Here’s something I didn’t realize until recently—if your mortgage servicer messes up your statement or posts a payment wrong, you’re actually protected by federal law (RESPA, I think?). You can send them a “notice of error” and they’re supposed to respond within a certain timeframe, like 30 days or something. I always thought you just had to call and hope for the best, but apparently there’s a whole process.
I found this out after my escrow got all messed up and they tried to say I owed way more than I did. Sent them a letter (certified mail, just in case), and they actually fixed it pretty quick. Kinda wild how much smoother things go when you know the rules.
Anyone else ever had to do this? Or maybe there’s other little-known tricks for dealing with mortgage companies that people should know about?
Yeah, I’ve run into this a couple times. Here’s what’s worked for me:
- Always keep copies of every statement and payment confirmation. It’s a pain, but it’s saved me more than once.
- If you spot an error, don’t just call—send a written notice (email or certified mail). Phone calls are easy to ignore.
- RESPA gives you rights, but servicers sometimes “forget” unless you push back a bit.
One thing I’d add: watch out for forced-placed insurance. If your servicer claims your insurance lapsed, double-check—they’ve tried to tack on crazy expensive policies when my regular coverage was still active. Just another thing to keep an eye on...
That’s a good call about forced-placed insurance. I had a servicer once claim my policy lapsed even though I’d sent proof twice—turns out their system just didn’t update. Curious, has anyone had luck getting late fees reversed when it’s clearly their error? I’ve found it takes more than one written request sometimes.
Also,
Couldn’t agree more. I started scanning everything after a refi mix-up where they “lost” three of my payments... Paper trail saved me a ton of hassle.“Always keep copies of every statement and payment confirmation.”
Getting those late fees reversed can be like pulling teeth, honestly. I had to call, email, and even mail a letter once before they’d admit it was their mistake. It’s wild how fast they slap on a fee, but slow to fix it. Keeping every scrap of documentation is a must—learned that the hard way after a “lost” escrow payment almost tanked my budget for the month. Not sure why these servicers get away with so many “system errors,” but I’d never trust them to keep perfect records.
Title: Mortgage statement mistakes: did you know you have rights?
Honestly, the paper trail is everything. If you ever get a weird charge or a “missing” payment, print out your bank statement, highlight the transaction, and send it in with your letter. I’ve seen servicers backtrack real quick when you lay out the evidence step by step. Don’t rely on phone calls—get it in writing, every time. It’s tedious, but it works.
