Consumer complaint received 2024-07-23
Product: Mortgage — VA mortgage
Issue: Closing on a mortgage — Closing disclosure or other related disclosures
Company: AMERIS BANCORP (FL)

I applied for the Ameris bank XXXX choice loan that was advertised on tv. This grant was supposed to assist first time homeowners with down payment assistance and closing costs of {$20000.00}. The grant was as the result of a discrimination complaint that was filed with the Dept of Justice. I now feel that I am a victim of Ameris bank deceptive tactics. The loan officer that handled my loan name was XXXX XXXX. I had several issues with how XXXX handled the loan. First, I felt I was being rushed to sign the loan document. Another issue I had was that I felt everything wasnt disclosed up front even though he said it was. For example, I wasnt told upfront that I would need an appraisal done on the home by the VA or there could be prepaid items that I could be responsible for until after I signed the documents. It seemed everything was being informed to me in steps instead of disclosing everything upfront. I felt as if there was always a surprise fee. Second there was some question about my debt to ratio where one minute he told me to that I needed to pay more bills down then came back and told the loan was fine. The third issue is that he told me at closing that I only needed about {$1800.00} in cash to close. Then about three days before closing it balloon to {$3000.00}. The fourth issue is that the realtor was given different closing documents than I was. The relator stated her closing documents amounts stated {$5000.00} and she didnt know anything about the {$1800.00} he told me. I wasnt also aware that XXXX also charged some kind of fee to use the grant this was never disclosed or told to me. The fifth issue is that the VA doesnt have them on file for pulling a certificate of eligibility so was this truly a VA XXXX. I spoke to XXXX afterwards because I was very angry about not being too close on this townhome and I have lost about {$1100.00} dollars from the appraisal and earnest money deposit. XXXX made excuses that that he didnt know the taxes were going to be this high. However, that offers no consolation to because I am out of {$1100.00} dollars XXXX and on a fixed income. I had been going back and forth with XXXX about the loan for about two months and felt everything should have been disclosed up front, even the bad scenarios. If this had been done, I could have had the options to pull out of the loan, but he assured me everything was fine and now I have lost money. I feel he did this just to get his commission and didnt care about screwing me over. I feel that Ameris bank practices are deceptive and need to be investigated further especially if people are already struggling and get a grant that they think is going to help them and end up getting ripped off. If XXXX knew the loan wasnt viable both him and XXXX XXXX. I should been informed well in advance instead of misleading into thinking the loan was viable when it wasnt at that time. I also feel that Ameris Bank loan XXXX XXXX XXXX is negligent in how he handled my loan and I should refund my {$650.00} that I lost on an appraisal for a home I dont even stay in. It was his fault for not informing me that I would need more money upfront. XXXX and his boss had promised to try to help me out of my situation but will not answer their phones or emails. They were supposed to re-work the loan but have failed me on that also. In addition, he should be reprimanded or fired for unethical behavior that involves corporate greed based off commissions screwing over people.