Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Home Lost To Foreclosure Despite Loan Servicer's Failure To Complete HAMP Review, Says New Hampshire Couple

In Franklin, New Hampshire, New Hampshire Public Radio reports:
  • About a month ago, homeowners Sharon Gagnon and her husband were facing foreclosure. But they sought help from a HUD certified housing counselor, and got a modification with Chase Bank under the federal Making Home Affordable Program. Gagnon had recently sent in her signed authorization with a check when a real estate agent came by and told her she didn’t own her house anymore.

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  • According to Gagnon and her counselor, Chase bank, a unit of JP Morgan Chase, accepted the modification and the check that Gagnon sent. But the bank then sent the check back with no explanation of why they were doing it. In the meantime, Sharon Gagnon got another surprise in early August. And the next thing I know is there’s an eviction notice on the door, from the sheriff, telling us we need to be out by September 15th.

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  • Under the HAMP [Home Affordable Modification Program] regulations you’re not allowed to proceed on a HAMP eligible family on a foreclosure or scheduled sale date without having the HAMP review completed and foreclosures have continued to proceed as if everything is normal and there’s no need to do the HAMP review. A spokesman for JP Morgan Chase says the company won’t comment on this story, except to say the Gagnon case is under investigation. Gagnon’s attorney, Peter Wright at Franklin Pierce Law Center, says his team is already working on trying to keep the family in their home.

For more, see A Franklin Family Facing Eviction Thought They Had Saved Their House.