Why would any Loan Originator stop recommending his regular Counseling Companies just to pass on “free” counseling? I give the Senior an option: A list of the required number of State and Nationalrntelephone numbers, pointing out a couple who have received HUD Funds and, thus, may charge less if the Company hasn’t expended its funds already (which I do not understand why some get and others don’t), and underscore that scheduling times will surely vary (as well as the quality of the counselors and what it is asked and explained). Frankly, I would prefer face to face counseling with immediate delivery of the Counseling Certificate but the logistics are difficult for most Seniors: an in-home telephone counseling session will always be more convienent for most Seniors.

Despite providing all that was needed for the senior to go to counseling here in California under the post 2009 requirements, NCOA would not give the borrower counseling unitl they had sent out the same items — which is not required. Further it took a call to NCOA to find out why it was taking over two weeks to get back to the borrower and they stated she had simply slipped through the cracks — not exactly a confidence builder.

The borrower described the experience as a real ordeal. She is younger and has the patience to endure the new protocol. She had to go completely through her finances, the booklet, and much more. Now instead of helping seniors understand HECMs, counseling process may become nothing more than an endurance test for seniors to pass. Even if a senior goes all the way through it, the real issue is will the important issues be retained?

The change in counseling over the last 7 years has been dramatic.

Why would any Loan Originator stop recommending his regular Counseling Companies just to pass on “free” counseling? I give the Senior an option: A list of the required number of State and Nationalrntelephone numbers, pointing out a couple who have received HUD Funds and, thus, may charge less if the Company hasn’t expended its funds already (which I do not understand why some get and others don’t), and underscore that scheduling times will surely vary (as well as the quality of the counselors and what it is asked and explained). Frankly, I would prefer face to face counseling with immediate delivery of the Counseling Certificate but the logistics are difficult for most Seniors: an in-home telephone counseling session will always be more convienent for most Seniors.