Monday, July 27, 2009

Washington AG Uses Courtesy Letter To Inform 138 Loan Mod Firms They're On The Radar Screen; Urges Compliance With State Law To Stay Out Of Hot Water

Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna recently announced that his office has joined the Federal Trade Commission and other states in a nationwide crackdown on foreclosure rescuers and loan modification rackets that charge hefty upfront fees and often provide no help. He further announced that his office has filed five new cases against these firms,(1) bringing the number of foreclosure-assistance actions filed by the Attorney General’s Office to nine since 2007, and has sent civil investigative demands, which are similar to subpoenas, to four additional businesses that provide mortgage-related services.

So as not to leave any other firms in the industry with the false impression that they have dodged the AG's "mortgage-related scam radar screen," AG McKenna has also announced that his office is sending a "gentle reminder" to 138 businesses that market foreclosure assistance, loan modification services or other mortgage-related services, listing various state laws they are expected to comply with, as well as listing many of the unfair, deceptive and otherwise illegal trade practices they better refrain from if they're planning on staying out of hot water.

Go here for the Washington AG's courtesy letter.

See State, federal sweep slams loan-mod scams (Firms operating in Washington state in government crosshairs for taking advantage of homeowners facing foreclosure) for the Wasington AG's press release announcing its participation in the "Operation Loan Lies" nationwide crackdown on foreclosure rescuers and loan modification businesses who screw financially desperate homeowners out of their money for bogus services.

(1) The five operations targeted by AG McKenna are: