Harrassment & Threats

[wickedgawdess]

What is the name of your state? Pennsylvania

For over 8 years my husband has been making mortgage payments to his grandfather. They have an agreed upon amount, I believe everything was set up legally.
Last year, February 2005 my husband was diagnosed with cancer and had a very rough year of treatments etc. his grandfather told us in front of other family members not to worry about the payments because we were going to have enough to worry about.
Now he has a lawyer sending us letters telling us they want to liquidate the house because we are delinquent on payment. I think that his grandfather is seriously losing his mind and the lawyer is sending us threatening letters based on what the old man is telling him. First they sent a letter stating we had paid nothing at all in 2005. I made multiple payments even though he had told us not to worry about it. Once I proved that letter was untrue now we received a letter stating my husband didn't pay in 2004 and that the payments I made in 2005 were applied to those. I have all the documentation of payments made since 2000. I admit there are missed payments here and there but then there are payments where 2 to 4 payments were made at once.
I know that his grandfather is not claiming these payments on his taxes. It's obvious his record keeping skills are lacking. Where do we stand though? What rights do we have?
We did not get in writing about not having to make payments in 2005. I'm sure that was a huge mistake...
Can I do anything about the threats we are receiving? They are based on false information...and we seriously don't need the stress right now...

Thanks for your time!

[seniorjudge]

Originally Posted by wickedgawdess

What is the name of your state? Pennsylvania

For over 8 years my husband has been making mortgage payments to his grandfather. They have an agreed upon amount, I believe everything was set up legally.
Last year, February 2005 my husband was diagnosed with cancer and had a very rough year of treatments etc. his grandfather told us in front of other family members not to worry about the payments because we were going to have enough to worry about.
Now he has a lawyer sending us letters telling us they want to liquidate the house because we are delinquent on payment. I think that his grandfather is seriously losing his mind and the lawyer is sending us threatening letters based on what the old man is telling him. First they sent a letter stating we had paid nothing at all in 2005. I made multiple payments even though he had told us not to worry about it. Once I proved that letter was untrue now we received a letter stating my husband didn't pay in 2004 and that the payments I made in 2005 were applied to those. I have all the documentation of payments made since 2000. I admit there are missed payments here and there but then there are payments where 2 to 4 payments were made at once.
I know that his grandfather is not claiming these payments on his taxes. It's obvious his record keeping skills are lacking. Where do we stand though? What rights do we have?
We did not get in writing about not having to make payments in 2005. I'm sure that was a huge mistake...
Can I do anything about the threats we are receiving? They are based on false information...and we seriously don't need the stress right now...

Thanks for your time!

Okay, gramps wants you to pay your bill. What is it you want from us?

[CJanssen]

Payment history is key to proving that you've made payments. Cancelled checks are the obvious answer to proving mortgage history for 2004 and part of 2005. From my understanding, the lawyer says you didn't make a single payment during all of 04 and 05???

Talk to your bank about cancelled checks for the last few years. Aside from that, there's not much you can do since the agreement was verbal with grandpa. At least proving you've made some of the payments will lower what the lawyer is looking to settle for however.

Tough situation.