HAYWARD, Calif. (KGO) — A mortgage relief company in California operating under at least 10 different names is temporarily shut down and its assets frozen under court order. It is accused of bilking homeowners out of millions of dollars.

In this well-manicured neighborhood in Hayward is the home that Abhend Sharma and his wife have lived in for 18 years. He’s been on medical leave, and now fears he might lose his home.

“Ohhh, boy,” Sharma said after a long pause.

He could barely put into words how he is feeling. He saved up for 34 years in order to purchase this home.

MORE: Bay Area widow battles PayPal for $660 from late husband’s account after unclaimed property letter

“This house is everything for us. For me, for my family,” he said.

He turned to Golden Home Services America for mortgage relief. An agreement lists his new interest rate at 1.8%.

That’s a savings of nearly $1,800 a month from his current monthly payment.

“We signed everything. I signed all the paperwork. Whatever they needed. My bank statement and everything,” he said.

Everything they told him was on track for approval.

“So we thought everything would be good because they promised $3,400 a month would be your payment,” Sharma said.

MORE: Moving? Your insurance might not cover damage, theft of a rental truck. Here’s what to check

But after 14 months, final approval still hasn’t come.

Yet Golden Home Services America kept sending him a bill for more fees each month.

“Almost every month they were asking me for money and I was sending it to them. We’re close to about $20,000 I paid to them,” he said.

Suzanne Martindale is an attorney with the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, who filed the complaint along with the Federal Trade Commission.

“Consumers have forked out dollars up front for their services and all those results never materialized, never happens,” Martindale warned. “The complaint we have filed alleges these fees may be illegal.”

7 On Your Side contacted the attorney representing Golden Home Services America and the other companies named in the suit.

MORE: Conforming loans versus jumbo loans: Here’s how you can get lower mortgage rate on bigger loan

He said, “I have no comment at this time. Thank you for your call.” Then he hung up.

“The consumer should be wary about again lofty promises of quick and easy savings with a high-pressure sales tactic to pay an upfront fee,” said Martindale.

Sharma meanwhile is hoping for the best but fearing the worst. “At the moment we are in jeopardy and we don’t know which way we are going to go,” he said.

7 On Your Side assisted Sharma in finding a HUD-certified housing counselor — one that won’t charge upfront fees to assist him in getting his loan refinanced.

Here are the defendants in the case:

• Amstar Service Group
• Atlantic Pacific Service
• Home Matters USA
• Golden Home Services America
• Academy Home Services
• Green Equitable Solutions
• South West Consulting Enterprises, Inc.
• Apex Consulting & Associates, Inc.
• Infocom Entertainment Ltd, Inc.
• Home Relief Service of America
• Roger Scott Dyer
• Dominic Ahiga (aka Michael Dominic Grinnell)

Take a look at more stories and videos by Michael Finney and 7 On Your Side.

7OYS’s consumer hotline is a free consumer mediation service for those in the San Francisco Bay Area. We assist individuals with consumer-related issues; we cannot assist on cases between businesses, or cases involving family law, criminal matters, landlord/tenant disputes, labor issues, or medical issues. Please review our FAQ here. As a part of our process in assisting you, it is necessary that we contact the company / agency you are writing about. If you do not wish us to contact them, please let us know right away, as it will affect our ability to work on your case. Due to the high volume of emails we receive, please allow 3-5 business days for a response.

READY TO CONTACT 7 ON YOUR SIDE?

EMAIL US AT 7OYS@KGO-TV.COM
Please note the address uses the letter “O”, not zeros.

If you’re on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live

Copyright © 2022 KGO-TV. All rights reserved.

The post Tens of millions taken from distressed householders as CA mortgage aid firm Golden House Companies America accused of criminal activity appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

HAYWARD, Calif. (KGO) — A mortgage relief company in California operating under at least 10 different names is temporarily shut down and its assets frozen under court order. It is accused of bilking homeowners out of millions of dollars.

In this well-manicured neighborhood in Hayward is the home that Abhend Sharma and his wife have lived in for 18 years. He’s been on medical leave, and now fears he might lose his home.

“Ohhh, boy,” Sharma said after a long pause.

He could barely put into words how he is feeling. He saved up for 34 years in order to purchase this home.

MORE: Bay Area widow battles PayPal for $660 from late husband’s account after unclaimed property letter

“This house is everything for us. For me, for my family,” he said.

He turned to Golden Home Services America for mortgage relief. An agreement lists his new interest rate at 1.8%.

