Reports Of Mortgage Modification Rip-Offs Increasing

Washington attorney general sees uptick in complaints

By Mark Huffman, ConsumerAffairs.com

Five years into the foreclosure crisis there is no end in sight. After a pause for a now completed settlement with the mortgage industry, the pace of foreclosures is picking up again.

Many homeowners have attempted to negotiate mortgage modifications with their lenders in an effort to keep their homes, but have become frustrated with the process. That's when many turn to a third-party mortgage modification consultant.

"Because I was behind in my mortgage and facing foreclosure, I contacted Britt Processing," Chris, of Reading, Pa., wrote in a ConsumerAffairs post. "They told they work with Wells Fargo as well with many other banks. They guaranteed me they could get me a modification and save my home for me. They told me not to pay my mortgage for two months, instead send them $ 1000.00 a month to get this done."

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11 ways to avoid hurricane costs

By Craig Guillot, Bankrate.com

It's hard to protect a home from a monster Category 5 hurricane, but many readily available products can reduce or minimize the impact and save homeowners big bucks in repairs and insurance premiums.

The peace of mind that can result is priceless.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, predicts the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season, although a bit less active than normal, will spawn three to six hurricanes -- one to two of them major. And while the season got off to a slow start with no named storms by early August, it's important to remember Hurricane Andrew roared offshore just south of Miami on Aug. 24, 1992.

"Forecasts of an average season should not lead to complacency," says Claire Wilkinson, vice president for global issues at the Insurance Information Institute. "An average hurricane season was also forecast in 1992 when Hurricane Andrew caused more than $23 billion in property losses.

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~Sandy G.