A soldier returns home on leave from Iraq to find out his father's house has just been auctioned off the same day.
Change.org have been following this story closely for the past couple of months. Their online petition to stop the foreclosure now has 122,830 signatures.
Video and story from KTVZ in Oregon.
BEND, Ore. -- It was a bittersweet, even ironic "homecoming" day for Bend resident Tim Collette who's home is in foreclosure. His son, Aaron, arrived back home on leave from a tour of duty in Iraq. But hours earlier, his house was sold back to the bank.
Specialist Aaron Collette has been serving in Iraq for the past couple years, and Tuesday evening, his plane touched down in Central Oregon. It was a heartwarming reunion as family and friends greeted him at the Redmond Airport.
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Collette missed two mortgage payments, then, for months, paid a trial modification. Now, he faces upwards of $20,000 in penalties. He said looking back, his bank never had any intention of modifying his loan.
"It's an unreachable thing, because it's not really there," said Collette. "They're telling you about it, it's like the 'carrot.' It's unattainable, because it's not really there."
Chase Bank won't comment on Collete's situation because of privacy laws.
Collette's suggestion to other homeowners with mounting bills -- hire an attorney.
"Everything that they are doing is to put you down the path that has one conclusion, foreclosure," said Collette.
Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley is on the hunt to help homeowners like Collette keep their homes. Back in May, the Democrat introduced a bill to require banks and other mortgage servicers to create a single point of contact for borrowers. The hope is homeowners won't get tangled in a sea of red tape and confusion when calling about loan modifications.
