DO NOT TRUST SUNTRUST!!

This is a summary of how I have gotten where I am today with SunTrust.My husband got laid off from work at the end of last year and I immediately contacted SunTrust looking for some type of assistance in making our mortgage payments. I was told by their Loss Mitigation Dept. that we have to be 90 days behind to receive assistance on our mortgage. We were no where near that, and I never hoped to be either! So, I picked up a part-time job along with my full time job and the bills got paid. My husband, in the meantime, started school full-time in January of 2009. It was determined best for us that he receive a degree, and also, the company that laid him off was paying his way through two years of school as part of the layoff agreement. So, he went to school and picked up unemployment and I worked two jobs..not the best life, but we did what had to be done. I called again in February, seeking assistance when I lost my part-time job, only to here the same story as above. I was only 30 days behind and I decided I was going to do whatever I could to keep my mortgage current. Then, in March of 2009, Obama passed his bailout plan and SunTrust received $3.5 billion of it. I called them immediately seeking help through their loan modification program. I started this process in March. I filled the paperwork out and mailed my documentation back promptly. In late April, early May, I was told my documents were never received and to fax them again, this time to a different person. So, I did it again. I followed up with SunTrust on a bi-weekly basis to see if they had processed my loan modification yet. The answer was always, "We haven't gotten to it yet" or "It hasn't been picked up by anyone yet." In the mean time, my husband had to go through his unemployment review in June, so he did not receive a check for 5-6 weeks! I called SunTrust at that time in a desperate plea for help. We had no money, our utilities were going to be cutoff, there was no food, the kids were about to start school and I had no money for supplies, let alone no money to pay the mortgage. SunTrust had absolutely NO sympathy for me or any help to offer. I continued to here the same story from them, "We can help you if you are 90 days behind". When I asked about the modification again they were still getting to it. I faced the toughest decision of my life that day. I had to choose between paying my mortgage and taking care of family and other bills. I chose the latter part. In September, SEVEN MONTHS LATER, I received my loan modification package in the mail. Hoping for a miracle, I opened it to find a major disappointment. Our mortgage was only modified by $11.00! Now, you tell me how a family like mine that used to bring in $14,400 more than we used to only qualifies for an $11.00 decrease in mortgage?! I called SunTrust to find out where these figures came from and I was told that they base the modification on income alone, not debt vs. income. Nice of them to tell me now. I was told to send in the paperwork unsigned and ask for another workout option. They told me there are other options available out there, but they had to offer this one to me first. So, I did as I was told. I did also ask how long this process would take because I can't wait seven months like the other and she said that it shouldn't take but a few weeks since they already have my current documentation. On September 29, 2009, we received a certified letter of default from SunTrust dated back to September 1, 2009. I called them immediately and asked what it was about. They told me that because I was 90 days behind on our mortgage, we had fallen into default and they were going to seek legal action. I first asked why I didn't receive the letter until the end of September, of course they had no legitimate response. Then I proceeded to ask what type of help I could receive now that I was 90 days behind. Their response was,"None,we can't help you now that your 90 days behind on your mortgage." That was definitely not the same response I heard nearly one year ago when all this started. When I asked them about their initial statement of helping me if I was 90 days behind they stated that "things are different now." How convenient for them! So, after several hours on the phone and three confusing customer service representatives later, I never heard a straight answer. This is what I ended up with..I was told to make a partial payment to them at a local branch that way it would post immediately. SunTrust may or may not take the payment. They normally do not accept "partial" payments once you owe three months worth, but this particular representative seemed to think that I may be lucky if I made the payment and if it did get accepted it would stop legal proceedings with the foreclosure of my home. I was also told that they could not foreclose on my home as long as I was active in the loan modification process. Should I believe them? I was able to borrow enough money to come up with one months mortgage and I went down on October 1 and paid it to SunTrust, as advised by phone. As of today, they still have not reviewed our loan modification and we are still under default. During these past few weeks is when I decided to speak out and try to find others like me. I found out I am not alone. There are numerous complaints across the web about Suntrust and what they have done to their customers, alot of stories like mine and some different. It doesn't matter, we have all been victims of theirs, in one way or another. I have filed complaints with the BBB and Consumer Affairs. I have contacted my Governor and Congress. This has not been easy, not at all. But, if I can save my home..it will be worth it in the end. I have created a website to all who would like to join me in the battle.

www.donottrustsuntrust.blogspot.com