Buying or selling in the Carolinas?

 
           
   Columbia, SC…In February 2012, state and
federal regulators announced a $25 billion Settlement with the
country’s five largest mortgage servicers. As a part of the Settlement,
some South Carolina consumers who lost their home to foreclosure may
eligible to receive at least $840.
           
     Borrowers
may be eligible if: (1) their primary
residence, (2) was foreclosed on between January 1, 2008 and December 31,
2011, and (3) their mortgage loan servicer was Ally/GMAC, Bank of America, Citi,
JPMorgan Chase, or Wells Fargo. If a consumer is not sure
who services their loan they can look at their monthly mortgage
statement or search online at MERS® Servicer Identification www.mers-servicerid.org/sis/index.jsp.

           
      South
Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson is mailing notices and claim
forms to South Carolina borrowers who may be eligible to receive the
funds. Claim forms must be submitted online at
nationalmortgagesettlementclaim.com or via mail by January 18, 2013. If
consumers have questions or think that they should have received a
form, they can contact the Settlement Administrator at 866-430-8358.
           
       Consumers are urged to exercise
caution when fielding phone calls or e-mails about the Settlement.
Reports of scammers posing as mortgage servicers, banks and even
government officials to swindle residents out of their money have
already been received. Keep the following in mind to protect against
fraudsters:


1. If you are
eligible, you will receive all correspondence about the Settlement
through the mail. These entities will not try to contact you by
         phone or e-mail.

2. There is NO
COST to participate in the Settlement.

3. Don’t give out
your bank account number or other personal information over the phone
or internet unless you know who you are dealing    
     with.

     For
more information on the Settlement visit
www.nationalmortgagesettlement.com or view SCDCA’s Spotlights: Righting
Foreclosure Wrongs, http://1.usa.gov/Po38DP and Lifelines for Saving
Your Home http://1.usa.gov/RSAQNU