Everyone is focused on Predatory Lending to mean adjustable and interest only mortgages given to individuals who didn't qualify to begin with based on the path the loan was going to take. We see a payment that is so inviting, so trusting and so believable that the pride of owning a home is accomplished.

I have another example of a predatory loan consultant with Countrywide Home Loans. First off, I purchased in 4/2005, I had an adjustable, interest only loan. I didn't know when I went to Countrywide to inquire about a refi, that I most likely didn't qualify for my first loan via CitiBank, but my payments were low and being made.

I went to Countrywide at the end of 2005 all the way to June 9, 2006 to see if I could refi, get my taxes impounded (coming up with over $1500 twice a year was too much for me and to have an impound account meant everything to me) and add my car loan so I could write off the interest. I took in all my information, check stubs, bank statements which averaged $8000 in checking, W2's and everything else I was asked to bring. Also note that my tax refunds in excess of $4000 are directly deposited to my checking account. The loan consultant is aware of this and the balance in my checking account.

The loan consultant was very pleasant, soft spoken and professional. She had me feeling right at home, right away.

While she was working up some numbers, I was verifying with the Fresno County Assessor's Office, what amount would need to be impounded to cover my taxes. I was advised that $258.33 would need to be impounded each month.

I check my email and I have one from the loan consultant, a closing cost estimate. I noticed the impound amout was too low at $123 something. I email the loan consultant back to advise of the info I received from the Assessor's Office. I get back an email from the loan consultant with a second closing cost estimate as an attachment, reflecting the correct amount of $258.33. So life is good.

I'm told that my first loan will be $1261 a month and included the correct impound amount. I thought my first would be with P&I as I had also requested...but found out later it wasn't. Instead the P&I was only applied to the smaller second loan.

When the signing day came, the loan consultant told me where to sign and made it a point to point out the pages that had the numbers $1261 and $258.33. The HUD doc had $258.33..so I had no reason to question anything. I sincerely trusted this person. I felt relieved that I didn't have to worry about my taxes.

The first six months I'd glance at my statements and see $1261, then file them away. After that, I thought that I was good to go, I was in good hands and no worries about my house payments and taxes. No need to check my bank statements as I wasn't spending any money & I know my bill amounts to the penny and the Fresno Police Department Credit Union is good to let me know of any negative activity such as not having enough money in my account along with overdraft protection.

Just like those with the interest only adjustables, I saw the number I could afford and that was it, I bought a home.

The loan consultant decided at somepoint to change the impound amount to $123'ish (this might pay 1/4 of my yearly taxes)..she knew for the next six months that's what I'd see and be happy.

By Jan of 2007 I'm in a very negative escrow balance. By July of 2007 it's so negative that the $1261 payment is now over $1600. Of course the money is in my checking along with my tax refunds..so it wasn't until 03/29/08 that I found out the impound amount had been reduced and....my gross earnings were inflated to up to $4300 from $3400 to "force qualify" me for the refi. And, no it was not a typo, it was her choice to change it.

Like many of you..only the points the loan consultant wanted me to see were  pointed out and from June 9, 2006 to March 29, 2008...I TRUSTED COUNTRYWIDE'S LOAN CONSULTANT.

Why couldn't the consultant have said for instance..."Laura, I've worked up another option to include impounding the taxes but not paying off the car..or Laura, I'm sorry but no matter what I do to get you the loan you want, your income is just too low."

At least I would have had the right to make a choice and a decision that would be a benefit to me. But there were no choices..the loan consultant had made her $6000+ and nothing else mattered. She had full knowledge of my income and full knowledge of the correct impound amount..she also had full knowledge that she was committing fraud.

So just like those of you that got the adjustable, interest only, I too have a house payment I cannot afford. My loan doc's reflect the incorrect impound amount on some pages, and the correct amount on others as does my income. The incorrect amount was also given to Stewart Title.

You'd think whomever typed up the loan would have questioned the discrepancies..but the supervisor to the loan consultant approved it with her signature as well. She either knew it was wrong and didn't care or she trusted the consultant like I did.

In the fall of 2006 I thought I'd try selling my house (I didn't know at this time of the fraud)..and guess who came over, helped stage the house, put her flyers to include her picture, her business card and discount offers to any prospective new buyer...yes the loan consultant.

While chatting over snacks I told her more than once.."I'm so glad you were able to assist me. Having my taxes impounded and a payment of $1261 took a lot of stress off me." Up until I found out all the bad news, I consistently praised and thanked the loan consultant. She had many opportunities to tell me the truth.

I went to her office and spoke with her supervisor who offered no assistance or solution..she really didn't care. I've called number after number, passed from one person to another over and over, but there is no one at Countrywide Home Loans that could offer a solution or even give me the name and number of someone, anyone in a corporate position.

I'm 51 yr's old, single and no where to go. I have a loan I can't afford. Had my tax refund money not been there I would have found out sooner..but now the tax money is gone and I don't make an additional $450 a month to make the payment. I've lived here since 1995 as a renter and purchased April 2005.

I've worked hard to maintain good credit, pay my bills and be trustworthy. So in addition to losing the house, I lose my credit.

Countrywide is excused for being dishonest, while the customer is faulted for being trusting.

If anyone who reads this knows of any entity that might be able to assist me let me know. I've already emailed FDIC, FTC, BBB, HUD and any other website or email address I could find.