
Flagstar Bank has been involved in several loan modification complaints, including allegations of unfair lending practices and failure to provide adequate mortgage relief. Many homeowners have reported difficulties in getting approved for loan modifications.
According to an article, in 2010, Flagstar Bank agreed to a $77 million settlement with the US Department of Justice to resolve allegations of discriminatory lending practices. Homeowners who were victims of these practices may be eligible for mortgage relief.
Flagstar Bank's loan modification process has been criticized for being complex and time-consuming, leading to frustration for many homeowners. In some cases, homeowners have reported being denied loan modifications despite meeting the required criteria.
Flagstar Bank Loan Modification Issues
Flagstar Bank has faced numerous complaints regarding its loan modification process. Many homeowners have reported difficulties in obtaining a loan modification, with some cases taking over a year to resolve.
Some borrowers have reported receiving loan modification offers that included terms that were not agreed upon. For example, one borrower was offered a loan modification with a higher interest rate than their original loan.

Flagstar Bank's loan modification process has been criticized for being overly complex and difficult to navigate. Homeowners have reported having to deal with multiple representatives and paperwork.
One borrower reported having to wait over six months for a loan modification decision, only to be rejected and have to start the process over.
Struggling with Mortgage Payments
If you're struggling with mortgage payments, you're not alone. Many homeowners have faced similar challenges. In fact, at-risk homeowners trying to save their homes from foreclosure during the mortgage meltdown complained for years that banks were systematically stonewalling them.
Flagstar Bank, a Michigan-based financial institution, was accused by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau of intentionally frustrating homeowners and pushing some into foreclosure. The bank allegedly failed at every step in the foreclosure relief process.
If you're dealing with a bank like Flagstar, it's essential to be aware of your rights. Under the CFPB's rules, banks must provide certain borrowers the right to appeal the denial of a loan modification. However, Flagstar misled borrowers about their appeal rights.
Some borrowers may be put in a situation called "trial period purgatory." Flagstar needlessly prolonged trial periods for loan modifications, which caused some borrowers' loan amount under the modified note to increase and jeopardized their permanent loan modification.
Here are some key issues with Flagstar Bank's loan modification process:
- Flagstar would close applications because of missed deadlines and stale documentation, even though “documents had expired because of Flagstar’s delay.”
- The bank misled borrowers about their appeal rights.
- Flagstar put borrowers in “trial period purgatory.”
If you're struggling with mortgage payments, don't hesitate to reach out to your bank or a qualified housing counselor for assistance. The CFPB's actions against Flagstar Bank demonstrate that regulators are taking steps to hold banks accountable for their practices.
Mortgage Relief Delays
Flagstar Bank's mortgage relief process was a mess, with a staggering 13,000 active loss-mitigation applications pending review.
The bank had only assigned 25 full-time employees and a third-party vendor in India to review these applications, leading to a massive backlog.
In some cases, it took a whopping nine months to review applications, leaving at-risk homeowners in limbo.
The bank would often close applications due to missed deadlines or stale documentation, even though the documents had expired because of Flagstar's own delay.

Flagstar misled borrowers about their appeal rights, failing to provide the required notice and wrongly stating that borrowers only have an appeal right if they reside in certain states.
The bank also put borrowers in "trial period purgatory", needlessly prolonging trial periods for loan modifications, which caused some borrowers' loan amount under the modified note to increase and jeopardized their permanent loan modification.
Here are some specific ways Flagstar failed at mortgage relief:
- Flagstar would close applications because of missed deadlines and stale documentation, even though “documents had expired because of Flagstar’s delay.”
- The bank misled borrowers about their appeal rights.
- Flagstar put borrowers in “trial period purgatory.”
Sources
- https://www.metrickesq.com/mortgage-servicing-companies/flagstar-foreclosure-loan-modification-information/
- https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/real-estate/2014/09/29/flagstar-fined-million-illegal-foreclosures/16430761/
- https://intlbanking.org/CFPB-Complaints/FLAGSTAR+BANK%2C+FSB/25
- https://bobsullivan.net/gotchas/red-tape-that-stalled-mortgage-relief-was-systematic-cfpb-says/
- https://www.freep.com/story/money/business/michigan/2014/09/29/flagstar-regulators-mortgages-fine/16431517/
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