Ocwen Financial started servicing our loan on 6/19. Our insurance company gave us a "non-renewal" notice in July, so we had to get new insurance. When my wife called Ocwen to let them know that our escrowed insurance funds would be payable to a new insurance company, the Escrow Dept. Told my wife that Ocwen did not escrow funds for hazard insurance and that the company would not release funds for anything other than county taxes. Then the letter writing campaign began. I was able to get Ocwen to "include" our insurance premiums to our escrow account, even though (I have since spoken to several people in the insurance and escrow departments who have assured me that their files indicate that insurance AND taxes were being escrowed from 6/19) I faxed the company the information neccessary to prove that Ocwen was obligated to do that from the date the company began servicing our mortgage.in several conversations with the good people at Ocwen, none have been able to tell me why I was being charged $2500.00 for a county tax obligation of $1600.00 (which would violate the RESPA) and adamantly denied the possibility that I had my insurance funds in that account (not paying those funds is a breach of our mortgage contract).
But wait, it gets better.
Ocwen did a "short year" escrow analysis and decided that the company needed a "cushion" in our escrow account.By that time my wife and I had paid more than half of our insurance on our own. One of the representatives at Ocwen told me that they HAD TO have that cushion amount because it was required by FEDERAL LAW under the RESPA. Something smelled a little fishy, so I decided to do some checking. Guess what? She lied!
So, on and on it has gone. Nobody taking responsibility. The company is making reports on my credit file while it is still researching my "qualified written requests" (a clear violation of the RESPA).
But wait, it gets even better.
I'm self-employed as a carpenter. Winter is not my best time of the year. I recently contacted Ocwen to take advantage of the company's "forbearance program". Daniel Magroo informed me that I would have to make a payment of "one month plus 15%" before Ocwen would even consider such a thing. So, I paid it. A couple of days passed before I got a call from the Performing Collections department. When I explained to the representative that I had sent in a payment to qualify me for the program she told me that I needed to give the company detailed financial information BEFORE sending that payment. Nobody told me that. Nobody asked me any questions.
I've been a little leery about sending all my information towards the lawsuit. Mostly because I really want to take Ocwen to court in my own state and being part of a class action suit would exclude me from any further actions. After more research I may be able to find a way of admitting my evidence at trial without harming my chances back here, but, in the meantime...
Why don't all of us avail ourselves of the services of the United States Government. You can file a complaint online with the U.S. Postal Service at usps. Gov. With the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency at occ. Treas. Gov. The Federal Trade Commision at ftc. Gov. And also with the Department of Justice on their toll-free CORPORATE FRAUD HOTLINE - 888-622-0117, an agent will be standing by to take your call from 9 AM-5 PM Eastern time Monday through Friday.
Last but not least, the next time you send correspondence to Ocwen send it certified mail. Make sure that you add to the letter" Any and all conversations between me and any employee, representative or agent of Ocwen Financial, or any affiliate or subsidiary thereof, will be recorded". Then buy a recorder. You can get a decent one to hook up to your phone at Radio-Shack for about $50.00 complete.
If anyone has any other ideas let me know.
Jeffrey
Casselton, North Dakota
U.S.A.
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