. I explained that was immpossible because I was on auto pay. For almost two months I tried to fix this with them. I faxed (TWICE) my checking statement showing the money had been taken out. After many unreturned phone calls and empty promises the problem was still not fixed. I have since hired a person that fixes credit to get the improper notes off of my credit bureau reports. Countrywide and its employees are absoutely incompitent. They have wrecked my credit and refused to do anything about it. It was extremely frustrating and I am still not done with it. The customer service is a comlete DISservice!

My Credit has been damaged badly

Patrick of Conroe TX (05/19/08)
My legal problem resulted out of my active duty as a reservist. The bottom line is, while I was on active duty , without notification, my mortgage company raised the interest rate above the legal 6% without notification, then when the payments fell behind (again, I didn't receive notification since I was paying the 6%), they reported it to the credit reporting agencies. When I went to buy a second home, my credit was damaged. They finally did fix the credit report (after I purchased the new home) since it was reported in error (their own admission), fixed my account, but in the end, with the new home loan, it cost me an extra $6,000 + over the length of the new loan in addition to about $2,000 I had to pay back into the 1st loan escrow to make it current (they were dipping into the escrow account when they raised the rate).

Despite numerous attempts to seek the $6,000 + and the escrow money back in refund due to the mortgage company's error, they have refused to compensate me for their violation of the Soldiers and Saliors Civil Relief Act. Also, they have refused to send a release of lean to the VA since it was a VA loan after I refinanced the 1st house with another company after I returned. Trying to receive compensation has been going on since I returned from Iraq in Aug 07 (buying the second home occurred in April 2007).

The legal assistance I sought, both military and civilian, told me that the mortgage company (Countrywide Mortgage) was in violation of the Act. It is now time for me to seek legal assistance to fle a lawsuit if the lawyer thinks there is merit and I will win. The civilian lawyers I first sought assistance with was with a pre-paid legal service. They basically write a letter but they don't respresent you in court. The military attorney was of course, only a legal assistance attorney and doesn't represent personnel in court.

Sunny of Pekin IL (05/13/08)
At the end of 2007, our family was going through some financial difficulties due to unexpected medical expenses. We fell behind on our loan payment. I have been trying for months for Countrywide to get paperwork to us for some type of assistance or program to postpone foreclosure. I have just finally received it on May 7. Now I can't get anyone to help me with it and I have to send it by tomorrow or they will go ahead with foreclosure. The paperwork provides a number for assistance with the paperwork but the extensions unavailable. I tried to just get a random representative and they are of no help and they don't even pretend to want to help.

Since this whole thing began, I have been belittled by their employees on numerous occasions, harrassed, hung up on, yelled at, laughed at, implied that I'm a liar, and just simply avoided. I am truly convinced that they do the minimum to give their customers the idea that they are being helped but are not really helping them at all. They promise the help but never give it. I understand how all these foreclosures are taking place now, if Countrywide avoids the customer or just passes them around to a million different people, all of which give them contradicting information, they will eventually be able to foreclose and say that they just weren't contacted in a timely fashion. Quite sneaky.

I am just incredibly upset with the fact that Countrywide is dealing with my life and the life of my family in such a carefree manner. I am not going to fill out this paperwork to enter into a forebearance agreement with them. I am giving up and just going to an attorney. Our family will be forced to sell our HOME. And who knows where we will go from there. I am currently able to make regular payments but am just unable to get the passed due amount caught up but I no longer need the stress that they are causing me. Emotionally, I have suffered. My family doesn't need this stress and I think we are better off without them involved in our lives.

Donna of Citrus Heights CA (05/12/08)
I am trying to get into a fixed rate. My interest only rated changes May 13th. I am able to make the new payment for July 1, however I would like to get a fixed rate to avod the every 6 month jump to where it becomes impossible. However, like most of the US my home is worth less than the loan, especially due to foreclosures in the area.

When I called, I was told I would have to miss payments in order to even be talked to about the program. I have never missed a payment, yet they want me too. I find this a horrible business practice. I am only able to deal with CW on the phone. I am told I ca not go into a regular CW office, they only handle refinance with home equity. SO I gues I'm screwed. The # i have to call and then get a foreign speaking person. It is suppose to be located in Texas. After reading all the horror stories with people dealing with CW I have grave concern. My original mortgage was sold to CW I did not initially apply for my home loan in 2006 with CW. This misleading cutomers must stop. It is abuse on the part of CW to mislead it's customers- NO wonder B of A is buying them out.

1. If I don't make my house payment it goes against my credit scor 2. I risk losing my home to foreclosure 3. The adjusting rate creates a hardship, when if there was equity in my home I would qualify for a fixed rate. In FACT my payment really does not need to be reduced, I just nee a fixed rate.

Paul of Belpre OH (05/10/08)
Last year, my wife and I started to work with CountryWide Mortgage Company for a new mortgage loan. We had figures locked in on their website and when the rate met our request, we started to do business.

CountryWide is notorious for tactics of bumping the rates up as you negotiate with them. We started at 6.00 and with in a few minutes we were at 6.38. Everything was acceptable and we signed on as a customer. We paid for the searches and appraisal. Everything went O.K. until CountryWide sent our entire mortgage portfolio to a yes, Third Party.? This person(s) had our file which contained our: income statistics, current & possible future mortgage info, personal banking figures, outstanding loans and credit card figures, and Social Security numbers. To me, this was the same as identity theft.

The person who received the package called me and told me they had the FedEx package. I went to retrieve it and saw that it had my name but their address on the label. The pull tab had been started but I dont thing it had been looked at. But this doesnt matter, the fact that CountryWide sent our info to a third party that could have opened up the packet and then told everybody they knew what our lifes: finances, SS#s and mortgage figures could have been catastrophic!

When I approached CountryWide, the Ohio manager sent me an apology email and said they would forgo the appraisal fee to make it up. Wow! Thats all they could do? They could have destroyed us and to make it up, a $400.00 appraisal. Of course we went to another bank for our new mortgage. When I asked my attorney cousin who specializes in these matters , he said he knew this was in affect for medical (HIPA) issues but he would have to look into it for consumer affairs. He never called me back. CountryWide is one of the largest mortgage companies in the United States, but someone needs to police these types of matters that can destroy people lives and make the mortgage companies be accountable for their mistakes.

Emotional distress for months. Several hundred dollars over the life of the new loan which is at a higher rate.

Alexander of Corona CA (05/09/08)
Contacted countrywide in mid April of 2008 in hopes to refinance my current mortgage. Tommy was upbeat and ready to help. Once Tommy charged my credit card for over $450 for an appraisal, I have not heard from him at all. I received a package in a mail with my first name and some strange last name that was not even mine. I contacted Tommy over 20 times since mid April until today May 9, 2008 and not once I received a call back from him on status or an update.

1. Lost $450 for an appraisal that I never needed, received, or aware of the outcome. 2. My credit report was impacted with a last name that I have never used in my entire life.

Godfrey of Las Vegas NV (05/07/08)
Countrywide Home Loans has been advertising on the internet at different web sites stating that Refinance Your Home No Closing Cost No Points No Processing Fees No Credit Reporting Fees. Based on this, I had decided to call them about 3 weeks ago.

After speaking to their refinance officer, I found that what they are advertising is not true. There is still closing cost associated with the refinance of my home. They build the closing cost into the refinance fees. Hence, I feel that the advertisement they have placed is a deception to consumer like myself. This is not a fair business practice by Countrywide and I strong believed that these advertisement should be stopped.

After discovering that I was been deceived, I decided not to give my business to Countrywide and I did voice my dissatisfaction to them stating that they are deceiving the consumers with such an ad.

Judy of Mcdonough GA (05/06/08)
I filed bankruptcy in 2002. But I kept my house. Countrywide sued me because I left them out of my bankruptcy. I had to make 3 payments and then pay their lawyer $854. for sueing me. I paid all these fees and the bankruptcy was discharged. I kept my house. Then 1 year later they told me they were going to forclose because I had not paid the lawyer fees. The bankruptcy would not have been discharged unless these fees were paid. My lawyer had the receipts. But I pulled up my statemet from the entire year and their accounting department had used these fees by applying them to house payments, but they did not inform me of this.

