The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act: Regulation X

Skillful Advocacy on Consumer Law Matters in Illinois

In January 2014, The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) made important changes to Regulation X of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA). These changes have created a private right of action for consumers against mortgage loan servicers who failed in their duty to correct irregularities with application of payments, promptly and properly respond to requests for information, assess charges and fees, or comply with timelines for handling applications for loan modifications, short sales, and deeds in lieu of foreclosures in a timely manner.

How Does Regulation X Benefit Homeowners in Illinois?

In the past, dual tracking was a common occurrence among delinquent borrowers. Even though a homeowner in Illinois may have been in the middle of obtaining a loan modification, mortgage loan servicers could still move to foreclose, leaving the homeowner without remedy or recourse.

Other impediments to homeowners included an inability to bring a claim for mistakes in escrow calculations, late fees, or unfair corporate advances, or against lenders who failed to provide the homeowner with monthly mortgage statements that were easy to understand. Now, changes to Regulation X and TILA’s Regulation Z have defined new, higher standards for home mortgage lenders, enabling consumers to have more options for legal action in the event of a dispute with their lenders.

Regulation X enforces the following changes:

• Certain information must be provided to borrowers upon request
• Protections are provided to mortgage loan borrowers in connection with force-placed insurance
• Services are obligated to correct errors asserted by mortgage loan borrowers
• Servicers are obligated to establish reasonable policies and procedures
• Servicers must provide information about mortgage loss mitigation options to delinquent borrowers
• Servicers must evaluate borrowers’ applications for available loss mitigation options
• Servicers must establish procedures and policies for providing delinquent borrowers with continuity of contact with servicer personnel

Who May Benefit from a Regulation X Case?

Mortgage loan borrowers in Illinois who meet any of the following criteria should immediately contact our skilled loan modification attorneys.

• Mortgage loan borrowers who meet any of the criteria should contact Atlas Consumer law at (312) 313-1613
• Borrowers who have been recently discharged from Chapter 7 or Chapter 13
• Borrowers with loan modifications where the loan modification has not been honored by a loan servicer or successor loan servicer
• Borrowers who have filed bankruptcy to avoid foreclosure, but who had an application for loss mitigation pending
• Borrowers who had a contract to sell their home by way of a short sale, but the servicer failed to make a decision within 30 business days from submission of application and the buyer withdrew
• Borrowers with lender placed or forced placed insurance
• Borrowers who have trial loan modifications that last beyond three months
• Borrowers with a loan modification that is not recognized by a new servicer
• Borrowers with excessive escrow deficiencies

Contact Atlas Consumer Law at (312) 313-1613 and request a free, private case evaluation on Regulation X today!

You May Have a Claim Under RESPA!

The actions listed below are considered to be misconduct under Regulation X. If any of these apply to you, you may have a claim against your mortgage loan servicer. Consult with our loan modification attorneys as soon as possible if any of the following describe your situation:

• Misconduct under Regulation X:
• Your loan servicer failed to honor a loan modification that you both agreed to
• Your loan servicer failed to make a timely decision (within 30 days) on a short sale
• Your loan servicer referred for foreclosure before your payments have been past-due for more than 120 days
• Your servicer moved forward in any way to foreclose after you have submitted a complete loan modification application
• Your servicer wrongfully charged you for legal fees, property inspections, or unnecessary appraisals
• Your servicer failed to properly calculate escrow, resulting in an overcharge

If you are in Illinois, we encourage you to call Atlas Consumer Law today to speak with one of our seasoned loan modification attorneys about your case. Our team is well known throughout the state for our commitment to protecting the rights of consumers and homeowners against unethical practices. Our attorneys are ready to help you with your Regulation X case!

Related Pages

• Regulations X and Z Impose Stricter Rules for Mortgage Loan Servicers
• Regulation Z
• Loan Modification
• Real Estate Settlement Protection Act (RESPA)
• Loss Mitigation

Think you might have a case under Regulation X? Fill out an online form or call (312) 313-1613 to request a free, private case evaluation.