It pays to have an attentive lawyer when dealing with Countrywide. In breaking news of January 8 Countrywide admitted to fabricating documents related to the bankruptcy case of a Pennsylvania homeowner. Imagine how many similar cases are never identified. In the Countrywide case it is important to note that when the company invented the “letters” at least one was addressed to an office the homeowner did not have at the time. That was the first clue. The second clue was that the homeowner never received any of the letters.

Gretchen Morgenson of the New York Times tells the details. If you ever received an escrow shortfall notice or went through bankruptcy with a Countrywide mortgage you might want to check your paperwork carefully. In this case Countrywide did not object to the bankruptcy, and said the customer was current on their mortgage. Then Countrywide reversed their position, saying the borrower was $4700 past due.