Samaritan Law Center Sent me a letter saying they could assist with foreclosure. However, all they wanted was for me to pay them and nothing was to be paid to our loan company by them. Irvine California

I received a mail from them that reads:

Emergency Mortgage Relief
Regarding:  12 U.S. Code, Chapter 28
Must Respond within 15 days

On the inside it looks real as well, shows my mortgage information and provided an Elgibility Code of NC0922-0073 and to call 1-888-329-9880.  I called the 888 number and was connected with a Mark Kennedy.  He sounded as if he knew what he was talking about and provided me with his direct dial number of 760-501-8712 and asked me to send him mine and my spouse's last two paystubs to prove that we are still employed.  So I faxed them to hm at 760-501-8525.  Mark called me back the following day and said that we qualified and to fill out the form he sent me via email along with some additional finanical information.  I did so.  Mark called and said our documents were sent in for review with the Compliance Department and a Brian Williams would be calling me to go over on Oct 3 at 12pm.  Brian Williams did phone and we reviewed the documents. Brian then informed me that Mark did an excellent job and gathering and entering our information and the next step was for us for them to speak with a NC Underwriter with Chase and that Mark would call to confirm the appointment.  Mark phoned me later on Oct 3 and said that we have a call with William Owens, NC Underwriter working with Chase on Oct 5 at 1pm.

Mark called me on Oct 5 at 1pm and the "connected" us to William Owens, the NC Underwriter. Mr. Owens reviewed the application and said he needed to put me on hold.  When the music started to play it wwas the same hold music as when Mark would put me on hold.  I started to get a weird feeling in my gut.  Mr. Owens came back to the phone and said we had been approved and told me what our new monthly payments would be.  Mr. Owens then stated that the payments needed to to to Samaritan Law Center via a deposit that I would l make at a local Wells Fargo bank.  Well that is what did it for me. However, I thought maybe it is still true, I hadn't lost anything yet.  Mr. Owens told me that Mark would be sending me the final documents to review and sign.

Mark called me later and he did send me some more documents.  There were typos on the so called legal documents.  I questioned the typos and told that it was ok.  Since I am a Senior Administrative Assistant I know for a fact that is not true.  I questioned why they don't need to have our signatures notarized and they said because they spoke with me on the phone.  I then asked for something from Chase to confirm they were in agreement.  Mark told me to call Chase and it would be noted on my account.  I did so and there was nothing. I called Mark and told him this and he said it may take time.  Mark then said I needed to sign the document within 24-hrs and deposit a check into a Wells Fargo Bank acccount before everything will be finalized.  I was not feeling comfortable so I called our designated Customer Service Rep with Chase.  I was informed by him that he had seen or heard nothing of the company.  I called the Better Business Bureau in Irvine, CA and was told the company has a 'F' rating with them.  The BB rep strongly suggested that I reach out to HOPE instead.

I sent the following email to Mark Kennedy and never heard back from him:

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Hi and good morning Mark,

We carefully reviewed the documents and we still are a little uncomfortable with sending you $1,075.78 which is close to half of what we do know we need to have to Chase by Nov 1.  We signed the documents.  However, until we see some kind of proof that Chase is in agreement with what you are telling us we are not sending them to you or any money.  Nowhere in the documentation states how Chase is to be paid and by what date.  Are we to pay you and continuing to pay Chase?  As you can clearly see by the financial information you were provided, we cannot afford to pay you and Chase.  Are you saying we should stop paying Chase and you will be paying on our behalf?  If so, then why not have us send the money directly to Chase?  Why send to Wells Fargo?

We realize that you and your team have put in a lot of great effort but we need to feel secured in the next steps.  You mention that William Owens is an Underwriter that spoke with or is working with Chase.  We would like to speak with the same person by calling them ourselves and not by someone in your company transferring us.

We called Chase again last night and still was told there are no records on our file of them speaking with anyone except for the call that you and I made.  We then called and spoke with  Chad Johnson, Customer Assistance Specialist with Chase, assigned to our loan and who we are working with for the payback program of $2,788.59 for the next five months.  Chad said that no one is working our loan but Chase and he strongly advised us not to work with you unless you can tell us what Government Agency you are associated with and can prove that by us calling and verifying with the Agency.  Chad said that if we miss our Nov 1 payment our home will go back into active Foreclosure.  Chad says he has never heard of a Mortgage Restructure plan where we pay a 3^rd party and not the lender and he has been in the business for over 15-years.  Chad also told me to let you know our home is not in active foreclosure so there is no need for a Cease and Desist letter.  Chad said that if you need to speak with him you can call him at 877-496-3138 ext 3259924. 

We are very serious about keeping our home and want to do what is in the best interest of us and our relationship with Chase.  So with this being noted, before we send you any signed documents or money we need the following:

1)      Proof of communication with Chase, not just your word or a word of an associate
2)      Proof of Federal/Government Agency you are licensed with
3)      Explanation as to why the California Better Business Bureau rates you with “F” (this is very alarming)

Once we receive this and share with Chad Johnson at Chase, we will then sign and send you all the necessary documentation and money.

Thank you for your time and honesty.

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I am thankful that I did not loose any money as it would have caused us to loose our home.  I feel this company needs to be shutdown immediately before they do succeed in a homeowner loosing their home.

It is also my understanding that there is a law in place in Calilfornia where company's, lender's, etc. are not allowed to tell someone to stop paying their mortgage.  They broke this law!