Well They Kinda Sound Like A Legitimate Agency
Hi, Im with the Federal Homeowners Assistance Bureau and I was told by your lender to contact you regarding your delinquent mortgage.
Well, that sounds official, right? This is where Google could be a homeowners best friend.
Scammers are becoming very savvy in seeking out their victims and using official-sounding names like the one used in the quote above. Some are even becoming bold enough to use federal emblems or logos on fake websites they build to reel in unsuspecting homeowners.
Homeowners can quickly learn the legitimacy of a company by doing a quick internet search, and/or by contacting their lenders.
The Office of the Comptroller of Currency points out that these scam artists may use such terms as federal,TARP, or other words or acronyms related to official U.S. government programs.
The agency goes on to note that these tactics are designed to fool homeowners into thinking the scam artist is somehow approved by, or affiliated with, the government.
Homeowners can avoid the fraudsters who claim to be offering plans that are government-approved or official government by contacting their lenders. Again, lenders are readied to inform homeowners on whether, or not, they qualify for any government initiatives to prevent foreclosure.
Buy A New Phone Or Rogers Phone Contract
Perhaps its a good thing but eventually, I may have to get a smartphone if I can score the same deal as Mrs. CBB just got.
The idea is that Mrs. CBB will buy a brand new phone and give me her Samsung 7 which she paid $500 cash for.
It was not a back-alley deal but we did buy it from Kijiji although the person owned a popular local restaurant.
It was a brand new phone that he won at a Stag and Do but didnt need it as he already had one.
Having the cash was more important to him so instead of us paying $1000 plus dollars for a new phone we got it for 50% off.
Sure there is a risk when you buy any smartphone online but since it was sealed we felt the risk was lower.
The down-side is there is no availability for cell phone insurance on the phone like you could opt for with Rogers.
I think the cost is around $12 a month for cell phone insurance which may be worth it.
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So, If she finds a new phone S10 plus for a decent deal brand new we can get rid of our home phone and be done with it.
All we ever get on our home phone is calls from family and threats of being arrested because we owe money to the government or our computer is infected with a virus.
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We used to get numerous air duct cleaning calls but they have slowed down over the winter months.
Im hoping they have bit the dust and are gone for good.
Where We Are A Service Provider
Our Customers are organizations such as federal, state, local, tribal, or other municipal government agencies , private businesses, and educational institutions , who use our Services to evaluate job applicants and manage their relationship with their personnel. When we provide our Services to our Customers, the Customer generally controls and manages the personal data, and we process personal data as a data processor or service provider. Our legal obligations as a processor and service provider are set out in our Customer contracts and policies.
For instance, if you apply to a job or your employer utilizes our Services to manage their relationship with you, the personal data collected about you is generally controlled by the employer . This Policy does not describe the processing of your personal data by our Customers, and we encourage you to visit the Customers privacy policy for information about their privacy practices. For example, if you applied to a job at a local state agency, you should contact that agency with any questions you may have relating to the personal data processing by that state agency within our Services.
Where we serve as a data processor, our Customer contracts and policies require us to either instruct you to contact our Customer, or redirect your inquiry to our Customer.
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Bundle Up For Rogers Communications Savings
Its true if you order 3 services they will give you a Rogers bundle deal price of 10-15% off your bill.
As customers of Rogers communications, they wanted to know how our telecommunications bill was so low.
Weve been with Rogers ever since I moved to Canada and Mrs. CBB has been with them since she was 18 years old.
This was one of those monthly bills that we ended up transferring into my name just so I could obtain a credit history in Canada.
The good thing was that Rogers still recognized Mrs. CBB as a long-standing customer with just over 20 years of commitment.
To be honest there hasnt been a time that we had to throw in the towel and walk away from Rogers communications but weve had some tough negotiations.
It wasnt until I noticed the price of our monthly bill when our notification came in that I jumped into action.
Our negotiated promotion with Rogers saw us paying $182.92 however the monthly bill was now $210.01.
Thats an increase of $27.09 and right away I knew Id missed the deadline of the promotion. Ugh!
On our bill we had the following services with Rogers communications bill for $182.92:
- Rogers Home Phone unlimited everything
- Rogers Wireless unlimited everything no data
- Rogers Infinite 500-unlimited Internet Rogers 5g
- Rogers Cable Television Basic Cable with a Specialty Pack
S To Take Before You Hire A Lawyer
A reputable lawyer doesnt guarantee results, no matter what your circumstances.
Before you hire someone who claims to be a lawyer , or someone who claims to work with lawyers, ask relatives, friends, and others you trust for the name of a lawyer with a proven record of helping homeowners facing foreclosure.
