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Articles + Publications February 24, 2022
On February 22, the Fourth Circuit clarified in a published opinion what communications constitute a qualified written request (QWR) under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA). The Fourth Circuit held that “where a written correspondence to a loan servicer provides sufficient information to identify the account and an alleged servicing error, such correspondence is a QWR for the purpose of RESPA and Regulation X.”
In Morgan v. Caliber Home Loans, Inc., No. 20-1745 (4th Cir. Feb. 22, 2022), the Fourth Circuit considered whether plaintiffs Rogers Morgan and Patrice L. Johnson had sufficiently alleged that they sent correspondence that qualified as a QWR to their mortgage loan servicer Caliber Home Loans, Inc. (Caliber). The district court dismissed the plaintiffs’ claims. Taking all of the plaintiffs’ allegations to be true and viewed in the light most favorable to the plaintiffs, the Fourth Circuit reversed the dismissal of Morgan’s claim but affirmed the dismissal of Johnson’s claim.
Morgan’s Letter
Morgan alleged that he sent a letter to Caliber stating:
Please find a report from … stating as of 10/13/15 I owe Caliber $16,806[.] [A]lso on 9/20/16 I called Caliber and talked to Thomas ID#27662[.] [H]e stated I owe $30,656.89 and the $630.00 on my record is late charges. Can you please correct your records[?] Your office reporting the wrong amount to the credit agency is effecting [sic] my employment. Please correct your records.
Slip. Op. 3. He included a copy of his credit report with the letter.
Morgan claimed that Caliber continued to report adverse loan information after receiving his letter, in contravention of RESPA. Caliber argued — and the district court agreed — that Morgan’s letter was not a QWR because it did “not dispute a specific payment.”
The Fourth Circuit reversed, holding that “RESPA does not limit the reporting of overdue payments to disputes of specifically identified payments but includes any ‘qualified written request relating to a dispute regarding the borrower’s payments.'” Slip Op. 9 (quoting 12 U.S.C. § 2605(e)(3)) (emphasis added). The holding is significant for several reasons:
Judge Richardson vigorously dissented from the majority’s opinion with regard to Morgan’s letter for two reasons: “A ‘qualified written request’ must include a ‘statement of the reasons for the belief of the borrower … that the account is in error.’ § 2605(e)(1)(B)(ii). Morgan’s letter fails to identify what he believed the error to be and provides no statement of reasons for his belief.” Slip Op. 15 (Richardson, J., dissenting).
Johnson’s Letter
After Johnson fell behind on mortgage payments, Caliber began reporting adverse information to credit reporting agencies. Johnson and Caliber discussed a loan modification, with Johnson making trial payments, Caliber declined to initially finalize a loan modification due to the existence of a priority lien by a third party. Johnson wrote a letter challenging “title issues” due to the third-party lien and asking Caliber to correct their “errors.” Slip. Op. 4. Johnson and Caliber later revisited and finalized a loan modification, but in the interim, Caliber continued its adverse credit reporting.
Caliber argued that the Johnson letter was not a QWR because it only disputed a potential loan modification, which does not constitute a QWR under RESPA. Slip. Op. 5. The district court agreed, and the Fourth Circuit affirmed. The court held that “[a] loan modification is a contractual issue, not a servicing matter. The Johnson Letter does not relate to any dispute of Johnson’s payments, or assert an error related to the servicing of the loan.” Slip Op. 12.
Conclusion
This opinion provides helpful guidance to mortgage servicers in determining whether letters constitute a QWR. It is clear that letters purely challenging loan modifications are not QWRs, as they address “contractual issue[s], not a servicing matter.” However, a letter generally identifying “conflicting information” regarding payments is likely sufficient to constitute a QWR if the correspondence otherwise complies with the statute.
Troutman Pepper attorneys regularly advise their mortgage servicer clients on how to respond to QWRs and other customer correspondence. Troutman Pepper attorneys also defend RESPA claims brought against those same clients in state and federal courts throughout the country. We will continue to monitor how the courts within the Fourth Circuit apply the Morgan ruling through our Consumer Financial Services Law Monitor blog.
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Leading the energy evolution.
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From compliance to the courtroom, we have you covered.
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Helping you focus on what matters – improving human health.
Learn more
Trusted advisors to leading insurers for 100+ years.
Learn more
Unlocking value in the middle market and beyond.
Learn more
Full-service legal advice from coast to coast.
Learn more
Applying radical applications of common sense
Explore More
Our standard-setting client experience program.
Explore more
Delivering life-changing help to those most in need.
Explore More
Our firm’s greatest asset is our people.
Explore More
Market-leading eDiscovery and data management services.
Explore more
The Pepper Center for Public Services
Explore more
Strategies helps businesses and individuals solve the complexities of dealing with the government at every level. Our team of specialists concentrate exclusively on government affairs, representing clients nationwide who need assistance with public policy, advocacy, and government relations strategies.
This unique program provides innovative and affordable opportunities to startups and early-stage emerging companies with a solid technology or scientific foundation. We help companies that have a quality management team in place and do not have other significant legal representation.
eMerge’s lawyers and technologists work together to deliver strategic end-to-end eDiscovery and data management solutions for litigation, investigations, due diligence, and compliance matters. We help clients discover the information necessary to resolve disputes, respond to investigations, conduct due diligence, and comply with legal requirements.
Stay ahead of the curve and in touch with our latest thinking on the issues that are top of mind across our practices and industry sectors.
Change happens fast in today’s turbulent world. Stay on top of the latest with our industry-specific channels.
Take a closer look at how we partner with clients to help them realize their goals.