So I once again had to pay the legal fees for them sueing me. They informed me that it was not their problem that the monies had been applied in the wrong manner. So I had to pay them again. Now I am up to date on my payments and would like to refinance, since I have an arm that will be upping my payments in 2010. But they don't want to refinance me and give me a set rate. What can I do.

Morgan of Elk Grove CA (05/05/08)
I have been charged $450 for an inaccurate appraisal by Country Wide. The appraiser did not take into account my home was purchased a wrecked forecloser and was then completely upgraded. The appraiser was also from out the area (80 miles away) I have since had a second appraisal and refinanced using the second appraisal. Patricia Cardella King said she would consider this and for a refund but know will not return messages. Thank you 

$450

Kristin of Ridgeland WI (05/01/08)
I applied for a refinance loan in March with Country. I was all approved and had to pay $375.00 for an appraisal. Appraiser came and appraised my home. He would not or could not tell me what my home was appraised at or if it all went thru ok. This info is only given to LandSafe and Countrywide. My loan office contacted me and told me that something came back wrong with my septic system!

Of course he would not tell me what and informed me the loan is on stand by: For 3 weeks now I have been calling and calling different numbers, leaving messages with supervisors or anyone to call me back. DO NOT EXPECT TO GET A CALL BACK...BECAUSE YOU WON'T! NOT ONE PERSON WILL HELP YOU OR CARE! I paid $375.00 for an appraisal. I did not just have this money lying around. Now I called and I am told that they can not give me the loan. Each time I call I get a different person and a different answer as to what is going on. This is the #1 loan lender? What is this country coming too?

At this point...I am out $375.00, no loan refinance, numerous phone calls and stress like no other. I feel sorry for anyone that has to go thru this! Know that you are not alone.

Teresa of Anchorage AK (05/01/08)
My experience with Countrywide is nothing short of a nightmare. My husband and I had our original loan through Castle Rock, they sold their loans and it went to AMC, from there, it was sold to Countrywide. AMC had the loan for one month before it going to Countrywide. Thats when it all started. My husband and I recieved a refund check in the mail from Countrywide. The memo on the check stated, ESCROW OVERPAYMENT REFUND. We called Countrywide and they inturn, said it was indeed an overpayment of escrow. We, of course, cashed it and paid off some outstanding debt. A week later, we recieved notification that our mortgage payment had been reduced. A great surprise in a rough time in our financial lives.

Then tax time came around and we recieved notice that our escrow account balance was $0 and since Countrywide went ahead and paid the taxes, we needed to repay them(countrywide). We couldn't understand what had happened and when we told them that they themselves had sent a refund and never noticed that they had actually closed the escrow account without notifying or even asking. So, they decide to send new documents and a new payment of $3215! It went from $2275 to $3215, which we could and can not afford.

So we went to the local office in Anchorage and tried to work with them. They said they were not authorized to modify the loan in any way and recommended we try a loan modification by filing a financial hardship. We did exactly that, that evening. Then we waited and waited and waited. Upon one occassion, I called and asked if we could send in any money, even though it was not the full payment amount it would be something to show we were not trying to escape our obligations. She said no, it would be of no use because since the loan was being worked on the money could not be applied and would just sit in a separate account and do nothing. So we took her advice and just waited. We never heard form the negotiator as they're called for weeks and weeks.

I have called numerous times, and have every call documented as far as times, dates and who I spoke with. Finally after three months, I called and said I wanted to speak with William Garcia's supervisor. That went no where but the person on the phone said they left her, Denise Evans, a message to contact me. Well, the very next morning, William Garcia called. He tells me that he has looked over our financial information and that he noticed that we give a certain amount of money to a church. I said, Yes sir, thats our home church and thats our tithe. He then states that if we weren't giving that money to the church, that we wouldn't be in the situation that we are in. He then goes on to say that unless we agree to not pay the tithe, there is nothing they can do for us. I felt trapped, we didn't want to lose our home so I just said, OK. He then tells me that the outstanding balance of past payments and interest is around $16,000 and wants to know how we will pay for it!

If we had $16,000, we wouldn't be talking. He then states that he will add it into the loan...not to the back of the loan, into the loan. So now, the payments are $2876 (still to much for us to afford) and we are paying interest on interest. How can they do this? We have had to move out of our home and are trying to lease it out. We have found a family to lease it for a year and they are willing to pay $2650 so we will have to bite the rest so we thought we were good to go.

Now, today, Countrywide wants $4000 by May 2, 2008 or there is no deal. I called and asked for an extention and they said no! So they tell me to send in the money when I get it and what will happen is that they will close the current file and when the money arrives, it will get sent back to the workout department and we can go through the process again!!! OK so thats another 3-4 months and since we can't pay anything, the interest and payments (whatever they are) will once again be added into the loan...another $16000.00 How can they even call this a HOPE DEPARTMENT?

I have called almost everyday and never have gotten anywhere. They never return phone calls. I can not go through this again, not mentally, physically or otherwise. We have tapped out our credit cards and have borrowed money from every outside source we have. On a side note, since we have been unable to pay anything because we don't have the full monthly payment, our credit is now in a horrible status and when I asked if they could just re-work the loan to the current low rate (ours is at 7.3%) they said that we don't qualify because of our credit score! They ruined our credit and now we feel trapped and can't afford a lawyer or know where to turn. I truely hope Countrywide recieves everybit that they have dealt out.

Our credit is damaged, our credit cards maxed out, there is constant stress in our marriage, and we wonder if we should go foreclosure or bankrupt.

Andrea of Austin TX (04/30/08)
I had a fixed rate with taxes and insurance included in the price of the home. I just noticed on my bill last night that I owed 5,000.00 on escrow. I called and spoke with them and they first said this HAPPENS to a lot of people at closing. I did not close with them, my mortage company sold to them. Then they say it was my taxes which is bullshit because I have homestead and have been living in my home since 2006, now it's 2008. I asked them if I pay the escrow would my payments gone back to the same they said no. My payment were 734.00 a month which I could afford.

Now they jumped to 1500.00 a month! I went to my bank and now i'm having to refinance and pay 3,000.00 in closing cost and will have a payment of 1000.00 if not more. They refused to help me even when I offered them money to put in the escrow. I may lose my dream house because of this company. They sent NOTHING to me. My payment slip still said 734.00 not 1500.00 and owe 5000.00 to escrow. THIS IS CRAZY! I have no debt, only my car and house with excellant credit. Please help me stop this from happening to someone else.

I may lose my house and car. I am single with no family.

M of Callahan FL (04/30/08)
Approximately seven (7) months ago we fell behind on our mortgage due to work slowing down. At this time seven months ago they said they were going to do a modification. When we sent in the modifaction paperwork we were told it was missing a signature on it somewhere, by this time the date on the modification expired. We were told it was not a problem to just give our financials again to home retention department.

Well after calling and leaving SEVERAL messages to the people suppose to be assigned to the modifaction, we heard NOTHING!! We ended up giving our financials to a total of 6-7 different reps and were told we would hear something in 2 weeks. I in turn contacted the Office of the President for the company and their response was the home was foreclosed and there was nothing they would do because we didnt contact them in a timely matter? I have phone records (home and cell) for the last seven months that shows calls have been made 100's of times since October of 2007. Countrywide has since foreclosed and told us we were out of luck! PLEASE HELP if you can

We are losing our home

Tinarsha of Mountain House CA (04/30/08)
I am a realtor in Northern California. I'm finding that banks are not standing by their word to work with consumers. I've had several short sales that have failed and gone onto foreclosure due to lack of response from bank. I currently have a home that has been listed since 11/27/07 and received a contract for purchase 2/25/08, sent it to Countrywide for approval..

As of today, countrywide has yet to respond. The seller has called numerous times as well as myself. The record their calls and yet the level of customer service is non responsive! A negotiator has been assigned, yet Countrywide employees refuse to provide her phone number or email address. They say that they have passed along my messages to her, but to no avail have we heard anything.

