UPDATE: Tuesday, Apr 4, 2023 · 4:13:51 PM +00:00
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Coloradowoodsman
Last Update:
Well, it’s hard to tell what’s happening with the new loan servicer. But it looks like I’ll be OK once they finish “onboarding” my account. I just need to catch up, which your donations have helped me do.
The PayPal donation is now closed per PayPal guidelines. I’ll leave the GoFundMe up another few weeks, just in case.
The old loan servicer did add some penalties to the total amount due on the principal, but it’s being factored into monthly payments. My only worries are that my seasonal job that started in early March is still only giving me 6-10 hours a week. So not a lot of income (take-home for that is about $120). That should change, but it keeps snowing here affecting the two lakes I supervise. In fact, as of yesterday, one of the lake was still frozen over with two feet of snow on top of the ice, and up to a foot due today. The other lake, at a slightly lower elevation, is supposed to open in a week or so, but unlikely at this point. Oh, well.
Thank you all.
UPDATE: Wednesday, Mar 29, 2023 · 1:14:25 AM +00:00
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Coloradowoodsman
Hello Everyone,
Sorry for being so remiss is updating. We’ve been having several crises all at the same time. The latest is that I find out April 1 (yes, Saturday), if the new loan servicer will take the $6,000-plus rather than the full amount. That is what I was told by several of the old servicer's “specialist" (read that as the frontline telemarketer types could no longer work with it—and thank goodness since they’re the ones who failed to submit my request for a deferment).
I’ve had some great advice from several readers and am trying to follow through on those ideas. I apologize for not responding to everyone's comments. I've been trying to deal with a dead car, dog surgery ($1,000), other debts (including $4,800 to the IRS because of a mistake the state made on my Affordable Care Act insurance last year—apparently because I qualified for Medicare part of the year, I wasn't supposed to get it, or something like that, so I have to pay back the subsidy), and just everyday stress.
My seasonal work has turned out to be averaging about 10 hours a week and probably won’t improve until mid-April at the earliest. It's been snowing so much here that the places I work during the summer are still closed and may not even open until sometime in May.
I also applied for a reduction in property taxes since the state offers that for seniors. The funny thing is I only learned about that when I had to pay my late mother-in-law's property taxes and they told us she should have asked for the reduction (she died at 82—no comment as she’s still in a box in the shed and can "hear" us--OK, don’t freak out--just her ashes; my wife doesn't want her in the house.)
Thank you all.
UPDATE: Friday, Mar 10, 2023 · 4:02:09 PM +00:00
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Coloradowoodsman
Better News: The mortgage holder was supposed to enter an FHA deferment in January, but the customer service rep didn’t do it. I’ve talked to them almost every day and today finally got someone who knew what he was doing. He said I'll find out Wednesday if I get the three month deferment. If I do, then I can resume monthly payment for a mere $14 more a month, plus pay back the missing payments, which will be about $6,000-$6,800, give or take (the guy said it depends on when the deferment is implemented).
I’ve already changed the GoFundMe amount to that level (more realistic, for sure), and will do the same with the PayPal, which is now fixed. In the meantime, I have been in contact with multiple pols, agencies, etc. So far, no help there. But If I can catch up now, the Social Security and seasonal summer job should help me stay flush on the mortgage.
Thank you everyone who has helped so far. The DK community is generous and cohesive (despite the recent DK personnel issues). I also apologize for not keeping up with everyone's comments. I’ve been nearly hysterical the last two weeks.
Although I’ve only contributed two or three times to DK, I hope the community can help with a dire issue. My wife and I (both in our mid-60s, health issues on my part), saved a small log cabin in Southwest Colorado twenty-seven years ago. We added a small new section. It’s partially off-grid, but not totally.
While most of the time, our income has been enough for the mortgage and bills (with some outside help periodically), in the past year-and-a-half, our income has fallen drastically and expenses risen exponentially. We also were hit with several financial scams, the biggest being a $20,000 demand from a Texas law firm/collection agency on behalf of a fire and water restoration for a residence in California. While I am from there, the bill was for a place in Southern California I’ve never lived. And when I contacted the supposed creditor, he said he knew nothing about it. So, after contacting various states attorneys general, that country’s district attorneys office, the Dallas county DA, the FBI, and others, it was dropped. But, of course, there were still some expenses to that. There have been several other attempts at scams and identity theft that have been costly to resolve.
We have been rescuing animals since before our marriage three decades ago, and now have three cats and a special needs dog (Valley fever—meds twice a day, needs $500 in dental surgery this month). One of the cats was a neighborhood stray that got away from a neighbor who ad killed his family, one was abandoned by a former resident on our road, and the third was adopted from the shelter some years ago (before financial issues set in) who weighed about two or three pounds, most of her fur was gone, and she had ear mites and other issues. Unfortunately, our cars are too old to bring much money, and we’d be stuck in the woods without them.
We facing foreclosure because I was unable to keep up with payments and the mortgage holder (it’s been sold to different companies a number of times) wants the full balance of thee mortgage within three weeks or so. We went to the state for mortgage assistance, but they only give it for provable Covid-related problems. The feds are no help ether. And, yesterday, a guy showed up at the door with a notice to call the mortgage holder. His dog, which was unleashed, threatened my dog and urinated on my property.
We can’t lose our small home and refuge for the pets. We’re too old and everything we own and love is here. I created a GoFundMe page. I know it’s a lot of money, but I’ve been crying almost every day and feel like a failed husband and person. If you’re able to help, if not for us, for the pets, thank you.
Update: Sorry for the bad link. I’m have a bit of a nervous breakdown over this. These seem to be the correct links. Let me know if they still don’t work.
Thank you.
www.paypal.com/...
gofund.me/...
