Household Mortgage Services ripoff bogus late charges increased payments breach confidentiality failure to disburse escrow Pomona California
I refinanced my home in 11/02. Within two months, the mortgage was sold to HMS and the fun began. We started getting late notices in February when the mortgage was one day late (15 day grace pd). We were charged $253 in late fees. In June, I was warned via telephone that I could be foreclosed upon if my payment was not made. My husband, whose name is not on the account, but was given access by them to my information, made the payment on-time. When I called to find out why we had late charges, they said they were holding the payment and refused to disburse it until the entire amount was in. They failed to tell us that they had increased my monthly payment by nearly $100. The reasons varied from city/property tax increases to an increase in our homeowner's. Both were true, but the increase added up to $40 per year, NOT per month. When I explained this to them I was told that it is their policy to take a little extra each month to compensate for possible future increases. When I asked for a supervisor, I was disconnected.
I contacted another mortgage company to refinance and get out from under this predatory lendor and was told I have a $5,000 pre-payment penalty which must be paid before I can refinance. Also, the new mortgage company noticed that even though I have had this mortgage for two years, my balance is HIGHER than my original loan amount! I called Household and requested a statement of transactions since the acquisition of the mortgage. I was told I had to pay $20 to have a statement sent to me. My husband called to discuss the situation and now they refuse to speak to him since he is not on the loan. I have contacted our state attorney general's office. These sleaze-balls need to be STOPPED!!!!!!
Kim
Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Christy
Chatsworth,Georgia,
U.S.A.
Your spouse can be authorized to discuss your account
#2Consumer Comment
Thu, September 16, 2004
Kim, I can truly understand your frustration dealing with those clowns at Household. I too have had the misfortune of doing business with them.
Household refused to discuss my account with my husband too. I had to give my verbal permission more than once when I had him to handle the calls. I feel that men can sometimes get more than a woman when discussing these types of things. I have found this to be the case with many companies concerning gender bias. I could have been any woman pretending to be me for all they knew.
If giving them your verbal consent is not good enough for them then I think they have to accept your written permission. I would then ask the agent who refused to discuss it their name and then tell them to be expecting a registered letter giving that permission. I almost guarantee that they will change policy then and there without any further permission needed. Household changes and makes rules as they go along.
Last you should again ask for your payment transactions. Chances are that the next agent you ask will either say they cannot, or will transfer you to another person, or will agree (I was promised many times)to send you a printout but that printout never makes it to you. Because they are all liars and change their story and company policy at a moments notice. You can get your transaction records without paying a fee. Though it took way to long I did get mine.
So hang in there and remember to ride their backs like they have no problem doing to you and I wish you the very best.