Suit: Wells Fargo Forced Borrowers to Take Out Too Much Insurance

A federal class action claims Wells Fargo Bank forces borrowers to take out too much flood insurance on their homes, then takes kickbacks and commissions on the insurance it takes out on their behalf. 

The suit was filed in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh on behalf of Desiree Morris, of Washington, Pa., who said Wells Fargo acquired a $115,000 mortgage on her home in 2009. She currently owes about $113,000.

Upon taking out the loan, Morris said she bought flood insurance in the amount of $118,000. In November 2010, the policy was renewed and the coverage was increased to $129,800, a 10% increase from her previous level.

Morris argues that the higher amount exceeds federal requirements by more than $14,000.

She notes that federal law requires that homes which, like Morris', are in a flood plain must have insurance “in an amount at least equal to the outstanding principal balance of the loan or the maximum limit of coverage ...whichever is less.”

But that was only the beginning.

The month after her insurance was increased to $129,800, Morris received a letter from Wells Fargo which claimed that her flood insurance coverage was "less than the coverage required" and claimed that she was required to have insurance that would provide the full replacement cost for her home, up to $250,000.

Wells Fargo said in the letter that if Morris did not take out more insurance, the bank would do so for her, taking out a "lender-placed policy" and charging her for it. The letter said Wells Fargo had purchased $94,000 worth of additional flood insurance on a 90-day binder and said it would bill her escrow account for the $893 cost.

The demands in the letter were "fraudulent, deceptive and misleading," Morris' suit claims and it charges that Wells Fargo was "unfairly, unjustly and unlawfully enriched by the kickbacks, commissions or other compensation."

The suit seeks class action status on behalf of anyone who had a loan or line of credit with Wells Fargo who was required to purchase flood insurance.

It charges Wells Fargo with violating the Truth in Lending Act, breaching its agreement, violating the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act and misappropriating funds held in trust, among other allegations.