I logged into my mortgage account to pay December’s bill and noticed the payment amount is higher than usual. As a longtime homeowner, I’m familiar with receiving letters about escrow shortages, offering options to pay in a lump sum or through higher monthly payments. However, I did not receive any notification from the lender this time, nor the last time this happened. I assume it’s due to an escrow shortage, but I plan to call on Monday to confirm.
My question: Does the lender have a legal obligation to notify the customer of an increase in payment amount? If not, what steps can I take to address this? The lender was not my choice, as my loan was sold to them, and they’ve been difficult to deal with.
Brynn said:
You should receive a notification or an escrow statement explaining any payment increase. This is typically sent as a letter or online notice.
That’s what I’ve experienced with previous lenders. I searched my account and found no such notification this time.
If there’s an escrow shortage, you can pay directly into the escrow account to avoid monthly increases. For instance, I added extra to cover my homeowner’s insurance hike, keeping my payment steady.
Heath said:
If there’s an escrow shortage, you can pay directly into the escrow account to avoid monthly increases. For instance, I added extra to cover my homeowner’s insurance hike, keeping my payment steady.
I do the same. When taxes or insurance increase, I prepay into escrow to avoid surprises. Still, it’s frustrating when these systems don’t align perfectly.
Yes, servicers are legally required to notify you of payment increases. CFPB regulations mandate an annual escrow analysis and notification of shortages. Check with your servicer for the latest analysis.
Most servicers notify you through your monthly statement or a separate letter about payment changes. Did they claim to have sent anything when you called?
Abi said:
Most servicers notify you through your monthly statement or a separate letter about payment changes. Did they claim to have sent anything when you called?
I’ll call on Monday. I didn’t realize the payment had changed until I logged in this morning.
It’s important to distinguish between the lender (who provided the loan) and the servicer (who handles payments). Servicers are legally obligated to notify you of payment changes due to escrow analysis.
Tilden said: @Tal
My loan was sold to this company, so they’re both the lender and servicer.
The servicer must notify you of any changes at least 30 days before the payment is due. If they didn’t, they could be in violation of CFPB regulations.