I signed with US FORECLOSURE RELIEF 11/7/08. Made an initial payment of $500, {using my debit card}, with promise to pay $1850 more by 12/30/08. Within weeks I knew something was wrong. Tammy Virgil, who initially spoke with me, would no longer take my calls, referring me to 'customer service'. Their story was that the office was relocating, and all the files were packed away in boxes - then later they said they had now moved, but files were still not unpacked and would take couple weeks to get to mine. By now 4 weeks had passed, and they had promised to complete mortgage modification within 45 days. At that point I started checking them out, something I should have done first. The BBB had them with its lowest - F - rating, and some of the comments {eg. their advertising is grossly misleading, they are not in compliance with the laws licensing or registration requirements}, led me to decide to sever connections. I called to do that, but found they were no longer in business. So much for that, I thought, $500 lost and lesson learnt.
In mid January, I was contacted by a law firm, Pomery & Associates, advising that they had taken over for USFR, and would honor all the promises made, 'and there will be no extra fees or costs'. Since I felt I was now dealing with lawyers, and understood that I would not be required to pay any additional sums until they fulfilled the promises made, I allowed them to proceed. On 1/17/09, I was made aware of a debit charged to my bank account of $1850 by this firm.
This company is one big scam. To date, they have made no effort to do anything whatsoever in relation to what they say they can do. They told me in late March, that they have not been able to do anything as they are awaiting permission from my mortgage co. to negotiate on my behalf.
I have had to enter into my own negotiations with my mortgage co. and they have advised me of 2 surprising details. 1. There is no record on file of any request to negotiate on my behalf by Pomery or its agents. 2. They do not as per their company policy, negotiate with 3rd parties on behalf of their mortgagees.
In addition, the California Attorney General's website has this warning posted - CONSUMER ALERT - FORECLOSURE RESCUE SCAMS. Paragraph 2 states in part:
'It is unlawful for foreclosure consultants to collect money BEFORE 1...2 they actually perform all the services described in the contract, such as negotiating new monthly payments or a new mortgage loan'
I have been unsuccessful in obtaining a refund. As a result of a demand letter I sent on 3/24/09, threatening to take them to the California Bar Assn, I received a call on 3/31/09, advising that a refund of $1850 had been sent to my bank a/c via PayPal.
The bank has advised that no money was ever sent by PayPal. PayPal was called and told me that they were instructed to send the refund, but no funds were ever made available to them to complete the transaction.
These people are just playing games, ONCE THEY GET YOUR MONEY THEY ARE DONE WITH YOU. No one takes your call; ask for a manager and that leads to a hostile confrontation with the person who answers the phone, who obviously has been carefully chosen for her ability to be rude and play inteference, so you never get a chance to discuss the issues. One gets the impression that this is a sham office with only 2 or 3 people working there, but leading 'customers' to believe it is a large well organised company with departments {customer service dept./refunds dept.- these have been mentioned to me}.

This company IS A SCAM- what they do tell you is to NOT call your lender, the reason is BECAUSE YOUR LENDER WILL HELP YOU *FOR FREE* while they get you for 2500.00 They prey on people in a very desperate situation- make false promises and then don't return calls - If I had not acted on my own behalf I would have lost my home-

ADDRESS CORRECTION SUITE NUMBER IS 330 NOT 220
The company is a scam they have moved to 2125 East Katella Avenue, Suite 330, Anaheim, CA 92804. They took alot of money of mine & I still have not got it back. They were at their old location which was 1010 W. Chapman Avenue # 200, Orange CA 92868. They were shut down by the Dept Of Real Estate they moved to new location, enclosed is a list of phone # of idiots in their corporation. Marie Sanchez "Customer Service 1-800-969-0107, Sue Leonard 714-453-3269 Cell# 714-398-7656 Fax: 714-922-8098, Head Of Finance for Refunds Caesar Lopez, Owner of Company George Escolonti. Any people sent money or in dealings make report to FBI @ www.IC3.Gov "The National White Collar Crime Unit". Or call Sgt. Fred Nichols @ Anaheim Police Department Tel 714-765-1951. Also call Dept Of Real Estate California. or file online complaint. also LAPD Real Estate Fraud. This company needs to be shut down NOW...

This company was working on my loan modification and now their phone is disconnected (all the numbers). Don't now what to do now. What is going to happen to my house and how can I get my money back.