It's frustrating for sellers an, buyers and agents. As an agent we try to educate homeowners in default to not walk away from their home and to try and resolve the issue as best as they can. But, the behavior tends to lean towards the fact that the bank prefers to foreclose. What rights do the sellers have, if any?

Adrian of Corpus Christi TX (04/29/08)
We have had the worst experience with Countrywide here in Corpus Christi, Texas. We were finished with signing papers, the builder and I, on Friday, April 18th, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. We were congratulated and told we were done. At 4:00 the same day, my wife got a great job offer, (better pay, benefits, solid company to work for) and she took the job, after we had signed papers and closed on the loan, so we thought. She called her employer and gave her two weeks. Fifteen minutes after she gave her two weeks, Countrywide in corpus christi calls to verify employment AGAIN when they had already did so two days before. After that, I get a call saying that we will not be getting funded because my wife changed jobs, to a better paying job. We had no bad intentions of lying to Countrywide or trying to cheat Countrywide and do not understand how going to a much better place to work could make us loose a loan. We had already been congratulated and given keys to the house and you all just took them away from us!

The following Monday, I call countrywide and ask if there is anything that can be done. I was told that we could do a V.O.E and a verbal confirmation that she would be employed on the 28th of April. Well we got the VOE filled out and faxed back to countrywide. Countrywide called to verify employment for my wife at her new job. Countrywide asked if my wife was going to be on probation ( which was not told me if that was going to be an issue) and my wifes new employer stated that she was not on probation and she would not get termitated after 90 days if they were not satisfied, it was only going to be a review of her work, and she stressed that it was NOT PROBATION. Countrywide decided not to give us the loan because they said that what my wife was on was probation, even though her new employer stressed that it was not probation.

Countrywide has made one of the most important part of our lives, and the most important decision of our lives, a complete disaster and heartache. It seemed like no one was sincere or sympathetic. It almost seemed like Countrywide was finding a way out from funding us. I have no idea why. Both of credit scores are 730 and 725. We had money at the title company already and money in the bank. This was a total heartbreak for my wife and I hope that no one goes through the pain that Counrtywide has put us through.

Hileng of Menifee CA (04/29/08)
I am doing a short sale with Countrywide, the firs 7 buyers backed out because they could not wait due to long process. I have 3 offers for hext agent that listed my house, the first one backout due to long pocess.We have waited since February 9,2008 up to now Countrywide has not make a decision to accept the short sale.

Countrywide Negotiator called me on 04/26/08 and told me that she will not accept the short sale unless I sign the promissory note that I will pay back the balance owed of $86,000. I told her I cannot afford, our only income if rom my husband's retirement and my $424 a month retirement from an old job and barely making it with our income together. I told her that it's my understanding that the 1st mortgage will pay the 2nd mortgage which is the mortgage insurance of $14,000, she told me that even if the 1st mortgage pay the 2nd mortage of $14,000 I still owe $72,000 and I have to sign the promissory note for her to approve the short sale or she will garnish our wages. I told her how can you garnish our wages when the only left from our money is $100 and I sent that money to my brother and sister who has tuberculosis, diabetes and heart problems abroad so they can buy their medications.

 told her my loan is a purchase money and under California Civil Section 580b there is no deficiency judgment against the homeowners for the balance owed. She said the 2nd mortgage is not owned by the lender or investor but by a mortgage insurance therefore mortgage insurance are exmpted to that law that President Bush signed. I told her I think I will write President Bush a letter to amend 580b to include mortgage insurance that they cannot go after the homeowners. I was angry at her and I said things I should'nt say. I emailed all Countrywide Exsecutive Officers and Negotiator and told them that I am cancelling my listing, but the Negotiator emailed me back and said to give him one week to get the money from the 1st mortgage to pay baak the 2nd mortgage and the first mortgage is ordering a 2nd appraisal.

Countrywide already appraised my house by their own BPO. I am afraid that the remaining 2 buyers might back out. I don't know what to do. Can someone, a lawyer mayb tells me if it's true that 2008 California procedural civil code section 580b only addressed the investors and the lenders no deficiency judgment and they cannot sue the homeowners for the balance owed once the house is sold, how about the mortgage insurance, are they exempted from this section 580b. Please, please I need help. I cannot afford to pay a lawyer. I just want a peace of mind. Thank you.

Stephanie of Del Mar CA (04/27/08)
We went with countrywide for a home loan. This is our first house and we were super excited. So, fast forward to a week before closing. We still have not been told what our rate is, what our mortgage will be, nothing!! We were pre-approved for $300,000 with 5% down. A week before we closed, we were told that we had to wait to see how the appraisal went, but it is quite possible it will be listed as a soft market. In that case, we will have to do 10% down instead of 5%. Meaning we have to come up with $15,000 extra money. It was a stretch, but doable.

So we were ok. We thought it was weird that they would change our money down with a week left before closing, but again, we are new buyers, and just assumed they knew what they were talking about. And, of course, it did appraise in a soft market meaning we had to do a 10% down. THEN, 4 days before closing, we got the breakdown of all of the closing costs. This amounted to $9000 extra dollars. So, as of close of escrow, we were going to have to come up with $35,000 extra. this is up from the orinigal $26,000 we were expecting. After saying we were going to pull out of escrow, Countrywide was quite rude and couldn't understand why we were so upset. Did we read through all of the paperwork they sent?

Ok, we NEVER received any paperwork. this was news to us. And why wouldn't countrywide follow up. did you get the paperwork we sent? make sure to look over all of it..etc etc. Oh, you didn't get any paperwork? Let's fix this! No, none of that happened. So, then we told them we got no paperwork and they insisted we did. They had Fedexed it....well, give me the tracking number so I can follow up with them on why they didn't deliver it to us. Guess what, they didn't give it to us. There was never any paperwork. We fully beleive that they held all of this to the last minute thinking that...oh, it's to late, they won't back out now....they will just pay it... So, we pulled out. Now they are saying they will credit us $8000 so that we can still buy it...but now we are reluctant because we don't want to get into a 30 year loan with them with this customer service. This is our first house, and it has NOT been fun!

We are out $5200 of earnest money that we will not get back, $300 for the inspection on our condo, $410 for appraisal, and LOTS OF STRESS!

Bob of Albany NY (04/27/08)
I signed on to the Countrywide site to make a mortgage payment. After accepting my login and password it told me that it did not recognize my computer and asked me a question that I supposedly had used when registering with the site. However, the question that it asked is absolutely NOT one that I ever used. I always keep a record of those things, and I had several questions that I HAD used, but not the one they asked me. Something like that raises a lot of red flags regarding the integrity of my account.

I immediately contacted Countrywide. I discovered, much to my dismay, that not only didn't they have any internet support for their site on weekends (I noticed it on a Saturday), but there was no way to alert them to fraudulent use of my account until Monday. I made several phone calls, asked to speak to supervisors and kept hitting a dead end. It is now the following day and I won't be able to find out what happened to my account until tomorrow. I find the fact that if someone has been able to break into their account system on a Friday night, that no one in the company will be alerted for three days, giving the hacker all that extra time.

Bob of Albany NY (04/26/08)
It appears that my account may have been compromised. I tried to sign into my account. It said that it did not recognize my computer and gave me a hint that I had NEVER given them. It happened on Saturday morning and it appears that they don't handle those kind of questions on weekends. That means there could potentially been massive fraud, including compromised accounts, and they have NO way of dealing with them until Monday when all the damage could have been done. Their security is VERY troubling

As of now, no damage has happened, but I will have no way of knowing that until Monday.

Svein of Eagan MN (04/24/08)
The Short Sale process with Countrywide has been tedious and frustrating. Judging from the other complainants this is not unusual. I am the Realtor attempting to sell the home. The additional work and out of pocket expense with high probability of no sale makes me question the wisdom of even bother taking such a listing. I also know that many of my colleagues shy away from the buy side when possible. Below are some of the email communication with Countrywide and the last contact is particularly interesting. Our issue was that the Work-out? department put our file aside as the home owner was CURRENT with payment and was not looked upon as urgent. If we had decided to stop paying and go the road of foreclosure the file would have received more attention. After numerous calls and several promises of expedited file, we finally managed to contact a supervisor on 4/22/08 that again said he would attempt to expedite, but it would take another 7 days to get a negotiator assigned.