Get the name of each lawyer wholl be helping you, the state or states where each lawyer is licensed, and their license number in each state. Your state has a licensing organization or bar that monitors lawyers conduct. Call your state bar or check its website to see if a lawyer you’re thinking of hiring has gotten into trouble. The American Bar Association has links to your state bar or search online for the name of your state and the words state bar to find the site for your states bar association. Get in writing specific information about the work the lawyer or firm will do for you, including the cost, and the payment schedule
If you decide to hire a lawyer, stay in touch with them and keep a file with a record of your conversations, letters, emails, texts, and paperwork.
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Overview Of Your Data Rights
Your data rights for personal data where we are the data controller.
You can review and enforce your personal data rights through your account, communications you receive from us, third party mechanisms, or with the assistance of our support team using the emails at the end of this Policy. For instance, you can:
Your data rights for personal data you submit to our Customers.
Upon making your personal data available to an employer , your personal data may be controlled by our Customer. In this regard, we are a data processor for personal data Customers maintain have us process, and your data rights are subject to our Customers internal policies. For these reasons, we are not in a position to directly handle data requests for personal data controlled by Customers. You should contact the Customer regarding personal data they may hold about you and to exercise any data rights you may have. We will cooperate with such inquiry in line with applicable law and our contractual obligations with the Customer.
Talk To A Certified Housing Counselor For Free Legitimate Help
- Go to the Department of Housing and Urban Developments list of approved housing counseling agencies to find a counselor in your state who can explain your options.
- Visit makinghomeaffordable.gov, a website from the Department of the Treasury and HUD, or call their help line at 1-888-995-HOPE .
- Visit the websites for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau , Federal Housing Finance Agency , and Department of Housing and Urban Development . These agencies are working together to help homeowners and renters affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
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Desist And Refrain Orders And/or Accusations For Loan Modification Activities
A Desist and Refrain Order and/or Accusation has been filed by the Department of Real Estate resulting from a loan modification and/or foreclosure rescue transaction. In some instances, the person or entity has been ordered to stop providing loan modification and/or foreclosure rescue services because the person or entity is not licensed by the Department of Real Estate. In other instances, the person or entity has been ordered to stop collecting advance fees. Before considering engaging the services of any of the persons or entities listed below, it would be prudent to inquire about the disposition of the action that has been filed against the respondent. Further information regarding any administrative action may be obtained through the Sacramento Office at 227-0906.
NOTE: Click on the headings to sort by a specific column.
Types Of Mortgage Relief Scams
Here are some common warning signs of a mortgage relief scam:
- Scammers will demand payment upfront, before you get any services. Thats illegal and a warning sign to avoid them.
- Scammers may want you to pay only by cashiers check, wire transfer, or a mobile payment app. Scammers like you to pay this way because its hard to get your money back.
- Scammers may try to convince you to transfer the deed to your home to them. The deed is the legal document that proves who owns the home. If you transfer the deed, youre not likely to get it back.
Scammers come up with different stories to pressure you into paying them. Knowing some of their come-ons can help you avoid them.
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Serenity Financial Services Works Out Of A Virtual Office
First, I googled them and looked at their website. Its a pretty basic website with stock pictures. Nothing special. The site did lack pictures or names of executives or the owner. It did have an address.
So I googled the address of 7545 Irvine Center Dr, Irvine, California. The address is aRegus office. Regus offers virtual office suites for people who work remotely. They accept your mail and give you use of an office. This in itself is not that big of a deal. I used in Manhattan. I also know several lawyers use them for client convenience.
Serenity Financial Services Mails Solicitation Saying People Qualify For Non
Serenity Financial Services in California better lawyer up. I see a major lawsuit coming from the California Attorney General or the Federal Trade Commission in their future.
The mailing makes you think you just got an official letter from a federal government agency. The only problem is there is no return address. Yet it still looks like an official government letter.
The body of the solicitation from Serenity Financial Services is just as misleading.
Ever hear of the government program, Making Homes Affordable Program? According to this letter, homeowners qualify for it.
The solicitation even uses the HAMP logo.
The letter also claims the homeowner is eligible for a 30% principal write-down and a 2% interest rate:
This notice is to advise you that pursuant to the Making Home Affordable government program, you are eligible for mortgage assistance. Based on current federal and state guidelines, the loan in the amount of $629,000 is secured by the property at address 265 S Federal Hwy Ste 279 which Is eligible for a 30 reduction of principal balance*. Current Making Home Affordable guidelines also allow for a 40-year term at 2%. Your new payment at 2% is estimated to be $1,700.
The letter does not contain an address or the name of a government agency. It only contains a toll-free telephone number. A recording informs you that you have called Serenity Financial Services when you call the number.
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Data Security And Integrity
We implement physical, technical, and administrative safeguards designed to maintain data accuracy, integrity, and security, prevent unauthorized access, and facilitate correct use of personal data. Our security measures take into account the risk of harm to you and Customers, as well as the availability of technology, industry common practices, effectiveness of mitigation controls, and the sustainability of those controls by us.
Although we maintain the controls listed herein, transmission of data is not without risk and we complete security of your personal data cannot be guaranteed. Please note, you are responsible for keeping your login credentials secret at all times, including your username and password.
In the event we believe the security of your personal data in our possession or control may be compromised, we may seek to notify you by e-mail and you consent to our use of e-mail as a means of such notification.
Lawyers And Upfront Fees
Under the MARS Rule, lawyers can ask you to pay an upfront fee, but only if they
- are licensed to practice law in the state where you live or your home is located
- are supplying you with real legal services
- are complying with state ethics requirements for lawyers
- place the money you pay them in a client trust account, withdraw fees only as they complete actual legal services, and notify you of each withdrawal
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Benefits That Go Beyond Beauty
Few home décor pieces are as versatile as area rugs! In addition to the beautiful style upgrade that a Couristan area rug adds to your home, it provides physical benefits to enhance your environment.
- An area rug placed over a wood floor is a layer of insulation that warms a room by blocking drafts and giving your feet a place to land instead of a chilly floor.
- Enjoy a quieter space by dampening echoes and footsteps â a benefit apartment dwellers are sure to appreciate.
- Create a sense of calm by anchoring furniture to give the room a connected, complete feel.
Overwhelmed By Clutter And Dont Know Where To Start
We partner with our clients to develop a plan to meet their needs. Following a free in-home consultation, Serenity At Home will provide you with practical solutions for your home organizing challenges. We will work with you to determine what you need to keep, donate, sell or toss then, organize your room to maximize space and efficiency. We work on:
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Rogers Communications Retentions Department
The Rogers member care team also known as the Rogers retention department are the people you will want to talk to when your promotions are coming to an end.
Now, weve been rubbish at tracking the end dates of our Rogers deals so Id suggest making sure you read your bill every month.
We slacked off the past 12 months with everything going on in our lives which almost had us paying the regular price on ended promotions.
The information in the notes at the bottom of your Rogers communications bill will tell you if your promotions are ending and the date.
Of course, thats the fine print that hardly anyone reads and Im guilty of it just the same.
Do as you preach Mrs. CBB and Im committed to reading all of the fine print moving forward and not slacking off.
Do Not Sell My Personal Information
For California residents, and to the extent NEOGOV sells your personal information as the term sell is defined under the California Consumer Privacy Act, you have the right to opt-out of the sale of your personal information by us to third parties at any time. This setting only applies to registered account holders that have opted-in for an Access Membership. If you wish to opt-out click follow these steps:
If you do not have a registered account this setting does not apply, however, you can review your right on our privacy policy.
If you require further assistance, please email
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Boost Your Comfort Level
An area rug can provide peace of mind about your home in ways you may not have considered:
- If you have little ones in your home who are still unsteady on their feet, an area rug gives them a plush spot to play and practice those first steps.
- Standing all day on a hard surface puts a lot of pressure on your feet. An area rug can help you feel more comfortable by giving you a layer of cushioning – place one below your standing desk, and your feet will thank you!
- High traffic areas in your home are protected from wear and tear by your area rug. This is especially beneficial for wood floors to shield against dirt, scuffs, and scratches.
Have You Been The Victim Of Loan Modification Scams
Losing a home due to foreclosure can be one of the most devastating events to impact a homeowner. In desperation, homeowners may seek out or go for whatever offer they can to save their homes.
Unfortunately, scammers are waiting in the wings to swoop in with some offer that homeowners may be more than tempted to accept. The loan modification offer is one of the offers that scammers notoriously use to prey on unsuspecting homeowners.
Falling for one of these scam artists can make their financial situations even worse, potentially leading to the need for by a company like Lexington Law.
Legitimate loan modifications can happen for eligible homeowners, but they often come with wording like this:
- To get everything started, we just require a small, upfront fee.
- Our loan modification program is approved by HUD.
- Sign over your deed to our company and well begin the process.
- Dont pay your lender directly anymore just pay us and well handle it for you.
- We provide a 100% guarantee that you will get that loan modification.
Homeowners facing foreclosure should keep in mind the old adage of if it sounds too good to be true, it is.
About Prevent Loan Scams
Prevent Loan Scams provides guides, reviews & information to help consumers through every restorative step of their financial journey.
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