By Patrick Yoest
Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- The U.S. Department of Justice ended an investigation into a major mortgage servicer Monday after the company agreed to adjust its policies on military service members who pay their mortgages ahead of schedule.
Homecomings Financial LLC, a subsidiary of the GMAC Financial Services, agreed to refund a $9,144 mortgage-prepayment penalty to Master Sgt. Brenda S. Gomez, according to the Justice Department. Gomez received an order transferring her to a new military base and requested that Homecomings waive the prepayment penalty, but she had been denied.
Homecomings and GMAC agreed to change their policies to waive prepayment penalties for military service members who are moved permanently to bases 30 miles or more from their current homes. The Justice Department cited service members' Civil Relief Act in its agreement with Homecomings and GMAC, noting that it gives troops a number of protections that modify their obligations such as mortgage payments.
The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division "is encouraged by the steps Homecomings has taken on behalf of Master Sergeant Gomez and servicemembers nationwide," said Grace Chung Becker, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division.
-By Patrick Yoest, Dow Jones Newswires; 202-862-3554; patrick.yoest@dowjones.com
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Publié le 15 Décembre 2008 Copyright © 2008 Dowjones