This page is all about what to do to try and keep your house from going into foreclosure, in specific how to take notes, what files you need to keep etc.
Before Foreclosure...
Always keep in touch with your mortgage company, talk to them, let them know what is going on and if there are issues with payment let them know and see if there is anyway they might be able to help you.
More often than not they will have a payment plan to get you back on track as if the company is honest and trustworthy they want you to remain in your home.
Always check your bill and make sure everything is as it should be, if something is not correct call your mortgage company and speak with them and ask about it, double check on it with someone if you are unsure of things.
If your bill does not look correct demand that they
Files and important papers...
I keep seperate files for each item.
My mortgage company goes in one file, each mortgage company goes in a different file.
Within in this file make sure you have things in order of date and time.
I also have seperate files for any info on the house such as...warranties on the roof, property info, blueprints, original deed, originating mortgage paperwork and anything related to the house.
Also keep in each mortgage file all notes you take when you call each mortgage company.
Phone calls...
I have taken to recording all phone calls in regards to my mortgage company.
Yes it is legal, they can do it to you and yes you can do it to them.
In most states you do however have to inform the person on the other end of the phone that you are recording the phone calls and that they will be kept on file.
In some cases when you tell the person on the other end of the line that you are recording them you may get silence and then they will continue, you may get a 'you cannot do that' in which case you can inform them that yes you can, and in some cases you will get hung up on.
In any of the above cases you will have a recording of them to have for court later is you do need it.
I have also taken to having my s/o video me while on the phone partly because it's the only recorder we have but also it shows how frustrated I am.
Notes...
Always ALWAYS take notes when you call.
List the name of the person you are talking to, the id number they have if they will give it to you, date you called, and the time you called.
From there write down anything you ask them and their responses.
Were they professional?
Were they rude?
Ask for paperwork to be emailed to you...
In this instance I had asked the person on the other end of the phone for paperwork and recieved not only the paperwork but his email addy, full name, etc.
I have kept the email from him as I do all emails I receive.
Mail and emails...
Keep everything that they send you, EVERYTHING.
This keeps track of how often they are mailing you, emailing you etc.
I keep every piece of mail I receive from each company on file in the filing cabinet.
Phone records...
If you can get a record of all incoming calls to you so that you are aware of how much they are calling you each day, keep this on file as well.
Document everything. This seems like a simple statement and it is but often we forget or just decide that it's not important. It may just be that one thing you decided that is not important that winds up helping you keep your home.
