Ohio Bank In Hot Water For Foreclosing On Wrong Home, Won’t Fully Compensate Homeowner
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An Ohio bank admits it accidentally foreclosed on the wrong home, with its foreclosure cleaning crew cleaning the homeowner’s belongings out and changing her locks. However, when homeowner Katie Barnett asked for $18,000 to replace all her stuff, First National Bank of Wellston balked at the idea and offered her a lower price.
Katie Barnett said she had left with her family for a two-week vacation, only to come home unable to get in. She said she climbed into the window of her home to find her belongings gone. Barnett said what was taken was two dressers, clothing for all of her children, patio furniture, parts and engines to cars and more.
Tony Thomas, the bank’s chief executive officer, said the bank is admitting it made a huge mistake but challenges the validity of Barnett’s claim. He said nothing like this has happened before and it was a big mistake on the bank’s part.
Thorne said the missing items Barnett presented to the bank do not match the list of items the employees – removing the items marked – were taken. He told Barnett the bank was willing to settle with her as soon as the discrepancies have been cleared up.
Barnett said she’s hired an attorney and intends on suing the bank. She said she didn’t have a yard sale for the bank to come in and make an offer for her stuff. Barnett said her stuff was taken and she wants it back.
She said the bank asked her to produce receipts for the stuff the bank took. She told them she didn’t keep receipts and, even if she did, where did they think she’d keep them. With the stuff that was taken, she said.
So, how did this big mistake occur? It happened because a home across the street from Barnett’s was in foreclosure and the GPS the bank was using led the repossession crew to her home instead.
She said the crew assumed they were in the right location – not verifying the address – by the grass not being mowed while she was on vacation.
Even worse is when Barnett called to make a report to the police, only to be told later on that the police won’t get involved and that the matter is closed.
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