CENLAR Central Loan Administration and Reporting CENLAR Holding My Insurance Claim Checks Hostage Florence South Carolina

In March 2017, we had a bad hail storm; once the season was over, we filed an insurance claim with State Farm in July 2017. State Farm issued an initial claim fund check #5-08-980812Q in the amount of $15,989.13 which was made out to me and CENLAR as they took over my mortgage payment from the original mortgage company. CENLAR endorsed and sent back to initial claim check fund to begin the necessary repairs on the house.

On Oct 06, 2017, an insurance adjuster for CENLAR inspected the property to ensure 90% of the work had been completed; he confirmed that 90% of the work had been completed. On Oct. 22, 2017, I mailed check #1-08-966213J in the amount of $5,538.35 to be endorsed by CENLAR for all final repairs so I could finalize the invoice with HPR, the restoration repair company who did the roof repairs. On Oct. 27, 2017, CENLAR returned the check due to not being endorsed and stating that CENLAR now needs additional documents which were never disclosed in the initial onset of this process: Revised Adjuster's Worksheet, Conditional Waiver of Lien, Signed Contractor's Bid and their W9. I gathered the now "required" forms, endorsed the back of the check and resent back to CENLAR on November 17, 2017. I verified via phone on Nov.20, 2017 that CENLAR had all forms and that the check would be endorsed and sent back to me with no further delays and was told that everything was completed and that the check was in processing.

On Dec. 07, 2017, I was informed by State Farm that CENLAR had cashed the insurance final draft check, I called CENLAR and was told that the monies were placed in an escrow account. CENLAR had no business reason to cash the final draft insurance claim check, CENLAR was to endorse the check and send it back to me that I may pay the final invoice from the restoration company. On Dec. 21, 2017, I received a check from CENLAR which was made out to me and the restoration company. I called CENLAR to explain that the restoration company had already been paid due to a clause in their contract that states they must be paid in full no more than 30 days after the work had been completed. I had already paid the restoration company the final amount due out of my savings. I was told that a letter needed to be submitted by the restoration company stating this. I sternly stated that CENLAR had no legal right to cash the check and represents insurance fraud, I sought out legal counsel. The lawyer suggested I comply with their request to see if CENLAR will mail the check that I could be made whole.

On Jan. 02, 2018, I uploaded the final paid-in-full invoice from the restoration company and mailed back the check on Jan. 11, 2018 that CENLAR would place a stop payment on the check and reissue the check in my name. On Jan. 17, 2017, I called CENLAR to verify the status of the check as it was to be sent to me within 14 days. As of Jan. 28, 2018, I do not have the reissued check.

CELAR had no legal right to cash a check that was intended for home repairs due to a storm. I am losing interest daily which is a financial burden and very stressful.