Banks Hiring Thugs to Toss Homeowners Out Before Foreclosures !

[Better Believe It]

Banks Hiring Companies to Toss Homeowners Out Before Foreclosures
By Dorothy Marie Kucera
October 11, 2010

Forty states are taking action against what is described in this report as "lawlessness" across the U.S.A. as hired companies are breaking into homes that are not even in foreclosure process yet. Banks are being accused of being "Mortgage Bullies" is part of the ABC news headline. Outrageous incidents are occurring as homes are ransacked and locks are changed, some before foreclosure proceedings have even begun. The article cites reasons why regulations are needed to prevent hiring "thugs" off the street to break windows, carry off possessions and in some cases, they are trying to do this while the homeowner is inside all the time, unaware that the bank has foreclosed and contracted with these workers.

I remember our banker telling us years ago to "be sure you never miss one payment; you would not believe how fast a bank will swoop in and take it away." Excerpt from the article says:

"Banks are expected to take over a record 1.2 million homes this year. As the number of foreclosures has grown, so, too has the number of real estate repo men hired by banks to maintain the foreclosed homes and their value."

"YouTube videos promoting this 'property preservation' and 'trash out' work as can't miss business opportunities are luring more and more people into the profession every day."

http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/6994671-banks-hiring-companies-to-toss-homeowners-out-before-foreclosures


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Mortgage Bullies?: Banks Accused of Illegally Breaking Into Homes Facing Foreclosure
Business for Property Preservation Companies Booms
By JOEL SIEGEL, FELICIA BIBERICA and DAVID MUIR
October 11, 2010

It's one of the few booming businesses in this bruised economy – companies hired by banks to change the locks and take over homes that have been foreclosed.

But in a growing number of cases, these real estate repo men are showing up before the foreclosure process is done – and sometimes, before a home is even in foreclosure.

This week, the attorneys general of as many as 40 states are expected to launch a joint investigation of allegations that banks cut corners and used fraudulent paperwork to foreclose on some struggling homeowners.

"What we have right now is lawlessness across the country. Banks and institutions are circumventing our courts. They're going behind our judges' backs and they are throwing homeowners out on the street out completely improperly," Weidner said. (attorney, Matt Weidner, of St. Petersburg, Fla.)

YouTube videos promoting this "property preservation" and "trash out" work as can't miss business opportunities are luring more and more people into the profession every day.

"Would you like to make $300 to $500 or more a day, running your own business, and being your own boss?" begins one video by foreclosurecleanupcash.com. "If you answered yes … you could be on your way to owning, running and operating a profitable foreclosure cleanup and property preservation company in seven days with little or no money!"

http://foreclosurecleanupcash.com./

The website cleanoutsuccess.com boasts how easy it is to make money quickly: "We have yet to find a city where you need a special license to handle these jobs."

http://www.cleanoutsuccess.com/

"These are jack-booted thugs driving around with a pickup truck and a clipboard … kicking down doors. And they are unregulated in most states. This has gotten out of control," he said.

"A fundamental principle that made this country different than anywhere else in the world was that when you stepped inside your home that truly was your castle. You could feel safe and secure in there. That's being attacked all across America," said Weidner. "Ultimately what my clients want is not money. What they want is their neighbors to understand what's happened to them. And what they want is these banks to understand that this is not permissible."

Read the full article and see the ABC News video at:

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/banks-accused-illegally-breaking-homes-facing-foreclosure/story?id=11847377&page=1

[maryf]

1. What next?

sheesh, K&R and thanks for keeping up with this...

[Canuckistanian]

2. Don't you need a Sherrif's warrant before executing a foreclosure action?

Or does it vary from from one region to another?

Or is it the "wild west" where a bank can claim ANY house?

[glitch]

3. Yes. These guys would get a face full of shot in my neck of the woods. nt

[RB TexLa]

4. These are houses where the people have been lawfully evicted from the property and have

chosen to bury their heads in the sand and believe the property is not going to be sold. It's sad because they are given more than ample time and by remaining in a property in which they are not going to bring the mortgage current on they often times lose many if not all of their possessions.

[Better Believe It]

6. That not what ABC News reports. Read the post. Don't support the low-life foreclosure thugs!

OK?

On that rare occasion that the mass media defends working people and exposes the banks you attack them and defend the banksters!

[Greyhound]

64. Not his strong suit. n/t

[bvar22]

82. Also not the only one.

Several were defending the Banksters on a thread yesterday.
The Bar for conservative rhetoric sinks lower every day.

[Tiras De Carne Seca]

7. You should really read the post before sticking your foot in your mouth.

[RB TexLa]

9. There is no foot in my mouth. One of the incidents described clearly stated the people were

three months behind and had a judgment of foreclosure against them. Said they have appealed but they didn't bother to appeal until the property was being taken. That was apparently the only thing to pull their heads out of the sand.

And the person who is current with her electricity but not her mortgage? Does she pay the cable before paying the electricity as well? Nice priorities.

[liberalhistorian]

40. First of all, it takes WAY more than just three months to

obtain a judgment of foreclosure. The bank had filed for foreclosure, but it had not been granted because the legal process hadn't yet been completed and, until it is, the bank has no right to come into the home. Secondly, if you'd even bother to read the damn report, you'd see that it is happening to many, many people who ARE NOT EVEN IN THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS YET, where NOTHING had yet been filed. IOW, in such cases, the thugs have no legal right to even come into the house yet, period.

I used to work as a real estate paralegal, you wouldn't believe the shit banks tried to pull in routinely attempting to get out of following the required legal process and, unfortunately, they often got away with it simply because they had the resources to do so. Some people weren't even behind, the banks had miscredited payments or claimed they weren't received when we had proof of cancelled checks.

[Canuckistanian]

8. Then where is the law enforcement?

All I see here are professional vigilantes. Are the laws being complied with?

What if the homeowners resist? Can the vigilantes respond with weapons?

[Better Believe It]

13. Maybe these bounty hunters can enter this new lucrative occuption.

They would fit right in.

[joe black]

97. shitheads.

[Cirque du So-What]

10. Did you NOT read the article?

It probably wouldn't take as long to actually read the fucking thing as it did to compose your expression of support for jackbooted thugs.

[RB TexLa]

11. I did read it. They talked about two people, one who had an order of foreclosure against them

and one who thinks they should pay their electricity before paying for their house.

[WinkyDink]

15. "hired companies are breaking into homes that are not even in foreclosure process yet."

What about that do you not comprehend?

And do you think the two examples are the SOLE examples?

[RB TexLa]

18. did you not read it. Two people, one had an order of foreclosure against them

the other was behind on payments and reported vacant. The last one the mortgagor has a duty to secure vacant property, and the mistake has been acknowledged. Although all the person said was that her electricity is current, she didn't say it had been current the entire time of the delinquency something that is checked for occupancy. She also doesn't state if she has been in contact and working with her mortgage company while she was or is behind.

[Gormy Cuss]

28. You may want to read the article again..

In the first case the owner's quoted statement is: "My electric is current, it always has been … I'm home all the time." Note the second phrase is in fact saying there was no gap in service. On top of that, while she admits to being late on mortgage payments, the article also states that foreclosure proceedings hadn't begun.

In the second case, the judgment of foreclosure was under appeal and thus not final.

[liberalhistorian]

41. You obviously failed in reading comprehension classes.

Just because a mortgage is behind does NOT give a bank full and complete rights to the house, even if the house is vacant. Foreclosure has to be formally filed, then the full legal process, which generally takes about a year, must be followed. And the filing of a foreclosure is NOT a final judgment of foreclosure. The bank DOES NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO THE HOUSE until the process has been fully completed, period. In many cases, they are entering these houses even before foreclosure has been even filed, which is ILLEGAL. What part of ILLEGAL do you not understand? Or do you just prefer the taste of boots as you lick them?

