Date Received: 2018-03-29
Issue: Struggling to pay mortgage
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: In XX/XX/XXXX my husband lost his job due to a company merger. We immediately initiated the process for unemployment insurance and also started the mortgage forbearance process with Freedom Mortgage to ensure we did not lose our home. Since XX/XX/XXXX, I have had to submit additional information five times to comply with the more stringent standards of our FHA loan, and I did this willingly. However, several of the requests were for pay stubs ( mine and my husband 's unemployment payments ) for the most recent 30 day time period because time had lapsed between Freedom submitting the information to the underwriters and the information was considered out of date. Each time I called about this, I was assured by a Freedom representative that this would be the last time the information was delayed and that our forbearance packet was complete and would be submitted. Low and behold it is the end of XX/XX/XXXX and we are still on this stressful merry-go-round except we are back to square one. Freedom Mortgage lagged once again in getting everything to the underwriter and the entire submission expired. I now have to resubmit all documentation and include updated items. I was also told that I should call every day to check on the status - I will do this, but I really hold no hope in this helping.
Company Response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
State: MA
Zip: 019XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-03-29
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-03-28
Issue: Trouble during payment process
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: My mortgage provider, Freedom Mortage, has refused to cancel my PMI now that the LTV is below 78 %. They are demanding that I get an appraisal and that the percentage of automatic removal is based on the age of the loan. In accordance with the Homeowners Protection Act and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, they are required to cancel my PMI at 78 % of original value at anytime it occurs. Per Freedom mortgage, the principal balance on the loan is {$230000.00} and original appraised value is {$300000.00} XXXX although it would be even higher than that now ). But even with these numbers, it is an LTV of 75.9 %. I originally requested removal of PMI in XX/XX/XXXX/XX/XX/XXXX. At that time, I was told that it would be automatically removed in XX/XX/XXXX. This did not happen. I called back in XX/XX/XXXX and in XX/XX/XXXX, and I was told they would start the process. Once again, nothing happened. On XX/XX/XXXX, I spoke with XXXX ( employee ID XXXX ). He said, and I quote, for some reason, the PMI removal process didnt start on its own when it was supposed to. He and his supervisor, XXXX, assured me that two things would happen : 1 ) PMI would be removed by XX/XX/XXXX ( 5 days from the phone call ) and 2 ) due to this being Freedom Mortgages error, wed be credited the amount that we overpaid our PMI ( IE the amount of PMI paid from the time the LTV hit 78 % to present ). XXXX said he wasnt sure if we would be reimbursed via a check or directly through our escrow, but he would have the cashiering department contact me about that. Once again, nothing happened. On XX/XX/XXXX, I received a letter stating : for loans aged between 2 and 5 years, the LTV has to be below 75 %. We have had a loan longer than 5 years on this home, but just not through Freedom Mortgage. Please note, it was NOT by our request that Freedom Mortgage took this loan over. They simply bought the loan from our previous provider, XXXX. We should NOT be penalized for something we had no control over, and quite frankly, didnt even want. We have never had a late payment, and weve specifically been paying extra toward our principal to get PMI removed more quickly. On XX/XX/XXXX, I called back again. I was told that PMI would be automatically removed in XX/XX/XXXX because that was the schedule, based on minimum payments, for it to fall off. When I inquired about the fact that Ive been paying extra principal for years in order to get it removed more quickly, I was very rudely told ( by XXXX, employee ID XXXX ), in so many words, that it is only 8 more months of PMI that I have to pay and to just XXXX it up. Based on LTV, weve been wrongly paying {$110.00} of PMI for the past 13 months, and according to Freedom Mortgage, will have to continue this for another 7 months. That is {$2300.00} ( $ XXXX ) of overpayment that I should be reimbursed for. Thank you
Company Response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
State: IA
Zip: 503XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-03-28
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-03-28
Issue: Trouble during payment process
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: My name is XXXX XXXX and my mortgage was transferred from XXXX to Freedom Mortgage XXXX XXXX of XXXX and somehow the property tax for the XXXX XXXX of XXXX was not paid by Freedom Mortgage. When I came to know about this in XX/XX/XXXX, I faxed the property tax bill ( for a property tax of {$3300.00} which included {$220.00} as interest/penalties if paid in XXXX ) and have been checking at least once in 2 weeks and all I got the response from them is they are working to pay it out. First I was told it will be settled by end of XXXX On reaching Freedom Mortgage over the phone as it was not paid in XXXX, they said it will be settled soon. I got a letter from XXXX County that the property will be put up on sale if the taxes are not paid. Again on reaching Freedom Mortgage over the phone on XX/XX/XXXX, the representative noted, it will be settled on XX/XX/XXXX ( now the property tax with penalty increased to {$3400.00}. {$270.00} as interest/penalty ). To my surprise, the property taxes were not paid on XX/XX/XXXX. I called the XXXX county office and they confirmed that the taxes are still not paid. I called Freedom Mortgage again on XX/XX/XXXX and even talked with a manager of Freedom Mortgage and he noted that it will be settled and I will get a call from Freedom Mortgage. No call received from Freedom Mortgage and I am completely blindsided as what is happening. To ensure I am on the good books of the government, I am planning to go to the XXXX County office and remit the Property Taxes directly on XX/XX/XXXX. I feel that I and my family are getting stressed out for something which we should not be worrying and as a customer who has paid all the mortgage payments for the last 5+ years on time, facing such an issue is something which could have been avoided by Freedom Mortgage on time if the correct process were in place for analyzing customer complaints. Property Tax bill attached Note : I have given authorization to my husband " XXXX XXXX '' to talk with Freedom Mortgage on my behalf and he has been talking with Freedom Mortgage with regard to paying the property taxes which are due.
