Consumer complaint received 2018-03-14
Company: Stearns Ventures, LLC
State: PA
Product: Mortgage
Sub-product: Conventional home mortgage
Issue: Trouble during payment process

Complaint:
Please see the below letter, written by my wife, regarding the HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE that we are having with Stearns. It's an absolute joke, the time and effort we have had to put into trying to get back penalties that we were forced to pay when we had to pay two tax bills out of our own pocket. Isn't that what escrow is for? We have been MORE than patient with Stearns, trying to get our funds back. We are at the end of our rope and don't know what else to do to get the situation resolved. If you have further questions, please feel free to contact me via email or phone. 

We have had a bad experience ( since XX/XX/XXXX ) with Stearns making sure our taxes are paid on time with our escrow funds. It has been very hectic and stressful following up with Stearns as many times as we have, trying to get the situation resolved. It started in XX/XX/XXXX when we were mailed a surplus escrow check that was over {$5000.00}. We immediately knew something was wrong and called customer service. The agent we spoke with ensured us that the check was correct, stating all of our three tax bills for the year had been paid. We cashed the check but knew the situation was not correct. In XX/XX/XXXX, it was brought to our attention that we had a large tax bill that was so past due, it was in the penalty phase. We contacted Stearns right away, asking that the bill be paid as soon as possible. Customer service asked us to submit a copy of the bill and we did so. We gave Stearns some time to review the bill and pay it. By this time, we were into XXXX and the bill still hadnt been paid. We became concerned the bill wasnt going to be paid before XX/XX/XXXX, when the bill would have gone to collections. So, we ended up paying the tax bill out of our own pocket, using the money from the escrow surplus check we received. In addition to this, we had to pay for all of the penalties that were associated with the bill. In addition to this, there was another tax bill that Stearns failed to pay. It was a much smaller bill, but it was also late and had late fees associated with it. I also paid for this bill out of pocket. This was an interim tax bill that Stearns claims they arent responsible for paying. However, I have spoken to agents at the tax office who said that IT IS Stearns responsibility to pay interim tax bills. The total for the penalties alone, between the two bills, was around {$800.00}. To date, XX/XX/XXXX, I have been trying relentlessly to get these penalties refunded to me. So far, not a single customer service agent has been able to explain to me why these tax bills werent paid on time. I have called Customer Service numerous times and continuously get the run around agents promising to call me back with follow up information or saying they will have their supervisor call me and even saying the tax department will reach out to me to get the situation resolved. Im at my wits end and dont know what else to do. Im fed up with the whole process and lack of communication that Stearns has provided me with.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation