After living a 10+ year nightmare under this bogus company, I'm finally free!
Back story:
In 2016, Selene Finance forced me into foreclosure. I wrote in for a modification due to having surgery in August, being pulled from my job, and having to file for permanent disability--all doctor's orders. Selene gave me the run-around for so long that I ended up almost 22k in the hole. Luckily, the Illinois Hardest Hit program was still in play, and they helped me, a permanently disabled middle-aged woman keep her home. I'm so grateful! Another issue was that Selene never posted the extra payment they received on my behalf. I honestly didn't know that the program was going to pay my mortgage too. I thought it was just that negative portion to get us caught up and cover lawyer fees. The 1st month after our final court date, I sent in my mortgage payment as usual. The 2nd month after, I received a letter stating they were helping with my monthly payments and the first payment was made the previous month. I was shocked because it was never added to my account. At the time, I chose to do nothing because I was too weak to deal with it; I was still healing from surgery. A year after the program, in 2017, Selene added a $500+ fee to my account. I called in, and they claimed I had asked them to review my account, all lies! Their calls are recorded. I asked them to produce my call. When they refused, I threatened that I was going to contact an attorney, and one month later, I received a letter stating they made an error and they were removing that fee.
It was quiet for a while.
Now we're in October of 2023. I received a letter from Selene stating that I was close to $2,050 short on escrow. I don't see how that could be because I had a conventional 30-year loan at a fixed 5%. Also, my payments were on time. So, they're getting my payments, posting them, and yet somehow I fell short on escrow? I contacted the Better Business Bureau and the Consumer Fraud Protection Bureau immediately. They helped me, and my mortgage only increased by about $45.
Exactly one year later, in October of 2024, I received another letter stating I was almost $2,300 short on escrow. At this point, I was livid! I called in, and we went over numbers. The difference in the tax and insurance increase was only $65! So I asked why the letter stated that my monthly payments were going up by almost $190? He became rude and was trying to speak to me as if I was a child or unable to comprehend what he was saying. I don't tolerate disrespect. I hung up and once again contacted the CFPB and BBB. Coincidentally, my mortgage increased by that $65.
It's now August of this year, and I'm growing anxious because I know come October they would try to pull the same nonsense, saying I'm short on escrow. I decided to endure the emotional and physical pain of packing up my first home of 16 years and selling it to get out from under this horrible company. And I did just that! Silly of me to think that the nightmare was over.
My mortgage was paid in full by my real estate attorney in September. We're now in November, and my account has finally been officially closed. All of October into November, Selene Finance was still calling and harassing me. The first lady I spoke with took my attorney's information and said she'd note my account. Weeks later, they were still calling. I decided to answer, and the second lady was incredibly rude. She refused to take my attorney's info; she tried to threaten me by saying my credit was taking a major hit due to them not receiving my payoff. She also insisted that my lawyer was still holding onto the payment. I told her there was no way since I had spoken to my attorney as well as her coworker about a week ago. I guess her coworker forgot to do her job and note the account because she had no knowledge of that call. I then told her that I spoke to someone a week ago who took my attorney's information. She proceeded to say "Oh, I do see that," the real reason why your account isn't closed is because they received the payoff a day late. That's lies! I asked how much and she stated, "I don't know, that's up to my manager." What? By that point, I was frustrated and hung up. For the third time, I reached out for assistance from the same two agencies. Here we are, November 10th, and I saw that my account has officially been closed. My next task is to get all those late payments Selene added to my credit report removed. Then I'll be completely satisfied! But for now, it feels great knowing they're gone!
Hit the road, Jack! read more
