PA Couple Current On House Payments Found Themselves Facing Foreclosure Anyway; Media Intervention Needed To Straighten Out Lender's Attorney Screw-Up

In Chester County, Pennsylvania, CBS 3 reports:

• Living in the woods of Chester County, Judi and Ed Worrall are used to peace and quiet. But a piece of mail that landed in their mailbox this winter changed all that.It told them their house was in foreclosure and would be put up for sheriff's sale. The only problem: the Worralls aren't behind on their mortgage payments. It's their neighbor who has a problem. But nonetheless, the legal notice listed their address under their neighbor's name.

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• [Judi] was told numerous times the problem would be addressed. "Our office is already aware of the situation," an attorney for the [Phelan, Hallinan and Schmieg law] firm wrote her on March 1. On April 23: "The issue has been addressed," the attorney wrote.

• Yet by May, the Worralls' address was still listed, and the sheriff's sale was scheduled that month. [...] The sale was postponed and again, she was promised a correction. But the June listings showed their address again. That's when Judi called Eyewitness News.

• We called Phelan, Hallinan and Schmieg four times without a call back. So we went there. We were turned away; told all the partners were out. But an e-mail we sent apparently finally got their attention. After a week, a representative told us the sale is cancelled. The incorrect paperwork has been recalled from the sheriff, and the law firm called Judi Worrall to apologize. He could not tell us, however, why it took so long.

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• After three months of trying, and numerous phone calls and e-mails, Judi Worrall still can't believe it took the involvement of Eyewitness News to clear their address.

For the story, see Chester Co. Couple Endures Foreclosure Nightmare.