KIYC: Mortgage company still appears to ignore NJ law with Sandy victims

<p>A national mortgage company still appears to be ignoring New Jersey law in their dealings with a couple that survived Superstorm Sandy.</p>

News 12 Staff

Feb 23, 2018, 1:10 AM

Updated 2,265 days ago

Share:

Despite two previous Kane In Your Corner investigations into their conduct, a national mortgage company still appears to be ignoring New Jersey law in their dealings with a couple that survived Superstorm Sandy.
Phone recordings show a representative from “Mr. Cooper” – a division of Nationstar Mortgage – demanding payment, even after he is informed that the mortgage on Jim and Carol Ferraioli’s Middletown home is supposed to be frozen until 2019 under state law.
“Right now the account is ten payments past due,” the company’s loan officer can be heard telling Jim Ferraioli. We need a minimum of eight of those payments.”
When Ferraioli explains his mortgage is in forbearance pursuant to state law, Mr. Cooper’s representative plows on. “Forbearance Act? I’ve never heard of that. The options we have available here are a repayment plan… or we can apply for a possible loan modification.”
“It seems every time I speak to somebody, they don’t know what’s going on,” Jim Ferraioli says. 
Mr. Cooper issued a written statement, which only seemed to raise more questions. "We have been in touch with Mr. Ferraioli to explain the timeline and details of the program, and we are reaching out to him again to ensure he has all the information he needs,” the statement says.
The problem is, the phone recording obtained by Kane In Your Corner stems from a previous attempt by Mr. Cooper to “explain the situation.” And much of what the company representative says is incorrect.
As Kane In Your Corner first reported in October, the Ferraiolis were victims of a fraudulent contractor. Their house was elevated and then abandoned. After sitting in the air for years, it is now so badly damaged that it has to be torn down.
But while the mortgage problems persist, there does appear to be some hope for the Ferraiolis on another front. Wednesday, the State of New Jersey officially gave them $140,000 in grant funding, to replace the money they lost to fraud. That gives the couple hope their long journey home may eventually come to an end.


More from News 12
Authorities: No indication of plane crash in Barnegat despite receiving distress signal

Authorities: No indication of plane crash in Barnegat despite receiving distress signal

2:22
STORM WATCH: Early morning storms expected to impact Wednesday commute

STORM WATCH: Early morning storms expected to impact Wednesday commute

2:11
Tractor-trailer carrying logs overturns near Little Falls day care playground; no injuries reported

Tractor-trailer carrying logs overturns near Little Falls day care playground; no injuries reported

0:39
Panera to discontinue Charged Lemonade following multiple death lawsuits

Panera to discontinue Charged Lemonade following multiple death lawsuits

0:39
State Republicans call for legislative hearings into how Rutgers handled pro-Palestinian protest

State Republicans call for legislative hearings into how Rutgers handled pro-Palestinian protest

1:39
Officials: 1 person injured in fire that destroyed Watchung home

Officials: 1 person injured in fire that destroyed Watchung home

0:26
Quintuplets graduate from Montclair State University

Quintuplets graduate from Montclair State University

Police arrest man accused in 15 burglaries in Lakewood and Toms River

Police arrest man accused in 15 burglaries in Lakewood and Toms River

2:06
Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial and Museum reopens to visitors following renovations

Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial and Museum reopens to visitors following renovations

0:24
Explore the Bubble Planet this summer at American Dream

Explore the Bubble Planet this summer at American Dream

2:03
Deadline to get a Real ID is in one year. Here's what you need to know

Deadline to get a Real ID is in one year. Here's what you need to know

2:23
Paterson public safety director derides layoff of sheriff officers, closure of Passaic County Jail

Paterson public safety director derides layoff of sheriff officers, closure of Passaic County Jail

0:28
TSA officers arrest Florida man for having loaded gun packed in carry-on bag at Newark airport

TSA officers arrest Florida man for having loaded gun packed in carry-on bag at Newark airport

0:35
Police: Elmwood Park man drove drunk, struck 8 vehicles; 3 injured

Police: Elmwood Park man drove drunk, struck 8 vehicles; 3 injured

0:25
Paterson man faces slew of charges in connection to armed kidnappings

Paterson man faces slew of charges in connection to armed kidnappings

2:03
Best of New Jersey: A taste of everything the Dunellen Hotel has to offer

Best of New Jersey: A taste of everything the Dunellen Hotel has to offer

0:29
Walmart reaches settlement in class action lawsuit

Walmart reaches settlement in class action lawsuit

0:33
Atlantic City man sentenced for drug induced deaths of tourists

Atlantic City man sentenced for drug induced deaths of tourists

0:26
Man killed in two-car Egg Harbor Township crash

Man killed in two-car Egg Harbor Township crash

0:48
Congressional action may help New Jersey seniors targeted by scams

Congressional action may help New Jersey seniors targeted by scams