We are now on the 54th day without an assigned negotiator and of course the buyer is threatening to walk. If she does, the home will most likely go into foreclosure to a significant higher cost for Countrywide. You may enjoy all the emails, but at least read the last with reaction from their customer service. From: Lindsay_Swank@Countrywide.Com [mailto:Lindsay_Swank@Countrywide.Com] Sent: Mon 4/21/2008 11:41 AM I am sorry, I am unable to respond to any further e'mails as the company does not allow us to. If you have special arrangements with a negotiator, they have the ability to receive those special situations. I am sorry to inform you that on our side we are not able to respond. Please stop any further to myself or my representatives. Thank you. == If your reps cannot receive e-mails, I will be relaying on YOU to handle this unfortunate mishandled file. Please read the correspondence and contact the appropriate manager to process this file expeditiously. Thank you. ==== My reps are unable to receive e'mails from outside the company. Please refrain from sending any more e'mails to Ms. Jasper, thank you. Lindsay Swank Team Leader, Customer Service === Jaime, Just to confirm our conversation this morning regarding loan # xxxxxx. I have also attached two emails from the home owner to Maureen Tomko detailing the last attempts to expedite this process.

We were promised a negotiator last week Wednesday or Thursday, the latest information given to the home owner was NO LATER then Friday. As of today we still do not have a negotiator assigned and per your comment may take another 24-48 hours. We are now 50 days into the process and even if we get assigned a negotiator today have to expect another 7-10 days before approval. This really is un-acceptable and we are seriously struggling to retain the buyer. FYI, if this buyer walks there will be a good chance the home owner no longer will be able to stay current. The potential foreclosure or deed in lieu certainly will increase the cost for Countrywide significantly. The list price on similar properties are now lower then our current offer.

We ask that you contact the MANAGER and alert them of the situation in hope that this process can be resolved. Hi Maureen, This is Leah writing again about the short sale offer on my property, The account number is xxxxx. Ive called the home retention department many times last week and someone named Mike had assured me that I would have a negotiator assigned by the end of the workday Friday, a day later than you had told my realtor, Svein Household. It is now Monday morning and I called to see if a negotiator had indeed been assigned, but no one is assigned as of yet. Im including my previous email about this situation. I am hoping that you could help me out or forward this message to someone who can help hurry this along. I need to be able to give my buyer some information so that she does not back out of this offer. I would appreciate anything you can do. Thanks

previous email (4/16/08): Hi Maureen, My realtor spoke with you yesterday regarding my short sale application (acct # xxxxxx). It is my understanding that things were not processed as they were supposed to be, and therefore we have been delayed. This has caused a problem for me in two ways- first, my debt continues to mount the longer this process goes on and secondly, my buyer's offer was only good for 30 days and she is now threatening to back out. This is all not to mention that when the application for the short sale was originally received on the 11th, March the associate Svein spoke with told him that all the necessary components were there. However, unbeknownst to me, my pre-qualification expired on the 7th, March leaving the application in limbo until I received a mailing (much later) about the pre-qualification expiration and called Countrywide.

I was not contacted about the missing part of my short sale. When I called about this on the 19th, March I was assured that all of this would be processed quickly as my buyer's offer was only good for 30 days. I am frustrated because I have, in very good faith, been doing my part to settle this crisis in a way that meets both my needs and the needs of Countrywide/Fannie Mae (with the short sale). If this offer falls through, I will then need to apply for a deed-in-lieu which results in worse credit for me and less money for the lender. However, my mounting debt leaves me no other option. I have tried to reach you or your supervisor three times today by calling the main line. Most associates were not that helpful and Mattie was somewhat rude. I finally reached someone who was able to help me and I've left a voicemail for Benjamin Johnson and received your email.

I was told that you all check your email more than voicemail (as do I), so I decided to do both. What I need is a date by which a decision is going to be made so that I can give a definitive answer to my buyer. It will cause me great hardship if she backs out. I would appreciate any special actions or accommodations that can be made, especially considering the oversights on the part of Countrywide. I understand that you were very sympathetic and helpful; I appreciate that very much.

D.b. of Escondido CA (04/23/08)
My home burned in the Oct 2007 wildfires. I notified my Countrywide the next day. I told them I might need a suspension of my payments until I figured out what the insurance would pay for rental expenses. I faxed back the info they required and they said in 20 days I'd get a decision. I waited for over 2 months, calling in every week and was asked to resubmit the same documents. I got concerned since the documents I was faxing contained very personal information. I was starting to worry about ID theft. In January, Countrywide called me to inform me that I was late on a payment. This was true since I had to pay move-in costs for a rental and I just did not have the money. I still had not received payments from my insurance company. The person on the phone did not have a clue as to my situation and once again asked for the same information.

At this point I asked for a suspension of payments that I read about as on option on Countrywide's own website. The guy on the phone said he'd never seen that. The following week, after several attempts to reach my negotiator he finally called me with the excuse that Countrywide took away voice mail and he did not receive my messages. He faxed me a suspension agreement which looked acceptable. I made my late payment and entered into a suspension period knowing that it would not by reported on my credit report, as indicated in the contract I signed with Countrywide. Well, Equifax found out different in less than one month. Countrywide did report the fact that I was not more than two payments behind. They did not consider the payment I made 2 weeks late, they showed that as an extra payment and still showed the original one as not paid. Then, they also showed that I had not made the following payment (during the agreed suspension period).

In the meantime, I got insurance checks from my insurance company, not enough of course to rebuild, without negotiating for more. I go to the bank to cash them and find out the next day that Countrywide intercepted the checks the ones I had were no longer valid) and took them. I try every day to reach the Claims department. Finally I find a local Countrywide office and I demand they help me. They actually do and even admit that Countrywide is so screwed up and they feel sorry for customers. They got me in-touch with a Claims person who said they will be issuing disbursements as needed when I supply them with expense reports. I not happy about that. I feel like I've lost control over what I can do. They also tell me they cannot help with the problem with the negotiations department. It seems Countrywide is very efficient when they smell money and not so much when you ask for help.

For 2 months up to today's date I keep trying 2 -3 times per week to reach my negotiator. The forbearance period is ending and I need to know what to do. I cannot possible pay the back payments until right now and I am nearly out of personal belongings insurance money, Countrywide took all the rest, and I'm still in a rental. I have not gotten very far with negotiating with the insurance company. I make a mortgage payment out of a little savings anyway. I get another negative report on my credit. Today I contacted another agent at Countrywide to ask to tack on the payments during the forbearance to the end of the loan or to the payoff depending on what happens first. I also ask again to rescind the negative report on my credit and lastly, propose that they apply the insurance money OF MINE they took to the balance of the loan and refinance me for the balance to drop my payments way down until I can sell the lot or get more more from my insurance. Apparently they are not interested in helping a fire victim in California rebuild. I get the same story I get every time I call. You need to talk to your negotiator. They try to get him on the call or his Supervisor Jessica Lechtenberg, and they never can find them, and they tell me they will send them an email for me. Nothing even happens.

I am unable to proceed with rebuilding or making a informed decision to not rebuild. I am having to make a hurried decision because I cannot pay mortgage and rental costs at the same time. This means I will not rebuild and I have to sell my mother's house, and join households, to keep from foreclosing on this loan. My mortgage broker tells me the negative credit reporting will affect my ability to get a new home loan in the future.

Douglas of Elk Grove CA (04/23/08)
Lisa had staff research my loan modification. Once this was completed Floretta Childs became my Loan Negotiator. She obtained a 4.25% 30 year fixed modification. The loan amount did not increase. I will make my 1st payment on 5-1-2008

The new loan did increase from $1585.00 per month to $2,202.41. However this new loan does not add an additional $1500.00 to the existing loan balance every month. I would say that my persistant calling and follow insured that my loan received the attention needed to modify my loan. My Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Attorney Liticia Tanner said that all of my other debt will be discharged. I will be able to keep my home. The home is now worth $355,000.00 and I still owe $430,000.00. I hope that over the next few years my property will go back up to the $495,000.00 I paid for it.

