Florida AG Probes Central Florida "Charity" For Allegedly Clipping Homeowners For Upfront "Donations" For Loan Modifications

In Oviedo, Florida, WFTV-TV Channel 9 reports:

• An Action 9 investigation has exposed a local charity that collects thousands in donations to help people avoid foreclosure. Some clients and a former employee claim it's really charging advance fees for loan modifications many homeowners never get.

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• The Helpful Hands Foundation says it's "helping" people get back on their feet. Christine McGinley, a former employee, claims the charity really charges homeowners nearly $2,000 to avoid foreclosure. She says that "donation" is really an upfront fee for a loan modification that most of the clients she saw never got. "Taking money from people already in a bad way---you might as well kick them when their down." According to Christine clients told her the charity's manager guaranteed them lower mortgage payments. [...] The state attorney general is now investigating several complaints against the Oviedo based charity and it it's president George Raisler.

For the story, see Action 9 Exposes Charity Offering Loan Modifications.

The link to the Florida Attorney General's webpage for information on the The Helpful Hands Foundation civil investigation is: Case #L09-3-1104.