CitiMortgage - Escrow Problems

Consumer Complaints & Reviews

Carol of La Habra, CA on Jan. 10, 2012

Satisfaction Rating: 1/5

On 11/11/11, my loan with CitiMortgage was paid in full. To satisfy escrow, I had to pay the funds in my escrow account to satisfy the closing and payment of property taxes due on 12/10/11. After my taxes were paid, according to CitiMortgage they also paid my taxes. As of today 1/9/12, OC, CA Property Tax office has never received a duplicate payment. I was sent a copy of a cancelled check as proof my taxes were 'double' paid. However, the check copy is a 'bulk check' that paid many other property taxes.

While the check has cleared, I have no proof my property was part of the check copy I received. CitiMortgage has refused to help with any further documentation that proves my property taxes were paid. They have not given my a 'date' when this will be resolved nor when I would receive the money owed me in the sum of $1,912.49. I've called the Orange County Tax office so many times to follow up. They know my voice when I call. The more I try to escalate this case within CitiMortgage, the less helpful they are. The last rep I spoke with, Marcia, refused to transfer me to anyone else. I have case #xxxxx and get nowhere, no date, nothing other than I will get my refund when they get the funds back from OC, CA Tax office.

CarrieM of West Bend, WI on Sept. 7, 2011

Satisfaction Rating: 1/5

We called Citi on 7/2009 to discuss other options for escrow. We prepay a year, we pay taxes and insurance when do, etc. We were told it was a state law that we had to escrow (untrue, but did not know at the time). My husband was going to be getting a pay cut, so we were trying to be proactive. We were and always have been, at this point, current on our mortgage. Citi told us that what we wanted was a loan modification and they would put us in that and that was the help we were looking for. Of course, I had no idea what Pandora's box we had just opened since no other options were ever presented or discussed with us.

On May of 2010, after 8 months of trial payments, we were denied for HAMP. But we were told that was good news because we were actually back to Citi for a traditional modification. Again, no other options were mentioned or discussed with us. The next month, we get a letter to call and make arrangements before foreclosure would start. Of course, I called hysterical and was told that as long as I was making monthly payments and in the modification process, Citi would not foreclose.

On August 2010, Citi mysteriously loses my automatic monthly payment information and does not take my August payment, and files foreclosure. We get served papers and file an answer.

Two weeks later, we get offered a modification. My attorney calls their litigation department, and their local attorney in which calls were not returned. And the modification offer gets closed.

Another court date is scheduled for foreclosure. I finally got the contact in the Executive Response Unit (ERU). They rush and we get approved for another modification, but with worse terms-- only lowers interest 0.6% instead of 2%, like the previous offer (in which all income and bills were the same). We signed the offer to get foreclosure case dismissed.

After 4 months of on time payments with the modification, we got a letter from Freddie Mac that they do not approve the modification because of our credit. We also got letter from Citi to call to workout arrangements instead of foreclose (short sale, etc).

We are so confused and no idea what is going to happen next. Just when you think everything is going to work out and you can breathe, it all comes crashing down again. Well, yes, after 2 years of lies, and the run around from Citi, our credit is ruined. The only payment we did not make is when we called on 7/2009, and they told us to make our 1st trial payment in 2 months. I even asked about the missing 2 months and was told those weren't needed. Then, on August 2010, when they didn't take our automatic payment, they filed foreclosure on. All the while, I was talking to them 2-3 times every week! After reviewing a ton of blogs and sites today, I will be writing my story and sending it to anyone that will listen -- OCC, state representatives, Washington DC representatives, news stations and all blog attorneys in every state, etc.

Carl of Katy, TX on Dec. 16, 2003

I have a mortgage loan with CitiMortgage. The loan was closed 12/31/02. My monthly payment is $399.19. I have never missed a payment. Each month I send the minimum payment plus an additional amount to be applied to the principal balance. I have homeowners insurance on property. It was the same insurance I had at closing. The policy was written for one year. I self-escrow. I pay my own taxes and insurance.
I was contacted my CitiMortgage requesting a copy of my insurance policy. I faxed over the policy two different times. On 6/4/03 they forced an insurance policy on the account in the amount of $2,415.00 which created an escrow account. After several phone calls and several hours on the phone they finally canceled that policy and refunded the $2,415.00 back to the escrow account. But because an escrow account was setup in error, every payment I made is applied toward an escrow account that that should not exist.

