Unemployment is expected to rise in the Rockford area.. meaning more homeowners will be out of a job.. and unable to make their mortgage payments.No doubt.. many will try to get their mortgage modified.. but as 23 News Economic Reporter Kristin Burke tell us.. some are losing more than they bargained for during that process.

Art Lehmann owned this Rockford home for five years and never had a problem paying his 500 dollar mortgage.And then.. the recession hit .

" I live week by week and with the economy the way it is I did the best I could."

Lehmann thought he was doing the right thing when he reached out to his lender Citi mortgage for help. That was last May after falling eight months behind on payments.

"They had stated to me there was some workable solution and she told me i was approved to move it to the end of the note."

Lehmann returned the agreement a week later and thought he was on the path towards financial relief.

" I got a confirmation saying they had received all of my documents.

" For several months he says he didn't receive his mortgage bill. Despite many calls over the period. Lehmann says he never got anyone who knew how to help. It was October when he finally connected to someone in the know.. but then it was too late... Eviction proceedings had begun.

Lehmann believes he is one of the thousands of local homeowners whose claims have fallen through the cracks due to backlogs and delays by lenders.

"I called them I got the runaround .I asked the person's name they wouldn't give it to me."

Lehmann says he won't give up his fight until he gets his home back.. but wants Citi to hold up its end of the deal.

In Rockford Kristin Burke 23 News Right Now.

A spokesperson for Citi mortgage says the company doesn't comment on individual cases. However, that spokesperson adds that they do try to help all of their customers.