Centex Home Equity Corporation Rip-off! They confuse, delay, lie, cheat and steal. Lewisville Texas
We entered into an equity loan contact with Centex Home Equity several years ago. The contract started out poorly when we got to closing and the interest rate they'd quoted and promised had been increased from about 6% to 11%. Unfortunately, at that point, we had stupidly put ourselves in a position financially where we basically didn't feel we could just walk away.
They had also assured us that the loan would maintain our VA loan status on the property. Again at closing, when I didn't see any VA paperwork, I inquired about it and was told the loan was VA guaranteed. I subsequently discovered that their duplicity in this matter resulted in our PERMANENTLY losing the VA guarantee that went with the property!
Recently, we entered into an agreement to sell the property. Centex has repeatedly refused to provide us with a payoff amount to allow us to close the sale. For the past week, Centex has been consistently refusing to provide a verbal payoff amount for us, despite verification of identity.
Because of this, I then faxed a request on July 8th to the number provided by Centex. Unfortunately, because I was very busy at work, I overlooked signing the note and despite providing 2 phone numbers where I could be contacted, Centex didn't bother to contact me to let me know I'd overlooked the signature. When I discovered it myself the following day I immediately re-faxed it with signature.
When we still didn't receive the payoff amounts, I called them. Their representative told me that it took from 3 to 5 days to process payoff information. At that point it had BEEN 3 days since they'd been sent the signed request.
When I pointed this out, the woman THEN told me that they couldn't do it until 5 days. This morning was the fifth day. I've been on the phone with them repeatedly, requesting it be faxed.
At one point, one of their representatives even tried to threaten me - telling me that I couldn't get ANY information about the loan until I'd made a payment. Never mind we've been promised for over a month that this would be closed and paid off (since early June) - which I've informed Centex of repeatedly. My title company has told me they have NEVER had a mortgage company that wouldn't just provide the information verbally.
They have NEVER come across a mortgage company that wouldn't just give the information, much less went out of their way to actually block the borrower from getting the payoff information the way Centex has done. I've pointed out repeatedly that this is information to which I'm entitled. They simply don't care.
In addition, I noticed that they also CHARGE $25 for more than one payoff request within a 60-day period! Obviously, we ensnarled ourselves with a giant, predatory company. They do business the way they do simply because they CAN. There is nothing to stop them.
I complained to the Arkansas' State Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division. An Investigator there was on several conference calls with me last week and again yesterday. The company promised repeatedly to fax the payoff amounts in conversations with her, as well as each time I've called them - about every 2 hours all day last Friday.
This is now mid-day, Tuesday. It has now been 8 days since the original request was faxed to Centex. They still have not responded. As I pointed out to the Investigator, I have no doubt they are waiting to send a payoff amount that will be for August, rather than July, based on the date of request. So they can stick us for more money.
Adrienne
North Little Rock, Arkansas
U.S.A.
7 Updates & Rebuttals
Priscilla
Peabody,Massachusetts,
U.S.A.
Centex Does Falsify Documents... the works of a predatory lender
#8Consumer Comment
Sat, August 14, 2004
Hi Dee,
Well, join the ranks of Centex Victims, welcome. There are other forums on mortgage servicing fraud, please seek them out because I have information for you that is important. We are all contacting a large law firm for help in bringing this company down. I can't give you that information here, but it's at the other forums. Please seek us out or me. I am all over these forums.
We are experiencing the works of a predatory lender. The Attorney General's offices should know and if you need help in getting away from them, contact the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) in Washington, DC as they have a consumer rescue fund available and can help you get away from Centex. They falsify documents to suit their needs.
They have continually done this over and over. We need to get more people on board and all talking together because stopping this company (which is my quest)works better in numbers. Please seek out the other forums and find me there. I can give you more information. [DELETED]Good luck and hopefully you will be able to get away from them.
[Place your comments below and be sure to include your FULL contact information so Rip-off Report can contact you.]
Dee
Atlanta,Georgia,
U.S.A.
Ripped Off by CENTEX in GA
#8REBUTTAL Individual responds
Fri, August 13, 2004
I am another victim of CENTEX. I should have known that when the mortgage counselor doctored up my income report something was wrong. I am trying to refinance my home and they have refused to sign the subordination. We have tried for months to get them to sign it, to no avail. My first mortgage company has closed my file.
They are costing me a lot of money at this time.
I will contact my Attorney General as well as the Attorney General Mr. Ashcrofts office to let them know what this corporation is doing to all of us.
Dee
Atlanta,Georgia,
U.S.A.
Ripped Off by CENTEX in GA
#8REBUTTAL Individual responds
Fri, August 13, 2004
I am another victim of CENTEX. I should have known that when the mortgage counselor doctored up my income report something was wrong. I am trying to refinance my home and they have refused to sign the subordination. We have tried for months to get them to sign it, to no avail. My first mortgage company has closed my file.
They are costing me a lot of money at this time.
I will contact my Attorney General as well as the Attorney General Mr. Ashcrofts office to let them know what this corporation is doing to all of us.
Dee
Atlanta,Georgia,
U.S.A.
Ripped Off by CENTEX in GA
#8REBUTTAL Individual responds
Fri, August 13, 2004
I am another victim of CENTEX. I should have known that when the mortgage counselor doctored up my income report something was wrong. I am trying to refinance my home and they have refused to sign the subordination. We have tried for months to get them to sign it, to no avail. My first mortgage company has closed my file.
They are costing me a lot of money at this time.
I will contact my Attorney General as well as the Attorney General Mr. Ashcrofts office to let them know what this corporation is doing to all of us.
Dee
Atlanta,Georgia,
U.S.A.
Ripped Off by CENTEX in GA
#8REBUTTAL Individual responds
Fri, August 13, 2004
I am another victim of CENTEX. I should have known that when the mortgage counselor doctored up my income report something was wrong. I am trying to refinance my home and they have refused to sign the subordination. We have tried for months to get them to sign it, to no avail. My first mortgage company has closed my file.
They are costing me a lot of money at this time.
I will contact my Attorney General as well as the Attorney General Mr. Ashcrofts office to let them know what this corporation is doing to all of us.
PRISCILLA
Peabody,Massachusetts,
U.S.A.
Contact Your State's Attorney General
#8Consumer Suggestion
Fri, July 23, 2004
Unfortunately, you have had the opportunity to experience the bad practices of Centex Home Equity. As a consumer and victim of Centex, my advice to you would be for you to contact your state's attorney general's office and file a consumer complaint. Centex is known to never let people out of their loans. I have had the same problem with Centex and it has taken a year of trying to get away from them and finally I will be, but I had to get an attorney on my side to get this accomplished. If you can't afford one, try legal aid. The type of attorney you need to speak to is a consumer attorney who is well versed in truth in lending law. Also seek out HUD on the web as they have contacts there you can speak to. Remember, document everything you do with Centex and who you speak to and what they say. Keep a log of everything from here on out. You will need this to prove your case. Also, have a witness present who is listening on another extention when you are speaking to them and have this witness document those conversations. I know it's a lot, but you may need it for a possible suit. Realize that the threats they make are illegal and you have a right to request that they cease and desist. You can write them a letter to that effect. Keep a timeline of what has happened and keeps happening. No one should be threatened or harassed, they are violating laws when they do this. Hopefully, this might be of some help to you. Keep the faith and keep fighting, don't let Centex win. I too have been victimized by this company and hopefully one day we can all bring them down. It works better in numbers. Update the site when anything happens. I and others will try to point you in the right direction for help. Good luck!
PRISCILLA
Peabody, MA 01960,Massachusetts,
U.S.A.
Centex is up to their old tricks
#8Consumer Comment
Wed, July 21, 2004
Hi Adrienne,
It seems you are experiencing the same problems all of us victims with Centex are. Yes, they did a bait and switch on you. When anyone tells you that you will keep your VA status on home loan without VA paperwork and going through the VA, they are lying. I'm sure you realize that now, but unfortunately you have been caught in that lie and signed the paperwork and have no way of getting out.
Centex is a predatory lender, yes, they certainly are. They are doing this very same thing to many of us. There are other websites with lots of other people on this mortgage fraud. Search the web for us as we all exist and we all want to help you. There are many things you can do.
First, you need to hire an attorney, one who is well versed in consumer law - truth in lending. They can direct you and give you legal advice on your situation. Do not let Centex get away with what they are doing,as they are in the business of foreclosure and not mortgage lending. They give loans to people like you and me and the others for the sole purpose of foreclosing on our homes.
They will lie, cheat and steal your home, don't let that happen. You can visit the HUD website as they have lots of information there for you that can help. Please don't give up, keep fighting and try to find us all on the other websites. Search for mortgage servicing frauds and see what you come up with. We all talk to one another and help each other out and some of us have had some luck. Of course we can't give you legal advice because we are not attorneys, but victims like yourself.
When you visit the HUD site, check under the RESPA (Real Estate Settlement Procedures) section as it will give you a sample qualified written request letter to get copies of you loan file and how they are applying your money.
Centex is not going to let anyone out of their loans. However, I am working very hard to bring them down. I have contacted numerous agencies and you should too. Acorn is one who is active in mortgage frauds, see if there is one in your area. Also the National Community Reinvestment Coalition in Washington, DC is another place you might want to visit. Don't give up visit the other sites as we can help you.