Company Response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
State: MD
Zip: 21043
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-03-28
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-03-27
Issue: Trouble during payment process
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: The current loan with Freedom Mortgage corporation was acquired from another mortgage company a couple of months ago. My mortgage payment is due by the first of each month, grace period until XXXX. I use the Autopay of my bank on XXXX of each month. I checked with my bank and was told that my bank usually mail out checks a few days ahead. Freedom Mortgage deposited the checks on XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX. I received the late payment charge for XXXX and again on XXXX. I called Freedom Mortgage several occasions for the problem. They always blamed the USPS not very reliable, which may not be true. Finally one person from Freedom Mortgage admitted that their system was down so that they could not process payments on time. They reluctantly waived my late charges and warned me that they would not waive any more. The mortgage company put unnecessary burdens and blame on a borrower for a problem of their own.
Company Response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
State: TX
Zip: 782XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-03-27
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-03-25
Issue: Trouble during payment process
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: I wish to file a complaint against Freedom Mortgage Company. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, NJ XXXX United States Lender NMLS ID : XXXX The companys handling of my simple request for a payoff of my deceased mothers mortgage has been despicable. I have provided the company with the documentation requested including death certificate and letters testamentary showing me as the legal and only executor of my mothers estate. It feels very much as though, for some reason, the company is stalling. Interest is, of course, accruing as this process drags on. Their total and complete lack of compassion is astounding, nay repugnant. I have spoken with no fewer than five of their employees including a supervisor and I still have received no information regarding the payoff amount. I actually spoke to one Freedom Mortgage representative who told me that, DESPITE THE FACT THAT SHE WAS AT THAT MOMENT IN POSSESSION OF AND PHYSICALLY VIEWING ALL OF THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS, my request for a payoff amount of the loan would have to go to yet another department. The company has caused us to miss the closing date of XX/XX/XXXX and now threatens to cause us to miss the new scheduled closing date of XX/XX/XXXX. I appreciate any assistance you may be able to provide.
Company Response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
State: TX
Zip: 77096
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-03-25
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-03-23
Issue: Trouble during payment process
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: My mortgage was sold to Freedom Mortgage company. In the course of less than 6 months, Freedom Mortgage company has repeatedly mismanaged my escrow account which has lead to 1 ) a shortage in my escrow account to cover home property taxes 2 ) an inaccurate escrow evaluation on XX/XX/XXXX in spite of accurate state tax information that is available online and that I also provided via fax on XX/XX/XXXX, and 3 ) refusal to correct the inaccurate escrow evaluation in a timely manner and communicate changes to me. I have made multiple phone calls to Customer Service both before and after requesting an escrow evaluation be completed on XX/XX/XXXX. During that call, I was told I had to provide my property tax information, which I did on XX/XX/XXXX and received an email stating that it may take up to 30 days to address my questions. No correspondence was received within that timeframe. I called Customer Service again on XX/XX/XXXX and requested an escalation of my request. I was told that I would receive an updated escrow analysis by early XX/XX/XXXX, which would be in effect for the XX/XX/XXXX payment. On XX/XX/XXXX, I logged into my account online to pay the mortgage due by XX/XX/XXXX and found an amount due that was greater than the amount on my XX/XX/XXXX statement. I made a call to Customer Service, who told me that there was an escrow analysis completed on XX/XX/XXXX and that the payment would be in effect for XX/XX/XXXX. I pointed out to her that this was in direct conflict with what I was told when I called on XX/XX/XXXX, and that no updated document was posted online nor mailed to me. This company has failed repeatedly to handle my escrow account appropriately or communicate changes. Their incompetence has caused me to spend multiple hours on the phone with Customer Service while my escrow account continues to be under-funded and mismanaged. How can I as a consumer request a change to my mortgage lender? I would never, ever, choose this company for any service.
