BBB Live Foreclosure Prevention Call-In Program In Spanish

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 24, 2009
Contact – Jessica Grodzki, 212-358-2826 | jgrodzki@newyork.bbb.org

BBB Collaborates with Univision and Banco Popular to Produce Second
BBB Live Foreclosure Prevention Call-In Program In Spanish
March 25, 11 AM to 8 PM
1-877-41 A Tu Lado (1-877-412-8852)
www.newyork.bbb.org/protectingyourhome
www.newyork.bbb.org/protejasuvivienda

NEW YORK – March 24, 2009 – In response to the current economic crisis, the BBB Education and Research Foundation of Metropolitan New York, Banco Popular, and Univision 41 (WXTV), a leading Spanish-language TV station, have collaborated to create BBB Live Foreclosure Prevention.  This day-long consumer call-in program is designed for Spanish-speaking homeowners who are seeking information to protect themselves from foreclosure and predatory lending scams.  BBB Live Foreclosure Prevention is made possible in March 2009 with generous support from Banco Popular and the volunteer assistance of many New York area professionals from businesses, nonprofits, legal associations, and government agencies. 

The hotline (1-877-41 A TU LADO, 1-877-412-8852) will be open from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm on Wednesday, March 25th.  The BBB has posted information about scam prevention and locating foreclosure counselors on its website in English at www.newyork.bbb.org/protectingyourhome, with information in Spanish at www.newyork.bbb.org/protejasuvivienda.

On March 25, the BBB Live Foreclosure Prevention phone bank will be staffed with Spanish-speaking volunteers, including foreclosure prevention counselors, attorneys, bankers, and other professionals.  Callers who are concerned about the possibility of foreclosure will be given basic tips about steps to take, and will be referred to no-cost, qualified, foreclosure prevention and housing counseling services in the caller’s area. 

“There are a lot of scammers trying to take advantage of suffering homeowners,” noted BBB President Claire Rosenzweig.  “Watch out if someone asks you to pay a fee for foreclosure help.  Real help is available from qualified nonprofit counselors – and it won’t cost you anything. If you aren’t sure how to contact a genuine foreclosure prevention counselor, call our 1-877-412-8852 hotline on March 25 or contact the BBB at 212-533-7500 for information.”

BBB Live Foreclosure Prevention was created by the BBB’s Hispanic Advisory Committee and is the second such program. The first event in February 2008 prompted heavy call volume.

Volunteers for the March 25, 2009 program have been recruited by the BBB from Banco Popular and non-profit organizations including AARP New York; Brooklyn Housing & Family Services, the Center for New York City Neighborhoods; Goodwill of New York and New Jersey; Neighborhood Housing Services of New York City, North Bronx, South Bronx, and Jamaica; New York Lawyers for the Public Interest; the New York City Bar Association; the New York City Comptroller’s Community Action Center; LawHelp/NY; Long Island Fair Housing Services; and the Latin American Law Students Association.

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Jessica Grodzki | Manager, Information & Investigations

Tel: 212.358.2826
Fax: 212.533.7504
Email: jgrodzki@newyork.bbb.org
www.newyork.bbb.org

Better Business Bureau Serving Metropolitan New York