The CFPB has fined Atlanta-based Amerisave $19.8 million for allegedly luring customers in with misleading rates
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has slapped an Atlanta-based mortgage company has been with a $19.3 million fine for running a bait-and-switch scheme.
According to the CFPB, Amerisave Mortgage Corp. advertised misleading interest rates to lure in customers, then locked them in with hefty up-front fees, refused to honor the advertised rates and illegally overcharged them for affiliated third-party services.
“Amerisave lured consumers in with deceptive advertising, trapped them with costly upfront fees, and then illegally overcharged them for services from an undisclosed affiliate,” said CFPB Director Richard Cordray. “By the time consumers could have discovered the advertised low rates were too good to be true, they had already committed to pay hundreds of dollars to Amerisave. Today’s action puts an end to Amerisave’s unacceptable bait-and-switch scheme and holds Patrick Markert personally responsible for his illegal actions.”
According to the CFPB, Amerisave advertised heavily using online banner ads on third-party websites. Amerisave allegedly posted inaccurate rates on these banner ads. When consumers were directed to Amerisave’s own site, the company showed them a rate based on an 800 FICO score even if the consumer had entered a FICO score below 800 on the original banner ad, the CFPB charged.
The company also required customers to provide payment authorization information for an appraisal before it would give a good faith estimate, and did not immediately inform customers that appraisals were referred to its own affiliated company, according to the CFPB.
Amerisave and its affiliate, Novo Appraisal Management Co., will pay $14.8 million in consumer relief and a $4.5 million penalty. The owner of the companies, Patrick Markert, will pay an additional $1.5 million penalty.
According to the CFPB, Amerisave Mortgage Corp. advertised misleading interest rates to lure in customers, then locked them in with hefty up-front fees, refused to honor the advertised rates and illegally overcharged them for affiliated third-party services.
“Amerisave lured consumers in with deceptive advertising, trapped them with costly upfront fees, and then illegally overcharged them for services from an undisclosed affiliate,” said CFPB Director Richard Cordray. “By the time consumers could have discovered the advertised low rates were too good to be true, they had already committed to pay hundreds of dollars to Amerisave. Today’s action puts an end to Amerisave’s unacceptable bait-and-switch scheme and holds Patrick Markert personally responsible for his illegal actions.”
According to the CFPB, Amerisave advertised heavily using online banner ads on third-party websites. Amerisave allegedly posted inaccurate rates on these banner ads. When consumers were directed to Amerisave’s own site, the company showed them a rate based on an 800 FICO score even if the consumer had entered a FICO score below 800 on the original banner ad, the CFPB charged.
The company also required customers to provide payment authorization information for an appraisal before it would give a good faith estimate, and did not immediately inform customers that appraisals were referred to its own affiliated company, according to the CFPB.
Amerisave and its affiliate, Novo Appraisal Management Co., will pay $14.8 million in consumer relief and a $4.5 million penalty. The owner of the companies, Patrick Markert, will pay an additional $1.5 million penalty.
