My personal hell known as loan modification UPDATED
90Trust no one.
Loan modification is a scam.
I am sitting here, stunned and with a huge knot in my stomach. It's the kind of knot that is down low in your abdomen and it makes you catch your breath. It comes when you finally acknowledge and accept the full realization that all your fears have come true. No matter how you try to deny it, the cold hard fact is looming over you. The knot is made worse because I denied my initial gut instincts and trusted the star of late night paid advertising, the self-proclaimed "savior of homeowners" an attorney with a past as a scumbag and a future as an inmate in county jail. With any luck.
I dial the phone number to his office over and over again, getting the same lame recorded message "due to increased call volume we are experiencing extended time in which to return your calls. We are unable to speak with you by telephone, but rest assured your case is important to us and we are diligently working to resolve your loan modification. Please direct all inquiries to clientservices@blowme.com, we will respond in 14-21 business days". WTF?
My hand is shaking and in it I hold a Certified letter from the bank saying foreclosure proceedings will commence in 30 days if I don't bring my mortgage current. What? But I retained an attorney, I paid him $3,300 up front. He assured me verbally that my loan modification was a "slam dunk". He also told me "don't pay your mortgage, the companies don't work with us if you are current, you need to be at least 3-4 months behind".
I frantically dial the number again--same recording. It's not going to change.
Reluctantly, I call my mortgage company. They tell me (as I suspected) they have never heard of my attorney. Never did they received any of the voluminous paperwork I spent days getting together and a small fortune faxing to my attorney. I learn I can re-send everything to my lender, but foreclosure will not stop. I say " But I was told by my attorney if I were negotiating a modification foreclosure would be stopped" I am told "oh no that's not true". Why should I be surprised.
I call the State Bar of California. I am told to file a formal written complaint and that "Attorney Parsa is being investigated and suspension of his license is imminent". My hand shakes more, my neck tightens and immediately I feel my head hurt. Why is this happening?
I dial the attorney's phone number again. I still can't believe there's no "live" person to answer.
I google the attorney's name, suddenly there are several "hits" leading me to posts about this attorney and all are negative. Where was all this information months ago when I researched James Parsa?
I visit one of the many complaint sites and learn I am not the only one scammed by the Parsa Law Group. Introduced through mutual suffering, I meet Scott from Irvine. Poor man was duped worse than me. I learn Scott retained the firm to have his first and second mortgages modified. I almost did that too, but decided to see how it went with just getting the primary modified. Scott's experience was the same as mine. He too was told by the Parsa Law Group that his loan modification was a "slam dunk" and his completing of paperwork only a "formality".
I also learn about Gilbert, an elderly man with 2 dogs he adores, worried that he will be kicked out of his home, with no where to go and frightened to lose the dogs he loves so much. I want to help Gilbert and Scott, but with so little energy, I can't even help myself.
Of interest, I also learn Mr. Parsa had a case pending in criminal court having been arrested for having sex with a minor. Great not only is he a liar but a pedophile too. Anyone caring to read up may access the case at this link. (http://members.calbar.ca.gov/courtDocs/09-C-12545.pdf.)
I dial the attorney's phone number again. I can't even leave a nasty message. So I decide to send an email and unload my anger. Better to vent on them than keep it bottled up.
Scott sends me an email saying someone showed up at the Parsa Law Group threatening them with a gun and the entire office has been shut down, no one there. I don't condone violence but that's one way to get your point across for sure. Too bad in situations where people take the law into their own hands, all to often it's innocent people who are hurt, not scumbags like James Parsa who really deserve it.
I am lost and that's where I was before hiring the lord and savior of homeowners, except now I have $3,300 less in my pocket. I struggled to keep my agreement with Mr. Parsa. I kept my part of the deal, that's more than I can say about Attorney Parsa.
UPDATE: September, 2010. It's almost a year ago since I wrote this hub. To my knowledge NOTHING has happened to Mr. Parsa. As far as I know, he's living the high life in Las Vegas free from jail and no government agency is pursuing him. He's free to move about with the millions he took from unsuspecting and helpless clients. I do know that Jerry Brown the wanna be Gov of California--once more--did NOTHING to pursue and arrest Parsa. All I got were buck-passing form letters--and he wants to run this state, don't think so!
No contact from the Orange County District Attorney's office. No response to the claim I filed with the Client Security Fund of the State Bar, no Federal involvement, no nothing, nada.
I did save my home but not with the help of any NACA or Making Home Affordable or thanks to the Obama Administration. No....I saved it from my own ingenuity and guts. Reminds me: if you want something done, do it yourself!.
UPDATE: April 2, 2011: Still waiting for payment of my claim submitted to the Client Security Fund filed in October, 2009. I followed up with the CSF a week ago. You can call them but no "live person" will answer. The voice mail system requires you leave a message and you are told someone will call you back (yea, right). I did receive a letter the other day from the Client Security Fund, unsigned and apparently computer generated.
The letter stated: Mr. Parsa has not been disbarred. He submitted his resignation to practice law in California, however, the California Supreme court has not accepted Mr. Parsa's resignation. Until Mr. Parsa's resignation is accepted by the CA Supreme Court, the Client Security Fund cannot start proceedings to disbar Mr. Parsa"....blah blah blah. HE IS A CONVICTED CHILD MOLESTER! What is so difficult for the CA Supreme court to decide? Apparently Mr. Parsa can re-instate his law license in California and start ripping people off again when ever he decides the the spot light is off him! There ought to be a law! Oh..wait there is, but the California Bar does not want to enforce it!
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THANK YOU. I called and was given the 3rd degree about how I found out she reps Parsa. Said an thru anonymous email. We shall see if the attorney calls back.
Also Jaime Salcedo from the State Bar is handling some of the investigation, anyone screwed by parsa may call him at 213 765 1084.
BIG THANKS AGAIN FOR THE HEADS UP!!
Re: the Costa Mesa police, I called them days ago and finally the other day rec'd a return message from someone named Melanie who said "we are not taking anymore reports as we have thousands of victims" she said to make a report with the FTC (Federal Trade commission) however, I've made reports there before and it's usually against collection agencies. Don't think the FTC is the proper agency. I've made a report with the Jerry Brown's office--State Attorney General.
I will call the OC DA.
Here is her e-mail: epansky@panskymarkle.com You can find it on the State Bar website. http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member_detail.
You can find her information listed on the complaint on James Parsa's attorney profile on the state bar website.
I don't know that she can help you but at least it is someone.
Also, file a complaint against James Parsa with the State Bar of California. Fill out the paperwork with the Client Restitution Fund to get your money back. It may take awhile to get it, but you should get it.
It offends my sensibilities as an Attorney in California that Banks,brokers, lawyers and their agents have either consciously or unconsciously aided in the exploitation of people. Unfortunately, the State Bar was not capable of handling supervision of all the attorneys who have acted like blood suckers when it comes to loan modifications. I've recently wrote a couple of pieces regarding these issues. Hopefully, this will be remedied in the near future. Recent developments have shown that things may be changing when it comes to supervision and discipline since the Bar publicly released the names of at least 16 Attorneys in California (before conviction or a determination of liability) who have been charging fees to do very little to no work at all. Its sad that many laymen don't realize that even if most agreements say "non-refundable" that usually does not relieve the attorney of his or her obligation to do the work.
Ask Me - There is a way out to your issues and it is called a Short Sale if you have a buyer who is interested in your home. You do NOT need to foreclosure on your home if the price is set right. I work with people in the same situation you have - regarding your certified letter. I am very sorry that you paid 3,300. I own a Title company and Short Sale company. If you want to talk please email me and I will do everything in my power to help you out.
Not currently interested in a short sell. I live in the beach area of Southern CA and unlike most of Los Angeles, my house really has not depreciated. It's still worth more than I owe by about $200,000. Additionally I have 1 child left at home who will graduate next year and don't want to uproot her.
Not sure what you mean by "certified letter"? I retained a loan modification attorney who has practiced law in CA for 10 years but went off the deep end. He took a retainer fee from me and thousands of other clients, then was closed down by the State Bar and suspended from practicing. I am now back to square one, working with my lender for a modification in the terems of the loan i.e fixed as opposed to adjustable.
Thank you for your response.
Since your home is not "underwater" you should be in a more favorable position to obtain a "loan modification". However, a loan modification may not be the most appropriate remedy for you or anyone else since this always depends on your particular circumstances. As far as short sales go, in California, any true waiver of amounts owed may result in you being hit with a tax bill at the end. I have a few blogs on this site that may interest you. In any event, its going to be very difficult to get the regulatory authorities to deal with these matters - I hate to say this but most of my success in this area has come after my clients decided to litigate and go to court.
I believe that you realize now that I was not offering my services but the following is my response to your comment on my blog:
Every matter requires an individual assessment so I am not certain that I could help your group or each individual in your group. Second, I don't want to violate any rules of this valuable Blog site by seeming to solicit if I contact you directly via email. Can you give me some guidance from the governing "rules" of this Hub community since I am new to it. Assuming that I would not be in conflict with any rules then I would not mind reviewing some matters for you and/or your group.
Would he be held liable for any clients suicide?
Askme:
That's exactly what my representative told me to do as well. I went from being 30-days past due to 90 because of her "advice". Now I'm struggling to keep my house.
And like you, when I finally contacted my lender directly, they told me they hadn't heard from my attorney in many months.
I've been going through this modification process since contacting Parsa back in February! Those bastards just kept stringing me along, month after month.
Now I'm not sure, because I ended up defaulting on the agreement with my bank (thanks Parsa!), I may not even be able to get back into the modification process at all.
So now I'm back to square one, $3400 out the window, deeper in debt and further behind on my mortgage than when I started.
Why didn't you call your mortgage co. and tell them you need to arrange a loan modificaion? This is something you can do yourself! Most banks want to work with you these days. I have friends who've done this. Also you can always redeem you home right up to the day it's about to be auctioned! I did this one time many years ago. I don't know what all this "litigation" crap being discussed here is all about. Sounds like wolvish attorneys trying to get some work. When you call your mortgage co., ask to speak to a work-out specialist and tell them everything truthfully. Believe me, they don't WANT to take your home back. They're oveerwhelmed with inventories of foreclosed properties.
I feel for you Askme...but your blog left me gasping for breath. It was hilarious, I'm not laughing at you I'm laughing with you. I'm in the middle of a loan modification from hell with my original lender. Believe me it is no laughing matter I feel your pain. You've received some great advice from those who have responded to your plight. I was threatened with F/C, but it's because my lender doesn't know their A$5 from a hole in the ground. I tracked down the address for the VP of the accounts division via the internet and he now has his personnel working to straighten out their lousy accounting system to clear my account. Best of luck and hang in there.
i was scammed once by a loan modification company. at that time i dont knew anything about loan modification but now i came to knew about loan modification
Thanks for sharing such a good info on loans
loansbuzz.com
All our locksmiths can not refinance their loans.
Askme,I'm sorry about your problems. But thank you for posting your experience. It is good to know that there are all kind of scams since, this days, you cannot count on my financial stability.
Hope everything turns out ok for you.
I'm also a victim of Parsa Law Group, as thousands, I paid $3500.00 up front,was told not to pay my mortgage, or my taxes and that they would do everything to get me into a modification. After doing everything they told me to do (was not delinquent on any payments before) and was trying to be pro-active for I knew that my pension was to be cut in half and wanted to fix any problems before they came about. Parsa did absolutely nothing - very little record of contact with my lender - no record of them even contacting my 2nd lender. Now, I'm in a real mess!! I had received a foreclosure notice on my home, owe back taxes, and do not have the income to correct it. I have since been paying $250.00 more on my home loan then previously, set up by using a forbearance agreement. I have been speaking with my lender and applied for a (what they call) a quick modification set up by Obama. Called my lender, and was told that the Investors that own my loan do not want to play. Hello!!! So much for Obama's bailout!! Now, they are working on a straight modification. This has been going on for just about a year. They were to have an answer for me by December, now it's been moved to March. Please, get this guy!! He should be hung by his !@#@!!~@! To put people that trusted him in this horrible situation is unspeakable! I ask, as everyone else, is there anything we can do to file a Class Action suit or get some relief from this guy?? I feel if we all work together, there must be something that can be done.
