Consumer complaint received 2017-11-25
Company: PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC.
State: TX
Product: Mortgage
Sub-product: Conventional home mortgage
Issue: Trouble during payment process

Complaint:
XXXX/XXXX/XXXX I opened a letter dated XXXX/XXXX/XXXX from an attorney ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX representing PennyMac. The letter stated that we owed {$8000.00} and also mentioned foreclosure. I called the attorney 's office and told them I was not on the loan and not aware that we had missed any payments and could show them my bank statements where it comes out automatically. I asked how to correct the situation. Our home is in active foreclosure effective XXXX/XXXX/XXXX. He informed me that he would have to request the amount due and it should take 3 - 4 business days to get the letter with the amount due. I also called HUD to speak to someone about my options.
It seems that this was all because PennyMac started an escrow for our property taxes in XXXX, which we had been paying ourselves. My XXXX tax payment to the county was not processed prior to month-end and so an additional amount of {$7.00} was owed for XXXX. In XXXX XXXX, I spoke to someone and was told to mail in {$100.00} to clear the escrow account and so I mailed a check for {$100.00} and assumed that cleared the matter. Apparently, XXXX did not clear the escrow account and issued payment of XXXX property taxes in XXXX XXXX XXXX first month they were published ) - {$5100.00}. They established an escrow account and increased our monthly payments, but I was not aware and the original payments continued to be paid monthly. 

It seems like an easy solution, let me pay the {$5100.00} paid on our behalf plus any interest or fees to stop the foreclosure and clear the escrow account. So, on XXXX/XXXX/XXXX I paid {$3000.00} to PennyMac through my bank 's bill pay service. I made several attempts to call PennyMac and finally spoke to someone on XXXX/XXXX/XXXX. I asked for the dollar amount to be paid and told the representative ( XXXX was the 4th and final rep I talked to that day ) that I had requested an amount from their attorney on XXXX/XXXX/XXXX, but had not yet received the letter that he had mentioned. She stated that I should have been talking to PennyMac and not the attorney representing them. I tried to explain what I understood had  happened and was prepared to pay and had already sent {$3000.00}, but figured that I would owe fees or interest to clear the escrow account. She stated that they did not have to accept the {$3000.00} and could return that amount because it was an active foreclosure. The P & I payments had never been late, and it was all due to an escrow account being added when it should have never been added. I asked her my options and she stated that she would have to request a letter to be mailed and it could take 10 business days and the foreclosure would continue to move forward. 

On XXXX/XXXX/XXXX, I received a reinstatement letter dated XXXX/XXXX/XXXX but the {$12000.00} and {$12000.00} if paid in 2 weeks amount did not show the {$3000.00} payment and so I called to ask if I could just pay the amount quoted less the {$3000.00} and was told not to do that and that a new letter would have to be requested and mailed to me and the foreclosure would continue to move forward. 

On XXXX/XXXX/XXXX, I called and was quoted {$10000.00} over the phone and told that it was good through XXXX/XXXX/XXXX. I questioned the amount and was told that the letter would show me a breakdown, so I waited to receive that in the mail. 

On XXXX/XXXX/XXXX, I received the 2nd letter showing the {$3000.00} payment and the amount was {$9600.00} for option 1 and {$10000.00} for option 3. The $ XXXX amount included an additional {$700.00} of " anticipated foreclosure fees ''. I called to question the {$700.00} and asked if I paid it and it was not owed, would I get a refund. I was told I would not get a refund and could pay the $ XXXX amount and if additional fees were incurred, I would still owe them. On XXXX/XXXX/XXXX, my bank processed the {$9600.00} payment to PennyMac. 

In the meantime, I paid the XXXX property taxes in XXXX XXXX and have a receipt of payment. However, PennyMac also shows that they paid the property taxes on XXXX/XXXX/XXXX. The XXXX County Tax Office stated that they do not show receipt of that payment and they would return it with a letter and then keep a copy of the letter on file. The clerk stated that she did not show any such letter on file. PennyMac claims that they do not show a refund either and that I still need to pay them for the property taxes and bring the loan current before an escrow account can be removed. 

On XXXX/XXXX/XXXX, I received a call from PennyMac and so returned their call. Told him of my intent to clear escrow account and that my bank has already taken {$9600.00} to pay PennyMac electronically. He did not see it posted yet and advised me to call back on Monday afternoon to verify payment. He did not see a refund for the property taxes that PennyMac shows they paid on XXXX/XXXX/XXXX either. He was not sure the $ XXXX payment would be accepted and told me that they could refuse the payment since it was in active foreclosure. 

I am filing this complaint because I believe that PennyMac is making every attempt to foreclose on my home, rather than work with me. I had sent a secure message after speaking to XXXX so that I had something on file showing that I had requested a payoff on XXXX/XXXX/XXXX through their attorney and received nothing and so I was not feeling very confident that I would receive a letter when XXXX said that she would request one. The response I received was that I should tell my attorney about it. Again, not making me feel that they are wanting to work with me. Am I dealing with a mortgage company that is more interested in foreclosing on my home than working with me? 

The payment history does not even show a reduction in principal for P & I payments received. Where is my money going ( see attached ).

Company response to consumer: Closed with monetary relief