Consumer complaint received 2019-05-24
Company: Selene Finance LP
State: VT
Product: Mortgage
Sub-product: Conventional home mortgage
Issue: Struggling to pay mortgage

Complaint:
We are currently in the process of mediation with Selene Finance to try and avoid foreclosure on our home. We have been in contact with the servicer as well as their attorney ( this is the 2nd attorney they have used since mediation has started and we were not made aware until the previous attorney responded to an email sent by myself and mediator stating his firm was no longer handling the case ) over the months to express our intent of retaining our home. We are being billed for the 1st attorney who filled unnecessary paperwork with the court stating we did not respond to the initial complaint within the given timeframe, which we had and the judge denied his request to move forward. We have documentation to prove that the initial attorney received our written response to the complaint in a timely manner and days later lied and requested the court issue a judgement due to our failure to reply. 

We have had 3 single points of contact at the servicer in a one month period, when we spoke with our current contact at Selene, XXXX, on XX/XX/XXXX I asked for the amount needed to bring the loan current. He placed me on hold and returned with the figures, the first amount given was to cover past payments through the month of XX/XX/XXXX which was {$7700.00}. I then requested the amount needed if we went into XXXX and he gave us the figure {$8600.00}. I advised we would find a way to come up with the funds before the end of XXXX, as we already had $ 3000+towards the past due amount. We had our 1st phone Conference for mediation with their attorney and foreclosure mediators on XX/XX/XXXX. Their attorney informed us she had no information or paperwork from the servicer, I advised of our recent interactions with the servicer and gave all the figures we had been given to both parties as well as all the information we had been given in regards to a modification plan. Given that their attorney had no paperwork or information we could not really proceed with trying to work anything out past letting her know the $ 3000+ we already had as well as the amount we were working towards {$8600.00} in order to bring the mortgage current. She advised that since we were in mediation all contact with the servicer should go through her. We scheduled another phone conference for XX/XX/XXXX.On XX/XX/XXXX our servicer contacted us and we requested a reinstatement letter so we could submit payment by the end of XXXX, he advised he would send one out. We also advised him of what their attorney had said regarding contact through her and he stated there was no cease and desist in place and direct contact could continue. I emailed both the attorney and mediators on XX/XX/XXXX about the phone call with the servicer and the content of what was discussed and requested. She replied onXX/XX/XXXX stating that she had no problem with us having direct contact with the servicer, but that neither her nor the mediators were being kept in the loop as to what was happening and since this file was in mediation that was a requirement. I responded the same day advising that we had kept both her and the mediators up to date on everything including interactions, paperwork received and requested etc. And that it was the servicer who had failed to provide her with any documentation or information on their end in order to keep her up to date, and we had stayed in continuous contact providing updates updates even on not yet receiving paperwork and that our only goal was to retain our home and we were doing everything we could to do that. She responded on XX/XX/XXXX stating she had heard from her clients and offered us a deed in lieu of foreclosure, I responded the same day thanking her for the update and advising that we would have the amount quoted by Selene ( {$8600.00} ) to reinstate by the end of the month of XXXX. Then on XX/XX/XXXX we finally received the reinstatement letter we requested earlier in the month and the amount had increased substantially to {$14000.00} expiring XX/XX/XXXX with a pay by date of XX/XX/XXXX. {$10000.00} in past due payments, {$300.00} late fees, and {$3300.00} for a Corporate advance balance. I emailed their attorney and the mediators immediately asking how the figure could change period, but especially so drastically. I also scanned a copy of the letter to email the next day and sent it to both parties. I did not receive a response from their attorney regarding my question, I only received an email from a different person at their form on XX/XX/XXXX with a new reinstatement letter with an even higher amount of {$16000.00} expiring XX/XX/XXXX. It appears as though these increases and charges are excessive and predatory as well as purposeful to prevent us from retaining our home and bringing the loan current. How we can be given so many different figures in such a short amount of time and be charged for 2 different attorneys as well as monthly fees for property inspections when we have been in contact with both the servicer as well as their attorney advising that we are occupying the residence and actively working towards resolving the arrears there is no need for monthly drive bys or charges. There is almost more in added on fees ( which a chunk of have not been itemized ) then there is in past due payments. Plus we are paying more for all the additional extensions for mediation with their attorney for them not supplying her with ANY document or information in a timely manner and each day, week, and month causes new charges to be incurred which appears to be them continuously moving the goal post and making it near impossible to bring our loan current. As soon as we advised we would have the original amount within the time frame given we received a letter with almost {$6000.00} more added to that amount then a week later a new letter with a new larger amount for almost {$3000.00} more added.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation