The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), together with authorities in 49 states and the District of Columbia recently reached a $2.1 billion settlement agreement with the country’s largest non-bank mortgage loan servicer, Ocwen Financial Corporation. The settlement is the result of the investigation of numerous complaints arising out of Ocwen’s alleged “significant and systemic” misconduct at every stage of the mortgage servicing process. Under the terms of the agreement, Ocwen must provide $2 billion in principal reduction to underwater borrowers. Ocwen must also refund $125 million to the nearly 185,000 borrowers serviced by Ocwen (or its subsidiaries Homeward Residential Holdings and Litton Loan Servicing) whose homes have already been foreclosed. Finally, Ocwen will be subject to greater regulatory scrutiny going forward.
“Deceptions and shortcuts in mortgage servicing will not be tolerated,” said CFPB Director Richard Cordray. “Ocwen took advantage of borrowers at every stage of the process. Today’s action sends a clear message that we will be vigilant about making sure that consumers are treated with the respect, dignity, and fairness they deserve.”
What does this settlement mean for you?
If you had or have a loan serviced by Ocwen, Homeward Residential Holdings (formerly American Home Mortgage Servicing) or Litton Servicing, you may be entitled to a refund or other legal action which could include a lawsuit against these servicers for wrongful foreclose. Garland Griffiths Knaupp Attorneys have represented clients in successful actions against American Home Mortgage (now Homeward Residential) in the past two years. We would like to help you if you suffered the loss of your home due to these predatory lending practices.
But time is of the essence, and you should contact us immediately before your legal claims are barred by law. The body of laws which puts a time limit on your right to bring a legal action is called the statute of limitations, and there are many different limitations statutes with different time limits. The most common legal claims that we litigate in foreclosure and loan servicing problems are breach of contract, trespass, negligence, bad faith, fraud, and unfair trade practices. Breach of contract and trespass actions have a 6 year statute of limitations. Negligence, fraud, and bad faith have a 2 year statute of limitations, and unfair trade practices have a 1 year statute of limitations.
Determining when a statute of limitations starts and other exceptions is not easy to do, even for experienced attorneys, so do not delay. Please call one of our attorneys at (503) 846-0707 for a consultation. The help you need, and deserve, is just a telephone call away.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment