CHAMBLEE, Ga.,None — People who sought help with loan modifications at a center in DeKalb County are getting a shock. The location has locked its doors.
"It scares me, my family, my kids," one client said who asked not to be identified.
He says he paid $250 to The Community Business Center in Chamblee for help with a loan modification to save his home from foreclosure.
Now, he feels like he's been left in limbo.
Posted signs on the center's doors warn customers of a temporary closure, alerting them that a man known as "Tony" has been spreading rumors about a police investigation and alarming customers, possibly in an attempt to steal customers from the center.
Another sign said the center will reopen on Feb. 1.
http://bcove.me/9tle0yxz
But customers have been showing up, one after the other, trying to get answers about the status of their loans, fearing that their homes may have been sold at auction this week or could soon be sold.
"I don't know what's going to happen right now, so I have to ... look for a lawyer or something," Alfredo Bustos said, who claims he also paid $250 for loan modification help.
Channel 2's Manuel Bojorquez was able to reach a man listed as the center's owner, Michael King.
He confirmed the reason for the temporary closure was the unknown motive of the man as explained on the sign, but added that in no way is he abandoning customers.
King said the center is non-profit and has successfully helped hundreds of people with legal services for the last five years.
He said the center aims to offer lower-cost legal services to many in the immigrant community who may not be able to afford a lawyer and that no one is guaranteed that their home will be saved.
Customers can reach him by texting a phone number left on one of the posted signs, King said.
He added the center is still working on cases, especially those with looming foreclosure dates, but will not be able to reopen to the public until next month.
Still, many customers are concerned and said they may press police to look into the situation.