Ian of Houston TX (04/22/08)
Coutrywide has changed interest rates on us without any prior knowledge, lost checks that were signed for by their office and stacked penalties against us for their misgivings and poor business administrative duties. The amount we actually owe is now in question as we have recieved two different answers. Once a month we get a letter in the mail stating we do not have home insurance and that they are going to have to start an esgrove of our account.

My insurance representative and I have had enough of that. They make it hard to go about our daily lives and like another complaint stated the stress level of dealing with them is unbearable. We are looking at any body but Countrywide to carry our loan. I would like to ban together with a number of people like myself and give COuntrywide the blackeye they so rightfully deserve.

We are looking at a total of just over $2,000 that Countrywide can not find and that was signed for by Lonestar carriers.

Brenda of Durham NC (04/21/08)
I'm reaching out to all of you in hopes of providing me with a remedy to a situation with my current lender, Countrywide Mortgage. I purchased my home in Durham NC three years ago. I recently over the last two years have been thru a divorce and two layoffs. All the while I was able to continue making my payments until I was laid off in July 2007 and by October 2007 I asked Countrywide to assist me in a loan modification so that I can get back on track with payments. I was instructed to not make payments until the modification was completed and then I was told to NOT be late once the plan was in place.

During this process, which ended up taking THREE months I received calls from Countrywide requesting payment and I had to recant my story each and every time that I was going through a loan modification and that I was told not to make payments until it was settled. I finally started and continue to make my payments on the first of the month now since January 2008. However, I still continue to receive multiple calls throughout the month from them as it seems that internally one department does not communicate with another and they have misapplied my payments as partials. It's a nightmare.

I want to get away from this lender. I am currently employed and am making more than needed to cover my mortgage payments and living expenses. I am in an interest only loan and it was due in February 2008 to refinance the interest only loan. I'm now being told that Countrywide themselves won't or can't refinance me because I was 90 days past due - ONLY because I was instructed BY THEM to not make payments until that loan modification was completed which took THREE Months. I've tried to reach out to other lending services with the new goverment programs and am being told that I have no recourse or ability to do anything due to the 90 days late situation. I'm very frustrated as I thought the government recently enacted various plans that were put in place to assist those of us that desire to keep our homes and have the monetary ability to do so. I've been pushed to the point where I'm now trying to sell my home - even though I do not wish to do so since I love my house and am capable of making the payments. I am also losing approximately $25K on the sale due to the current market conditions.

I'll end up paying about the same in rent as I would in mortgage payments! Throwing my money away with nothing to show for it. Let alone the mental stress of all of this. I just feel that I have nothing or nowhere else to turn. I'm concerned now that they won't even get my payoff correct or timely based on other stories I've read here!

Michele of Gaffney SC (04/03/08)
We got behind one payment on our home. Called to make arrangements and Countrywide worked with us and told us they would put us on a repayment plan. We went through this numerous times- paying $1000.00 to Countrywide on 3 different occasions. ($3000.00) all together. This amount was NEVER applied to our loan! They can NOT explain where this amount went. We kept getting sent to different departments and getting the run around. I then got foreclosure papers. I kept calling until I got someone to help me and they modified my loan. Still THEY could not tell me where my $3000.00 went. Alice tried to smooth things over after I called a local TV station and they got involved. She did knock off some fees we had been charged and sent us about $750.00 back. Still could not explain where the $3000.00 went and why our loan went UP instead of down. We have papers showing where it was, $54,000, and is now $57,000 balance. I have been fighting this for 2 years and can't get anywhere. Can you help us? Every time I get someone at Countrywide I THINK is helping, they either quit, are fired, or are moved to another dept. I NEVER feel like I can TRUST anyone there!

This has caused so much stress in our lives. We are so afraid of losing our home! We have sent money to Countrywide that we did NOT have. We had to borrow it from friends and then Countrywide doesn't seem to KNOW where it is! I know we were late. We called and tried to make things right. And Countrywide took advantage of us. We just want our mortgage credited! This has caused so much stress on our marriage.

Douglas of Elk Grove CA (04/02/08)
Well after 90+ days of attempting a Mortgage Loan Modification, I have once again hit a wall. I attended 3 Workshops and submitted every document requested of me. I was told 3 times that I was approved for a loan modification. Only to be told that I have to wait another 1-2 more months until management and then the investor approve the Loan Modification. Well I don't have the time to wait any longer. I am in the final stages of completing the mandatory Consumer Credit Counseling requirements. And I will have to file Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. Recently vandalists caused damages to my previous property. Since the bank has not completed their Foreclosure, the County of Sacramento, Ca. Code Enforcement officials are set to send me to the Small Claims Court to collect on almost $2500.00 in fines and penalties against me. I was the previous Title Holder not the note holder and real Owner Countrywide Bank. How fitting is that. Add another Judgement onto the already bad credit report I now have.

According to California Health and Safety Code Section 17959.4 the County is not allowed to go after a citizen who is in extreme hardship. I guess being in the final stages of Chapter 7 Bankruptcy is not extreme hardship. However The County of Sacramento has found or created loop holes to allow them to continue causing additional hardships on me that will follow me even after the bankruptcy. Now is that justice or did I miss something? Needless to say I know that my home is now worth $350,000.00 and I owe according to the Bank $422,000.00. However if I can't modify the loan to fit our already stretched budget, then we will be on the streets and homeless in another 90 or so days. Even though I have offered to continue paying my mortgage, the lender continues to stall.

If I was the investor and I knew that the Countrywide Bank Loan Negotiators were preventing Citizens willing to make reasonable loan payments. I would fire them all. At this point anyone who is able and willing to make good on the debt to me is worth working with. Loan negotiators and Loss Mitigation causes delays and are the cause of many foreclosures. I have lost 3 of the 4 properties I once owned simply because of their misleading procedures of the Loan Modification process. The short and simple truth is that Investors have people working for them that have no business trying to negotiate loan modifications. The short time frame a Citizen has to modify their Mortgage is not enough for the games these negotiators play. As a result most Citizens are forced into Foreclosure. The Investors don't have a clue as to what is really going on behind their backs. Most of the Loans could have been saved and we would not be in the mess we are now in.

I will include the home in the Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. My credit is destroyed and I am unemployed at the moment. I will try to move into a small apartment if I can afford to. Get divorced. Pay Child support for another 6 years or more. Hopefully I can find a job that allows me to live pay check to pay check for another 16 years. By them I might get my credit repaired and retire at age 66. I have lost my life savings of 50 years.

Frederick of Bakersville, NC (03/19/08)
When it became apparent that I would not be able to afford my home, I listed it for sale with a realtor in Sept 2007. The home was on the market for 3 months and in that period, Countrywide informed me that a foreclosure was imminent, which I understood. I informed them that the house was listed and they offered me options such as short sale and deed-in-lieu, none of which was a guarantee, which I understood.

I received an offer on the property at the beginning of Jan. 2008 which was very close to the loan amount. Countrywide requested all documentation of the offer which was promptly faxed to them (30 pages of requested documents). Countrywide informed me that this would be assigned to one of their negotiators and could take up to two weeks. In the meantime I received a notice from an attorney that foreclosure proceedings were in force and that a foreclosure sale date was assigned for March 18, 2008. The buyers understood this time-frame and wanted to proceed with their offer.

It took Countrywide until March 1st to approve the sale and by that time (2 full months of waiting), the buyers became frustrated and backed out of the contract. A heated meeting with me, the buyers and our respective realtors resulted in me letting them out of the contract and the refund of their $500 earnest deposit. The house was still listed for the 2 weeks until the foreclosure sale with no offers and the house went up for auction on March 18, 2008 with no buyer.

Countrywide agents told me that my case would be prioritized because of the close time frame. It took them 2 full months to approve the sale. I feel that if they had acted in a priority manner, which they made claim, we would have retained the buyers and sold the home, avoiding a foreclosure which has greatly damaged my credit and financial situation.

