Alert number: CA055325_2/10/23(2/24)
The state of Washington Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) has received a complaint from a Washington consumer against HomeMatters USA. The consumer reported that HomeMatters USA called him and guaranteed they could get him a 2% loan and promised him they would get him a $80,000.00 grant from the government to reduce his principal. He started making payments to HomeMatters through his bank by routing money to different accounts. The account where he would send the payments would change often, as would the person he was speaking to with HomeMatters. The consumer later found out that the payments were not being applied to his mortgage. When the customer called to question this, HomeMatters USA stopped responding.
HomeMatters USA has been associated with the following addresses:
3435 Wilshire Blvd #2700-53
Los Angeles, CA 90010
9100 Wilshire Blvd #725E
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
HomeMatters USA has been associated with the following individuals:
Tracy Wilson (tracy@homemattersusa.com), Tara Castillo (tara@homemattersusa.com), Roy Williamson (roy@homematters usa.com), John Adams (john@homemattersusa.com), Natalie Ortiz (natalie@homemattersusa.com), Charles Taylor (charles@homemattersusa.com)
HomeMatters USA has been associated with the following phone numbers:
(213)895-4395, (800)268-4420, (323)678-4839, (323)284-1296, (323)544-4628, (213)322-0923, (310)994-0442, (213)322-0917, (858)663-1264
HomeMatters USA has been associated with the following website:
www.homemattersusa.com
Individuals or companies offering to assist homeowners in Washington State in obtaining a mortgage loan modification are required to be licensed by the DFI or be exempt from the licensing requirement. Further, individuals or companies offering such services may not collect a fee “up front” for providing such services and must provide consumers with all required disclosures.
HomeMatters USA is not licensed by the DFI and is not registered to conduct business in Washington State by the Department of Licensing, the Department of Revenue, or the Secretary of State.
The DFI warns Washington homeowners:
- Never pay an “upfront fee” to a person or company offering to assist with a mortgage modification unless you have verified that they are exempt from the licensing requirement. Call DFI toll free at 1-877-RING-DFI (1-877-746-4334) for help in verifying that a person or company is exempt from the licensing requirement and is permitted to charge an “upfront fee”.
- Do not do business with a financial institution, company, or individual, without making sure that the entity is properly licensed.
- Do not give any personal information, such as social security number or bank account number or access, to someone offering to provide you with assistance without verifying license status.
- Consumers can determine whether a person or company is properly licensed to conduct business in the state of Washington by using the “Verify a License” feature on the DFI’s website at www.dfi.wa.gov.
Important Information for Washington Homeowners about Mortgage Loan Modifications
The following acts or practices related to mortgage loan modification services are not permitted by companies or individuals subject to the Mortgage Broker Practices Act:
- Collecting an advance fee for a mortgage loan modification.
- Charging excessive or unreasonable fees for helping to get a mortgage loan modification.
- Failing to provide a written fee agreement for helping to get a mortgage loan modification.
- Making false or misleading statements to the borrower.
- Other prohibited acts listed in Washington Administrative Code Section 208-660-500(4).
Report Unlicensed Lending Activity or Fraud
Washington State residents only: If you suspect unlicensed activity by a party offering to assist with a mortgage loan modification, please contact the Department at 1-877-RING-DFI (746-4334), or online at www.dfi.wa.gov. Even if you activity involves loan modification services you obtained over the internet, a license is still required.
If you feel you have been the victim of a scam you can contact the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357) or online at www.ftc.gov; or contact the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (855) 411-CFPB (2372) or online at www.consumerfinance.gov.
If the scammers already have your bank account information, social security number, or other nonpublic information, you may be a victim of identity theft and you can take appropriate precautions. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has information for victims of identity theft available online at www.ftc.gov.
If you feel you have been the victim of a scam involving the internet you can also contact the Internet Crime Complaint Center online at www.ic3.gov.
If you feel you have been the victim of a financial scam and are concerned about your personal financial information, you can contact your banking institution and the three major credit bureaus. Procedures for contacting the credit bureaus are available on the FTC’s website at www.ftc.gov.
If you live in another state, go to this webpage to find the regulator in your home state. http://mortgage.nationwidelicensingsystem.org/consumer/Pages/AgencyContacts.aspx.