Peoples First Financial

There Are Only So Many Ways You Can Repackage The Same BS

Exclusive to MFI-Mod Squad – Media Must Cite MFI-Mod Squad as source!

MFi-Mod Squad got word today that the Hutchinson Brothers from Peoples First Financial have reinvented themselves yet again.  This time they are passing themselves off as attorneys.  Several weeks ago, they opened up as the Pacific Legal Firm but they answer the old PFF email accounts and phones.  My source in San Diego received the following response from them after filling out an application on the old PFF website:

Thank you taking the time to apply online for help with your mortgage. I’m sending you this email because you appear to be an excellent candidate for mortgage assistance through Loan Modification, a program which can lower your interest rate and keep you out of default on your mortgage payment.

Pacific Legal Firm is a premier mitigation company that processes over 300 loan modifications per month. On average, we’ve been able to obtain a 4% – 6% interest rate for mortgages that were 7% – 10% or higher.  Our clients are people who are either struggling to make their mortgage payment, trying to refinance, have low or negative home equity, high debt to income ratio or have had a hardship that has negatively impacted your income.  If you fall into one or more of these categories, loan modification is most likely your best option.

Loan Modification has many benefits for homeowners –
1)     The mortgage will be brought back to current if you are behind on the payment.
2)     If you have bad credit, it doesn’t matter – credit score is NOT a factor in loan modification.
3)     Your interest rate will be significantly reduced.
4)     Your payment will be reduced – on average we lower clients’ payment $300-$800 per month.
5)     Thousands of clients have avoided foreclosure and bankruptcy through loan modification.

Modification is a relatively new process born out of this recession, and banks are only modifying mortgages for a limited time until they start making money again. Thus, it is important you explore your options as quickly as possible if you do need help with your mortgage.

If you would like to discuss your situation with me, you can reach me at 866-781-0727  and I’ll walk you through the application process. Or, if want to go ahead and see whether you qualify, we have a 10 minute free application to help you determine if you qualify for this process.  I’ll be happy to forward the application upon your request.

Warmly,
866-781-0727
Pacific Legal Firm
9528 Mirimar Rd. Suite 226
San Diego, CA 92126

The Hutchinson Brothers are so paranoid about their employees talking to me.  They have ordered them to be very “tight lipped” with any company info.  They also refuse to have a copy machine or printer in the sales office for the staff for fear an employee will print something damaging about the company and leave.

Guys, it’s time to throw in the towel on your schemes and go back to working landscaping because you make lousy white collar criminals!

Peoples First Financial

Has Peoples First Financial Re-Invented Itself as Sunrise Financial?

It appears the Hutchinson Brothers over at Peoples First Financial are trying to re-invent themselves. I received an email from someone who tells me they are now operating under the name Sunrise Financial.  They even have their new website up with a clip of CNN’s  favorite angry White Man, Lou Dobbs.  You can see it at http://www.newsunrisefinancial.com.  They are still operating in the same offices.  My source tells me they are planning a move to a new location to make it harder for the media to find them.  According to my source, all the media exposure drove away their business.  This typically happens when you run an illegal operation and get caught.

Hey, wait! Didn’t they tell Jim Avila from ABC News, they had multiple lawyers working for them and they were 100% legal?   Apparently, they are going to “piggyback” off a law firm in LA to scare away people from asking too many questions.

If anyone else has anymore information on this let me know.  I’ll keep all of you posted as I get more information on this.

Peoples First Financial

People Begging and Kissing My Backside to Be Taken Off The List

Since I posted the 20 Worst List, I’ve received calls and emails from companies on the 20 Worst list.  All saying, “We’re one of the good guys, why are we on your list?”  Well, for starters, I’ve received complaints about you and from the research I have done, you’re operating outside the laws of the state you are in.   To which the California companies respond, “We contract out to a law firm so we don’t need to be DRE backed.  This means they would be in violation of the California Business and Professions Code Section 6152.  It’s a big no-no for a third party to collect retainers or solicit clients for an attorney in California.  My favorite is, “We have an in-house lawyer.”  You can have all the “in-house” lawyers you want but if you are not a law firm and are collecting an upfront fee, you need to be approved by DRE.  I even had one guy try to bribe me with $10k.   I didn’t know if I should be appalled or laugh.  It’s pretty simple, if you play be the rules and don’t rip people off, you won’t have the spotlight of MFI-Mod Squad on you.

I also received alot of media inquiries this week which was super cool.  Apparently, one of the reporters at the Geithner press conference had a copy of the press release I did about the 20 Worst Mod companies and was showing it to people.    I have some other investigative stories coming down the pipeline and may have some surprises next week as well.

Peoples First Financial

ABC 30 in Fresno does a story about Peoples First Financial

http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=6715133

Thanks to our friend Josh for sending it in.   I have been getting alot of complaints about PFF since the 20/20 piece aired.  Please keep these stories coming.  I am building a list of victims and their stories.  I am going to turn it over to the California Attorney General’s office and California DRE.  The more victims and complaints I have the better!  I have another story about them in the works that will be posted this weekend.  

I am looking for people who have had dealings with the Wannabe Used Car Salesmen at Green Credit Solutions.  I have received a number of complaints about them as well.  

Steve

Peoples First Financial

ABC News Confronts Peoples First Financial

ABC News did a segment on 20/20 Friday about shady loan mod companies and used Peoples First Financial as an example.  If you follow the stories on MFI-Mod Squad, you’ll know I already exposed Peoples First Financial as the scam artists they are back on February 10th.   Here’s the written article and video clip from the ABC News  website:

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/Story?id=7132970&page=1

Peoples First Financial

At Peoples First Financial, People Don’t Come First, The Benjamins Do!

Several weeks ago, I received an email from Jon Angers, a homeowner in Holyoke, Massachusetts telling me about how he got ripped off by a shady mod company out of California. I told him there is nothing unusual about that because California seems to be a haven for illegally run loan mod companies but what he told me made angrier than Bill O’Reilly after a debate with Al Franken.

Jon told me he was being forced to move because he lost his house to foreclosure.  Hes said Peoples First Financial didn’t negotiate a mod as they promised him in writing.  Now they keep jerking him around about giving him his $1295.00 upfront fee back.

Jon signed with Peoples First Financial in August of 2008 after their associate Kevin Wilcox claimed he could get him a 5% on a new modified loan and close it in 60 days. Kevin Wilcox also told Jon to forward any calls from Citimortgage directly to Peoples First Financial. After reviewing these emails, leaving countless messages and emails Anir Sani, I began to research Peoples First Financial.

I began my investigation and discovered some rather disturbing things:

• Peoples First Financial is in direct violation of California Department of Real Estate guidelines, which require all modification companies that charge an advance fee to be approved and have their fee agreements approved. Peoples First Financial hasn’t been approved.

              http://www.dre.ca.gov/mlb_adv_fees.html

• Peoples First Financial is currently under a Desist and Refrain order by DRE. The order was filed on 1/7/2009.

             http://www2.dre.ca.gov/PublicASP/pplinfo.asp?License_id=01768177

• California law bars any foreclosure rescue or loan modification company from charging an upfront fee if the client is in default.

             http://www.dre.ca.gov/mlb_adv_fees.html

After discovering this, I asked Massachusetts Attorney Glenn F. Russell, Jr. to represent the Angers pro bono. Mr. Russell then sent several faxes and emails. On February 6, 2009, the Angers received a response from Peoples First Financial, which said that they must fill out a form explaining why they think they are owed a refund and indicating that if one is granted, it would arrive in 6-8 weeks.

 ”This is ridiculous,” says Glenn Russell. “I have never seen a company treat their clients this way. The Angers trusted this company to protect them from losing their home. Now not only are they going to lose their home because of Peoples First Financial, now this company wants to jerk the Angers around about their refund. This is appalling, and I plan on pursuing every legal option available to help the Angers keep their home!”

Peoples First Financial is still conducting business even with the Desist and Refrain Order issued by DRE. I would stay clear.