|
|
Mission accomplished! Long, tedious process but worth the wait!
|
|
I began working with Marilyn Scheer Law group in March 2010. At the time, this law group had an "A" rating on the BBB. In the beginning I was very pleased, and found the representative I was working with to be very helpful. As time pressed on and paperwork circulated, I was hopeful a modification would occur fairly quickly. Being my bank was so eager and willing to sign me up for my outrageous 6.25% Interest-only ARM in 2006, and still being in my immediate gratification mentality, I was used to fast results. I was in for a rude awakening. In time, my rep left the firm, and I was transferred to someone new, also helpful but there were longer lapses of time in-between communication. Sometimes my phone calls and emails went unreturned for periods of time. As my one-year anniversary of signing the paperwork with MSLG came into sight, I began to grow increasingly frustrated. My new representative left the firm, I was transferred to someone new again, and I was beginning to think I was getting scammed. I went onto the BBB and saw the rating dropped to a "D." I became frantic, and started to call the firm regularly, becoming aggressive and hostile. I was eventually transferred to Marilyn herself, and by the time I reached her I was livid, thinking my $3,500 deposit was lost and my chance of modification nil, and I was just another idiot that fell for some convoluted hoax.
Marilyn took a proactive approach with me, and after a new round of tedious paperwork circulated I regained some hope, but was overall still skeptical and not expecting much. After several drafts of heartfelt hardship letters and filling out the bank's paperwork on time, the bank still demanded more ridiculous personal information, duplicate & triplicate forms and denied me twice. Marilyn remained calm and determined, and despite the bank (Chase) dragging their feet, Marilyn would return all of my emails in the interim. I had to take several "leaps of faith" that added a few gray hairs to my head. Toward the end Marilyn advised me to stop making payments on my mortgage and I knew at this point I was entrusting not only my credit, but the roof over my head to a woman I'd never met. I took a deep breath and followed her advice. After several more letter revisions that Marilyn herself took the reigns and modified for me, I just started to sign whatever was sent my way. I took the leap, and now I had to go with it. I'M GLAD I DID.
Finally in September 2011 I received word from the bank that they were going to give me 3 trial payments, and if I paid on time, a permanent modification. Now January 2012, I received my final paperwork from Chase, and have a new loan, starting at 2% for five years, and going up to 3.25% for the remaining duration of the loan (til 2039). MUCH better than a 6.25% interest-only ARM I initially stupidly signed up for. My credit is going to take a while to come back, but unfortunately that's how the process goes. Overall I got MORE than I hoped for in my new loan. 2% interest for FIVE years and I get to keep my home! Very happy with the end result!
As for Marilyn and her team, hang in there. It's a toiling process, and Marilyn and her staff are dealing with banks with unrelenting and changing standards, as well as impatient and volatile clients (like I became for a spell). BUT remember the banks themselves are the real culprits here. Banks would make out great if they could keep the money you've spent, as well as the house you live in. It takes a determined person to keep jumping the hurdles they throw at you, and despite the few representative changes last year, I got what I signed up for. Without Marilyn Scheer Law Group I don't know if I could have hung in on my own, and I probably would be foreclosing on my home by now. If I let the bad reviews get to me last year and pulled out, I wouldn't have made it here. I strongly suggest if you are having trouble in communicating to contact Marilyn directly. And if you're waiting to hear back, patience is key! A fair deal is not easy to come by with banks anymore. The good thing about signing up with Marilyn is that all you have to do is call her, and she does the dirty work with communicating with the bank for you. I'm giving 4 stars due to the times where there were lapses in communication last year and I was left wondering what was going on. Otherwise it would be a 5. Thank you again, Marilyn!
|
|
|
|