Saturday, April 09, 2011

Bank Refuses To Talk To Widow In Foreclosure Seeking Loan Modification, Saying Mortgage Was Solely In Late Hubby's Name

In Sonora, California, News10 reports:
  • A widow who is losing her home to foreclosure said she's willing and able to make her house payments, but the bank insists on dealing with her dead husband. Jeanette Noble, 66, fell several months behind in her payments following the death of her husband, Norman, in Oct. 2009, because their joint bank account was temporarily frozen.
  • Jeanette later contacted Wachovia Mortgage to arrange a repayment plan, but the bank refused to talk to her because the loan was in her husband's name alone.
  • "I tell them he expired. He's dead. He's not here. He can't talk to you," Jeanette explained. She faxed a copy of Norman's death certificate, which only complicated the problem. Future mail was addressed to "Estate of Norman Noble," and bank representatives still refused to talk to Jeanette because she wasn't a court-appointed representative of Norman's estate.
  • Jeanette said an attorney told her probate would cost $1,000 and could take several months. The home was scheduled for a courthouse auction this week, but for unknown reasons the auction was postponed until May 5.

For more, see Widow: Bank insists on talking to my dead husband.