Consumer complaint received 2021-03-03
Company: AmeriHome Mortgage Company, LLC
State: NC
Product: Mortgage
Sub-product: VA mortgage
Issue: Trouble during payment process

Complaint:
My husband and I refinanced our primary residence in XX/XX/XXXX with XXXX XXXX  in northern Virginia. Our first mortgage payment was to be XX/XX/XXXX to AmeriHome. XXXX XXXX did not require Wind and Hail Insurance. My husband and I, however, did purchase it from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, NC. The amount of our monthly mortgage was {$1600.00}. 

Because our Flood Insurance dropped by {$1000.00} we asked AmeriHome for an Escrow Analysis. There was hesitation on AmeriHomes part.

We received a Loan Statement in XX/XX/XXXX showing that our monthly mortgage payment increased to {$1700.00} at XX/XX/XXXX. An increase of $ XXXX. We objected because we were paying the Wind and Hail on a quarterly basis and had made two payments. AmeriHome made the payment for the remaining half of the year. That payment was due in full by XX/XX/XXXX. So in XXXX the Wind and Hail was paid. 

On XX/XX/XXXX we received a notice from AmeriHome dated XX/XX/XXXX stating that there is an increase to pay for the the Escrow Deposit of {$6.00} plus and Escrow Shortage of XXXX per month raising our monthly Mortgage Payment to {$1800.00}. 
This same form shows that this money is needed to pay the Wind and Hail on XX/XX/XXXX, however, the XXXX XXXX  XXXX has already been paid. 

The amount AmeriHome needs to collect to pay XXXX XXXX XXXX  for XX/XX/XXXX is 6 months of XXXX : {$94.00} x 6 = {$56000.00} and Eight months of XXXX :8 x $ XXXX XXXX. Total is {$1300.00} for XXXX. The amount lacking for the total XXXX XXXX XXXX bill is {$810.00}. AmeriHome gave us a check with no accounting of {$810.00} as an Escrow Overage. 

We can not pay this additional charge of the escrow increase. 

We wrote this letter to AmeriHome on XX/XX/XXXX : Hello, [ AmeriHome ] Thank you both for your work. 
We are sorry this got off to a rocky start. 
We take our mortgage and mortgage payments very seriously. 

The accounting is ok but here are the difficulties as we see it : Our first payment to AmeriHome was to be XX/XX/XXXX. 
Our Flood Insurance dropped at XX/XX/XXXX So AH over-charged us by $ XXXXmonth ( {$100.00} XXXX for those three months for flood insurance.

When we found out AH would service our loan we contacted AH on XX/XX/XXXX to ask for the Escrow analysis and we received a check representing overage. We dont know what the amount of the check comprises. 

If XXXX required the Wind and Hail to be included ( captured ) within the monthly payment, a notice of said could/should have been sent to XXXX and me. XXXX XXXX XXXX representative ] says that a Mortgage company can compel an insurance to be included. 

We paid the original amount of {$1600.00} for XXXX, XXXX and XXXX. Therefore no XXXX & XXXX was collected by AH. 
And there was no event requiring XXXX XXXX XXXX insurance. 
Beginning XX/XX/XXXX the new mortgage rate is {$1700.00} which includes XXXX & XXXX an increase of {$94.00} Now XXXX XXXX XXXX is due in XX/XX/XXXX. We have paid {$1000.00} of that and AH paid {$1000.00}. 
So for XXXX the XXXX XXXX XXXX has been paid. Therefore our monthly payment should go down by $ XXXX12 = {$89.00} representing the amount we have paid. 

We are asking for some reductions from XXXX and some reduction for XXXX. 

Please let us know if your accounting differs. 

Thank you [ The Home Owners ] AmeriHome replied Hello There is no reduction due on the account. The payment for the wind insurance created the larger escrow payment. AmeriHome collects escrow funds year round to ensure that we have enough funds on hand when the payment comes due ( your wind is due in six months in XX/XX/XXXX ). We have to collect funds in advance so a shortage is not created. 

As I have stated before any overpayment on the flood payment was included in the escrow analysis completed. Any additional funds would off set any escrow shortage. 

Manager, Customer Experience Office of the President AmeriHome Mortgage Company , LLC XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation