Consumer complaint received 2017-08-24
Product: Mortgage — Conventional home mortgage
Issue: Struggling to pay mortgage — 
Company: ARVEST BANK GROUP, INC. (CT)

I do work, and felt that I could always afford my home, however, in XX/XX/XXXX - I was facing a foreclosure -hired a lawyer to assist me. Package was presented to me ( at my home since I was ill at the time ), and a modification was signed from a 2.68 %. to a 2 %. ( A XXXX XXXX Mtg. ), through Central Mortgage Company, which is now Arvest. The payments, though was still not adequate  for me and they had made a mathematical error when they first processed the amount, which was about {$200.00} less and I was pleased.Then they got back to me that the amount was an error. I was able to deal with it for about a year - then in XX/XX/XXXX- I was having more trouble, XXXX, 2 XXXX, medical bills, kids in college, increase in monthly bills. I was late on a payment, then missed a month, I paid late on the third payment, they refused the payment and sent it back. At that point, I was then given papers to fill out to see if there was any help I could receive. I spent about a year doing this myself - going to court for meditations, etc. I hired a lawyer in XX/XX/XXXX. of XX/XX/XXXX to help me through the last leg of this journey, who was kind enough to let me pay in installments or else I would not have been able to get that assistance. I have been told that the government does n't care about my situation or emotions. I was told there was nothing they could do since they had already taken away part of the previous percentage in XX/XX/XXXX and the mortgage is already extended to 40 years ( I believe ). The way I am being treated through this process is liken to bullying. I am trying all I can to save my home. My monthly expenses are now being paid on-time, only because I do n't have the mortgage, and I only carry 2 credit cards. I do n't have 'debt ' in that area so to speak, therefore I felt bankruptcy was not a reasonable option for me. I still have XXXX children living here, XXXX who has a fiance who is XXXX with XXXX XXXX and these complications have stopped them from being able to move out since she will give birth in late XX/XX/XXXX and go for her XXXX XXXX about 7 weeks after the XXXX.We are not sure what her recovery and treatments will entail, therefore, I can not just push them out at this time. 
I am a XXXX and I feel I make a reasonable salary, however, I have been told that the government calculates that I can afford my payments based upon my gross income. I am very confused by this, since I have to provide financial information, bills, tax information, etc. which show my net income and my expenses. How can the government calculate upon gross income yet still want all the other information and deny any other help? My taxes show that my taxable income is {$69000.00}. a year, when filed -how does this compare to being able to afford a roughly {$2000.00} mortgage and be able to keep up with the monthly expenses. My children do assist, but they are earning wages that do n't allow for much since they also take care of their own expenses like car loans, car taxes, and their student loans. Ca n't get much more out of them at this time. Please, I am not a bad person and if the company were to lessen my mortgage payment by {$350.00} I would be able to afford my home again. If there is anything that can come from this, it is my hope that help can be provided in some way rather then my home being evacuated, and then it sits for months on end, as so many foreclosures do. In my area where I live, there are 3 homes within walking distance of me that are foreclosed, and thus far, they have been empty for 1-2 years already. This is a sad situation for all families and I still believe there can be more help given. If big banks can get their 'buy outs ', why ca n't a homeowner be allowed to be funded in other ways when things get difficult. Many people are thrown into this situation and then it is rather humiliating, and intimidating when trying to work out a reasonable compromise.At a court mediation just this week, I was spoken down to by the mortgage company 's 'lawyer ', and made to feel less than a person. She was rude and sarcastic. This is no way anyone should be treated. I have jumped through their hoops now for a year and a half and have lessened some of my monthly bills to show at least a {$200.00} less payouts for some of my bills ( such as phone, internet, cable ), I had also changed home insurance companies to get a lesser figure to help and although my son has his own issues, he has contributed some monies these past few months, as I was directed to do, and yet - they still will not afford me the opportunity to save my home. It is emotionally abusive what I have been made to go through. I would appreciate your response and will afford you anything you may need to further this. Thank you very much.