I made a few mistakes setting up mortgage HELP

[stuckinlamad]

What is the name of your state? VA

OK so here goes....sorry if it is too long.

My husband and I got back to the USA from Italy in December. He is in the miliatry and I don't have a job. He had to go to school in FL for 2 months so he sent me a military Special and General POA to buy a house that we had picked out. I had to do everything in his name. Horrible paperwork complete hassle. My realtor recommended a mortgage company that was local since the seller didn't want to accept an out of state mortgage company USAA. I said fine. They checked credit on my husband first. They said he qualified and since i didn't have a job they didn't need to include me on the mortgage paperwork. HUGE HUGE MISTAKE. I should have made them.

Here is the problem. We have an escrow account that the tax bill and insurance is paid out of. My husband is currently out to sea US Navy. I have already faxed the 3rd morgage company my POA. My first sold it 1 day after me recieving it, then they sold it to Wells Fargo. That is fine. The mortgage co won't talk to me till the POA is on file. I faxed it in again today. Also faxed it in last week.

Today I got a bill for over $700 for the taxes on the house. The morgage company won't talk to me till the POA is on file and my husband isn't here. MILITARY FAMILIES BEWARE this can happen all too easily.

WHAT SHOULD I DO?!?!?!?!? Taxes aren't due till June. I called treasurer they didn't have my mortgage info on file. I gave it to them and then they said mail the bill to Wells Fargo. Wells fargo said not mail with payment to but they couldn't tell me where to mail it.

Is there anything I can do to the local mortgage company that set up my mortgage info for not providing the city with the proper info. I am not in a small town. I had a lawyer. I shouldn't have to be dealing with this. Can anyone offer some nice advice please. (not that I don't love your humor most of yall can be quiet funny) Thanks again

 

[rsimplicio]

How about sending a notarized copy of that POA using Priority mail, FedEx (something that has a signature proof), and/or restricted delivery (You can use certified mail, registered, return receipt, but that could take several days).

When I sold my mothers house, I lived 1000 miles away. I was not going to fly in for a closing. The title company prepared the POA, faxed it to me, I took it to (believe it or not) Office Depot (only place I could find a Notary that late in the day), signed it, had it notarized, Fed Ex'd it to them, and my brother signed everything for me.

Ask them for the name of a real person at a real address that you can send an express delivery to to ensure that it is received. Also get a phone number so that you can call and follow-up the next day. With FedEx, you can check on your tracking number and see when it is delivered, and then call and make sure they have it in their hands and file it.

I don't think you can do anything about the local mortgage company. That's the way the industry is (reselling of mortgages). If I hadn't been alert to my mail, I would have missed the change in servicing of my mortgage to America's Servicing Company, which is a subsidiary of Wells Fargo.

One other thing you can try: Contact the title compay, and see if they can be of any help with the escrow situation.

On your mortgage statements, and also on the letter(s) you got from Wells Fargo stating that they were now servicing your mortgage, there should have been an address to send payments to (my address is in Baltimore, MD) and also a correspondence address (the address on my letter is in Des Moines, IA). If you are being serviced by America's Servicing Company, let me know and I will post my correspondence address.

Also , you need to contact you homeowner's insurance carrier and make sure you change the info with them, or you'll be getting insurance bills also. Not to mention, that mortgage companies tend to get a little testy if they're not listed as the loss payee.

 

[rsimplicio]

Also, something you may not know/may not have occured to you (and I just found this out because I was going "Geez, now I need to change the tax address with the Assessor"): Most large mortgage companies (Wells Fargo definitely qualifies) get their tax information electronically from the county. I just called ASC, which is again, a subsidiary of Wells Fargo, and their automated system stated that "you do not need to send us your bill" unless there are special assessments, you closed within the last 3 months, etc.

Also, they have a fax number and mailing address for this correspondence, which, again, if you are an ASC customer, I can give you (at least get you going in the right direction).

 

[rsimplicio]

One last thing I found on my county's website (this is in Illinois, but I'm sure it works similar where you are):

Q. How does my mortgage company know what my property taxes are?

A. The mortgage company sends each county a payment file, accompanied by a single check, to pay the real estate taxes of all properties on which it holds funds in escrow for that purpose

Q. Why don't I just have my tax bill sent to my mortgage company?

A. You would then miss notices sent out regarding assessment changes, exemption renewals, notice of unpaid taxes and tax sale, as well as the tax bill itself.

If in doubt whether you need to forward your bill for payment, contact your mortgage holder.

Q. My mortgage company holds money in escrow to pay my property taxes. If they pay them late, who is responsible to pay penalties or late fees because of that?

A. When lenders hold money in escrow for property tax payments, it is their obligation to pay the taxes on time, and for the appropriate amount. In cases where a mistake is made, the lender is responsible for all penalties and fees incurred


These fees are to come out of their corporate account, not the escrow account in their keeping