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May 7, 2008 10:00 pm US/Central
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CBS 11 Investigates Foreclosure Rescue Company
NORTH TEXAS (CBS 11 News) ―
Dina Clayburn went from living in a 1,200 square foot, 3-bedroom house in Arlington, to living in a small 1-bedroom apartment in Euless. "You have to understand I was in a total state of defeat."
Clayburn says she was in bankruptcy, getting a divorce and about to lose her house. To try and avoid foreclosure she contacted Ramona Beasley and James Schultz, who have a website stating "we can help you stop foreclosure."
According to Clayburn, the husband and wife team from Terrell said, "They would come in and move you out and pay for the deposit on anything." It seemed like a great idea and best of all, no foreclosure - so Clayburn signed the papers.
The couple's new client says she thought the papers allowed Beasley and Schultz to contact the bank to avoid a foreclosure, but she was mistaken. Clayburn says the couple never came through on their promises to find her a nice place to live, and when she wanted out of the deal, the paperwork she signed came back to haunt her.
Clayburn says she received a call from Mr. Schultz. "He said… we own your house and that is when something struck me and he said you all need to leave and you need to pack up."
Clayburn says she was tricked into signing a warranty deed transferring ownership from her name to I Buy Inc., a company Ramona Beasley says is at least partially owned by her daughter. And as your about to learn, this isn't the first couple that felt they were tricked by the duo.
Michael and Rachel Najera weren't in foreclosure; they just needed someone to buy their house. Along came Ramona Beasley and James Schultz, this time promising to rent out the Najera's house or buy it in 90 days. But when the 90 days passed and the house didn't sell, Mr. Najera found out, he didn't own his house anymore, I Buy Inc. did.
Mr. Najera said when he called Mr. Schultz, he told him "you don't have a say so, the paper you signed, signed the house over to us." That's right; the Najera's had also signed a warranty deed.
CBS 11 News tracked down Ramona Beasley and she said she and her husband, Mr. Schultz "don't trick people." In fact, Beasley says she doesn't represent I Buy Inc, but she is not an innocent bystander. Beasley said she fills out the warranty deeds for some people and notarizes them. She also lists herself on a website as co-owner of a foreclosure relief company.
Beasley stated, "These people know that we are there to buy their house. That is what we do."
Not so says Clayburn, who ended up getting evicted from her home. She claims I Buy Inc. let her house go to foreclosure, exactly what she didn't want. Clayburn says she ended up losing everything. "They keep saying you won't have a foreclosure on your hands, and now I have a foreclosure on my hands."
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott says in a general sense, people having issues with foreclosure relief companies is a problem in Texas. That is why he made it a mission to target unscrupulous foreclosure relief companies and has already shut a number of them down.
Abbott says, "If [you] are going through foreclosure and [you] get a promise that sounds too good to be true, it's probably too good to be legal. Many of the people who go through for foreclosure don't understand what these documents mean and are willing to sign anything to work there way out of a foreclosure."
Abbott Tips To Avoid A Scam:
- Call your bank first!
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Don't pay any upfront money to any foreclosure relief/rescue company
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Contact non-profit financial counselors
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If you think you've been ripped off call the attorney general's office
Ramona Beasley stands firm and defends her business practice. "We did them [Najera's] a favor because they don't have to make a payment on their mortgage." That's true; I Buy Inc. is paying the mortgage on the house.
According to the Najera's, I Buy Inc. has made two late mortgage payments, causing the Najera's credit score tumbled 150 points and now they can't get a mortgage. In addition, the couple is still legally obligated to pay the mortgage on the house they deeded over to I Buy Inc.
Now the family of four lives in a small apartment in Dallas. Sound familiar? Mr. Najera says, "They are liars why would I give my property away and still be responsible for the payments? That makes no sense."
CBS 11 News tried to contact Mr. Schultz and I Buy Inc., but they did not contact us back.
Contact CBS 11 News about your foreclosure issues.
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