Date Received: 2016-03-20
Issue: Loan modification,collection,foreclosure
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: My mortgage issues began back in 2010. XXXX lost his job and all financial obligations fell on me. My the husband and I decided to file bankruptcy to fix our financial situation. A year later we were divorcing and I came out of the bankruptcy filing. My ex husband continued with filing Chp XXXX. Once we divorced, my husband decided that he did not want to leave our home, so I left. My husbands attorney advised him not to make house payments b/c he had discovered that our loan was apart of the XXXX financial situation. So my ex husband continued to stay in the home and not make payments. Fast forward XXXX 3 years, my ex husband decides that he no longer wants the responsibility of the home and decides to give me back ownership of the home. Now, I try to decide how to pick up the pieces to pay my mortgage so I can keep my home. I contact Specialized Loan Services, LLC because they are now the servicer for my home loan. I contact them and try to figure out if I can refinance my home. They inform I ca n't refinance the loan b/c it 's in default. So I inquire what I need to do to make payments based on my income alone. They tell me to get a Quit Claim Deed showing that my husband has released his rights to the home. I get this done per their request and send a copy to them. They then have me complete a modification packet to see if I qualify for a loan modification. I do qualify and the send me a 3 month trial payment period. I pay the loan for 3 months and they send me an updated packet with my loan terms and new payment. I begin to make payments in the amount of XXXX dollars. This is great in my eyes and Iw as so excited to see that I was approved for a HARP loan to keep my home. Months later I receive a letter stating that my loan mod has been denied because they needed my ex-husbands signature. Not sure why at this point but I meet with him to get him to complete the paperwork showing he has filed bankruptcy and his signature is provided. Once again I submit this information to SLS. They confirm that this is not enough and now wants me to get a new divorce decree showing that the judge has now given me ownership of the home. I try to get the divorce decree amended. I have the ex husband sign the documents and get them notarized to take downtown. I ca n't get a new divorce decree. I have now hired and attorney b/c SLS has now put my home in foreclosure status. I attend the first court date and they extend my hearing for sixty days. I am almost 9 months XXXX at this time and when I return after the sixty day time period, my attorney misses the court appearance due to sickness and follows up with SLS attorney, XXXX XXXX XXXX. They confirmed they would give me a new modification and then later that night came back and said no and then posted a sale date. My attorney contested it and then they posted a bond hearing of XXXX dollars that I did n't think was fair and I did n't pay it so they proceeded with the sale date. They then gave an extension on the sale date and extended it by 2wks. I feel like this entire process is mortgage fraud. The bank and the servicer are clearly trying to make money. This has affected my credit in every way. I now have almost a XXXX dollar credit status on my credit report for late fees on a XXXX dollar loan, which is crazy. I would have loved to been able to keep my home and make payments. This company has so many complaints online of how they have messed up people 's loan, foreclosed on their homes and taken their money. I am a person who is willing to pay their debt and I feel like I was totally taken advantage of in this situation. I have bad credit and no home, so how can I now mover forward to rebuild because I will now have a foreclosure on my credit report. Please help! I want my house back.
Company Response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
State: NC
Zip: 27616
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2016-03-20
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: No
Date Received: 2016-03-20
Issue: Loan servicing, payments, escrow account
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: I have always paid my bills on time. In XXXX, however, my business suffered a severe financial crisis and had to declare chapter XXXX. My HELOC was discharged but we wanted to keep the house and so since then I have been working very hard day and night and have been paying my bills on time. I voluntarily caught up the payments on my HELOC in XXXX and then it was sold to a serving company who resold it to SLS. I have continued making on time voluntary interest payments for the past 5 years and have never missed a payment or been late. In XXXX XXXX the HELOC reaches 10 years and I will owe {$730000.00} balloon payment. There was a clause in the original contract that they have the option to refinance. I called SLS XX/XX/XXXX to ask them if I could refinance in good time so that we do n't wait to the last minute and have any problems as I can afford the monthly payments, but not a lump sum of {$730000.00}. The person who answered seemed very unknowledgeable and incompetent and said because it was discharged I could not refinance. ( But it was discharged and they have happily taken my voluntary interest payments ). I was told to write a letter with my request and they would get back to me in 5 days. I have faxed the letter and mailed it and they are ignoring me. I am feeling like they are loan sharks who took over the loan, and have been taking my interest payment money while waiting for the balloon payment to come due, and then instead of working with me to try and extend the loan or refinance the loan, they are just waiting to pounce on it and take it from me as soon as the balloon payment date arrives. We are trying to refinance through other banks and this could very well happen, but just in case it does n't, I need to keep all options open, and I wish they would cooperate with me, be reasonable and discuss our options, so we can get this taken care of in good time.
Company Response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
State: CA
Zip: 92130
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2016-03-20
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: Yes
Date Received: 2016-03-20
Issue: Loan servicing, payments, escrow account
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: SPECIALIZED LOAN SERVICES ( SLS ) Chronology of Events I am writing to request an investigation of Specialized Loan Servicing ( SLS ), a mortgage service provider. This company purchased condominium unit content insurance at exorbitant rates under suspicious circumstances ; then raided my escrow account to pay the charges. Following is a chronology of what transpired regarding my account : XXXX/XXXX/XXXX - I purchased a XXXX home condominium in XXXX XXXX XXXX, Fl. The condo was financed by XXXX XXXX XXXX. Since the home would not be rented, the unit would be sparsely furnished, the structure well insured, and my financial position strong, XXXX did not require condo content insurance coverage. XXXX/XXXX/XXXX - The condo is refinanced through XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. No condominium unit ( content ) insurance is required for the same reasons as noted above. XXXX/XXXX/XXXX - XXXX XXXX XXXX transfers mortgage to Specialized Loan Servicing ( SLS ). SLS provided no notification directly or indirectly that condo content insurance is required at the time. XXXX/XXXX/XXXX - I receive letter, dated XXXX/XXXX/XXXX, from SLS notifying me that condo insurance unit coverage is required. XXXX/XXXX/XXXX - I contacted by phone XXXX XXXX, supervisor of SLS insurance department, and XXXX ( ID # XXXX ) of the SLS Executive Services department. I explained that I had owned the property for nearly 8 years and the previous lenders waived the condo unit coverage. I requested similar waiver. Both persons told me SLS would never consider a waiver and they do not care of the circumstances. XXXX/XXXX/XXXX - I wrote SLS 's CEO, XXXX XXXX, outlining my circumstances and requested a waiver. XXXX/XXXX/XXXX - I received letter from SLS, dated XXXX/XXXX/XXXX, indicating they would not consider waiver ; that I had to get required coverage. XXXX/XXXX/XXXX - after conducting due diligence, I obtained the required insurance coverage for {$330.00}, and submitted the insurance certificate online, reflecting coverage effective XXXX/XXXX/XXXX through XXXX/XXXX/XXXX. XXXX/XXXX/XXXX - received SLS letter dated XXXX/XXXX/XXXX, stating they have purchased single interest condo insurance coverage and attached it to my account at a cost of {$2000.00}. Furthermore, the insurance would be retroactive to XXXX/XXXX/XXXX, the date they acquired the mortgage from my previous lender. Needless, I was shocked and disappointed. XXXX/XXXX/XXXX - I learned that SLS had raided my escrow account to pay for its exorbitant condo insurance, resulting in a negative escrow balance. Since I had owned this property for 8 years and had never been required to obtain the condo unit coverage by previous lenders, it is unfair, unreasonable and possibly illegal that a 3rd party lender with whom I had never contracted with, would acquire my mortgage, take 9 months to notify me of its insurance requirements ; buy coverage at exorbitant price ; back-date the coverage ; then raid by escrow account to pay for it while I was pursuing my own coverage at a significantly lesser cost. I will upload copy of documentation supporting my claim. I hope your office will review this case closely to put an end to such consumer abuse. Thanks in advance! XXXX XXXX XXXX
Company Response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
State: GA
Zip: 30126
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2016-03-20
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: Yes
Date Received: 2016-03-18
Issue: Loan modification,collection,foreclosure
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: I had my mortgage through XXXX XXXX XXXX and was sold to Specialized Loan company. I have been unemployed since XXXX and have been going through the XXXX process since then. I have explained this to this company on multiple occassions. I was in a government program to help with my payments in hopes that my XXXX claim would be approved and I could maintain my payments on my own. After the program ended I filed for 2 modifications to help me keep my home. The first one was denied due to the fact they increased my payment to see if I could pay the new amount before the final modification was approved. The second was denied because my income was lowered and they said there was not a program I qualified for and that if I did n't make my account current they would start foreclosure proceedings. In XXXX XXXX I borrowed from everyone I could and came up with over {$4000.00} to save my home. I made the payment through my bank to them which was sent back. I called and questioned them and they said that since I was behind they could not do an automatic payment and said I had to do XXXX XXXX or a check over the phone for which they wanted to charge a fee. After I threw a fit they waived the fee. I then applied for a forebarence so that I could have some time to get a little breather to come up with money to stay current. I just found out today that they mailed the decison on XXXX/XXXX/XXXX and that they denied me because I did n't have a qualifying hardship. I do n't understand what that even means. I asked to talk to someone else that could explain to me why it was denied and was told that there was no one I could talk to and that the decison was final. But in the next breath the rep tells me that I could re-apply again if I chose to do so. What is the point? What is the point of degrading yourself to ask for help and they are not trying to help you keep your home? I absolutely can not stand this company. I do n't even know what else to do at this point.