I am receiving phone calls from the collection department for payments that I made and they applied incorrectly. I have been unsuccessful in getting anyone to correct the problem they created. I am fearful that the year-end reporting is going to be wrong. I have made several attempts to talk to a supervisor or to have one call be but none is ever available.

Heather of Joppa, MD on Dec. 15, 2003

Over seven months ago, when Citimortgage took over my mortgage from First Nationwide, I began contact with them in regards to unpaid tax issues on my property. At first I had found out that my taxes, held in escrow, were being paid on someone else's tax id/property and this was eventually resolved. However I then began to receive letters from Harford County, where I reside, stating that a one-time home improvement levy had remained unpaid by my mortgage company and my unpaid taxes would go to tax sale as of June 16th, 2003.
I contacted citimortage by phone and sent numerous faxes, each time getting nowhere with them. I would speak to a representative who ensured me this would be resolved and to follow up in a few weeks. Each follow up call I was told that this still for some un known reason was still not resolved. When I came home on June 21st, I received a letter from an unknown party advising he had purchased my tax lien on June 16th, 2003 and what could happen, the worst case, my home being foreclosed on as of December 17th, 2003.
I again contacted Citimortgage and finally on July 24th, 2003, they sent funds to the county to pay this tax and debited my escrow account. However Citimortgage did not send certified funds as requested in all correspondence I sent to them and on July 31st, 2003, all funds were sent back to Citimortgage. My escrow account still showing they had paid these taxes on my behalf. Contact was again made, via fax, and nothing done by Citimortgage.
I then decided to get a lawyer involved and a letter was sent by my lawyer to Citimortage on October 16th, 2003, which to date has not even received a response back to. Today, December 15th, 2003, I took $1798.43 and paid these delinquent taxes and also found out that a yearly usary tax due every September still remained unpaid. To date I have not had any response to this issue and even a registered return receipt letter I sent has yet to be signed for. I faxed over proof of what I paid and will again be sending a registered letter, return receipt to them on December 16th, 2003, in hopes they will credit this money to my account and pay this usary tax which to date is unpaid. I am fearful this will not be paid and am also questioning whether taxes due December 31st, 2003 will be paid by them on time.

I can get nowhere with them and no one there seems to want to do what they are supposed to on my account. I am at a loss as to what to do next, when even they are not responding to an attorney I have had to hire in reference to this matter.

Chris of Warwick, RI on Nov. 13, 2003

Citimortgage has failed to adequately administer our escrow account specifically in paying our property taxes. As of 11/13/03, they have failed to pay the last quarter of 02, and 1st quarter of 03. In an effort to resolve this issue, my wife and i have been in contact multiple times over the last two months to reconcile. Each time we have been given a different story, response, etc. Currently the city still views our account as delinquent and I am told to wait another 90 days for a resolution.

Credit rating has been affected and our house could be subject to a tax sale within the next 6-12 months due to unprofessional attitude of Cititmortgage.

Lesley of Morrison, CO on Oct. 23, 2003

Citimortgage bought my home loan from 1st Nationwide Mortgage in January or December of 2002. Nationwide Mortgage made payment from my escrow account for insurance due in the amount of $962.00. Farmers Insurance company never received the payment and cancelled my home owners insurance. Upon calling Nationwide Mortgage they would only tell me that they paid it. Citimortgage issued another insurance payment for $962.00 in May 2003 and $128.00 in April for "insurance", all of this money coming out of my escrow account for insurance due of $962.00. They have also increased my monthly payment by $150.00 per month.
Upon calling Citimortgage I was informed that it was the responsibility of my insurance company to pay me back and then I could re-pay my escrow. My insurance agent researched the problem and the first payment issued to them was issued by First Nationwide with the incorrect account number. Citimortgage assured us that this matter would be corrected. I have written to them and have had no response. Everytime I try to talk to someone at Citimortgage they tell me it is my responsibility to correct the problem. I have absolutely no control over my escrow account.

My first mortgage payment has increased by $150.00 a month. I have had $2,052 issued out of my escrow account for insurance that was suppose to be $962.00. They are now taking the difference from the additional principle I am paying to pay for their perceived shortage, because I am not paying the additional $150.00 into escrow.