Honestly, though, there's not been much to update. Every week we update our bank statements, pay-stubs, etc, and every week we're told the "file is in review." In the past two weeks, however there have been signs, albeit small ones, that there might be an end in sight. The bank has started requesting specific documents, which might not seem like much but it shows that someone with half-a-brain has at least physically looked at our file. Unfortunately, some of the documents they've requested don't exist. Details, details.
Then this week we were asked to contact the bank directly to complete another "financial interview" before the file moves on to the next step. So, instead of spending this beautiful, rare, snowed-in morning frolicking in the flakes with my kids, I got the baby down for a nap, "gently" nudged the older girls out the door to play in the snow, and called the bank. Here's a play-by-play of the psychological warfare that ensued:
10:10 a.m. Entered phone-tree hell, where none of the options even remotely matched the reason for my call.
10:20 a.m. After pressing a string of phone-tree prompts that more closely resembled the picks to next weeks lotto drawing, "Brandy" very nicely and professionally answered the line. She verified my identity, pulled open my file and said she'd transfer me to the correct representative to conduct the interview. "It should only take a few minutes."
10:21 a.m. Placed on hold to await said interview and to enjoy obnoxiously loud jazz-guitar Muzak.
10:33 a.m. Muzak ceased and the phone rang. And rang. And rang. And rang.
10:34 a.m. Ringing ceased and Muzak resumed.
10:38 a.m. "Keith" answered, confirmed my identity again, and asked "Didn't you already talk to someone?" I outlined the above experience. He replied "Well, I've got good news for you! Are you ready for it?" "Sure," was my reply. "I'm going to transfer you over to do the interview now." How is that good news??????
10:39 a.m. Muzak resumed.
10:45 a.m. A friendly rep came on the line, but failed to give me her name. She simply asked what she can do for me. Thinking I've again been bumped back to the beginning of the line I impatiently outlined the above. She informed me that she is indeed the person to whom I need to speak. Then she abruptly placed me on hold. Cue Muzak.
10:48 a.m. Same friendly rep returned to the line. I asked her name. "Ann" then launched into a series of questions to "clarify" the information we've been submitting every month since September. I answered them as thoroughly as possible.
"How much is your cable bill?" "We don't have cable," was my reply. "You don't have cable?" she asked, astonished. "No."
I then had to explain in detail the health of our state's unemployment funds, and the unique program in which Mr. Four Wall's employer is enrolled, allowing him to receive supplemental wages when his regular job falls below a certain threshold in hours. She again was astonished, and launched into the health - or lack thereof - of Michigan's economy.
A few more questions followed where she needed me to verbally state exactly what is on the paper in front of her. Childcare expenses are pure-daycare, no alimony or child support. Garbage is x amount per month. No, there is no sewer bill because the house is on a septic system. And again, no, we don't have cable.
She indicated that's all for now. Oh, wait she noticed that they don't have any bank statements of ours on file from December 2010. OK, we sent those on such-and-such a date, but I will re-submit tomorrow. Anything else?
No, nothing else is need from us for now. The file will now be passed onto a Short Sale Specialist for further review. From this point on, she said that the process should move rather swiftly, and that we should be notified of their decision in two or three weeks.
10:57 a.m. Call finally ended.
So....if you're a praying (or fingers-crossing, or rain-dancing, or voodoo-doll-poking type....) please do your thing. Decisions are going to be made by someone, somewhere, and their opinion will determine if we can come through this process with an undesirable short-sale on our history, or if we have to go towards the not-so-pleasant, much-more-serious foreclosure.
I'll keep you posted. Promise.
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