Company Response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
State: OH
Zip: 44708
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2016-03-18
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: No
Date Received: 2016-03-18
Issue: Loan modification,collection,foreclosure
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: I am trying to get a loan modification threw SLS loan services. And I am having nothing but trouble, they have included taxes that I have paid into my escrow account. I have sent in receipts showing these taxes paid and no one does anything exept threathen me with foreclosure. I am behind stressed out and I honestly do not what to do.
Company Response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
State: NY
Zip: 128XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2016-03-18
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: No
Date Received: 2016-03-17
Issue: Loan modification,collection,foreclosure
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: XXXX XXXX XXXX line of credit of {$50000.00} with balloon payment due in XXXX, 2015. Requested modification of the loan to pay back principal plus interest. Completed all paperwork but was then transferred from the then current XXXX XXXX XXXX to SLS Loan Servicing. I completed the necessary paperwork again with SLS and they continued to indicate incomplete processing and duplicate requests for the same documents over and over one document at a time. This continued for the next 8 months. I was finally denied modification, but was encouraged to complete modification paperwork again. I then completed a third set of paperwork At no time during these 8 months was I ever told by any SLS representative that the loan was not eligible for modification. In the meantime, behind the scenes SLS had begun foreclosure proceedings as early as XXXX of 2015. I found that out when I was charged for an inspection of my property. I completed a third set of paperwork, SLS claimed it was incomplete and was denied. They then proceeded with foreclosure. My primary mortgage is with XXXX and has never been late. Also, during the time the line of credit was open, those payments were also never late. SLS has now marked my credit and has made it almost impossible for me to refinance the loan. Had I been told back in XXXX of 2015 that the loan was not eligible for modification, I may have been able to refinance the loan and would have avoided the unnecessary foreclosure proceedings that followed. They basically wasted my time all these months and accrued unnecessary interest. There are so many complaints out there against this servicer for similar improper procedures. In order for the problem to vanish, I had to withdraw the funds from my IRA to pay off the loan with interest and about {$3000.00} in foreclosure fees. I appeared at a foreclosure conference and the mediator in fact agreed these practices were unjust and ordered the attorney to adjust some of the fees. I was never contacted by counsel for the bank about foreclosure until the day I was served papers. The mediator was angered at the practices of SLS and the law firm and indicated that a reversal of interest could ensue. Now I am told that the dismissal of the foreclosure action can take another few months, even though the loan is fully paid. Someone has to stop SLS and protect consumers from these scamming tactics they employ.
Company Response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
State: NY
Zip: 105XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2016-03-17
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: No
Date Received: 2016-03-17
Issue: Loan servicing, payments, escrow account
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: Specialized Loan Servicing has been very difficult to work with. Please see attached dispute letter. Lack communication unless it suits them. Refused to assist me, forcing me into Foreclosure when it was not necessary. They refused my cash payment that I was told were certified funds, but then refused to tell me they refused the payment, instead blaming it on the vendor that sent the funds and giving me the run around only to tell me there was nothing I could do but lose my home. They transfer you over and over so you get so frustrated you just hang up.
