Call it poetic justice, or even karma. . .
During the past few years Bank of America has been at the subject of harsh criticism for business practices that range from the mean-spirited (such as doubling credit card interest rates without notice, up to 28% for cardholders in good standing), to irresponsible (such as
foreclosing on the wrong homes), to even fraudulent (such as the recent
robo-signing scandal involving mortgage documents). Bank of America is the nation's largest servicer of mortgage loans, and the second largest mortgage loan originator. You'd think good record keeping would be important to such a large company, but apparently mistakes abound at Bank of America.
Take for example the case involving Florida couple Warren and Maureen Nyerges. In 2009 the couple moved from chilly Cleveland, Ohio, to warm Naples, Florida. They purchased a foreclosed home from Bank of America and paid $165,000 cash. However, in February 16, 2010, Bank of America filed a Complaint to Foreclose on Mortgage against them, claiming the Nyerges owed almost $141,000 in unpaid mortgage debt.
Warren Nyerges, 46, a former sheriff's deputy in Ohio, spent months trying to dismiss the suit and clear up Bank of America's error. In April of 2010, the lawsuit was dropped, and in December the Nyerges were awarded $2,534 in attorney fees. The bank did not respond to the repeated requests to pay the court judgment. Warren called the bank, sent certified letters, called the bank's attorney, but nothing worked. Then, in January, he hired an attorney to pursue the case. The attorney sent letters and made phone call, and
still Bank of America failed to respond or pay the judgment.
On June 3, the attorney for the Nyerges, accompanied by Collier County deputy sheriffs and a moving company, arrived at a local branch of Bank of America and presented the bank manager with a writ of execution to seize assets: either pay up or the movers will start taking things. An hour later checks were cut to satisfy the court judgment.
This may seem to be an extreme example of one case that has fallen through the cracks, but the truth is that banks make errors regularly. In Utah and
Nevada courts issued foreclosure injunctions against Bank of America for improper practices. Other banks have also had their share of problem in producing mortgage documents and verifying that the bank is the rightful holder of the mortgage.
If you are facing foreclosure, don't get steamrolled by the bank! You have legal options to negotiate a lower payment or possibly strip away a junior mortgage. Call today and discover how the federal and state laws can help you save your home and protect your rights.
Contact the experienced Chicago bankruptcy attorneys at Glanzer & Associates, P.C. at 1-312-644-2227 to discuss your specific situation, and to schedule your free, in-person consultation.