"It nearly put me into bankruptcy," he said. He has hired Purdy to get the debt collectors off his back.

In a $25 billion settlement with the state attorneys general last spring, the nation's five largest mortgage lenders agreed to inform borrowers of any decision to forgo or delay a foreclosure. But victim's attorneys said the banks have not been careful about following that policy.

Borrowers can get credit counseling from community advocacy groups, like those affiliated with NeighborWorks America and NCRC. They can call the Mortgage Help Hotline to connect with a counselor near them. The organizations don't charge for their services and they are experienced in working with borrowers in trouble.