Mayor Garcetti Helps Promote New Anti-Foreclosure Help Line

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) —  Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti joined with community activists and homeowners Thursday to promote a new, anti-foreclosure help line.

The help line is designed to keep more families in their homes as well as reduce fraud in the foreclosure process.

CBS2's Dave Lopez spoke to people grateful that the help line will help them stay in their homes.

Lopez was there when the mayor talked to the Garr family of 150th Street.

He assured them that they were not alone in their foreclosure battle.

"There are people that sign off, and shuffle the papers and there are phantom signatures," said the mayor, "No bank is innocent. We have seen every single bank be a part of this."

The mayor threw his strong support behind the new hotline -- set up by a non-profit organization.

Community activist Peggy Mers told residents the service is free.

"Do not pay anyone for this service," she said, "it's free services for you if you will just dial 877-881-0878.

Garcetti told residents not to delay calling.

"If you are in trouble, get help now," he said.

The Garrs, who have lived in the home for five years, qualify as being in trouble.

Their nightmare began last spring when they bounced a mortgage payment check.  They thought the matter was resolved.

The family's bank, Wells Fargo, had scheduled a foreclosure hearing for Friday.

When the Garrs applied for a loan modification, they were told they had too much in savings to qualify.

The money was cash Wells Fargo refused to accept when the couple fell two months behind on the mortgage.

Lopez asked if the couple's heads were spinning.

"We're just tired actually," said Charobey Garr.