We have heard some pretty crazy foreclosure stories in the past couple years, and this is one of them. Rather than entering the number "8" when paying his mortgage by telephone, a Florida man entered a "0" instead, making his payment off by 80 cents. The mistake ended up nearly costing the man his home.

According to the Tampa Tribune, the Florida man had recently been approved for a loan modification program with his bank, and his payments lowered by $200 per month. However, he was kicked out of the program and threatened with foreclosure when his monthly payment was 80 cents too low.

The man told the Tampa Tribune that he thought it was crazy to lose his home because he had accidentally entered $615.02 rather than $615.82. The man was told by a Bank of America customer service representative to send in a check payment for 80 cents, so he did as instructed.

The man reported that after doing exactly what he was told, the mortgage company cashed his 80 cent check. However, the check was returned the following month with a letter from Bank of America stating that his loan was not eligible for the Fannie Mae modification program because the trial period payments were not fully paid on time.

The United Way also sent him a "home transition guide" that is designed to help prepare homeowners for foreclosure. Stunned, the man called Bank of America to protest the 80 cent foreclosure. A bank representative told a reporter from the Tampa Tribune that the error is being fixed and the man's loan modification is being restored.

The foreclosure process can be a real headache, especially when banks make mistakes and threaten to take away peoples' homes without cause. Homeowners who find themselves in this situation should call an experienced foreclosure defense attorney for assistance.

Source: Yahoo News, "80 cent check typo nearly costs man his home," Eric Pfeiffer, Jan. 5, 2012