[Dr.Phool]

44. You have a comprehension problem.

Welcome to ignore.

[WinkyDink]

14. Read first, post after.

[Better Believe It]

19. Write a movie review. See the movie later. That'll work!

[sabrina 1]

29. First you apparently didn't read the article. Many of the

homes being broken into are not even in the foreclosure process yet. Behind on the morgages maybe, but the legal foreclosure proceedings have not even begun when these thugs break in. So, it has not been established whether or not any foreclosure would be legal. Are we now throwing out all of our laws? No due process, just send in thugs before even bothering with the legal processes? Banks running the country in a Wild West manner ...

Some people btw, HAVE been foreclosed on illegally, or threatened with foreclosure, and are taking the matter to court where it belongs, not on the street facing hired goons.

I am so glad that all over the country states are planning to place a moratorium on these awful foreclosures.

Banks were supposed to help homeowners by modifying their mortgages, to stay in their homes. The were bailed out by the taxpayers and a fund set up to do that. They have used only a fraction of that fund, instead refusing to honor the request of Congress and the President to work to keep people who may have lost jobs, or are temporarily in financial difficulties, in their homes.

These foreclosures are bringing down the value of all homes as Banks rush to sell them at low prices, lowering the value of every other house in the neighborhood.

I don't think any decent person wants to be on the side of the banks in this. Banks are going to go down in history as the bad, greedy, corrupt, thugs that they are.

[chervilant]

31. Sigh...

Recall a famous quote from GBS:

I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it.

[sabrina 1]

43. You have no comment other than to call me a pig?

I think what you learned is not to try to defend a position when you have no defense, just resort to name-calling in the hope that no one will notice that you have nothing to offer in defense of your position.

Btw, I like pigs, they are cute, always smiling and they certainly are more noble and ethical than the banksters who brought this country to its knees.

[chervilant]

47. OH,

you so misunderstand! I am saying that your multiple--justifiable--rebuttals to RB are akin to wrestling with a pig.

Durn...

I like pigs, too--grew up on a farm and had many happy days playing with our adorable little piglets.

AND, like you, I am thoroughly disgusted with bankers. Like I tell my friends any chance I get: banks always, always, always, always, always (did I say always often enough?) always get their money.

[sabrina 1]

69. Oops, now I am so embarrassed!

I just did what I often accuse others of doing, jump to a conclusion without reading properly!! :blush:

I apologize, but I did like the opportunity to post a picture of a cute pig. So something good came of my stupid mistake :-)

[chervilant]

48. But,

I am glad you got the opportunity to post such a cute porcine pic.

[sabrina 1]

50. Oops, now I am so embarrassed!

I just did what I often accuse others of doing, jump to a conclusion without reading properly!! :blush:

I apologize, but I did like the opportunity to post a picture of a cute pig. So something good came of my stupid mistake :-)

[earth mom]

59. Obviously you have NOT been reading all the DU threads that show the banks are ILLEGALLY foreclosing

home owners.

Do your research before you start siding with the evil bankster gansters!

How in the hell anyone can EVER side with those bastards for ANY reason in the first place is beyond me!!! :crazy: :puke:

[Riley18]

5. Time to buy a gun then. It is breaking and entering as far as I can see.

[spin]

57. 12 guage "coach gun" loaded with 00 buck would be my choice...

Stoeger Coach Gun

[Rex]

12. Wealthy thugs hiring criminals to allocate/steal back some property from the farmers of America.

Back 100s of years we go! Regressive policy is evidently all in fashion at the moment. :puke: We live in a time of CEO brigands and corporate mega-outlaws. The various quasi-enforcement nets have broken down (from sheer unchecked criminal activity) with our national infrastructure crushed under the weight of a decade of neglect and outright criminal omissions.