Company Response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
State: OR
Zip: 97471
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2016-03-17
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: No
Date Received: 2016-03-16
Issue: Loan servicing, payments, escrow account
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: I have sent payments on my loan modification with SLS loan # XXXX. I have gotten behind a month several times but I have always caught up right away. Several times they have taken a payment made in a timely fashion and credited it to principal reduction instead on to the payment. I have had some success in getting them to fix the problem but with the XXXX XXXX payment due on XX/XX/XXXX they received XX/XX/XXXX they credited to principal and said they would properly credit it but did not do that. I made the XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX on XXXX XXXX and once again asked them to properly apply the XXXX payment and they still did not do that. Then on XXXX/XXXX/XXXX I called to make the XX/XX/XXXX payment and found out that they had not fixed the XXXX XXXX payment and I reviewed it with them again and asked for it to be properly credited. They once again said they would correct the problem and took the XXXX XXXX payment. When I called to make the XX/XX/XXXX payment they would not take it stating that my account was in default and sent me a notice of default. I was pretty paralyzed but by XXXX tried to get it fixed by phone again and thought I had finally succeeded when I spoke with a fellow who said he would correct the problem and took the XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX payments. Then in XXXX I get a statement that says my interest is 5.25 % when my note clearly says the payment is 4 %. I make the payments by phone because every time I send XXXX it gets credited to principal and not to the payments and I do not understand why. I have the names and most of the dates I talked to everyone if needed. I faxes them a " qualified written dispute '' regarding the payments, which is what I was told to do, on XXXX/XXXX/XXXX which they say they did not receive, so I sent it again on XXXX/XXXX/XXXX which they also said they did not receive, so I sent it again on XXXX/XXXX/XXXX by certified mail. I finally got a letter stating they received the fax on XXXX/XXXX/XXXX. Then when I found out they had the interest rate wrong I send another " qualified written dispute '' on XXXX/XXXX/XXXX. They say they have not received that one either when I called on XX/XX/XXXX or today on XXXX/XXXX/XXXX. I need to make the XX/XX/XXXX payment and they will not take it. I have transaction receipts for the faxes, a return receipt for the mail and names and dates for most of the calls I have made to them. Please help me.
Company Response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
State: NV
Zip: 89117
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2016-03-16
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: No
Date Received: 2016-03-14
Issue: Loan servicing, payments, escrow account
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: My Mortgage servicer ( SLS ) would not accept electronic payments from my bank scheduled on XXXX/XXXX/2016 for receipt on XXXX/XXXX/2016 or XXXX/XXXX/2016 ( the last 2 days of the grace period for my mortgage loan ). This was noted by both my XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX checking accounts - when the respective Bank 's bill pay centers stated " SLS would not allow payments until XXXX/XXXX/2016 or later ''. All my other electronic payments to XXXX XXXX, XXXX, etc. were accepted as scheduled by the vendors for the day after the payment was submitted ( as submitted before XXXX ) - or XXXX/XXXX/2016 for payments I submitted today ( XXXX/XXXX/2016 ). SLS will accept payments made through XXXX XXXX or their own website - XXXX for a fee - but are now restricting customers from using their bank bill pay services at or around mortgage payment cutoff. This is wrong - in that they should accept all forms of electronic payments on equal terms.
Company Response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
State: MD
Zip: 20854
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2016-03-14
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: No
Date Received: 2016-03-15
Issue: Loan servicing, payments, escrow account
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) " transferred '' our loan to Specialized Loan Servicing ( SLS ) XX/XX/XXXX. First, they did n't give us any notification and our only indication the loan had been transferred was when an invoice did n't arrive from XXXX. Second, there was a substantial lag in the transfer of our information to SLS and we were unable to remit payment until XXXX 2016 ( at which point we paid for both XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX, bringing our account up to date ). Further, when the information transferred, confirmation of our condo insurance did not transfer and SLS initiated proceedings to provide insurance, despite repeated contact from myself and my insurance agent. On XXXX XXXX, 2016, we received a packet dated XXXX XXXX, 2016, with loan modification paperwork and information on how to avoid foreclosure. When I contacted SLS customer service, they were unable to confirm whether they were merely servicing or whether they had purchased the loan and while they confirmed that our accounts were up to date and they had received our insurance information, they were unable to provide contact information for filing a complaint or reference numbers for the call or any notations made to that effect in our account file. I expressed my concern that they were deliberately misrepresenting the state of our account in an attempt to get us to change the terms of our loan and they threatened to discontinue the call if I continued to " go down that road. ''
Company Response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
State: WA
Zip: 981XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2016-03-15
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: No