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Where do I complain about my mortgage servicer in California?

Start by writing to your servicer. If that does not fix it, complain to the agency that oversees that company. In California, the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) handles most state-licensed lenders and servicers, and the Department of Real Estate (DRE) handles real estate licensees. The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) takes complaints about servicers nationwide, and the Attorney General takes fraud complaints.

By Guillermo Serafin, broker and owner of Serve First Realty. Updated October 2026.

Who is your servicer, and who is your lender?

  • Your servicer is the company you send payments to. Its name is on your monthly statement.
  • Your lender is the company that made or now owns the loan. Sometimes it is the same company, sometimes not.
  • If your servicer changes, both the old and new servicer must tell you.

Step 1: Try your servicer first, in writing

  • Call with your loan number and papers in hand. Write down who you spoke to, the date, the time, and what they promised.
  • Then send a letter to the address for letters listed on your statement. Say exactly what is wrong and what you want them to do.
  • Send copies, never originals. Keep a copy of everything you send.
  • Keep making your payments if you can, so a dispute does not turn into a default.
  • Use our servicer call log to track every contact. Our guide to your servicer's federal duties explains what they must do.

Step 2: Find the right agency

The Department of Real Estate's complaint guide was last updated in 2013, and some agency names in it have changed. The old "Department of Corporations" is now part of the DFPI. Here is the current list.

  • State-licensed mortgage lenders, servicers, and mortgage brokers: the DFPI. Call 866-275-2677 or file at dfpi.ca.gov/submit-a-complaint. The DFPI accepts complaints in more than 240 languages.
  • Real estate brokers and agents, including licensees who arrange loans or offer loan modification or short sale help: the DRE. Call 877-373-4542 or file at the DRE complaint page.
  • Almost any mortgage servicer: the CFPB. Call 855-411-2372 or file at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. The CFPB sends your complaint to the company, which generally responds within 15 days.
  • A national bank, with "National" or "N.A." in its name: the federal Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
  • A federal credit union, with "Federal" in its name: the National Credit Union Administration.
  • Fraud or scams: the California Attorney General's consumer complaint form, the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov, or your county district attorney.

Not sure who licenses your company? Look it up on NMLS Consumer Access or the DRE website.

Does your loan type have its own help line?

What about other mortgage problems?

  • Appraisers: the Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers.
  • Title insurance companies: the California Department of Insurance.
  • Housing or lending discrimination: the California Civil Rights Department.
  • Lawyers: the State Bar of California.

How do you write a strong complaint?

  • Give your name, address, loan number, and the company's name.
  • List what happened in date order, with names and dates.
  • Say clearly what you want fixed.
  • Attach copies of letters, statements, and notes. Never send originals.
  • Save the confirmation number and any reply.

Will a complaint stop my foreclosure?

No. A complaint, a review, or a promise to look into it does not stop a sale date by itself. Keep checking your sale date with the trustee, and read our guide on how to verify a sale postponement. For free help, call a HUD-approved housing counselor at 800-569-4287.

General information, not legal advice. Agency names and phone numbers change, so check each agency's website. Sources: California Department of Real Estate, A Consumer Guide to Mortgage-Related Complaints (RE 20, revised November 2013, with agency names updated); DFPI, DRE, CFPB, and Attorney General complaint pages, checked October 29, 2026.

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IMPORTANT NOTICE

Serve First Realty is not associated with the government, and our service is not approved by the government or your lender.

Even if you accept this offer and use our service, your lender may not agree to change your loan.

Asking for a guide or giving contact permission does not stop foreclosure or extend a deadline.

Stuck with your servicer? Talk to us.

A free call can help you sort out your choices while your complaint is being reviewed.

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