Stumbling Into Controversy

I've really opened myself up to criticism this week.  If you say you are going "this way", there is someone out there who is willing to sabotage you.  I don't think that anyone intends to be that way, it is just the way we are.  I say, "Time for bed", my kid says: why?, I need a good reason, I need a bathroom, I'm hungry, but you said..., do we haaaaaveee tooooo?  We do it as adults, we just utilize our frontal lobes more.

Yesterday the federal government started working towards some changes in regards to under-water mortgages that may affect us.  I heard about it all day!!  Here is one opinion you can check out if you are interested:

The Ethics of Mortgage Modification

I'm interested in what people think about it, I really am.  By putting that out there, I get that I am continuing to ask for it.

Dyson People vs. Lending People

My vacuum broke in the feverish cleaning that has been going on at our house.  I vacuumed up the tassels on a rug, and then the belt broke, but only after a week of a terrible noise that scared even the neighbors.

I got on the Dyson (I only buy appliances that rhyme with my name, it makes it kinda tough) website to attempt to order a part, or find where I could buy parts.  Online, they had a number I could call if I needed assistance.  It was easy.  

The lady on the phone told me I didn't need a new beater-bar, or anything too fancy, I just needed a new belt, and she was sure that the noise would stop, and the problem would be solved.  I asked where I could buy a part, as we are rather rural and don't have tons of retail options.  She didn't answer, but asked my address.  I gave it to her, and she told me she was sending me a new belt in an act of good faith.

I was dumbfounded.  I was gushing.  I was thankful.  Maybe overly thankful for a small piece of rubber and free shipping.  I have been desensitized to human kindness and corporate kindness.  I guess I didn't expect that calling Dyson on the phone would help me in any way towards fixing my problem.  I have become so used to long wait times, adds about mortgages instead of elevator music,  and scripted denials and responses.

I wonder what would happen if Citimortgage was as helpful and the vacuum people?

Not a Through Toad

Last night I used the World Wide Web to learn what is out there about strategic defaults.  I shouldn't have.  I know that all signs point to the fact that we are making sound financial choices for our family.  It is easy to have a chart and a graph to point the way, but there is more.

Looking at the opinions of so many last night, I felt insecure and judged.  As I drug myself to the bed, I was sure that the collapse of the financial institutions and real estate market was nearly all my fault, and that I am only contributing to the demise of our collective security as a country.

I also was struck by the ability for so many to find moral fault with what we are doing, but not so much with the financial institution so unwilling to work with me, also strategically defaulting on their investments.  They short sale their stock, give high rise buildings back to the lenders, and beg the government for mercy.  Some were harsh, saying those who are defaulting are trying to 'stick it to the banks'.  I am not trying to do that, I am trying to start over.

This morning, as I am rested and have had coffee, I can be reflective.  There are so many points of view about the demise of the real estate market.  The real fact is, no one knows the future.  The angry folks who are judging may have more problems than just the bad real estate market.  Scaring me into making my mortgage payment is a lie.  Shaming me into paying my mortgage is wrong.  I am skeptical when anyone wants to persuade me with fear and shame.  Who does't have doubts and fears about their choices and future?

Though I am daily reflecting about what we are doing on this blog, and am going to toot my own horn in writing, the fact is, I'm not sure of what we are doing.  What I am sure of, is that I don't want to live my life in fear, and I don't want to tell myself "you shoulda....." in the future.

I would rather have some doubts about my future, than imprisoned by my future.

Dear CitiMortgage Customer (s):

We are extremely concerned that your mortgage account has not been kept current.  If this situation is not corrected soon, you could lose your home through acceleration of the mortgage and foreclosure....

You do have options.  We would like to speak with you....

Without talking to you, we cannot help....

......Call immediately so that we can begin working toward a reasonable solution to this problem.

Sincerely, 

Collections CitiMortgage

Here are some excerpts from a letter mailed to us on the 15th of March.  I have some problems with this letter.  My first problem is "acceleration of the mortgage".  I looked this term up because I thought I knew what it meant, but I saw it in this paragraph and figured I was wrong.

I assumed that 'accelerated mortgage' was paying your mortgage bi-weekly or adding payments to speed up the completion of paying a home loan as the phrase suggests.  As we are no longer making any payments, how could we lose our home if we pay our loan at an accelerated rate?  As some smarty-lawyer wrote and approved of this letter, I am assuming I do not understand 'accelerated mortgage'.

Also, I am surprised by the lender's concern for us.  This letter seems so personal, with words like 'help' and that they want to speak to us. If the bank really did care about people, and relationships, that would be personal. The personal part of this matter are the people who live in my house.  Their attempts to be reasonable so far, have been very impersonal: every time I call, I talk to a different person who transfers me to another person, they monitor my calls, they call and hang up, they send me seemingly personal letters to appear like the bottom line isn't cash. Could an international financial group ever be personal?

I did call them in regards to this letter, and they refused to help make our house affordable, for the 67th time (that number may be hyperbole)!  This letter makes it seem that I have been the one who has not contacted them.  I have been calling them often for a year.

This letter is subtly sneaky.  I am not going to fall for sneaky.

PS Our house is in a valley, near a creek.  These birds use this tree to scout for carrion up the hill from us.  I took a photo of them as I drove by last spring.