I purchased a new property in Temecula in May for a total of approx. 401,000. I put a 60% down payment and was not required to impound, but went ahead with the impound because of the minimal tax. My property tax went up from $539.58 to $943.94, $404.36 in Sept. 2008 when property values were declining. Since Sept
I have made numerous attempts to Union Bank Real-Estate division and their Tax dept, including supervisors who apparently handle property tax (I can provide copies of registered letters, call log, communications and documentation) to ask why the increase and get an explanation, documentation and justification for the substantial tax increase despite a decline in property value.
ALL my letters and attempts to communicate with them and get information have been ignored and NO ONE has attempted to contact me to resolve this issue. Then in Feb. 09, they again increased my property tax impound amount to $1125.03 per month!!!
Still continuing to ignore my attempts to discuss and dispute the unjustified increased amount. I had escalated this matter to the office of the President to try and get resolve on July 15th and provided documentation as well as the history, but have yet to receive a call back or any attempt to contact me.
Since I was not receiving copies of my property tax bills and Union Bank had refused to provide me with them, I went to Riverside County and obtained copies of my tax statements directly from them. I then put together a detailed analysis of what my property taxes were according to the county records, versus what Union Bank has been "robbing" from me and have discovered that based on the evidence I obtained, I believe they have been collecting additional money from me for supplemental taxes they did not pay in 2007 when due and which I had already been paying monthly impound amounts for since the beginning of the loan.
They neglected to pay the supplemental tax amount of 3707.58 in 07, (I never received the bill as I believe it was sent directly to UB) but paid 3923.72 in Nov. 08 which included penalties which they have additionally charged me for. They have collected/impounded my mortgage for supplemental taxes they have charged me 2 times for!!!
Despite the fact that I have been paying my mortgage payments each month and despite the fact I have been making documented efforts to resolve this, they have put my payments in "unapplied" and have not applied them to my mortgage loan and have reported and damaged my credit report!!! They are additionally threatening foreclosure for a mistake they have made!!!
The approximate amount they have unlawfully collected from me, not including penalties, interest and damages is approximately $13,000.00 through July 09. (They are continuing to overcharge me). My property value has been decreased, yet UB has increased my escrow amount!!! This is what I consider consumer fraud, unethical and a form of robbery, in addition to the negative financial impact and position they have put me in because of their incompetence!!!
Again, I have complete documentation, letters, statements from the assessors office, bank statements a call log from the onset of this issue and other documentation to fully corroborate what I am alleging. They need to be held accountable for their hideous actions, incompetence, disregard and un-excusable ineptness.
I have reported them to the Attorney General's office and would like this situation, their actions and what they have done be made public and consumers be alerted of this injustice by Union Bank, as well as the potential of other financial institutions managing your property tax impound to do this.
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