Nieves of Miami FL (03/15/08)
I have been a homeowner in the state of Florida since 1989. Regardless of what bank has financed my mortgage, there has always been a grace period of 15 days to pay the mortgage, and I have ALWAYS paid my mortgage before that grace period. Furthermore, I continue to do so. However, recently Countrywide Financial has started calling me starting on the 2nd of each month, two and three times a day, asking for payment. I told the woman on the phone that I was not late with my payment and that there is a 15 day grace period. She told me that they have a right to call me after the 2nd of each month to request payment. I told her I have a right to take my grace period and that I would pay before the end of the grace period as I alway had.

Unfortunately, this made no difference; the calls continued two and three times a day. These calls are harassment. They are calling at all hours: during work, at dinner time, in the early mornings on weekends. It is HORRIBLE! In fact, they are calling even after payment has been received. Apparently, the right hand doesn't talk to the left hand. I can't refinance for two years; however the first opportunity I have, I assure you I will eliminate this harassing company from my life. As a hardworking individual, I know I have rights. Can someone please tell me if there is anything I can do to stop this harasment, or do I have to endure this torture for the next two years? Please help. Thanks!

I am a business owner, and these calls are coming in as I speak to clients and vendors. It is not only embarassing, but they make me look like a financial mess. It is bad for business, not to mention my personal reputation.

Helene of Albuquerque NM (03/15/08)
In November 2007 my little brother Richard surprised us all and died of a massive heart attack. As a result of this, my family immediately had to come up with over $8000 for the burial and related expenses. My folks are not rich but did what they could as did my sister and my in-laws. That said, my husband and I carried the brunt of the burial; and needless to say, we ended up getting behind on our mortgage. We knew this was a temporary situation and that all would be remedied in time, and certainly we've heard that mortgage companies have a hardship or 'death in the family' program for just this sort of thing. Prior to this we were never late on our $2,100 mortgage. We had 700+ credit scores. I wasn't as concerned about the couple months that we were going to end up being behind on our mortgage as much as our credit getting hit. But, again, I know that often there are adjustments for this, so I contacted Countrywide in December.

In the first place, just as so many others here have suggested, Countrywide has completely changed its operations over the past 18 months or so. (They used to be a conscientious bank.) It was extremely difficult to get through by phone. Finally, I just started putting every call to on speaker. The minimum time to get through to a human in the Work Out department was 24 min., and I believe the maximum so far was 38 min. Though one time I left the house and came back, and my end still hadn't reset itself (as it will do a couple minutes after being hung up on) and the call was at a whopping 63 min. of wait.

To continue, I was told in December that I needed to write the official hardship letter, send in financial documents proving we have an income, and docs related to the funeral. I did this all mid-January and was reassured that someone would call me shortly. This never happened. I contacted Countrywide again in early February, and they said they never received our income statement (which was faxed at the same time), so I re-faxed that. Toward the end of February I called again and was told that I had to give them all of our financial information (which was a difficult half hour interview with a stranger in December) all over again. So I did. Yesterday I contacted them again and asked what is going on with my workout program? (We just wanted a modification and had started making regular payments again last month). They said we were assigned a 'Negotiator' on Feb 29, but I was not permitted to contact this person nor would this person contact me, nor would my credit report be repaired through this person. We simply had to wait up to another thirty days for the 'investors' to approve the modification.

Very sadly of course, unexpected deaths occur within regular families such as ours and these can be a genuine and tragic hardship not only gut-wrenchingly emotionally painful day after day, but also economically crushing because mortuaries do not accept any sort of payment plan. Our mortgage is fixed, we were not trying to refi, we have made on time payments, and we have good credit and income and certainly did not deserve to be blown off by Countrywide in this extended fashion that we have. I am going to wait until we can get this so called modification through and then start going after Countrywide's credit reporting department with an attorney if required--though of course I hope it doesn't go that far.

I am further deeply concerned that with all of its legal troubles and investigations right now that Countrywide is going to turn in its 'keys' and walk away from its responsibilities to millions of home owners across the country. My point is that it is up to us individuals to start to control the mortgage industry and market--and not the other way around. We need to start telling these people that we want straight-up, fixed, low-cost, transparent, and reliable mortgages, period. They can make all the stupid money they want off of our credit cards, but our homes are the core of our country. The American Dream. We either take it back, kicking and screaming, or we are really really going to lose it --at least for a long time. Thanks for listening.

Gary of Rhinelander WI (03/11/08)
We had problems with Countrywide from the day that we began the process of taking out a loan with them. After we signed all the papers, my husband and I realized that the payment date that we had set up with them was not going to work for us. We realized at that time that if we could not change the date of the payment, that it would end up being late all the time. Within 5 days of signing the papers, I called the CountryWide representative and asked them if we could please change the date of the payment; and they told us: Absolutely Not. So all of our records indicate continuous late payments. My husband and I had many years of financial difficulties. Every time we would call Countrywide regarding our account, they would tell me that they could not speak to me because my name was not on the paperwork. We repeatedly asked them to add my name, and they never did. In 2005 I lost my job, and my income from my job was used to make the house payment. Immediately upon losing my job, I applied for unemployment hoping that would help to make the house payment. Unbeknown to me, the company I worked for charged me with misconduct which in the State of Wisconsin is an automatic denial of unemployment. (I fought my case with unemployment and won, but this took a long time.)

On January 9, 2006, my husband called Countrywide and talked to a girl named Porsche. He at that time asked her where we stood on our loan. She told us everything was fine. He explained to her that I had lost my job, and she told him that if we sent two payments in January that we would be all caught up. So we made arrangements to send a payment to arrive by January 15, 2006, and one to arrive by January 31, 2006. We fufilled our promise and sent the first check which arrived on January 15th. At that time we did not know that 5 days after my husband had talked to this lady named Porsche, that Countrywide had already foreclosed on us and would not cash our check that they received on January 15th. At that point we were notified that we had to pay all of their attorney costs which came to over $4,000 in order to get us out of foreclosure. They totally denied that they had any record of us talking to anyone regarding our account. We felt we should not have had to pay the attorney fees because we had notified them of our situation--and because we had been told that everything would be okay if we sent the two payments in January.

We then contacted an attorney who told us not to send anymore payments on our house because they would not cash them anyway. So we discontinued making payments. We made so many phone calls to Countrywide to try and save our home, and I am now going to give a list of all the people we were in touch with. I don't know why they kept giving us one person and then another, except that it seems as if we would get one person who was working on this with us, and then either that person quit or got fired. The names are as follows: Sharon Paciulan, Christine McGowan, Julie Mejia, Marlene Cortez, Melissa Kaston, Melissa Castenda, Kelly Lindley,Kelly Burrows and Janean Vincent.

Plus, we spoke with numerous people in the foreclosure department. I even had one lady in the foreclosure department tell me to sell some of my jewelry or have a garage sale to see if we could come up with the attorney fees that Countrywide was demanding. I worked with them for months and months and months trying everything I could to save our home that we had owned and lived in for over 25 years. I talked to their attorney, Blommer Peterman, SC. We sent numerous copies of the bills that we paid every month, we sent them copies of our income, we did everything and anything we could to rectify this situation. But again we felt that because they had told us everything would be fine if we made two payments in January, that we should not have to pay the attorney fees.

Finally we ended up putting our house up for sale. The market in our city, like so many other cities, was very bad at that time, and after 6 months we were unable to sell. Our realtor, Mr Todd Johnson of First Weber talked several times to Janean Vincent also trying to get them to understand our situation. Again to no avail. All they told him was that they would continue with the foreclosure and sell the house. The first notice went in the paper around September of 2006. And of course, it appeared for a few weeks. My sister then called us and wanted to know if we wanted to stay in our home. We of course told her yes we did, and she offered to buy the home so we could stay there. She worked with our realtor Todd Johnson on this who in turn worked with Janean Vincent. At the time we were foreclosed on we owed approximately $118,000.00. My sister began working on getting a loan which tooks months, so the foreclosure was put on hold.

