As further evidence that major banks are still making erroneous foreclosure errors, Wells Fargo, one of the country’s largest mortgage lenders, is facing a lawsuit after they foreclosed on the wrong home twice.
Alvin Tjosaas, 77, a retired bricklayer began building the two-bedroom Woodland Hills home for his parents when he was 14 and used it as a vacation home. But his dreams of using it as a vacation home have been crushed as Wells Fargo hired subcontractors to clear out the home twice.
Tjosaas, who owns the home with his two sisters, visited it every 4 to 5 months to maintain then property and work on hobbies in the garage.
On June 1st, Tjosaas got a call from a neighbor who said someone had broken into their home. But two days later when Tjosaas was able to get to the Twentynine Palms home, he discovered that subcontractor cleared out his personal belongings.
Apparently, Wells Fargo gave the contractor the wrong address; the actual foreclosure was just ten yards away. The bank apologized for the error, and stated they would work with Tjosaas to make things right.
However, over Labor Day Weekend, another group of subcontractors were hired to clear out Tjosaas’ home again. This time contractors took out propane tanks, put vintage tires and rims outside. Tjosaas also lost irreplaceable antiques and heirlooms inherited from his now deceased parents.
A Wells Fargo representative apologized to Tjosaas in person, and promised to replace their destroyed property.
According to the Huffington Post, there are at least fifty lawsuits pending nationwide where subcontractors, hired by major banks, are accused to vandalism and destroying occupied homes.
At the height of the foreclosure crisis, banks were accused of unsavory practices and numerous paperwork mistakes leading to a large number of wrongful foreclosures. The hard work of foreclosure attorneys and other whistle blowers exposed the bank’s negligent practices, which lead the way to a National Mortgage Settlement.
