Washington Mutual WaMu "loses" faxes, charges userus rates for forced place insurance, siezes double mortgage payments by way of "auto debit" Houston Texas
My condo association stopped obtaining flood insurance in Jan due to not being able to obtain enough coverage as a group. (the max as a group i could get is $50,000 in coverage for my home). I owe 52,000 on a home valued at 90,000. I obtained flood insurance in Jan from Farmers in the amount of 90,000 for my townhome and faxed the info to WaMU, as did my insurance agent. Then in March I receive a "final notice of flood Insurance requirement".
I again spoke to wamu insurance "specialists", faxed them 4 more times to 2 phone #s to be sure, and my insurance man faxed them again with proof.
In April they took payents 2-1/2 times my regular amount for forced place insurance in the amount of 250,000 coverage, also in May, and June.
By June my checking account was depleated, and the loan was given to collections. They never even acnowleged the 90,000 coverage until I sent them registered mail in July My loan papers say I must keep the home insured for the value of the loan (52K).
I talked to a lawyer today, and he said to pay on the note and sue WaMu to get it back. That will be aprox 4 thousand dollars I DO NOT OWE THEM. They should have to pay for all of my time money and stess. I also think their "specialists are recent H.S. graduates or India residents answering phones. They farm out there insurance work to someone called SWBC, and they have not a clue.... could write lots more
Roger
Kingwood, Texas
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Kaylee
Milwaukee,Wisconsin,
U.S.A.
clarify
#2UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sun, August 05, 2007
Hi,
Did you have any flood insurance during the time they were billing you for? If you did you will not have to pay the higher payments for those months. As for the amount-there is a formula used to determine how much flood insurance you need. I cannot remember what it is but that may be why they say the amount covering your house is not enough. If they deem the coverage not enough you may still be billed for the difference in what they say you need vs what you have.
Double check your loan papers-the insurance may be talking about homeowners insurance-not flood insurance. The forced place insurance used SWBC is for everyone and the amount charged is huge.
Call back and ask to speak to a supervisor. The ERC or the MRG. Do not take no for an answer. As long as you did not have a lapse in coverage and had the amount they say you need you will not have to pay a higher amount. If you have already paid the higher amount your account can be reanalyzed and a refund sent back to you.
The only suggestions that I can make if you fax anything in the future are: 1-Make sure you are including a cover letter with your name, account number, property address. Explain in detail why you are faxing what you are faxing. 2-Make sure your name, account number and property address are written on the policy. I understand it may be printed as part of the policy but write it again just in case. 3-Call the day after it is faxed and ask to speak to the insurance department to confirm receipt of the fax. 4-Make sure you have the correct number for the insurance department. I know you should not have to do this but it is the only way. I used to work there and know how these things go. The addresses and fax numbers change constantly.
Good luck.