Consumer Protection

These are tough economic times for everyone, and the last thing anyone wants is to be taken advantage of when they can least afford it. Unfortunately for many homeowners, this is happening at an increasing rate.  Since foreclosure filings are public information, scam artist have found a way to capitalize on this ever-growing source of information. Fake companies are formed, empty promises based on half-truths are made, and honest, hard-working families are scammed out of large amounts of money and, in some cases, their homes.

These companies promise they can help no matter the situation, and that they only want to help you keep your home.  Then, one of three things happens: Either they charge a large upfront fee and tell you not to contact your lender since they will handle everything, or they tell you to make your payments directly to them while they work things out with your lender, or they will create fake loan documents that appear to be a new and improved loan for you, when in reality you are signing the deed to the house over to them. No matter what they do with the property, you are stuck with the defaulted mortgage because the transfer of deed is not tied to your mortgage obligations. It’s a legal nightmare.

NCSJP, in cooperation with the NC Justice Center and other groups, successfully help pass SB 1015, or the Homeowner and Homebuyer Protection Act, which was signed into law in July of 2010.  This law guarantees that the citizens of North Carolina be protected against these predatory and destructive practices.