Due to the economy, I no longer afford my home and filed bankruptcy. It was then I was contacted by a buyer, whom said they would like to purchase my home and utilize a short sale. In order to do so, I had to relase Country Wide (my lender) from the bankruptcy.

The buyer said they would open escrow and deposit $18, 000 so that I would know they were sincere, they (buyer) also promised they had loan approval.

The buyer said we needed to use Escrow of the West and the escrow officers were Galit & Christina. They Escrow of the West told me not to worry as the buyer checked the NO LOAN CONTINGENCY section on the contract and if they withdrew from the deal or could not provide financing, I would be entitled to the initial deposit of $18, 000.

This was in November of 2008.

In March of 2009 the buyer lost her financing. She claimed to have another lender. Country Wide set the auction of my home for April 29th, 2009.

The buyer then said she no longer wanted my home. She defaulted. I called Galit at Escrow of the West and she promised to issue cancellation instructions. After two-weeks and constant phone calls, and my foreclosure sales date approaching, I learned she issued a refund of the funds to the buyer.

I threatened to file a complaint with the DRE and DOC. Remember my home auction date was approaching, she promised to issue cancellation instructions. I already had my property in escrow for 6 months.

Even though she promised my money was safe, she gave the deposit back to the buyer. It seems like a bait and switch in order to buy my home for less at auction. I still have not heard from Escrow of the West.

My auctioned was scheduled for yesterday.

If you are selling your home, make certain you are safe, go any place but Escrow of the West. Please read what they did to me.

1.) I take a home out of bankruptcy to sell

2.) I am promised if anything happens, the deposit is mine, and they assure me I am safe because the NO LOAN CONTINGENCY box is checked.

3.) The buyer defaults, my home is set for auction, they promise to issue cancellation instructions and then dodge my calls for weeks, finally issuing a refund to the buyer.

I believe this is fraud!