Consumer complaint received 2022-08-15
Company: WSFS FINANCIAL CORPORATION
State: PA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Mortgage debt
Issue: Written notification about debt
Sub-issue: Didn't receive enough information to verify debt

Complaint:
Initial complaint : In XX/XX/XXXX, I took out a home equity loan for {$30000.00} with XXXX XXXX XXXX. Since then the loan changed hands about 4 times causing me to lose track of who was handling the loan. I subsequently discontinued payments after loosing my job in XXXX. Fast forward to XX/XX/XXXX when I decided to sell my house and relocate to another state for a fresh start. The title report provided information for Washington Savings fund Society ( FSB ) where a payoff request was submitted. That request was forwarded to the asset manager for XXXX XXXX XXXX. The asset manager forwarded a payoff to release the lien in the amount of {$91000.00}. 

Copy response : In response, XXXX sent you a Notice of Servicing Transfer and Welcome Letter dated XX/XX/XXXX, wherein it stated that unless you, the consumer, disputed the validity of the Debt, or any portion thereof, within thirty days after receipt of this notice, the Debt would be assumed to be valid by XXXX as the Debt Collector. You did not dispute the debt at that time. You were then sent a letter on XX/XX/XXXX, from the Lenders counsel who advised you that the amount of the debt at that time was {$78000.00}. You were again advised that unless you disputed the validity of the Debt, or any portion thereof within thirty days after receipt of this notice, the Debt would be assumed to be valid. You again did not dispute the debt. The loan was consequently referred to foreclosure. A mediation was held on XX/XX/XXXX, to which you did not attend and therefore, a Judgment of Foreclosure was subsequently granted in XX/XX/XXXX. 
Because of the foregoing, and as you stopped paying a debt that you signed for in accordance with the original Note, allowing the interest, late fees, legal fees etc. to build up over the 15 years, the Lender respectfully declines to refund any money from the {$91000.00} you paid on XX/XX/XXXX, except for the {$38.00} refund for overpayment. 

Rebuttal : In the company 's response, there were references made about letters sent to me in XXXX and XXXX. As any consumer concerned about scams and fraud, any correspondence received regarding my property would have been considered fraudulent, as I've never agreed to nor conducted any business with the aforementioned companies such as XXXX, XXXX XXXX, or XXXX XXXX XXXX. To my knowledge, I signed an original note with XXXX XXXX XXXX in XXXX. Any company that pops up after 15 years claiming to be owed a debt would be considered invalid, fraudulent and scam worthy. So I disagree with the company 's assertion that the debt is valid if it's not disputed. There was no documentation provided that linked the original note with these companies. It was only during the property sale in XX/XX/XXXX that the title report revealed the various companies attached to the original note. In attempts to track down the current lender to request a payoff, I ended up communicating with the asset manager for XXXX XXXX. ( XXXX XXXX ). In those communications, my position was that the original principal should be paid in good faith, along with additional cost ( XXXX ) After attempts to negotiate the amounts, they agreed to reduce 5 % ( {$87000.00} ) ( Not honored ). This was one day prior to settlement and no more time to further pursue reduction resolutions. My contention is the improper notice in XXXX that then led to 2 more years of interest and foreclosure fees in XXXX. There was no documentation provided that linked the original note with these companies. To charge $ XXXX charges after 15+ years through various companies is an unfair practice and this is a attempt to find resolution as a first step.

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