Hi Askme,
Thank you for your response and information. The servicer on my loan is Aurora Loan Services, as far as the individual investors are, I'm going to call them and ask. They have not told me thus far. The second is with B of A. I have not contacted them, nor stopped any payments with them. I wanted to see what happened the 1st mortgage.
Thanks again for your input - I'll be checking back with you for more info.
Ann
I filed a Claim with the State of California Lawyers but no luck, how can we put a case agains him, send me an Email juniorec03@sbcglobal.net. Thanks,
looks like many parsa victims are present here
If it walks like a piggy, talks like a piggy, by golly it’s a PIGGY!
BofA and it’s CEO Brian Moynihan reminds me of that song by John Lennon and George Harrison titled "Piggies" I invite you to listen to this song on youtube and see if it appropriately fits.
You know the funny thing about loan modifications? When you modify the loan, the payment is lower, thus ensuring the likely hood that the payment will be made. I have a mortgage with Chase Bank and they are no better than the rest. I am currently current but there are times the check doesnt get their until the 30th of the month. Sometimes, sacrifices have to be made to make the payment, like my kids. Modifying my loan would have saved me $300 per month and the lower payment would not be an issue each month. But NO, since I am current Chase does not want to help.
The other thing that gets me about these big banks and financials, is their desire to help their customers, or should I say lack of desire. Let's face the banks needed help because their CEO's ran their companies into the ground, and came crying to the government, who stupidly gave them the money. They acted as if they deserved the moeny. In fact the felt they deserved the money that some even had parties and gave out bonuses after they got the money. I needed help too, I asked for help and understanding from Citi Bank, they responded with a law suite and are attempting a wage garnishment. How the hell does this help.
All the big banks are in collusion, when everything was hitting the fan, how many meetings did they have together? Since they teamed up, we need to team up. The big banks need to be taken down and broken up. I agree with everything you said in your hubs. I could rant forever, but I think you get the gist of it all.
i was once got scammed while getting loan
Hello, I've just read your article and I was impressed by it. I can't stand that kind of person and I'm really sorry for what has happened to you. For what I can tell you. I've found a system to modify your mortgage and loans that helps you to do it by yourself without involving any attorney. I've written an hub about it, this is the link:
http://hubpages.com/hub/Save-your-Home-Learn-how-t
I hope you have already solved your own situation. Anyway, let me know if you find these information useful.
If you want give a look to my others hubs and if you like my writings add you as my follower. I'm quite new in HubPages and I'm looking for follower. I will do the same with you. Bye
If you want to know the latest, see: http://cacorruptionwatch.wordpress.com
I'm SO sorry you had to go through this! But hey, the banks are just as bad, believe me, and see my HUB called "Predators." I myself am going to California Attorney General Kamala Harris' Offices--she has departments just for the kind of thing you experienced. Also catch her on youtube.com holding a roundtable for foreclosure victims.Whatever state you live in, try the Attorney General's office for your state. Also, get a petition going on change.com. We the people need to speak out in rage and protect ourselves and others like the older gentleman you mentioned. Best of luck recovering, Maria Eyles
James Parsa's father was my Neighbor his name is Jim Parsa has real estate developer. He borrowed lots on his house and foreclosed thus ditching the bank/lenders. These are unethical Iranians doing shady deals. A shame to the rest of the decent Iranian population.














AG80 2 years ago
Contact his attorney. Her name is Ellen Pansky. She at least is a warm body to talk to.
Parsa needs to have criminal proceedings brought against him. Contact Costa Mesa Police Department and speak to Detective Sheila Cannon at 714/7545294.
Contact the Orange County DA. Joe D'Agostino is the head of economic crimes.