At that time Countrywide began raising the amount they wanted for the home, and it finally reached around $127,000.00. My sister was not able to get a loan for that amount of money nor did we feel she should pay that amount of money for the home because our realtor had said if it sold we would only get about $120,000.00 for it. So we decided, due to no other choice, that we would move. During the process of putting the house up for sale, we cleaned the entire home from top to bottom, painted the deck, cleaned out the garage, cleaned the basement; and when we left the home in March of 2007 we even put anti-freeze in the toilets and shut off and drained all the water because we were so afraid that Countrywide would sue us if there was any damage to the home. We also paid the property taxes on the home while it was in foreclosure which our attorney later advised us we should have never done. I wrote to Countrywide to see if we could get reimbursed on this and once again we were told absolutely not.

In January of 2007 our realtor, Todd Johnson, informed Janean Vincent that my sister was not going to buy the property that was in foreclosure due to the amount they wanted. From that day forward our case got lost. We kept getting paperwork upon paperwork from Countrywide. My sister was able to get a smaller loan and purchased us a small home, and we moved in March, 2007. On June 14, 2007 we were informed that we still owned the property at 1016 S. Oneida Avenue here in Rhinelander. At that point I began to make phone calls trying to figure out why Countrywide was not proceeding with the foreclosure. On June 15, 2007, I called Countrywide and their attorney Blommer Peterman. This is what I was told. CountryWide informed me that they couldn't do anything without the permission of Blommer Peterman, and Blommer Peterman told me they couldn't do anything without the permission of Countrywide. Our concern was that we would once again have to pay the property taxes on the home. On June 20, 2006 I once again called Blommer Peterman and talked to a lady named Mell. She told me that they cannot set up a foreclosure without Countrywide's say so. Once again she advised me to called Countrywide, which I did. They again repeated the same information: that it was up to Blommer Peterman. I then called back the attorney and talked to Mell. She at that time looked up some information and told me that our case of foreclosure was a real mess and that somehow it had slipped through the cracks. She said she knew someone at Countrywide and would call her or email her and get back to me by the 22nd of June, 2007. I never heard from anyone.

We moved out in March of 2007. We left the home in excellent condition. Once again, the foreclosure was put in the paper and was finally done in November of 2007. So from January 9th of 2006 to November of 2007, Countrywide had us under their control; and because our file had fallen through the cracks as we were told, were continuing to send us paperwork. We noticed that a company that had a for sale sign in front of our house and was after Countrywide, wanting my sister to pay over $127,000.00 to re-purchase our home for us so we could stay there--ended up selling the home for $90,000.00. I have folder upon folder of letters from them. I even reported their bad behavior to the State of Wisconsin Department of Financial Instituion. They were very helpful in trying to get Countrywide to answer my many letters and inquiries. Our payments at the time of foreclosure were $1,023.89 per month, the highest they had ever been since we took out the loan in December of 2002.

I could go on and on with how we were treated by Countrywide: How hard we tried to work with them and how we felt this caused us embarassment by them losing our file and once again having to put the entire foreclosure in the paper. I know many people who have suffered probably just as bad if not worse than we have, and the stress that this put on our lives was unbelievable. Thank you for listening.

We lost our home that we had lived in for 25 years. In May of 2006 my husband had to have emergency heart surgery. We believe that the stress of all of this may have had something to do with his heart although he did have blocked arteries but I am sure this whole situation didn't help. We felt bad that our name had to appear in the paper for a foreclosure in the first place, but then to have it done twice because CountryWide lost or misplaced our foreclosure made it worse. We of course had to pay for moving expenses, and due to the foreclosure will never be able to get a loan again. We are now paying rent to my sister who was lucky enough to get a loan to buy us a different house, thank God, or we would probably be living on the streets. The toll that this took on me physically trying to work with these people and doing what we could to save our home was unbearable. And of course paying the property taxes on the home when we didn't even own it anymore was just another hardship for us.

John of Kirkland AZ (03/11/08)
I wanted to get a home equity loan in order to purchase the home next to mine that is going up for auction 4/10/08. I was told by Charles that the loan would require only paying interest in the amount of $175.00 per month for three years, but I could pay more. Had to jump through all the hoops, then finally get the loan papers for a ARM at 7.25 percent. I have excellent credit with a trans union score of 790, and I was not told anything about an ARM. The ARM must be in the benefit of the lender and is not in my best interest. I will not be able to buy the house next door due the the shady practices of these people. They have treated me as though I am some kind of idiot.

Loss of buying the home next door to mine at auction for 20k, time, aggravation, and now stressed.

Marjorie of New Orleans LA (03/10/08)
I had a Countrywide subprime loan that went from $1350.00 per month to $3100.00 last September. I had a life changing event in October that limited me from being able to make the payments. I contacted Countrywide to modify the loan and was told in January that I qualified, and they (1st person I talked to) would send me paperwork within 10 days to fill out. Two weeks later I called again (2nd person I talked to) and was told no, you don't need to fill out anything. Someone has been assigned to your case and will call in 24 - 48 hours. Three days later I called (3rd person I talked to) and was told No, they won't call you, they are waiting on documentation - 1 month pay stubs, 2 months bank statements and a hard ship letter; please fax. I send the papers to the fax number and call in 1 week to get progress (4th person I talked to) and am told they never received it and ONLY HAVE 1 FAX NUMBER FOR THE ENTIRE loss mitigation department.

I spend $16.00 to expedite mailing the paperwork to them and call (5th person I talked to). I am told they haven't received the documents, when the post office says they were delivered. I wait 1.5 weeks and call again (6th person I talked to); they JUST received my expedited mail, but the case worker hasn't seen them yet.They will send her an email alerting her they are there and will call me within 24-48 hours. She doesn't call. I call back (7th person I talk to), and they reiterate they will send another email to her requesting I call--that she will call in 24 - 48 hours. She doesn't call. I call today, 6 days later, and am told by (8th person I talk to) that I should have sent 2 months' of paychecks instead of 1 as I was originally told. I asked to escalate to management and was told they were too busy with other escalated calls. She would send an email to have someone call in in 24 - 48 hours.

I have NO faith Countrywide has any intention of modifying my loan especially since I read they just LAID OFF 10,000 people. Oddly enough, they also planned a major ski trip for all the execs the same time as the layoffs. Can anyone help? How about a class action suit?

Michelle of Aiken SC (03/10/08)
My husband and I contacted them about a refinance. They offered us 5.75% compared to 7.25%, which we were paying. After sending all the documentation they needed, we were told 3 weeks later they needed more info about taxes and salary. They got the info, and I was told we would definitely close before the end of January, so I wouldn't have to worry about making Jan. payment. Well, the end of January came, and we didn't close. I received a call from a paralegal stating we would be closing January 26, and she was forwarding everything to the attorney. The attorney called the next day and said something happened with our loan; we wouldn't be closing. Meanwhile I never received a call from Countrywide explaining anything. I called them first thing Monday morning and was told there was a glitch in the system and to hang in tight--they would keep me posted. A few days later I called them again because they never called me. I was told that tech support was looking into it.

So now our mortgage showed we were 30 days late on our credit. I informed them of this, and they said to not worry about it--just call your mortgage lender and explain. Well, they didn't understand the way Countrywide says they would, so in the mean time I was told we would still be closing within a week. I went ahead and made the mortgage payment for January. Well, now February's payment was due; they said we would definitely close within a week, and that never happened. After leaving messages and emailing, I never heard a response. Finally I was told by Justin that he would send all the info to their FHA dept. FHA wouldn't fund the loan because of the 30-day late showing on our credit. My question was what happened to the original loan? Never got a straight out answer.

In the meantime they had our $400.00 appraisal fee from the beginning of January. How many other customers were they also drawing that money off their interest? They have ruined my credit as far as refinancing with anyone for at least a year or two, they don't have good business ethics, and I would love to see them go out of business. I have been told by some people that Countrywide is awful to deal with, but I figured I would give them a chance. BIG MISTAKE! They are sending us our $400.00 back, and we are done with them. I guess we will have to struggle through the credit issues, but our present mortgage company is wonderful and willing to work with us.  Before all this, and after--we just wanted a lower interest rate.

