Consumer complaint received 2023-05-26
Company: EQUITY RESOURCES, INCORPORATED
State: FL
Product: Mortgage
Sub-product: FHA mortgage
Issue: Struggling to pay mortgage

Complaint:
My mortgage company sent me into foreclosure AFTER I notified them via email and phone of my participation in the HAF program while also working on my loss mitigation package to submit and be considered for assistance. ( I lost my job due to COVID and it took 15 months before I was able to solidify employment ) I burned through all of my savings and created XXXX XXXX in credit card debt. 

I notified Equity Resources via phone and email ( sending them the email from HAF that contained my application number ) that I had applied to HAF for assistance in reconciling my mortgage on XX/XX/XXXX. I explained on the phone that the government was strongly encouraging lenders to suspend foreclosure proceedings during this time. Additionally, I was working with my mortgage company 's Loss Mitigation department to apply for assistance to get my loan back on track. Equity Resources changed both the application and process for applying during the time I was submitting paperwork and it created a submission nightmare that delayed the process. I have verification that I was in constant contact with Equity Resources to ensure I was submitting the paperwork timely and thoroughly but unfortunately, it was difficult getting ahold of anyone with clear directions. In XXXX XXXX I spoke with an agent that informed me they changed their paperwork and gave me the correct page numbers in their packet that I was missing and needed to submit. 

Equity Resources decided to submit my property to foreclosure on XX/XX/XXXX, despite my working with their Loss Mitigation team and being considered for XXXX funds. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, Equity Resources acknowledged a complete Loss Mitigation package from me and halted Foreclosure proceedings. I was never served foreclosure paperwork and it is still in a suspended state. On XX/XX/XXXX, I was awarded funds from HAF both for the arrears on my mortgage and for 6 months ' future payments. I immediately notified Equity Resources. 

In XXXX of XXXX, HAF had not yet made my XX/XX/XXXX payments as scheduled and it was not applied to my mortgage until XX/XX/XXXX. 

In XX/XX/XXXX my mortgage statement showed me still owing nearly {$3000.00} in arrears but I was told that was not the final amount, and that I would need to request a reinstatement amount from them to get the actual amount, which turned out to be nearly {$4000.00}. 

Apparently, Equity Resources added almost {$4000.00} in lawyer foreclosure fees to my mortgage balance and this was not reflected in the amount to HAF when I was being considered for the program.

Due to Equity Resources pulling the trigger on the foreclosure process during the timeframe HAF was reviewing my application, this resulted in unnecessary fees being added to an already desperate and dire situation. 

I was instructed in XX/XX/XXXX by Loss Mitigation to apply for assistance, which I did and my package was deemed complete on XX/XX/XXXX. 

I received an answer to my assistance application on XX/XX/XXXX, and I was denied any assistance and Equity Resources told me to pay the outstanding fees on my mortgage to reinstate it. I asked If I could continue making mortgage payments and I was told " NO '' I must reinstate the loan first. 

I could not afford to do this so Loss Mitigation instructed me to apply once again for assistance requesting a payment plan, which I did in XX/XX/XXXX. In the meantime, I received a letter from Equity Resources informing me that FHA had expanded assistance programs and I could request a stand-alone partial claim to bring my loan current. I immediately called but was told that might be considered double dipping. At this point, I requested a supervisor to call me. To this date, I have not been called by a supervisor. 

XX/XX/XXXX, Equity Resources called me and informed me that I am denied for any assistance and that I need to bring my loan current or they will send all funds paid by HAF back. I asked what the amount I owed is and they could not tell me. I again requested a supervisor, one was not available but I was told one would call me. 

At this point, I owe mortgage payments for the entire year plus lawyer/foreclosure fees as deemed by Equity Resources. Although I do not feel I should have to pay any fees as I did everything I was supposed to do and communicated with my mortgage lender on an almost weekly basis, I will agree to pay these fees. I only ask that Equity Resources works with me and either puts me on a payment plan or allows me to participate in the FHA stand along partial claim so that I can bring my loan current and resume monthly mortgage payments. 

I have attached 4 documents to this complaint : 1. Email to Equity Resources notifying them of my HAF application-contained the email from HAF with my application # 2. Email to Loss Mitigation dated/ XXXX-showing the missing documents needed for a complete loss mit package 3. Screenshot of my consistent emails to Loss Mitigation showing my correspondence 4. Letter from Equity Resources notifying me of the new FHA expanded assistance programs and informing me no paperwork is needed to apply. I called

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation