Avoiding Loan Modification Scams

The real estate and foreclosure crisis has taken an untold toll on the lives of many Georgia residents.  Our state has been particularly hard hit and continues to wade through the recovery process.  What adds to the difficulty is the number of scam artists who have surfaced trying to take advantage of those who are financially vulnerable. Athens Chapter 13 bankruptcy and loan modification lawyers can help you sort through fact and fiction.

One of the most disturbing scams involves those who take advantage of people seeking a mortgage loan modification.  The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a consumer warning to help individuals detect and avoid mortgage assistance relief scams. The report identifies a number of common scams, including:

• Phony counseling or phantom help
• The forensic audit
• Rent to buy schemes
• Bait and switch schemes

All of these scams have the common element of the organizations perpetrating them requesting payment up front before they performed the services they promised. The FTC enacted The Mortgage Assistance Relief Services (MARS) Rule, which makes it illegal for companies to collect fees up front until a homeowner has actually received an offer of relief from his or her lender and accepted it.

If you have received a foreclosure notice or would like to explore the loan modification process, Marietta Chapter 13  bankruptcy lawyers with experience in Georgia loan modifications can make sure that you get the assistance that you need without falling prey to scam artists.

Please call Jeff Field and Associates at 404-381-1278 or contact us online to schedule your appointment.  We are ready to provide you with the help you need today.