Company Response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
State: WI
Zip: 53207
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-03-23
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-03-23
Issue: Incorrect information on your report
Subissue: Account status incorrect
Consumer Complaint: I had a loan with Freedom Mortgage ( Loan # : XXXX ). For the past 4-5 months I have been going back and forth with them about notices I had been getting for a late payment. I called them 5-6 times and showed them bank records proving I was not delinquent and they kept telling me that I was right and that I had never been late. According to the reps I spoke to they had been applying my payments incorrectly causing it to look like I was late. After telling me it was fixed and taken care of numerous times I checked my credit to find out my score had dropped 150 points because they reported me as delinquent. This happened right as I was in the middle of buying a new house. Luckily the new mortgage company had already approved me but this could have been disastrous. They finally got it fixed a month or so later and my credit report was ok until XX/XX/XXXX when they reported me delinquent to XXXX again making my score drop back down. I have filed a dispute and am waiting to get it fixed.
Company Response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
State: GA
Zip: 30188
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-03-23
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-03-22
Issue: Trouble during payment process
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: Freedom Mortgage bought my account from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX several months ago and it has been nothing but a debacle since they started servicing the loan. This complaint is specific to how they are setting up bi-weekly auto payments ( not how they keep calling me to refinance even though I've requested no more calls ). Over the last 4 months they have had to reverse and reapply payments 6 times due to their errors and now I can't keep up with what is accurate. A major UDAAP concern because at this point I'm completely lost and so are the agents that I speak with. Summary of events : XXXX XXXXXXXX - I set up bi-weekly payments. In order to do this I had to pay my loan ahead by one month which I did. I used the system to set up the bi-weekly payments, but it was very confusing because it does not clearly state what they payment amount will be. I called customer service and they informed me that I have to act as if it is a bi-monthly payment and double the amount of what I actually want coming out bi-weekly ( confusing, right? ). For example, I want to pay exactly {$2000.00} every Monday after I get paid ( bi-weekly ). In order to do this, I have to put in the system that I want my payment amount to be {$4000.00}. In a nutshell, I have to put a monthly amount that will be calculated bi-monthly, but taken out bi-weekly. Confusing, but I was fine with it and the agent was actually very helpful. XXXX XXXX - I noticed that my first 'new ' bi-weekly auto-draft was the same amount as the old monthly auto-draft ( should have been {$2000.00}, but it was {$1900.00} ). I then noticed that there was no difference in the breakdown of how principle, interest or escrow were being applied. I called customer service and they explained to me that the first payment of the month should cover the actual payment and then the second or third payment will be principle only. I asked why the first payment didn't take half of the payment amount, apply the rest to principle and then take the second payment to cover the rest. Obviously, any time there is a third payment it should go to principle only. She informed me that I could set it up this way and that it could save interest, but that they would have to put in a ticket and manually set it up. She said that this would have to be a 'special request ' which I found odd, but didn't question it. A few days later - I called customer service again because they reversed and replied the payment, but the actual breakdown of what money was applied to principle, interest and escrow was not on the website. I again explained the whole scenario over again and several " tickets '' were put in the system to 'fix ' the issue. About a week later - I check my account and notice that payment of roughly {$1400.00} was applied to the account ( I have no earthly idea where this {$1400.00} number came from ). It was broken out into {$970.00} for " Payment '' and {$510.00} for " Principle Payment ''. I called customer service once again and immediately asked for a manager. I was informed that no manager was available to speak to me but that they could send me over to the escalation unit. I spoke with " XXXX '' for about 50 minutes explaining the whole scenario once again clearly articulating that I want {$2000.00} drafted from my account on a bi-weekly basis on the Monday after I get paid. At this point, I actually felt pretty good that the issues were going to be resolved. XXXX put in more tickets and seemed to be helpful. XXXX did confirm that the way the initial bi-weekly auto draft was set up incorrectly. We went over the summary multiple times which was the following : - {$2000.00} to be draft bi-weekly - {$970.00} of that payment will go to the monthly payment ( to cover principle, interest & escrow ) - The additional {$1000.00} will go to principle only Lastly, I was informed that I should go ahead and plan on calling in or checking my account on XX/XX/XXXX which should be a principle only payment. The agent was not confident that the system would allocate funds correctly. Today ( XX/XX/18 ) - I go look at my account and I immediately notice two things. 1. The " Principle Payment '' of {$510.00} was reversed and reapplied as " Payment ''. 2. The next draft amount is only {$1000.00}. In regards to # 1 above, I am completely lost as to what payments I've made have gone to principle vs. interest. I'm highly confident that Freedom Mortgage might be double dipping interest because they already took out the full monthly interest earlier in the month and now they are taking out more interest ( I'm assuming they are taking more interest since it is " Payment '' instead of " Principle '' being applied and i can't see a breakdown of what amount is being applied to where ). In regards to # 2 above, I'm fairly confident that Freedom associates are setting up auto bi-weekly payments of {$2000.00} as I have requested. However, their servicing system breaks that in half ( as explained above ).
Company Response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
State: SC
Zip: 293XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-03-22
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-03-21
Issue: Applying for a mortgage or refinancing an existing mortgage
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: In final review step 2 it says I didn't contact Freedom Mtg to resolve but I did. Trying to edit step 2 to change that to a " yes '' said all would be wiped clear so I left it as No. Clicked on a link reported to provide current mortgage rates. Ended up starting an application with Freedom Mortgage while we were driving from Connecticut to XXXX. We lost cell coverage and never completed the application. My wife and I got letters in the mail saying that our application was denied. There was a block to be checked " Credit Application Incomplete '' but it wasn't checked. There was a box checked on page 1 that said the denial was based upon credit report information. On the second page a box was checked saying that our credit score was used in making the decision. We both have scores over 790 which Freedom Mortgage reported verbally was excellent. There were also comments typed in, " Amount owed on revolving accounts is too high '' and " Too many inquiries last 12 months ''. I called to complain that I didn't want a negative report making judgement about our balances when they didn't even know our income. I only wanted a letter stating that the application was never completed. They took the forms and checked the block on page 1 showing the application was never completed. But they didn't un-check the blocks related to the credit report, scores, or remove the comments. They said XXXX put those comments there. I called XXXX and they said they don't establish standards for credit approval or denial. I went back to Freedom Mortgage and they insisted they couldn't remove the notes. I told Freedom Mortgage that I was going to submit this complaint.
Company Response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
State: CT
Zip: 068XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-03-21
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2018-03-21
Issue: Trouble during payment process
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: We are having trouble with Freedom Mortgage Company making payment for our property taxes from our escrow account. On XX/XX/XXXX, I contacted freedom mortgage through email asking for our taxes to be paid and for a response about why they had not been paid. I received a response to add a loan number for clarification. On XX/XX/XXXX, I emailed again providing our loan number for clarification, and another request for taxes to be paid. At that time, I again mentioned that our taxes were late and had not been paid. I still received no response. The only response that I received was an automated response form letter that said I should hear back soon. On XX/XX/XXXX, I received a certified letter from the City of XXXX warning that our property taxes would be sent to tax lien on XX/XX/XXXX. I immediately called Freedom Mortgage to ask why the taxes had not been paid. At this time, I spoke to a woman named XXXX who said she would open a new ticket. She could see that I had a ticket already submitted but that nothing had been done on it. I submitted the new ticket and added all documentation. After waiting 24 hours, I decided to check in on the status of my request. This time, I spoke with a man named XXXX. I told XXXX my situation and he told me that he could not see any of the documents I had sent. He said they must not have been uploaded yet to the Freedom Mortgage site from my emails. I immediately asked to speak to a supervisor, and I was told that I was not able to speak with a supervisor, rather, that he could solve my problem. After outlining my problem, and asking for my taxes to be paid from my escrow account, I was told that he can not guarantee anything but he would put in a ticket. I then asked to speak to the tax department, and was told that the tax department does not have a phone number. He told me he could not transfer me to them either, as there is no direct line. He continued to say that I was speaking to the right person. I asked him to talk to his supervisor and was not given access. He then spoke with his supervisor, as I requested to get my ticket expedited, as our property will go to tax lien in less than a month. I was told that there is no such thing as expediting a ticket. After complaining many times and threatening to go to both HUD and the XXXX XXXX XXXX, I was told that they may be able to give me an answer by next Tuesday but they could make no promises. It was at this time that I decided to issue a complaint with XXXX XXXX. At no time, has anyone apologized for these issues or non-payment of my taxes. I have also received no explanation as to why they were not paid. I was told that {$10.00} was paid on XX/XX/XXXX. The City of XXXX has no record of this payment. The total amount in our escrow account is almost 3 times the amount due in taxes, yet Freedom Mortgage can not make payment or provide any answers.
Company Response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
State: NH
Zip: 038XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2018-03-21
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A