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File it under Sh*t Happens.
Speakin’ of manure occurring, that same misguided lock-swapping crew can make amends by stopping by at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue to change the locks, so the squatters living there can’t get back in. The current occupant at that location can’t find his keester with both paws, so a simple lock switch would cure a lot of far larger larger problems.
Dont worry.
The new owners want to paint it Traditional Red and replace the boring old dome on the Capitol with a pagoda-style roof.
Oh.My.Gosh… a soshulist joke about the prez. That.Is.Sooo.Funny! And ORIGINAL!!!
Look out Jay Leno – you have some stiff competition from mabpodcast! Maybe kiwini can be your Ed McMahon…
file it under criminal trespass, not ^&(* happens. they had no right to change the locks, but did so anyway. i would say haul in the company who changed the locks as well as the manager of the bank who approved the locksmith’s actions into criminal court for trespassing and have them explain it all under oath to a judge.
but here’s a question for the group. what if this guy would have came home and caught them changing the lock at the time he was coming home? would the “stand your ground law” have applied and allowed him to use force (deadly or non deadly) to defend his home from an unlawful intrusion, such as changing the locks on his house/condo by the mortgage company, without due cause (aka not behind on payments)?
I have a house in Florida and I’m currently living in Virginia. A friend had been living in the house for the last year or so, but moved out so he could reduce his commute time. After the house had been empty for about two months, I received a call from Bank of America to tell me that “during their monthly inspections”, my house had been assumed to be “abandoned” and they were going to change the locks. I said “what monthly inspections”? I was told that B of A sends people out every 4-6 weeks to check up on the houses that they own the mortgages on and if it appears to be abandoned, they change the locks.
That’s something you don’t hear about every day.
Government Lawsuit Says Bank Of America Mortgage Fraud Even WORSE Than Countrywide
The lawsuit claims that when former Countrywide Financial Corp. CEO Angelo Mozilo marveled at the dizzying recklessness of the mortgage-lending business, he was in fact looking at Charlotte-based Bank of America.
This is perhaps one of the most insulting claims ever leveled in a mortgage-fraud lawsuit. Bank of America would probably feel outraged if it weren’t so overwhelmed with its nauseating plunge on the stock market. Mozilo has easily eclipsed Enron’s brass as one of the most-hated executives of all time. He has become the poster child for the fraudulent mortgage-lending practices that torpedoed the U.S. banking system and the entire global economy.
But he was smart enough to sell Countrywide as it nearly collapsed in January 2008. And Bank of America was dumb enough to buy it for $4.1 billion.
Since then, Bank of America has been blaming Countrywide for a litany of problems.
You’ve heard the allegations before: These banks sold billions worth of mortgage-backed securities while lying about the thousands of funny little mortgages behind them.
Since Bank of America bought Countrywide, it will indeed pay for things Countrywide did. But it will pay for things it did, too.
The government is suing Bank of America for Countrywide, and it is suing Bank of America, separately, for things it did without Countrywide.
@Chris Apparently this is SOP for many banks. The mortgage contract/note gives the lender permission to change the locks in an attempt to protect its asset when the consumer defaults on the loan. My girlfriend is a real estate agent in Florida who specializes in distressed property sales.
Even posting notes stating the property is vacant not abandoned does not stop the so-called field service personnel. They not only visit to simply make observation from the exterior, they enter the home as well.
In one instance they erroneously reported the property as abandoned because there is no gas usage…DUH! It’s an all electric home. *smh*
You would be wise to visit your house in Florida. If you find the locks have been changed contact the company to request keys be sent via overnight because it’s an emergency..or change the locks back to the original.
While there find a reliable neighbor(s) to keep watch of your home or someone to occupy it. Keep the grass mowed; put a lamp or radio in the house on a timer to give the appearance of occupancy.And regularly post notes to deter their entry.
*btw they visit more frequently than 4 -6 weeks…more like 10 days to 2 weeks.*
@ HenryG: If what you’re saying is accurate, then the bank changing the locks when the customer has _not_ defaulted on the loan is not part of the agreement. Also, if the “field service personnel” enter someones house without homeowner’s permission that is breaking and entering. I’ve got dogs and if someone entered while I wasn’t home it might not end well.
Aren’t you allowed to start shooting people around your house in America? Chase doesn’t owe anyone any explanations, silly silly man.
Least they left the locks behind. The company hired to change the locks at the house my wife and I bought from Fannie Mae took the existing locks and replaced them with $6.50 locks from Home Depot. We looked into going after them but were told that the bank would have to despite the fact that we paid for the service. The company stole the nice locks that we had on two doors. Did not change the deadbolt on one, and failed to do their job in accordance with the agreement which was to replace the locks on all exterior doors. In the end we could only use one door to enter and exit because we did not have the keys. Naturally Fannie Mae didn’t give a crap, and the selling realtor, whom we never met, kept saying they kept their end of the bargain when they did not.
Punch line to the experience is that when we closed on the property… I had my realtor call the selling one to ask when the hell we would get our keys… she said that the locksmith left them on top of the power meter box outside… I thankfully did not get a speeding ticket on my way to get my keys…
Just another example of the power of corporate America. All the trend lines are for this to get worse not better.
You two house owners who are against taxing the rich and for cutting services to the poor – – – which part of that equation do you think holds the most impact to your own quality of life?
Think much?
would be nice if the Mortgage you took out WASNT SOLD to other companies, 2-3 times and you didnt know WHO WAS supposed to get the money.
“… It was a mistake …”
That’s a worse excuse than Steve Martin’s “Well, excu-u-u-use ME!”
Even more damaging than strident radical Right-ism or Left-ism or even corporate rapaciousness is this increasingly pervasive incompetence and no one up and down the management ladder seems to care about it. This hallmark of the Junior Bush administration is permeating the private sector and the attitude all up and down the line is “not in my job description to care about it or do anything about it.”
And for some reason it seems to be worst in Florida. Is it something in the water?
i would make the bank prez come and change the locks back, then shoot the sob for fucking up so badly..
there is no excuse what-so-ever for doing this. PERIOD!
I change all the locks, every house I own or rent. Once a year. Cheap and easy to swap a tumbler. A friend had his business burgled by a legit locksmith hired by a suit wearing crook! Swap them out!
America has become a sick joke.
There’s a really simple way to make corporations think twice about doing this sort of crap. Find out who the CEO of the company is… go to his home or office and freekin’ shoot him in the head! His peers will get the message.
I’d try and file a criminal complaint. If they entered and made any changes it’s criminal tresspass and destruction of private property. I’d also try for the breaking and entering which would require the DA to agree.