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| Hardship Center Daniel Keller mortgage modification, debt settlement Costa Mesa , California |
| 26th of Nov, 2011 by User177340 |
| Hardship Center contacted me two weeks after applying to Bank of America to refinance our mortgage, in August 2011. BOA had denied us a refi because one of us fell short (by 2 points) of having the required credit score. The call from Hardship Center was an automated call and, when "1" was pressed, a female came on the line. She took my name and phone number and told me Mr. Daniel Keller would call me back within 24 hours. He called me back in less than 24 minutes. Mr. Keller (or whatever his "real" name is) said all the right things. We are in an interest only mortgage for 7.5% and it is scheduled to reset on 12/1/2011. The payment will increase by $300+ dollars per month. He told us he could get us a loan modification, explaining that federal funding was available to assist with loan modifications. He emailed us documentation to support what he told us and we attempted to check Hardship Center out through those avenues known to us. Please note that we are computer/internet literate and utilized these resources to confirm that Hardship Center was legitimate. We could find no negative reports of any kind. What my husband and I did not know was that there was a law making it illegal to collect money before services are provided. I don't know why we didn't know this, but we didn't. Consequently, we gave Hardship Center $2,500 to assist us in obtaining a loan modification of our interest only loan of $209,000 on a home valued at $250,000. Hardship Center/Daniel Keller went through all the motions. It seems they actually submitted the documents to our mortgage servicing company, Ocwen, in September. By mid October, we were beginning to wonder why we hadn't received a response from Ocwen. So, I placed a call to Ocwen and learned that I could apply for a modification without assistance from Hardship Center. Since they had already collected the $2,500 fee, I chose to continue "copying" Daniel Keller on correspondence with Ocwen when they requested additional documents from us. I sincerely believed we were working together on this modification. The last e-mail message from Hardship Center/Daniel Keller was received on November 9, 2011 where he assured us that the paperwork would be forthcoming, that it takes 30 days. We took him at his word. I spoke with a "Relationship Manager" from Ocwen on Friday, November 18, 2011 and was advised that a decision had not yet been reached about our modification application. On Wednesday, November 23, 2011, I called Ocwen to follow up. They advised me that the modification application was denied. When I started to ask questions, the Ocwen rep put me on hold and, while on hold, I sent an e-mail to Daniel Keller with "Panic Message" in the subject line. It came back as undeliverable immediately. I then typed www.hardshipcenter.com into my browser. And, saw that the web site no longer exists. A little research revealed that the domain name of HardshipCenter.com is registered to a Texas phone number and IP address. I have called Mr. Keller's phone number and left a message. The 800 number for Hardship Center does take you to the voice mail for "Angie with the Hardship Center," but no return phone calls have been received to date. (11/27/2011) Since the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, I have had the sick, sinking feeling that we have been "scammed" out of $2,500 and left with a mortgage payment that will increase. I'll pay the additional money because I've lived in this house for 25 years and love my home! However, I will do everything I can to get to the bottom of this. I would really like to have the $2,500 back ... and, to see whoever is behind this held accountable. |
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