Consumer complaint received 2016-12-29
Product: Mortgage — Conventional fixed mortgage
Issue: Loan modification,collection,foreclosure — 
Company: Shellpoint Partners, LLC (MA)

In XXXX XXXX after the second lay-off in 4 years within my family I was behind for the first time in 15 years on my mortgage payments. 
As you may recall, " modification '' became the new buzz word in the mortgage world and I hired an agency to help me submit an application for modification to possibly lower my payment and roll fees to the back of my loan in order to prevent foreclosure. This cost me {$1800.00}. 
In XXXX of XXXX my spouse and I happily signed a modification agreement which would lower our interest from 6 % to 5 % and waive late fees. We made our first payment in XXXX XXXX. 
In XXXX XXXX we received a mortgage statement showing that we had made a " partial '' payment. After several calls to the bank it was stated to me that I should " wait on payments '' until I received the updated statement showing the changes made with the modification. It was also stated by the bank that due to the large number of applicants for this type of assistance there was a backlog but we should receive the new statement in time for XXXX payment. 
This did not happen. Instead we received an application for modification. I tried reaching out to the agency that had assisted me and got no response. 
In XXXX I received a call from another agency declaring that they had taken over and would re-submit an application for modification for us. 
Now I could spend the next XXXX pages describing what I have gone through but that would n't do either of us any good so I will try to briefly give you the summary by way of timeline. 

XXXX XXXX submitted new modification application XXXX XXXX began divorce proceedings XXXX XXXX I was laid-off and left waiting for an unemployment check for 7 weeks. 
XXXX XXXX I Received an offer from the bank but it was not a modification - no relief with the interest rate and all fees put to the back of the loan. I was unable to accept this modification offer due to the drastic change in circumstances to my financial situation. 
XXXX XXXX Began a " Making Home Affordable '' application with my local HUD funded XXXX 
XXXX XXXX Began employment. Updated the bank and continued to send in requested documents. 
XXXX XXXX I Received the divorce decree and forwarded this information to the bank who had been reviewing my application and needed this information. 
XXXX XXXX I received a foreclosure notice and a notice that my house would be up for auction on XXXX XXXX, XXXX. Yes, even though I was in process! They would not hold the auction or delay the foreclosure. 
XXXX XXXX After repeated attempts to get the bank to postpone the sale I was forced to declare XXXX XXXX Bankruptcy to save my home. 
XXXX XXXX I went to bankruptcy court - which was one of the most humiliating experiences of my life. This stopped the foreclosure process and then captured my past due amount plus fees into a 6 year payment plan but it did not help me with the original mortgage situation. 

XXXX XXXX I wrote to the attorney general 's office in my home state. XXXX XXXX, the XXXX at that time, was working on a lawsuit against the " BIG '' banks for homeowners who were in the same situation as I. 
XXXX XXXX After back and forth correspondence with the bank and the XXXX. I started the modification process again. 
It still took me approximately 1 year to get this bank to acknowledge receipt of my completed application. 
XXXX XXXX I was sent an offer. It was not a modification. The bank claimed to have forgiven my {$50000.00} second mortgage but in truth it was tacked on to the balance of the loan. The loan payment they were calling " modification '' was {$500.00} more per month than my original mortgage payment amount. 
XXXX XXXX I hired another agency who claimed they could secure an actual " modification '' for me. My experience with this group is a nightmare that continues today.