That’s a savings of nearly $1,800 a month from his current monthly payment.

“We signed everything. I signed all the paperwork. Whatever they needed. My bank statement and everything,” he said.

Everything they told him was on track for approval.

“So we thought everything would be good because they promised $3,400 a month would be your payment,” Sharma said.

MORE: Moving? Your insurance might not cover damage, theft of a rental truck. Here’s what to check

But after 14 months, final approval still hasn’t come.

Yet Golden Home Services America kept sending him a bill for more fees each month.

“Almost every month they were asking me for money and I was sending it to them. We’re close to about $20,000 I paid to them,” he said.

Suzanne Martindale is an attorney with the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, who filed the complaint along with the Federal Trade Commission.

“Consumers have forked out dollars up front for their services and all those results never materialized, never happens,” Martindale warned. “The complaint we have filed alleges these fees may be illegal.”

7 On Your Side contacted the attorney representing Golden Home Services America and the other companies named in the suit.

MORE: Conforming loans versus jumbo loans: Here’s how you can get lower mortgage rate on bigger loan

He said, “I have no comment at this time. Thank you for your call.” Then he hung up.

“The consumer should be wary about again lofty promises of quick and easy savings with a high-pressure sales tactic to pay an upfront fee,” said Martindale.

Sharma meanwhile is hoping for the best but fearing the worst. “At the moment we are in jeopardy and we don’t know which way we are going to go,” he said.

7 On Your Side assisted Sharma in finding a HUD-certified housing counselor — one that won’t charge upfront fees to assist him in getting his loan refinanced.

Here are the defendants in the case:

• Amstar Service Group
• Atlantic Pacific Service
• Home Matters USA
• Golden Home Services America
• Academy Home Services
• Green Equitable Solutions
• South West Consulting Enterprises, Inc.
• Apex Consulting & Associates, Inc.
• Infocom Entertainment Ltd, Inc.
• Home Relief Service of America
• Roger Scott Dyer
• Dominic Ahiga (aka Michael Dominic Grinnell)

Take a look at more stories and videos by Michael Finney and 7 On Your Side.

7OYS’s consumer hotline is a free consumer mediation service for those in the San Francisco Bay Area. We assist individuals with consumer-related issues; we cannot assist on cases between businesses, or cases involving family law, criminal matters, landlord/tenant disputes, labor issues, or medical issues. Please review our FAQ here. As a part of our process in assisting you, it is necessary that we contact the company / agency you are writing about. If you do not wish us to contact them, please let us know right away, as it will affect our ability to work on your case. Due to the high volume of emails we receive, please allow 3-5 business days for a response.

READY TO CONTACT 7 ON YOUR SIDE?

EMAIL US AT 7OYS@KGO-TV.COM
Please note the address uses the letter “O”, not zeros.

If you’re on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live

Copyright © 2022 KGO-TV. All rights reserved.

The post Hundreds of thousands taken from distressed owners as CA mortgage reduction firm Golden Residence Companies America accused of criminal activity appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

HAYWARD, Calif. (KGO) — A mortgage relief company in California operating under at least 10 different names is temporarily shut down and its assets frozen under court order. It is accused of bilking homeowners out of millions of dollars.

In this well-manicured neighborhood in Hayward is the home that Abhend Sharma and his wife have lived in for 18 years. He’s been on medical leave, and now fears he might lose his home.

“Ohhh, boy,” Sharma said after a long pause.

He could barely put into words how he is feeling. He saved up for 34 years in order to purchase this home.

MORE: Bay Area widow battles PayPal for $660 from late husband’s account after unclaimed property letter

“This house is everything for us. For me, for my family,” he said.

He turned to Golden Home Services America for mortgage relief. An agreement lists his new interest rate at 1.8%.

That’s a savings of nearly $1,800 a month from his current monthly payment.

“We signed everything. I signed all the paperwork. Whatever they needed. My bank statement and everything,” he said.

Everything they told him was on track for approval.

“So we thought everything would be good because they promised $3,400 a month would be your payment,” Sharma said.

MORE: Moving? Your insurance might not cover damage, theft of a rental truck. Here’s what to check

But after 14 months, final approval still hasn’t come.

Yet Golden Home Services America kept sending him a bill for more fees each month.

“Almost every month they were asking me for money and I was sending it to them. We’re close to about $20,000 I paid to them,” he said.

Suzanne Martindale is an attorney with the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, who filed the complaint along with the Federal Trade Commission.

“Consumers have forked out dollars up front for their services and all those results never materialized, never happens,” Martindale warned. “The complaint we have filed alleges these fees may be illegal.”

7 On Your Side contacted the attorney representing Golden Home Services America and the other companies named in the suit.

MORE: Conforming loans versus jumbo loans: Here’s how you can get lower mortgage rate on bigger loan

He said, “I have no comment at this time. Thank you for your call.” Then he hung up.

“The consumer should be wary about again lofty promises of quick and easy savings with a high-pressure sales tactic to pay an upfront fee,” said Martindale.

Sharma meanwhile is hoping for the best but fearing the worst. “At the moment we are in jeopardy and we don’t know which way we are going to go,” he said.

7 On Your Side assisted Sharma in finding a HUD-certified housing counselor — one that won’t charge upfront fees to assist him in getting his loan refinanced.

Here are the defendants in the case:

• Amstar Service Group
• Atlantic Pacific Service
• Home Matters USA
• Golden Home Services America
• Academy Home Services
• Green Equitable Solutions
• South West Consulting Enterprises, Inc.
• Apex Consulting & Associates, Inc.
• Infocom Entertainment Ltd, Inc.
• Home Relief Service of America
• Roger Scott Dyer
• Dominic Ahiga (aka Michael Dominic Grinnell)

Take a look at more stories and videos by Michael Finney and 7 On Your Side.

7OYS’s consumer hotline is a free consumer mediation service for those in the San Francisco Bay Area. We assist individuals with consumer-related issues; we cannot assist on cases between businesses, or cases involving family law, criminal matters, landlord/tenant disputes, labor issues, or medical issues. Please review our FAQ here. As a part of our process in assisting you, it is necessary that we contact the company / agency you are writing about. If you do not wish us to contact them, please let us know right away, as it will affect our ability to work on your case. Due to the high volume of emails we receive, please allow 3-5 business days for a response.

READY TO CONTACT 7 ON YOUR SIDE?

EMAIL US AT 7OYS@KGO-TV.COM
Please note the address uses the letter “O”, not zeros.

If you’re on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live

Copyright © 2022 KGO-TV. All rights reserved.

The post Tens of millions taken from distressed householders as CA mortgage reduction firm Golden Dwelling Providers America accused of criminal activity appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

The San Andreas Fault is an 800-mile-long sliding tectonic boundary between the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate. It cleaves California from north to south, as the two tectonic plates slowly grind against each other, threatening to give rise to massive earthquakes.

San Andreas comprises three major sections which can move independently. In the southern and the northern sections, the plates are locked most of the time, causing stresses to build over years, decades, or even centuries, and occasionally leading to large earthquakes, such as the catastrophic one from San Francisco in 1906 that had a magnitude of 7.9 and killed over 3,000 people.

In the central section though, which separates the other two, the plates slip past each other slowly, at a steady 26 millimeters rate each year. Until recently, scientists thought that this so-called “aseismic creep” prevents stresses from building and does not lead to large earthquakes.

However, a new study published in the journal Geology suggests that this central creeping section of the San Andreas Fault has in fact hosted many major earthquakes throughout history, some of them possibly happening fairly recently. By using novel chemical-analysis methods to calculate the degrees of heating that the sedimentary rocks withstood in the distant past – a sign that earthquakes took place there – the researchers argue that the creep may have witnessed over 100 earthquakes during its history. Some of these quakes may have been even larger than the disastrous 1906 San Francisco one.

“The creeping section is a difficult place to do Paleoseismology, because evidence for earthquakes can be easily erased by the creep,” said Morgan Page, a seismologist at the US Geological Survey. “If this holds up, this is the first evidence of a big seismic rupture in this part of the fault.”

“Ultimately, our work points to the potential for higher magnitude earthquakes in central California and highlights the importance of including the central (San Andreas Fault) and other creeping faults in seismic hazard analysis,” the study authors added.

However, according to the researchers, although massive earthquakes did occur along the creep and thus they could happen again, since tectonic strain is not currently accumulating at significant rates in the area, no such disastrous events are foreseen in the near future.

“People should not be alarmed,” concluded study co-author Stephen Cox, a geologist at Columbia University. “Building codes in California are now quite good. Seismic events are inevitable. Work like this helps us figure out what is the biggest possible event, and helps everyone prepare.”

—

By Andrei Ionescu, Earth.com Staff Writer

The post Sluggish-moving part of the San Andreas Fault may produce main exercise • Earth.com appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.