Washington AG Investigates New Foreclosure Abuse Front: Trustee Non-Compliance

Posted: 07 Apr 2011 11:25 AM PDT

LoanSafe reports that the Washington state attorney general, Rob McKenna, has uncovered a likely widespread violation of state law, that foreclosure trustees lack a physical presence as required and a means for borrowers to contact or visit them to submit last minute payments or present documentation. McKenna’s interest appears to result from the fact as with servicers, the foreclosure trustees are not accessible to borrowers and not responsive when there may be legitimate reasons to halt or delay a foreclosure. Note that Washington is a deed of trust state, and the foreclosure trustee handles certain tasks relative to the actual foreclosure. This is a different role than that of the securitization trustee, who is the agent of the securitization trust, the legal entity that holds the loans in the securitization.
From LoanSafe:

Six months into its investigation into unlawful business practices by foreclosure trustees, the Washington Attorney General’s Office announced that it has uncovered an additional widespread problem that jeopardizes homeowners’ chances of stopping a foreclosure….
“Washington law requires that foreclosure trustees maintain actual offices in our state and local phone numbers for this reason,” he [McKenna] continued. “But our investigation shows that some of the largest trustees are not in compliance and borrowers who have a legitimate reason to stop a foreclosure are having trouble reaching trustees.”….
Washington is a “non-judicial foreclosure” state, which means that a lender can proceed directly to selling a home at public auction without first filing a lawsuit. This process was created by the state Legislature. Although lenders may foreclose in court in Washington, they almost always choose non-judicial foreclosures.
If a trustee is unwilling to stop a foreclosure, then the homeowner must file a lawsuit under the Deed of Trust Act and obtain a court order before the sale.

McKenna’s office sent a letter to 52 trustees yesterday. If you are a Washington state resident and would like to file a complaint about your inability to reach a trustee, an online form is here.
via:NakedCapitalism/Yves Smith