Consumer complaint received 2018-05-23
Company: Southwest Business Corporation
State: GA
Product: Mortgage
Sub-product: VA mortgage
Issue: Struggling to pay mortgage

Complaint:
I bought my home with a VA loan through SWBC Mortgage Corp. My issue is that SWBC is making misrepresentations to me about my loan and denying me access to government homeowner assistance programs. My estranged wife became XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX and this caused major problems when she gained access to all of my bank accounts and savings and drained all of this money. As a result I fell behind on my mortgage loan. I tried to apply for a loan modification or forbearance agreement and was told that those were not options, the only program was a repayment plan and that I would need to be " current '' before they could look at any other options. I entered into the repayment plan and made the payment for several months until the weight from the drained bank accounts crushed me and I fell delinquent again. I tried to get SWBC to work with me but they told me they would not and could not consider any assistance options until I became current. I have checked around and this is not true. There are modification programs for homeowners with VA loans but SWBC is not being straight with me and not allowing me to be considered for these programs. 

I served in the XXXX XXXX as an XXXX XXXX XXXX for 8 years. Upon discharge I entered into the private sector performing the same job for a XXXX company. My wife and I bought my home in XXXX with a VA loan.. Several months later I discovered that she had become XXXX XXXX XXXX and she moved out. She began draining money from the bank account and in XX/XX/XXXX she was somehow able to gain access and take all the money that I had. I was only a couple of payments behind at the time and contacted the SWBC agents to request help. I was told that I could enter into a repayment plan. I made these payments as long as I could but my estranged wife had gained access to all of my bank accounts and had taken all of my money to feed her habit. I finally defaulted on the repayment plan in XX/XX/XXXX. When I contacted their agents to try and be considered for other options I was told I would have to first become " current '' and then they would look at options. This was a blatant misrepresentation because I know there are several different homeowner assistance programs available for struggling borrower 's such as modification and forebearance, and you do not have to be current on your loan to even be considered. SWBC Mortgage Corp. has  intentionally denied access to government programs that they are required to make available. 

Things took a turn for the worse in XXXX when I was laid off from my job. At this time I am receiving unemployment compensation and have asked that SWBC consider me for the forbearance plans they have available for homeowner 's on unemployment. Once again, I am ignored and passed along and told that I can't be considered for any programs unless I am current on my loan. I have new employment lined up and have the means to afford a fair mortgage payment. The issue that I need to address is the delinquent payments. This is an avoidable foreclosure situation if only my servicer were to follow the rules and work with me.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation