Is this legal? Extortion?

[EaglePower]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

 

[quincy]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

Please use the reply to thread feature to add your question and your state name. Thanks.

 

[EaglePower]

PA is my state

We had a house fire. A company came in and rebuilt our home. We gave them the money the insurance co gave us to rebuild our home. Well over $200k. We missed one payment due to me being laid off from work. We were served papers to go to court because they wanted to put a lien on our home. We borrowed the money and paid them. Now each month we pay they keep saying they push it back to the next month until they feel comfortable the payment agreement is honored. Is this legal to do? Aren't they paying a fee to push the court date back each month? I feel like I'm being extorted.

 

[quincy]

We had a house fire. A company came in and rebuilt our home. We gave them the money the insurance co gave us to rebuild our home. Well over $200k. We missed one payment due to me being laid off from work. We were served papers to go to court because they wanted to put a lien on our home. We borrowed the money and paid them. Now each month we pay they keep saying they push it back to the next month until they feel comfortable the payment agreement is honored. Is this legal to do? Aren't they paying a fee to push the court date back each month? I feel like I'm being extorted.

What do your payments cover?

 

[PayrollHRGuy]

They have every right to push the case if they want to. It would likely be much cheaper than refileing.

You aren't being extorted.

 

[EaglePower]

What do your payments cover?

The balance of the remaining of the work they did.

 

[EaglePower]

They have every right to push the case if they want to. It would likely be much cheaper than refileing.

You aren't being extorted.

Cheaper for them which I don't care what's best for them. Court being dangled over my head is a scare tactic which I don't feel is right.

 

[PayrollHRGuy]

You have court dangling over your head in any case it doesn't matter if they close this case or not they can always refile.

You do have the option to hire a lawyer and have him submit a motion for dismissal.

 

[quincy]

The balance of the remaining of the work they did.

Thank you for answering my question, EaglePower.

You have financed the balance owing on the house construction through the construction company/builder then.

If payments on the loan are missed, your lender has the legal right to sue you. In essence, a lien or a lawsuit will be a legitimate threat should you fail to honor the agreement you made.

The only way to eliminate the threat is to pay off the loan in full.

 

[EaglePower]

Thank you to the both of you. I really appreciate it! Enjoy the remainder of your day.

 

[quincy]

Thank you to the both of you. I really appreciate it! Enjoy the remainder of your day.

We appreciate the thanks, EaglePower. I hope you enjoy your day as well.