Fair Lending

Reinvestment Partners investigates allegations of discrimination and unfair practices in the lending and servicing process.

Discrimination

Discrimination is when you are treated differently because of your membership in a protected class, like RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, SEX, FAMILIAL STATUS, DISABILITY, AGE, MARITAL STATUS, INCOME FROM PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, EXERCISED RIGHTS UNDER THE CONSUMER CREDIT PROTECTION ACT, ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, AND GENDER IDENTITY. Discrimination can occur in the lending process (when you are applying for and getting a mortgage) or during the servicing process (when you are behind on your mortgage and seeking to avoid foreclosure). If you believe that you have been discriminated against by your lender or servicer, you can contact our office and tell us your story using the link below.

Unfair Practices

Unfair and deceptive practices can occur in both the origination and servicing process. Reinvestment Partners has the capacity to investigate complaints in both of these areas.

Unfair practices by lenders during the loan origination process are also called “predatory
lending”. Predatory lending is any unfair credit practice that harms the borrower or supports a credit system that promotes inequality and poverty. Practices that are unfair during the lending process may include:

• Engaging in in deception or fraud
• Manipulating the borrower through aggressive sales tactics
• Taking unfair advantage of a borrower’s lack of understanding about the loan terms
• Making a mortgage loan to someone who doesn’t have the ability to repay it
• Charging excessive interest, points and fees
• Repeatedly refinancing a loan without providing any real value to the borrower

Unfair practices during the loss mitigation and foreclosure stages by servicers can include:

• Wrongful denial of a loan modification
• The servicer wrongly stating that you have defaulted on your mortgage
• The servicer failing to consider all the programs that are available to you
• The servicer wrongly applying the terms of a program that is available to you
• The servicer offering you an unfair repayment plan
• The servicer denying you a short sale
• Problems with escrows for taxes and force placed insurance
• Bankruptcy

Mortgage Rescue Scams

Did you pay money to someone to help you modify your loan or save you from foreclosure? You may have been a victim of a mortgage rescue scam. Reinvestment Partners investigates complaints of mortgage rescue fraud. Potential signs of a mortgage rescue scam include anyone who says that they can stop foreclosure or get you a modification and:

• Asks you pay an up-front fee
• Pressures you to sign papers that you don’t understand
• Asks you to sign over the deed to your home
• Advises you to stop making mortgage payments
• Asks you to redirect mortgage payments

If you feel that you have been taken advantage of in either the lending or servicing area, or are a victim of a mortgage rescue scam, you can contact our office at the listed contact information or tell us your story using the link below.

Contact Information:

Lynn Jarvis – Director of Fair Lending, [Email Lynn], 919.667.1000 ext. 35
Amberly Dattilo – Director of Investigations, [Email Amberly], 919.667.1000 ext. 24
Michael De Los Santos – Director of Programs, [Email Michael], 919.667.1000 ext. 23