Historically low interest rates, combined with proprietary and government loan modification programs, have helped reduce the number of homeowners in distress, according to the latest J.D. Power and Associates 2012 U.S. Primary Mortgage Servicer Satisfaction Study. According to the study, seven percent of homeowners indicate their loan status is “current” as a direct result of a loan modification or other payment arrangement, compared with four percent in 2011. In addition, 15 percent of customers say they have concerns keeping mortgage payments current, down from 17 percent in 2011.
“Over the past few years, among the primary reasons for lower levels of satisfaction were challenges in addressing the needs of customers concerned about making their payment or who were already delinquent,” said Craig Martin, director of the mortgage practice at J.D. Power and Associates. “Significant improvements in mortgage servicing, particularly with the method in which calls are handled, have improved customer satisfaction for the first time in three years.”
Overall satisfaction with primary mortgage servicers has increased to 725 (on a 1,000-point scale) from 718 in 2011. The study measures customer satisfaction in four areas of the mortgage servicing experience: Billing and payment process; escrow account administration; Web site; and phone contact. Satisfaction in all factors has increased from 2011.
Overall satisfaction among at-risk customers, those who are behind on their mortgage payments or are concerned about making future payments, improves the most, increasing by 27 points from 2011, compared with non-prime and prime customers (+3 point and -3 points, respectively). At-risk customers are the most likely to contact their mortgage servicer (75 percent), compared with non-prime (41 percent) and prime (32 percent) customers. Satisfaction among customers who contact their servicer via phone increases by 52 points from 2011.
“In the past, satisfaction is typically higher when customers do not need to contact their servicer, which makes the increase in overall satisfaction among at-risk customers that much more impressive,” said Martin. “By focusing on improving the contact experience, servicers have been able to improve satisfaction among customers who are most likely to be dissatisfied.”
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is proposing new mortgage servicing rules that, if passed, will go into effect in early 2013. Once in place, mortgage servicers will face new challenges in providing high levels of service, while ensuring the proper processes and procedures are in place to meet the new guidelines.
“Servicers will be under pressure to comply with the guidelines and must ensure that they not only have appropriate processes in place, but that they also understand the new rules and adhere to them as well,” said Martin.
BB&T (Branch Banking & Trust) ranked highest in customer satisfaction among primary mortgage servicers for a third consecutive year, with a score of 803, a 35-point increase from 2011. BB&T achieves the highest scores in three factors: website; escrow account administration; and billing and payment process. Regions Mortgage follows in the rankings with a score of 779, while SunTrust Mortgage ranks third with 758.
The 2012 U.S. Primary Mortgage Servicer Satisfaction Study is based on responses from 5,623 customers regarding their experiences with their primary mortgage servicer and was fielded between April and May 2012.
