For Your Information: January 23, 2009
FTC Launches Redress Program for Mortgage Loan Victims
Almost $28 Million Returned to 86,000 Consumers Harmed by Mortgage Servicing Practices
The Federal Trade Commission today announced that the agency returned almost $28 million to consumers this week as a result of a settlement with The Bear Stearns Companies, LLC and EMC Mortgage Corporation. Using the defendants’ records, about 86,000 consumers who had mortgage loans serviced by EMC have been mailed redress checks.
In September 2008, Bear Stearns and EMC agreed to pay $28 million to settle FTC charges that they engaged in unlawful practices in servicing consumers’ home mortgage loans. The companies allegedly misrepresented the amounts borrowers owed, charged unauthorized fees, such as late fees, property inspection fees, and loan modification fees, and engaged in unlawful and abusive collection practices. Consumers who have been mailed redress checks paid unauthorized fees to EMC and/or had a home foreclosed upon by EMC.
EMC consumers with questions should call the redress administrator at 1-877-225-7510.
Copies
of the documents mentioned in this release are available from the FTC’s Web site at
http://www.ftc.gov
and from the FTC’s Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580. Call toll-free: 1-877-FTC-HELP.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
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Office of Public Affairs
202-326-2180
(EMC FYI.2009.wpd)
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