Complaint Review: Green Tree Services - Rapid City South Dakota

To clairify, I live in Texas where verbal contracts are binding and I stressed that I did want everything recorded and was assured that everything was "approved" at the time.  Yes, it's my fault that I didn't stop paying until I recieved a signed contract but my monthly bills reflected what I had agreed too and I did pay that amount each month.  The part I don't understand is how they can say I agreed verbally to a one year modification (with no paperwork) but not to a verbal permanent modification.  Funny how it only works in their favor.   

It only gets better.  I've talked to three different people at GT and each has given me a different story.  Marlene @ 31726 told me "You must have gone through three 1 yr modifications before GreenTreen will consider a permanent modification".  "This was modification number 3".  I said, OK so now I can apply for a permanent modification, again.  I was transferred to the next person in line (Bobby @ 35949).  He said they no longer do permanent modification "as of this month".  He also claimed to be Nickey's manager (the person I refuse to talk to any more due to her rudeness the last time we talked).  Did I mention that Marlene said everything must go through Nickey?  I doubt his claims of being her boss were true since all he was focused on was getting a $300 payment just to get me within 2 months.  When I asked why he hadn't returned several of my calls over the past two months, he said he didn't get them.  I even gave him the dates and times I called (I'm documenting everything).  I said I wouldn't be able to pay anything till payday (a few days away).  Since I wouldn't give a payment to him over the phone, not to mention I would also have to pay a "convience fee", he ended the call.  I paid the extra $300 the same week after I got paid (via on-line banking) but still haven't been able to find a reasonable person to work with.

Selling my home would not resolve my situation because my home is no longer worth enough to cover the primary and secondary mortage.  Only the Primary would be paid and I would still owe GT.  The sad part is that my Primary company ownes GT.  I will stay current enough to hopefully be able to work with the company that is soon to be taking over Green Tree or see if my primary mortage company will be willing to absorb their debt.  The new company has much better customer reviews than Green Treen online.  All the horror stories on the Internet about GT are true.  They have been the worst company I have ever delt with.  If your bill is due on the first day of the month and a late payment doesn't start till the 15th, they will call you multiple times a day starting on the second day of the month.  They try to pressure you to pay over the phone with a "convience fee" even when you don't owe a late payment.  You can not even go on-line and make a payment without a "convience fee" on their own web page.  If youwant to pay early, you still need to pay that "convience fee" online.  They need to get out of the dark ages.    

If you wanted to sell your home to someone, would you agree to do so with a "verbal agreement"?  (And make plans to purchase another home, move, etc., based on such an agreement?)  I would hope your answer is, "No".  If I am correct, then why would you think a huge company would do anything based on a verbal agreement made over the phone?

I do not know the real estate environment where you are, but if you have been unable to make your payments for that long, have you considered selling your home and buying one that you can afford?  Or renting until you can afford another home?  Or keeping your home and renting it for enough to cover the mortgages until you are in better shape financially?  Once you have ruined your credit and defaulted on a mortgage, it takes years to repair.  You really should consider the alternatives mentioned above before you let this destroy your credit-worthiness.  I know it isn't what you would prefer, but you must consider what this will do to your future ability to get a home loan or other credit.  

I would also contact a "pro-bono" attorney, and have them write a letter requesting the recording of the phone call during which the agreement for a permanent modification was made.  If they said they would only give the recording to you if requested by an attorney, this can easily be accomplished and at no cost to you.  I would start there.  If their representative does indeed call it a permanent modification in the phone call and there is no mention of further paperwork being sent and signed before it takes effect, I would think that would resolve the situation completely in your favor.  They wouldn't have a leg to stand on.

Good luck and I hope you will update your post.  I would love to see what happens.