Wednesday, June 06, 2012

Another Homeowner Falls Victim To Illegal Foreclosure Lockout; Chase, LPS Yet To Explain Why They Chaged Locks On Wrong Premises

In St. Augustine, Florida, First Coast News reports:
  • John Delaney of St. Augustine is bewildered, wondering why a mortgage company not his own changed the locks on his home without his knowledge. John Delaney drove in from Chicago Wednesday night and went to open the door of his second home condo in St. Augustine. The key didn't work. He got in through the back screen door, which fortunately in this case he had forgotten to lock.

  • "I discover there is this sticker here saying that the locks were changed at the request of my mortgage company, I couldn't figure out why, I am current on my mortgage."

  • Delaney spent 5 hours on the phone with LPS Field Services which changed the locks at the request of Chase Financial. But Chase is not his mortgage company. "I was a little uncomfortable that people have been in my house. I don't know what is going on. Everything is clean so I don't know if people have been using this house for something or what."

  • LPS Field Services did have the locks changed again the next day. "But I got no explanation from Chase or LPS other than it was a mistake. I'd like to have someone from Chase give me an explanation of why this happened or how it could happen because they could do it to anybody."

  • First Coast News contacted Chase and LPS and we are still waiting for an explanation as to why it happened. Michelle Kersch of LPS did send us an email saying, " We pledge to get to the bottom of this matter as soon as possible- and understand just how important it is." FCN reached Chase Financial but have not heard back from them. Delaney did file a police report with the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office.

  • Local real estate attorney Daniel Copeland says he's not seen any similar cases. He believes Delaney will find out in his case, the companies involved just went to the wrong condo.