Dick Cheney? A Lollipop kid compared to the actual people that run the American agenda without US.

[johnroshan]

16. Wow... memories of my hometown in India comes to mind.

Banks use thugs all the time to repossess homes, vehicles, and even personal possessions like computers. Its sad to see the US slip into such depravity.

[sabrina 1]

51. 'Depravity', a very good word for what is happening here

now. I am sorry about your country also. Maybe the people of the world need to unite to settle this problem THEY went Global for profit, but the people remained isolated in their own countries. Workers of the World, unite! We have the numbers, it looks like it may be time to stand up and fight back, all over the world.

[WillyT]

17. K & R !!!

:mad::mad::mad:

:kick:

[StandingInLeftField]

20. This would be such a bad idea at my house.

:nuke:

[slackmaster]

33. Mine too. Castle Doctrine and all that.

:nuke:

[StandingInLeftField]

95. Definately.

And six dogs, to boot!

[glitch]

21. Democracy Now has a good piece on this morning about it.

http://www.democracynow.org/

Very ugly.

[melm00se]

23. this lawyer

LOVES the word "jackbooted thugs"

[glitch]

24. If the boot fits... nt

[Better Believe It]

30. Thank you! Here's the direct link to that specific show.

http://www.democracynow.org/2010/10/12/why_are_bailed_out_banks_breaking

[melm00se]

22. it's one thing

to move in and secure the property after a properly ordered and executed eviction has been done.

it is quite another if the (still) owners of the property are rousted out of the house pre-foreclosure/eviction.

one is a legal event, the other is illegal.

simple solution? call the police and tell them that the house was broken into "home invasion" style and have the individuals responsible (both at the worker AND ownership level) arrested

[glitch]

25. Problem is the police aren't enforcing that law.

On Democracy Now this morning they talked about police being called and NOT making the arrests and filing the complaint.

[melm00se]

35. then you complain to the watch commander n/t

if, as the democracy now video indicates that the companies aren't afraid of lawsuits, they will concern themselves if their employees start getting arrested and they, in turn, throw the company under the bus

[MedicalAdmin]

74. Watch commander - good idea.

And make sure s/he knows that you are contacting the media.

[MedicalAdmin]

73. Don't forget to tell the 911 operator that you think they have guns.

That way when the police respond they will arrive with guns drawn and cuff first and ask questions later.

Also call the local TV stations and tell them the the cops are on the way to nab some bad guys who broke into your house. They'll likely be there before the cops.

And for the trifecta call homeland security and tell them that your house was broken into and you think you saw pipe bombs and you heard them talking into cell phones in arabic.

[uncommon]

26. There is a process to foreclosure, and it ENDS with eviction.

This is ridiculous. Foreclosure is a legal proceeding - the very last possible step of which is forceful eviction IF the homeowner has refused to vacate after the foreclosure is complete.

[MadHound]

27. A shot gun seems to be the approrpiate tool in this case

Breaking in, with no legal authority, sounds like common criminals to me.

[lovuian]

62. What we have is a country allowing thieves to take your

home because we just BAILED these banks of Trillions of dollars with BONUSES....for committing massive fraud
of which none are arrested ....and then the FRAUD continues with
having criminals come and steal your house

committing MORE FRAUD

and our JUSTICE DEPARTMENT DOES NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!

there is NO JUSTICE

[EFerrari]

32. Oops. I just posted Amy's report. I should have put it in this thread.

Sorry.

[pattmarty]

34. I have guns and would not hesitate in the least to use them if...........

.........some ass hole comes into my house uninvited. This is NOT a case of gun control, or someone advocating violence, YOU have the right to protect your family and your possessions at ANY cost. This IS NOT a political or social issue only, it is a MORAL issue.

[glitch]

38. Anyone breaking into my house gets "shoot first ask questions later".

I hate to sound like a puke but it's too risky to assume it's some harmless thief, or even a jackbooted thug.

[pattmarty]

49. That has nothing to do with being a Republican or not. It is a simple.............

............case of protecting your family and possessions, no ideology involved.

[glitch]

53. True. Just because they've claimed it for their own doesn't mean they own it. nt

[pattmarty]

60. Yep.

[MedicalAdmin]

75. I agree.

And remember that industrial lime will disolve even the bones within 72 hours and is easily available at home improvement stores and cement plants.

Not that I am advocating anything criminal. But if the body should happen to accidentally fall over and roll into a lime pit ...

[glitch]

89. Good tip, thanks! nt

[SOS]

36. Dealing with them, 1930s Iowa style:

When farmers would hear about an upcoming auction, they would gather on the day of the auction and make it clear to officials and potential bidders that bids from outside the farm community were not welcome.

"When the bidding commenced, someone in the crowd would start it off at fifteen cents or so, and it rarely got beyond a few dollars before the bidding stopped and the auctioneer would close the sale. If anyone in the farmyard might be so ignorant of what was going on as to put in a serious bid, a suitably burly man would be likely to step up and put a hand on his shoulder with the words, 'That bid's a little high, ain't it?'"

Foreclosures stopped in 1933.

[sabrina 1]

52. Excellent strategy. But clearly there was far more community

spirit back then. Imagine trying to organize something that with DUers as the community waiting for the Bank Auction of another DUers home? The Banks would have quite a few supporters on this board.

[MedicalAdmin]

77. I freakin love that.

People looking out for people. It's an informal way of modifying mortgages.

Unfortunately the banks are no longer working that way. They are bundling the mortgages together in blocks of 100 or so properties and selling, interestingly enough to vulture funds which are set up as subsiduaries of the same companies that foreclose or their friends.

Keep in mind that the average person can't afford to bid on a block of 100 properties. It's a wholesale land grab and it's happening with public money.

That being said, the thug that breaks into my house (should I ever get behind on payments - knock on wood) is going to be needing a priest.

[Kevin1a]

84. Fantastic Idea

Truly fantastic. Why should some mortgage company with its headquarters halfway across the country own property in a community it has no stake in? Community above profits any day of the week!

[Taverner]

37. If I were advising homeowners, I'd suggest they use '2nd ammendment' solutions

Oh, did I say something bad?

[glitch]

39. The assumption that liberals don't support the FULL Bill of Rights is a mistake

fascists make at their own risk.

edit to add: :evilgrin:

[Tsiyu]

42. What I don't get is

once the banks take possession, they just leave these homes to basically rot.

they can't get rid of them in this economy, so there are neighborhoods full of foreclosed homes with the weeds growing up to the roof and windows broken.

So kick someone out so you can let your "property" rot?

Makes absolutely no economic or social sense.

[SammyWinstonJack]

45. Neither of which the banksters care about.

Economic or social sense.

[EFerrari]

46. The banks can take a loss and they can wait.

They won't suffer from the housing market continuing to crash, only we will and our municipalities. Maybe that's it?

[SoCalDem]

58. For a while last year, there were SEVEN on my block

and of course the one that the vandals chose was the one right next door . I called the police many times & they would do nothing. There was an absentee (out of county) owner who said, when I called them..."We have several empties in that neighborhood/...we'll try to send someone out"..they never did. It finally sold for $63,500 in terrible shape and was rehabbed & re-sold.

In 2007, it had sold for $335,000.00

I was so happy to see it fixed up & sold..UNTIL the new people moved in.. 3 20-something guys who have wild NOISY parties every Friday & Saturday night. It pisses me off that I cannot open up my house on nice weekend nights because of the incessant thump thump thump and 50-60 people milling around outside until 4-5 am..

[MedicalAdmin]

79. The solution is classical music.

http://www.japantoday.com/category/kuchikomi/view/teen-repellent-in-adachi-park-spurs-flood-of-inquiries

http://strangeobservations.tribe.net/thread/0c1f5a8f-90e9-4229-857a-1090d59296cb




Make sure that you warn the other "normal" neighbors what you are going to do, borrow or use a professional PA (borrow or rent - my local church lends theirs out) and crank the opera starting at 2 AM Saturday morning and lasting until their party breaks up. Af first I would suggest some random opera in the wee hours. If the cops happen by then turn it down and comply, but if not, then match them watt for watt.

Trust me, after this happens consisitantly for a while their friends will stop coming to their "parties."

I've tried this - it works. Of course as a person with contacts in the pro music biz, I can bring a lot of wattage to the party.

My playlist is any opera arias - the italian ones tend to be slower and more smarmy, requiems - nothing like some funeral music to lighten the mood, And don't forget the Charles Ives. If none of this works, try christian rock if you can stomach it. It's a last resort but it sucks a lot and party animals will HATE it.

[Occulus]

86. Be a geek and use DCI music.

Scary loud brass and drums. With cheering crowds.

:D

[SoCalDem]

91. I have actually thought about doing that ...but

With Frank Sinatra and by THEIR bedroom window...starting at about 7 AM ...when THEY are trying to crash & sleep it off the day after..

I don;t mind a party or music, but when they blast it so loud my windows rattle and I have to run my AC on a nice balmy night because I cannot open the doors & windows, it pisses me off.,.

Called the police the first time, when there were 70+ people milling around outside at 2-3 AM..but the cops never came..

My plan for next weekend, is to photograph the license plates of all the cars, and to tell whomever asks, that I plan to call the police. If they are "using a substance", or have underagers, they might just turn it down..

[TheMadMonk]

93. Traditional Chinese Opera. Dayum, that stuff's worse than fingernails...

...on a blackboard until you aquire an ear for a pentatonal scale.

[BreweryYardRat]

96. Bagpipes. At max volume. I love 'em, but most people can't stand them.

Watch them beg for mercy.

[glitch]

61. They expect to be reimbursed in full by the US taxpayers (bailout step 2, on the DU greatest page)

Make more sense now?

[Junkdrawer]

63. Is this the link?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=9300644#9300777

[glitch]

66. That's it, thanks for posting it. nt

[MedicalAdmin]

78. They don't want the house.

They want the property and they want the serfs who used to live in it willing to take any job at any price.

Think about sharecropping and you will get the idea.

[Raksha]

88. The homes aren't always left to rot.

In my neighborhood (San Bernardino, CA) foreclosed houses are great investment opportunities for anyone with a little money to spend. My new neighbor who moved into the foreclosed Frank Lloyd Wright house a few blocks from me told me she and her husband own 12 properties, and I believe many of them are here in San Bernardino. Not only has she restored the house she is living in, she showed me another rental property she also owns a few blocks away. She told me she paid $63,000 for it. That's comparable to the price BEFORE the housing boom, in about 1999 or 2000. Then she got a $15,000 home improvement loan, and it took about three months to fix the place up. She says the house is now worth about $100,000 in its present condition and I believe her. And that isn't even counting the rental income she's getting from it.

I think what I was told years ago was a lie: "The bank doesn't want your house." HELL YES, the bank wants your house! That's pretty obvious from their behavior. Otherwise why would they pull all these dirty tricks? Basically what they are doing is trading worthless paper for something of real value--a good deal even if they sell the house dirt cheap as a fixer-upper.

In other words, what they are doing is called STEALING. No wonder they are hiring goons--what else would you expect from criminals?

[sabrina 1]

54. Time to start burgler-proofing homes with some serious thug-

repellents. After a few of them end up in the hospital, it might discourage others from unlawful breaking and entering other people's properties.

[Xithras]

55. I had a problem with one of these "property preservation" companies.

I was short selling my last rental home last year, and BofA was informed that the home was unoccupied. BofA apparently has a standard policy that unoccupied homes get referred to these "property preservation" companies to keep them from deteriorating.

The company came out, scalped the lawns, shut off all the water to the property (shutting down the sprinkler systems), killed all power, changed the locks, and placed ominous seals on the property stating that entering the home was a crime and that EVERYONE would be prosecuted if they didn't first get permission from the preservation company.

That's a big problem when you're trying to sell the home. It's a bigger problem when they're breaking into homes that aren't even IN foreclosure.

I called a locksmith, changed the locks, and sent them the bill (they never paid me back, and it wasn't enough to sue over). They never entered the home again (as far as I know), but they did come out two more times to repost those warnings and mow the lawns. It took a dozen phone calls before they'd knock it off. I know they scared off at least one realtor who was going to show the home.

[MedicalAdmin]

80. Next time they do it spike the lawns.

Pound rebar down into the lawn just below grass level. It will seriously fuck up their lawn mowers. It will be like the blade just ran into a brick wall. It will ruin the blade and might even wreck the engine. Another thing you can do is to fill the water turn off valve area with cayanne pepper. With luck they will either rub their eyes, skin or privates. I'd film the results and post it to youtube.

Place them randomly around the lawn, but be sure to remember where they are so that you can mow. When you sell the place just pound them below ground level. About 1 to 1.5 feet should do it.

And if you happen to see them doing it be sure to puncture at least 2 or 3 tires before telling them to get off the property or be shot for trespassing.

Also don't phone them. Write them a letter and have it sent signature required. Then when they don't cease and desist you can get mean legally.

[Xithras]

92. This happened in 2009

We managed to short-sale the house, in spite of BofA's best efforts to derail the process.

The problem we had with the "preservation company" was that they refused to talk to us. They basically told us that they could only take orders from their "client", which was BofA. They couldn't get it through their thick heads that the property wasn't in foreclosure, and that BofA had no legal right to send them out there.

In the end, it took threat of legal action to get them to knock it off. I pointed out that they were vandalizing a private residence, and that their flyers would make great evidence when I took them to court. That blunt threat got me an "Uhh...let me call you right back," with a follow-up call from some angry guy a few minutes later saying that he wouldn't be on my property again. He actually had the nads to request that I sign a waiver acknowledging that they hadn't damaged the property. When I brought up the door locks, he hung up on me.

I never heard from them again.

[Panaconda]

56. "Kleptocracy Now,"

AMY GOODMAN: Chase simply said, "We’re sorry"?

MATTHEW WEIDNER: Well, Chase at first wanted to confirm that the power was on in my client’s name. But she’s had power in her name uninterrupted for something like twenty years or so. An irrelevant fact whether power was in her name or not, but the fact of the matter is that sort of a typical response that these banks offer when this happens, if law enforcement calls or if press or someone calls, is, "Well, they’ve abandoned the home," or, "Well, they’re in foreclosure," "Well, power isn’t on," or something such as this. It’s just an excuse. But I think when they offer that excuse to somebody that might question, that leads them off in a different direction. And so, it’s just completely unacceptable.

And what Americans need to start waking up to is the fact that this is occurring with alarming frequency. You know, I’m pleased to appear on Democracy Now!, but I’m going to suggest to you that maybe it’s time we start changing to tell the truth about what’s happening in this country, and the logo might should read "Kleptocracy Now," because that’s very much what it feels like in this country, a kleptocracy, where those at the top of the pyramid are working feverishly and with amazing efficiency to take from everybody down near the bottom of the pyramid. That’s frightening to me.

AMY GOODMAN: Matthew Weidner, you’re saying she wasn’t in foreclosure, so she wasn’t in any way alerted about this, but they’re saying, because they thought she hadn’t paid her electricity bill, that her electricity was cut off, they thought, which wasn’t true, that that’s why they had sent in an agent to break into her house?

MATTHEW WEIDNER: I believe that’s just an excuse after the fact, but it’s sort of a typical response. Whether she’s got power in her name or not is totally irrelevant. Whether they had filed a foreclosure or not, again, totally irrelevant. The only justification or the only legal right that someone might have to break into your property is when they have an order from a court saying that despite the fact that you own your home, this lender has a right to kick down your door while you’re in there. So, you know, it’s a red herring. They’re throwing out excuses, but they’re doing this in repeated instances.

...

http://www.democracynow.org/2010/10/12/why_are_bailed_out_banks_breaking

[TexasObserver]

65. Call the police and have them arrested.

The LEGAL title is in the homeowner until a foreclosure is properly concluded. Until that final act of foreclosure, the lender only has a security interest in the property, not legal title.

These hired goons are trespassers, and should be arrested and charged as such. If they become aggressive, they can be arrested for assault or battery, too.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

67. I wonder how many of the thugs are off-duty cops

moonlighting to get a few extra bucks? Ok, maybe more than a few extra bucks.

Calling the cops may not be much help.

[TexasObserver]

68. That's a problem, because cops are often used off duty as today's Pinkertons.

[MedicalAdmin]

81. Talk to the watch commander.

If that doesn't work then call the state police or the FBI and allege corruption and misuse of office with the lower fish on the food chain.

[ms.smiler]

87. TexasObserver, the problem is that police, Constables & Sheriffs

view this type of event as a Civil matter and not a crime so they won't file charges.

You and I recognize that a crime has taken place, but homeowners haven't been able to convince law enforcement. The homeowner has to sue the bank and/or the company they hired.

Those companies are not licensed or regulated so they often hire felons, drug addicts - anyone they can get for a low wage. It's not surprising that property goes missing from homes as reported by homeowners.

In addition to locks being changed, there are companies who "trash out" properties. Some of which are not actually in foreclosure.

Bank of American Seizes Wrong House, Holds Parrot Hostage

http://consumerist.com/2010/03/bank-of-america-seizes-wrong-house-holds-parrot-hostage.html

I think it's unwise to work for any of these companies because it's only a matter of time before a homeowner uses deadly force to protect themselves and their property.

As long as the banks aren't held accountable, you can be certain they will do as they please.

[awoke_in_2003]

98. Well, I see...

the recommenders are out in force" :)









(sorry, couldn't help it- I read your post in ATA :hi:

[leftynyc]

70. This kind of shit really does

call for a 2nd amendment solution. They wouldn't get past just inside my front door.

[Joe Fields]

71. Message to ALL homeowners facing foreclosure.

Stay put. DO NOT allow anyone to evict you.

[avaistheone1]

72. The rule of law is ignored yet again.

We are no better than a third world banana republic.

How pathetic.

[NutmegYankee]

76. I'm amazed no one has been killed yet.

Someday a homeowner is going to shoot them dead.

[Kevin1a]

83. They Probably Shouldn't Try This in Colorado

While Colorado has become more populated and more urban than it used to be, this is still the wild west. The "Make My Day Law" (Not sure about the technical name for it) allows Coloradans to shoot intruders in their homes if they feel threatened. I have a feeling these abusive lenders would have some major issues and a mile long backlog of lawsuits if they started sending their goons to harass people in their houses around here, especially the people out in the country.

[sulphurdunn]

85. If they don't show up in marked county cars

with blue lights, if they're not wearing wearing uniforms and not carrying the badges of your local sheriff's department, if they trespass on your property and try to enter your home: defend yourself with extreme aggressiveness. :hippie:

[Octafish]

90. America, what a country!

Anybody see where they moved to? Nice people. They lost their jobs and got kicked out by the bank. People who moved in are real scumbags.

[Liberal_in_LA]

94. unbelievable! n/t

[scheming daemons]

99. If foreclosure hasn't concluded, then this is legally a HOME INVASION.... call cops

...have them arrested for breaking and entering and theft.


Then call a lawyer.


Until a foreclosure is FINAL, they cannot TOUCH your house or any of your possessions. Not in any state in the country.