Consumer complaint received 2019-06-08
Company: Reverse Mortgage Solutions, Inc.
State: NY
Product: Mortgage
Sub-product: Reverse mortgage
Issue: Applying for a mortgage or refinancing an existing mortgage

Complaint:
There is a reverse mortgage on my house in the name of my deceased husband. When we applied for the reverse mortgage in XX/XX/XXXX our home was in both our names and we were told that while the mortgage and deed would be in the name of my husband initially, after three years the deed and reverse mortgage would be transferred to include me. I remember at the closing we signed two deeds -- with the second being the one that would transfer the house back to both our names once I reached XXXX years of age. After my husband died in XX/XX/XXXX, I was shocked to learn that I had not been added to the deed or mortgage as promised. 

After my husband died on XX/XX/XXXX, I received a letter from Reverse Mortgage Solutions dated XX/XX/XXXX that told me that I might be eligible for a HUD program for surviving spouses called the " Mortgagee Optional Election Assignment '', which would allow me to stay in the house that I have lived in for the last 40 years ( and which I live in now with my XXXX year old XXXX veteran father ). In that letter, RMS said that I had to continue to pay the property taxes and insurance as a condition of being eligible for the HUD program. I quickly sent them back all the documents they requested in hopes of being able to continue to live in my home and care for my father. The documents I sent included my marriage certificate, my husband 's death certificate, my husband 's will, my driver 's license and a social security verification. I also continued to pay the taxes and insurance ( and am still paying the taxes and insurance ) as I was told to do by RMS. Over the next two years, RMS kept sending me requests for the exact documents that I had provided them in XX/XX/XXXX. Each tine, I sent them exactly what they requested within the deadline that they placed in their letter. Again, during all this time I paid my taxes and insurance as requested by RMS.

I never received a written letter from RMS telling me I was not eligible for the HUD program. In  XX/XX/XXXX, I received a letter from RMS that said they were going to start foreclosure proceedings against me in 90 days. The only default they were alleging was the death of my husband. In the letter they again said, " you may be considered an eligible non-borrowing spouse under a HUD program which allows you to remain in your home for the rest of your life. At that point I asked them to consider me for this program. I was surprised when I received RMS 's response dated XX/XX/XXXX, that said I was not eligible for the surviving spouse benefit because the documents had to be given to HUD within " 90 days from the death date '' of my husband. This means that when RMS first reached out to me on XX/XX/XXXX, the deadline had already passed. I feel that RMS should have told me about this deadline sooner and that, instead, they tricked me into paying the taxes and insurance for several years by giving me hope of staying in my home through the HUD program. They have now started a foreclosure action against me, and are seeking to put me and my XXXX year-old father on the street. I think something should be done about this. This is a very deceptive thing that has been done to me. ( Please note : I do not have access to a scanner, but I can provide hard copies of the letters mentioned above if you want them. )

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation