One Strange Way to Try to Avoid Foreclosure
I don’t know if you read or heard about this.
The Associated Press reported that on April 30 agents for the U S Postal Service confronted a Michigan postal carrier. He had a postal route in a rural area north of Detroit. They said that he stole nearly $20,000 of postage stamps. He was charged with stealing stamps that the postal service was shipping to retail merchants on his route.
The postal carrier, John Auito, said that he started to steal these stamps in September of 2008. He sold them to people who participated in stamp auctions on EBay. He sold the stamps for 15% less than their value.
When asked why he stole the stamps, he said that he feared foreclosure on his home and used the money he got for the stamps to make his mortgage payments.
Some people will do some strange things to try to save their home from foreclosure. This is one of the strangest stories that I have heard so far.
I wonder if Mr. Auito consulted with anyone about what steps he might take to save his home from foreclosure. Did he know that he might qualify for a loan modification and that his monthly payment might be reduced to a level he could afford to make without stealing the stamps? Did he check with a lawyer to see how they might help him?
Apparently he did not. It looks like he tried to handle it on his own. He came up with a way that was available to him and that just might save his home.
Now he is facing prison time and will have a felony on his record. Look at the impact on him and his family.
If you are facing foreclosure, please don’t try to take matters into your own hands. Consult with someone. Contact a lawyer or an expert in dealing with foreclosures. Explain your situation to them and find out what options are open to you. You may find out that your situation is not as severe as you think. You may be able to stop the foreclosure and save your home more easily than you think.
Much Success,
Mark Elkins
