This should explain it all!!-May 22,2014

       I am writing this letter described as a “hardship” letter, to once again attempt to save our home.  This is my 5th attempt.  I have sent document after document over the last 18 months, spoken to countless people, and endured continued frustration, heartache and despair.  My 11yr old son is sitting on the sofa next to me, crying, and begging me to save our home.  I realize that this situation was not caused by Wells Fargo, but I believed that programs started by our government were put in place to help families, like mine, who have suffered unintended hardships.

 

      In May of 2012, I, Lauren M. Anderson, acquired a very rare condition called, Folliculitis DeCalvans.  Of course it was not properly diagnosed for a while, but in the meantime, I became extremely ill, and broke out in hives or lesions and experienced severe swelling in all of my lymph nodes.  It was finally determined that I have MRSA in my lymph system, as well as a plethora of other conditions.  You see, I am a Registered Nurse, and worked in surgery for several years, and of course was exposed to every bacterium around.  For the first 6 months of this disability I received short-term disability, which although in itself was much less than my salary, we were able to  continue to pay our mortgage to Wells Fargo. I must mention here that my husband, Tony, has a great job and has for years, however his salary is much lower than my salary was.  In fact our income has essentially been lowered by 60%.

 

        When the disability payments ended, in November of 2012, I called Wells Fargo and informed them of our situation, and of our inability to continue paying our mortgage at such a high note.  It was at this time that I first asked about the HAMP and other programs.  I was told that nothing could be done until we hadn’t paid a note for 3 months.  And then the cycle began.  I was shuffled from representative to representative.  I was misinformed and misdirected time and time again.  My home has been up for Sheriffs Auction on numerous occasions.  I have spent countless hours talking on the phone, filling out documents, and praying that a lock would not show up on our door at any time. And during all of this time, I was undergoing treatments for my illness, which made me extremely ill.

 

         In May of 2013, I underwent a surgery in which numerous biopsies were performed and lymph nodes removed.  I truly believed that the treatments were successful and life would return to normal.  I was wrong.  Each and every biopsy came back positive for MRSA.  It was at this time that I was informed that I could not work as a nurse again, or in any position, as long as my illness is present, and treatment being taken.  Again I called Wells Fargo.  And the cycle began again. 

 

         At some point we were offered a trial payment program, with a note that was perhaps $150 less than our previous note.  I refused this offer, which wasn't affordable, because I had used numerous calculators, all with the same results, stating that our note would be much lower than this.  I was bullied, laughed at, and informed that I was wrong and would never be offered a lower payment option.  I was told that if we couldn’t afford that note than maybe we should not bother trying to keep our home.  But, you see, I did not give up hope, for 2 reasons.  The first being that I am in the process of acquiring disability, and the second being that I have read the guidelines for the HAMP and other programs making loans affordable for homeowners over and over again, and I know we can afford a modified note based on my husband’s income.

 

     Again at some point, please excuse my memory lapses but it has been a bad year, I finally spoke to the “last chance” department, whom again I sent all my documentation to, and was told that yes we did meet the criteria for modification, the note did appear to be lower than what was previously offered, and that we would be referred back to the modification department and would not need to send any more documentation in.  Before I knew it our house was back up for auction and I called again and went through the process again!!  In February of this year, 2014, I again stopped auction proceedings and was contacted by Wells Fargo later that month letting me know that we would be hearing from them regarding needed documentation.  In a letter dated March26, 2014 we were told, ‘Thank You for sending in your documentation.  We will be contacting you regarding your modification.’  In a letter dated April 2, 2014, we were told that ’Your case has been closed due to your not sending in needed documentation.’  It was at this time that I realized our home was again set to be sold at Sheriffs auction on April 10, 2014.  Again I spoke to the last chance department and again the Auction was stopped.  I was told I would be contacted by the modification department again.  I waited 2 weeks and called and was informed that my case was closed on April 3, 2014.  I explained to the agent that ‘No, my case was reopened prior to April 10th’ and was then informed that ‘Oh your case was closed again on April 11th 2014, because we called you and you didn’t return our call.’  Ok so what if this is not on my phone bill, I DON’T WAN’T TO LOSE MY HOME!!  I was forwarded to another representative who informed me that I would have to send in an entire new packet.  Again the process starts again.  She and I set up a time 2 days later for a conference; it was 6 days before I heard from her again.  I called numerous times in the meantime, and was shuffled from agent to agent.  When we did speak she informed me that she had not received my fax, which I sent, and requested it be sent again.  I was at this time that I decided to access the needed documents via the Wells Fargo site and discovered that I could not do so unless my case was in review.  I called Wells Fargo and was told that my case was NEVER reopened and therefore not under review and the scheduled sale date is June 4th, 2014. 

 

        I am at a loss.  I am not perfect and have not always answered a call or such, but I am also not some sleaze ball that is trying to get over on the system.  My illness has changed every aspect of our lives.  We have lost almost everything but we continue the good fight.  I cannot stand the thought of uprooting my children from their home.  I realize that Wells Fargo is not responsible for my circumstances; however I do know that Wells Fargo is compensated by the government to help homeowners like myself sustain some type of normalcy, sanity, stability, during such a hardship, through the HAMP and other programs.  I have scoured the internet and now am saddened to see that I am not the only homeowner who has gone through this endless cycle with Wells Fargo.  I have read and seen hundreds of homeowners stories whom are facing these exact same issues that we are!  If I am able to see this with a simple Google search, imagine all the stories that have not even made it to the internet. I see that several states have begun legal proceedings against Wells Fargo and have won.

        In the beginning, I thought that all I cared about was saving my home and obtaining a fair and just modification as laid out by the US Government guidelines for the HAMP and other programs.  However, I now realize how selfish that would be!  Change has got to be implemented to avoid this heartache for present and future homeowners experiencing a hardship!!!  Of course I want to save my home, but if my story can help others in any way then I plan to tell it over and over again untill something is done!!

 

      I hope this letter adequately explains my ‘hardship’.  To say that this round and round cycle of representatives and paperwork and Sheriffs Auctions has taken a toll on my health would be an understatement.  In fact, sadly, I was ready to throw the towel in this go round.  But I have an 11yr old son sitting on the sofa next to me crying and begging me to save our home.

 

 

 

                                                                           Sincerely, Lauren M Anderson

 

To any of you out there that support my cause and my family-please sign my petition!!  The picture I have posted shows my family during much happier times!