Our credit is showing 2 months' late due to a closing that never happened.

Carolyn of Westfield MA (03/10/08)
I have had a mortgage with Countrywide for almost 5 years. This is the first place I have owned on my own. I noticed over the past almost 5 years that my payments have gone up. I have a fixed rate at 5.625, and they have been taking care of paying my taxes in my payment. I know taxes have gone up, and I have never complained about the monthly payment, even though I struggle on my own and pay a condo fee as well. This February 2008, my payment went up $70 more a month, which caught my attention as my newest tax bill from the City for 2008 is only about $84 more per year! I called Midge Roy, and she seemed very concerned--telling me to call my City tax representative and the Escrow Dept. at Countrywide. I did that and found out I am not in arrears, nor have I ever been; my tax bill isn't even $100 more in 2008. Then I spoke to a representative at Countrywide, and she said she could lower my monthly bill by about $41. I asked for an explanation, and she said these are projected figures on taxes. My tax person said he could send a statement to Midge Roy proving what my yearly taxes could be, so I told him to fax the info to her at fax# 413-586-3263.

I also spoke to a Sandy a supervisor in their Plano, TX. I haven't heard back from Countrywide as I was supposed to. I was supposed to receive a letter from that supervisor, breaking down my charges. Now that I hear about the fraud charges, I think I am a victim.

I am a single person, I have an equity loan with them, as well, and I am not able to pay this additional amount per month. I have already cut back on my cable and can't spend much on food. I have to have gas to work, as I commute about 51 miles per day. I am not able to keep up with all the inflation!

Marcy of Albuquerque NM (03/10/08)
It was a snowball affect that forced me to seek refinancing. My credit isn't great, but not bad. I went to a broker who assured me for three months that they would and did have a lender. In the meantime, I was told to stop making mortgage payments to Greentree. Countrywide had all but approved my loan and had my home insurance transferred to them, without my consent or knowledge. Loan fell through. Greentree has been at my door for two months' past due payments and late fees; insurance dropped us and refused to reinstate until back due payments made up.

My husband is retired and also on disability. Trying to make up payments caused us to get further behind, even our car was repossessed. Foreclosure was begun by Greentree. We tried to work out something, but like other stories I read, our original contract was through Conseco who was bought out by Greentree who are ruthless. They began foreclosure, and charges after charges kept mounting up. We tried other lenders, but because our broker kept trying to get us refinancing, every time she pulled a credit report, our scores dropped until they were so low, no one would touch us! My mother had recently passed away, her house borders our property and was small, but no debt on it. I was forced to sell it to my son-in-law for way below market value just to pay Greentree to stop foreclosure and get our only means of transportation back. Also tried Lending Tree, talked with several brokers who guaranteed they could help--only to be told at the last minute they couldn't.

The nightmare is still hanging over us. Even though payments have been on time for over two years, if I am a minute late due to mail or whatever, the harassing phone calls start. My health has suffered and am under doctors care for stress and have been told I am a walking stroke waiting to happen. The American dream is a lie. We aren't free. If you can't pay your house payments, no one helps you, you can't pay your taxes--the wolf takes your home. If you can't pay utilities, they turn them off; you can't even afford to put gas in your vehicles. Our golden years are our blackest years. Rich get richer, poor get poorer. And there is no longer any middle class.

Heather of Buford GA (03/10/08)
I am paying an extra $300/mo PMI on my COUNTRYWIDE loan. My LTV is at 76%, and they continue to tell me that it needs to be at 75%. They do not explain, they basically say just "because". My loan is not considered high risk, and I have never been late on a payment. What can I do?

Eventually, the HUGE payment is going to catch up to us, and we will be in the same boat as everyone else....foreclosure.

David of Largo FL (03/09/08)
Mr. Mozilla, Countrywide and most likely other major lenders should be held personally responsible. Personally I was taken advantage of at a time when I was going through a divorce and job layoff. Consequently I became almost 90 days late on my mortgage in 2005. At the time, my property which I had owned for 16 yrs., had over $60,000.00 of equity, and I was working 3 jobs to make my mortgage payment with a 5.9% intro interest rate (2/28). The loan was one month from resetting. I had called representatives from Countrywide to ask for assistance . My loan also had a prepayment penalty of 6 months interest (cost $10,000.00). Countrywide told me that I would have to pay the amount in Default (3 months) before they would re-do my loan. I finally gave up on them, and they threatened to initiate foreclosure proceedings. I searched the WEB to find a Mortgage Company that would help me. I got in touch with Kastler Point Mortgage of Laguna Hills, California. This company went through the back door and was dealing with Countrywide. This turned out to be very costly although I was able to keep my home. Countrywide put me in a 10.9%, 30-yr fixed on a 228,000.00 loan. The settlement charges included my 3 months of missed payments, $10,000.00 prepayment penalty, and Brokers fees and closing costs. My appraisal at the time was $300,000.00 and I owed only $178,000.00.

After all the ordeal I went through, I now owed Countrywide $228,000.00 (10.9%, 30 yrs.) The broker from Kastler Point had initially told me he had an 8% rate and that after a few months I could re fi again at a better rate, no charge. They also placed a new 3-yr. prepay penalty (keep in mind I am at 10.9% here). My payments went from $900.00 per month including taxes and insurance to $2100.00 per month not including taxes and insurance. In fact, when I was dropped by my insurance carrier (Florida Insurance debacle), Countrywide forced their own Balboa (part of CW) Homeowners Insurance on my property at $3200.00 per year--2 times the amount I was paying before and paying presently.

Now my payment has increased to $2500.00 per month. After dealing with all this, I lost another job and went on to re fi again. I was first pleading with Countrywide; they knew I could afford 1800.00 or so per month but would not budge to reset my mortgage. I ended up getting an 8% loan with First Franklin and $1800.00 pymnt. It's a struggle still. Countrywide again hit me with a prepay $8000.00 to get out of a 10.9 to a more favorable loan with another company. My home was stripped of all remaining equity with closing costs 2 x 2 prepayment penalties and other related costs. While MR Mozilla and Countrywide execs play golf and work on their tans, it's at the expense of people like myself. This is the reality of what happened to many, many people including me, I now owe $255,000 on my home and it's worth less. They took the cream off the top--my nest egg, sort of.

Financial cosequenses and stress and possible forclosure

Douglas of Elk Grove CA (03/08/08)
I have made multiple complaints to the consumer affairs office. Over the past 27 months you have done nothing to help me. I have lost all of my investment property, and I am now facing bankrupting very soon. Your organization is simply a lip service. You have no authority and are a waste of tax payers' money. You should shut down now and let the government start a new program that actually does something other than nothing. The respocne from all government agencies is the same. We only go after large companies. We do not represent the people. Hire an attorney. You're a waste of time and money. More like talking to a blank wall.

My attorney will file bankruptcy documents on March 20, 2007. I will be collecting nothing as I was a business owner prior to filling bankruptcy. Also I am told that my Social Security will not be paid to me because I will have to pay the Government back for recapture on the properties I have lost to foreclosure, taxes, penalties and other fees that they can come up with. We are never free in this country. If I could afford to leave I would. But the government has made sure I will always be in debt to them. My mother is 70 years old and must work to pay her monthly bills as she did not receive a retirement after 50 years of working. Her social Security check is a joke. They will be on the street soon, too. SHAME ON AMERICA! As for our health. Well I am sick all the time from worry!

Laurie of Womelsdorf PA (03/07/08)
After we fell 2 months behind on our mortgage the middle of last year, I called Countrywide immediately to advise them of our situation and to see if they could provide us any kind of assistance. At first, they were very understanding and gave me a couple of options, one being to apply for a workout program and loan re-modification. I did everything they told me and sent them all the information they were requesting. That was the beginning of September, 2007. I kept in touch with them consistently to check the progress of my request. By the end of September, I received a notice in the mail from them stating that at this time they could not approve me for the workout program (no reasons specified), and they were going to start foreclosure proceedings.

Horrified, I called them immediately. After speaking with several customer service representatives, they adv