Property Tax Arrearage

[kt_morrison]

What is the name of your state? MO

We refinanced our home in August of 03. I deployed with the military in November of 03. We lowered our monthly payment and interest rate during the refinance to 6% and $1250 a month. In January of 05, my wife received a letter from the mortgage company stating there was an arrearage of $4300 that we owed. They wanted us to pay $1800 a month for 12 months and then our payment would go to $1600 a month after that. I made a phone call to the mortgage company who stated that there was an error in the calculation of personal property taxes and it takes a few years, due to new a newly constructed home, to balance the taxes out. Is this something that is legal and/or who is truly responsible for the arrearage on personal property tax? Since then, instead of applying our monthly mortgage payment to the balance/interest, they have been applying it to the arrearage, therefore showing our mortgage in default. We received a letter last month stating that our default has been reported to the credit bureau. Do I need to get a real estate attorney? I got off active duty in May of 05. Any help would be appreciated.