Consumer complaint received 2019-04-27
Company: WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
State: NJ
Product: Mortgage
Sub-product: Conventional home mortgage
Issue: Applying for a mortgage or refinancing an existing mortgage

Complaint:
Back in XXXX, after being unemployed and underemployed for almost 5 years, I fell behind on my mortgage. I went to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX for assistance with oil. I was told about a program to help get me back on my feet, The NJ Home keeper Program through NJ Hardest Hit Fund. I was approved and State of NJ paid {$48000.00} with stipulation that I had to either a ) get a job that allowed me to go back to paying original monthly payment amount or b ) get a loan mod. I could not find a job at that time paying what I made and Wells Fargo kept denying me a loan mod due to the terms of the Home Keeper program which supposedly stated that I needed to have the program end before I could apply for a loan mod and that was State and Federal law. NJ State said that wasnt true and that I had to work it out with the mortgage company. Long story short, at the end of the 6-month period, I was current and when I called Wells Fargo, I was told I had to be a month behind to get the loan mod started. During this time, the State of NJ went in and reversed the funds and I went into Foreclosure. I had to pay a lawyer over {$7500.00} and at the end, I was offered a horrible loan mod that I had to take to keep my elderly sick dad in the home. All its not always been easy, my dad passed away in XXXX after a four-month battle on a ventilator, yet I kept my payments current. In XXXX of last year, my sisters small dog broke loose and slightly bit my neighbors dog and grandmother on her hand. I had to pay all expense out of pocket, over {$3500.00} and fell behind two months while waiting for insurance to investigate. I asked for a forbearance, a loan mod or something to get me back on track. It was denied because they said I made enough to pay the mortgage. I couldnt get them to understand that it was a temporary situation and now that I fell behind with no safety net, I just needed some help. I have been redirected many times with no good answers and now I am trying to pay a payment and a half a month, but I cant catch up and keep the hose afloat and they dont care because with the original mortgage and the legal fees, late fees, court fees, penalties, etc. from the almost foreclosure, its too much. I am XXXX years old trying to keep a house that no one will let me keep. And the most disturbing part is that my original mortgage holder went bankrupt ( XXXX XXXX XXXX ) and they sold to a private investor, who I understand is not even licensed in NJ and shouldnt be able to threaten foreclosure, and they wont budge or help one bit. I feel that the money that was taken back by the Home Keeper program was a mistake and that the State and Wells Fargo did not know how to admister this new program and I got caught in the middle. How does one get approved and then the money is taken back???!!! I am nw {$14000.00} behind and even with a month and a half of payments, I am drowning and need help to find out what went wrong and if the State and Wells made a mistake. Back in XXXX, someone from Wells told me that someone made a mistake, but she never got back to me and Wells denies the comment. Wells has a horrible reputation, and something is wrong here and I feel I am being made to pay for their mistakes, incompetence, lies and possible fraud. Please help me, I dont know where else to turn. Thank you.

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