Foreclosure Flap: Bank Seizes Wrong House, Sells Owner's Possessions
Talk about an unexpected surprise when you get back in town.
Katie Barnett says that the First National Bank in Wellston foreclosed on her house, even though it was not her bank.
“They repossessed my house on accident, thinking it was the house across the street,” Barnett said.
Barnett, who had been away from the house for about two weeks, said she had to crawl through the window of her own house in order to get in after she used her own key that did not work.
Some of the items in her house had been hauled away, others were sold, given away and trashed.
Even worse, although the bank acknowledges the error, they're refusing to pay for her to replace her belongings.
She presented him with an $18,000 estimate to replace the losses, but the president refused to pay.
“He got very firm with me and said, ‘We’re not paying you retail here, that’s just the way it is,’” Barnett said. “I did not tell them to come in my house and make me an offer. They took my stuff and I want it back.”
The shock of having her house broken into and belongings taken by mistake has now turned into anger.
“Now, I’m just angry,” Barnett said. “It wouldn’t be a big deal if they would step up and say ‘I’m sorry, we will replace your stuff.’ Instead, I’m getting attitude from them. They’re sarcastic when they talk to me. They make it sound like I’m trying to rip the bank off. All I want is my stuff back.”
If the bank is smart, they'll cut her the check and head this thing off before it goes to court. If they don't, I won't be surprised if they end up shelling out quite a bit more than the $18,000 she's asking for.
The bank sold her stuff; the bank needs to replace it, and the bank's President ought to be apologizing personally and offering to deliver the items himself.