Consumer complaint received 2017-05-19
Company: CARRINGTON MORTGAGE SERVICES, LLC
State: MD
Product: Mortgage
Sub-product: FHA mortgage
Issue: Struggling to pay mortgage

Complaint:
My house was sold at a foreclosure auction on  XXXX / XXXX /  XXXX  . Around  XXXX / XXXX /  XXXX  ,  XXXX   XXXX  of  Carrington Real Estate Services, LLC con tacted me. I confirmed with her that I was occupying the house with my  XXXX  minor children. She stated that she would request a cash for keys offer for me. On  XXXX / XXXX /  XXXX   ( before I heard back from  XXXX   XXXX  ), I arrived home from work. My son tried to unlock the front door, but found the key did not fit. I took the key from him and attempted to unlock the door. The key would not go in, but I was pushing on the door while trying to unlock it and the door popped open. I looked down and could see the shavings where someone had drilled the old lock. The new keys were on the floor inside the door. The house was completely unsecured ; all my personal property was inside and I had no way to know if someone was in there. I left a message for  XXXX   XXXX  asking about the lock change. On  XXXX / XXXX /  XXXX  ,  XXXX   XXXX  returned my call. She stated that she did not know why my locks were changed. I called Carrington Mortgage Services, LLC. They would not admit there had been a lock change ordered, but I was told that they have the legal right to change the locks. I told Carrington that I know my rights and they do not have the right to change the locks while I, the former owner, was in possession of the house. I told them that they have to go to court to get possession. I told them I would be changing the locks because I did not know who had access to the house. On  XXXX / XXXX /  XXXX  , I was working at home and heard someone at my front door. When I opened the door, there was a man standing there about to drill the locks and put in new locks again. I asked him what he was doing. He said he was securing the house because it was vacant an d Carrington had ordered the locks changed. I told him it was not vacant and that Carrington Mo rtgage and  XXXX   XXXX   XXXX  was aware that I was still in possession of the house. He told m e Carrington had  checked and the house was vacant. I asked them how they checked ; he said they talked to the neighbors. That can not be true. I live in a townhouse and know both my neighbors, who are aware that I am still living in the home. I told him that he has no right to change the locks while I am still living here. He told me that  Carrington had the right to change the locks because they bought the house. I told him they can not change the locks while I am in possession and that they must go through the courts to evict me in the state of Maryland. He left. Carrington Mortg age and  XXXX   XXXX   XXXX  have violated my rights as the former owner in possession of a foreclosed property. Maryland law does not allow self-help eviction. The owner of a foreclosed property must go through the courts to get possession of a foreclosed home occupied by the former owner by filing a motion for judgment awarding possession and then go through the eviction process.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation