Countrywide Home Loans Countrywide has erroneously begun to collect property taxes through an escrow account with no authorization. My property taxes are and have always been 100% up to date. I cannot get anyone to remove impounds after over 1 month of calling, faxing and emailing. I refuse to make the tax payment since it is their mistake so my loan is going into negative amortization. This is criminal! Van Nuys, California

Countrywide is erroneously collecting escrow payments although my loan is set up for me to pay property taxes on my own. They claim that they received notification from the LA tax collector that my taxes were delinquent and, therefore, need to collect on behalf of the state. This is completely false. I submitted, in writing, historic proof of my taxes being paid and spoke with the LA County Tax Department and they confirmed that I am up to date, and have always paid taxes on time.

Despite my attempts to prove to them that Countrywide is at fault with written proof and several phone calls, emails and faxes, they refuse to take escrow payments off of my bill. Incidentally, if I were to divide my annual property taxes into monthly payments, my payment would only amount to $540/month. Countrywide is attempting to collect $776.50. The additional amount is for their "reserves". Essentially, they are now collecting interest on not only the $540 but the additional reserves. I am out $776.50/month, while they are collecting interest on money that belongs to me until the property tax due dates. This is criminal.

I cannot get anyone at Countrywide to assist me or to rectify this problem. I have no recourse but to hire an attorney and spend thousands to resolve the problem. This is a mistake that Countrywide has made and they are unwilling to rectify despite my repeated attempts to prove them wrong.

Communication with Countrywide:

6/19
Written letter with proof of tax payments sent to Countrywide via fax. I have confirmation that fax went through.

7/9
Representative Bob said Im paid in full and does not understand why Countrywide would be collecting impounds.
Representative Yasheca took care of it and there a no more impounds effective today and that I would be receiving a new statement in the mail with the correction. This never happened.

7/15
Sent email message through Countrywides email dispute resolution system which indicates that a response will be sent within 24-48 hours. No response to date.

Countrywide's deceptive practices must be stopped!
Long Beach, California
U.S.A.