Some time back I wrote this diary about my sisters horrible experience with JPMorgan Chase who was threatening foreclosure yet would not provide an accurate accounting of her account. The situation has gone from bad to worse. Follow me below the fold for the latest insanity.
A few months back cracks started to appear in the areas around the pool and sidewalk. Having seen similar cracks at my own home in Florida I thought it could possibly be a sink hole. I instructed my sister to call her insurance company immediately. Some months back I had paid her yearly premium, since she was now unemployed as a result of the Bush economy. Writing that check turned out to the best thing I had ever done for my sister.
Two months after coming to survey the situation her insurance company informed her that there was indeed a sink hole around the property and the damage far exceeded the insured value. In insurance terms the house was a total loss. Although this sounds horrible it was a lifeline for my sister. She was facing the very real possibility of foreclosure due to her unemployment and the State of Florida's unwillingness to go after her ex-husband who owes her $70,000.00 in back child support. I had bailed her out last time but could not see the benefit of doing it again for a house that was worth far less than she had paid and in just a few months she would be right back in the same situation.
She called JPMorgan Chase and explained the situation. She tried for over two weeks to get a payoff amount on the home. She was going to be paying off the mortgage 26 years early and yet still could not get the required information in a reasonable time. Finally after more calls than she can remember she was given a payoff amount in writing. She relayed that onto the insurance company who would cut two checks, one for the mortgage and the remainder to my sister for the rest of the insured amount.
Two weeks later she had still not received the check and it was becoming quite clear that the insurance company was not going to pay such a large amount without a fight. She decided to call the State Insurance Division who immediately demanded the insurance company pay. They did and she sent the check to JPMorgan Chase. One month later she called JPMorgan and asked where were her payoff documents. they informed her that they had not posted the amount to her account and that she now owed them slightly over $200.00 more to settle the account. She asked if once that was paid would she finally be rid of them and they said yes. She had a money order cut for the final balance and mailed it off. About a week later she called and verified that the last check was received. They told her it had and said she would be receiving a clear title shortly.
Last week she received a knock at the door. A man was there with a camera to take pictures for the upcoming foreclosure. She informed him that she had paid the house off and that he needed to go back to JPMorgan and tell them to fix their records. He barely responded but kept taking the pictures. Two days later she received the foreclosure papers by overnight mail. They are trying to foreclose on a house that has been totally paid off.
I told my sister to let them take the process as far as she is comfortable with but to contact a local attorney. I am sure my sisters story is not unique. Maybe its time for a class action lawsuit against these fools.
Any advise from the community as to how we should proceed?