A Qualified Written Request (QWR) is a critical legal tool for homeowners who want to clarify or correct issues with their mortgage servicing. Unlike a phone call or email, a QWR is a formal written notice regulated by the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), compelling mortgage servicers to respond within specific deadlines.
What Can You Use a QWR For?
With a QWR, you can formally ask your mortgage servicer for detailed information such as:
- An accounting of your loan payments
- The source of fees like late charges
- Escrow account details including taxes and insurance
- The current owner of your mortgage note
You can also dispute errors like incorrect fees, misapplied payments, or wrongful foreclosure actions.
How to Submit a QWR Properly
To have legal effect, your QWR must:
- Be a written letter sent to the servicer’s designated address for such requests (usually found on your mortgage statement or servicer’s website).
- Include your full name and mortgage account number.
- Specify the exact issue with clear, detailed explanations.
- Be sent via certified mail with return receipt requested to document delivery.
What Happens After Your QWR Is Received?
The mortgage servicer has legal obligations:
- Within 5 business days: They must acknowledge your request in writing.
- Within 30 business days: They must either correct the issue or investigate and provide evidence supporting their account’s accuracy. This period can extend by 15 days with notice.
During the investigation, the servicer cannot report negative credit information related to your dispute.
What a QWR Cannot Do
While powerful, a QWR is limited. It cannot:
- Request loan modifications or payment relief (see our article on Mortgage Loan Modification)
- Stop an ongoing foreclosure sale by itself, though related notices may pause actions temporarily (learn more about Foreclosure)
- Challenge the original loan contract terms
- Serve as a general customer service complaint
Additional Resources
To learn more about the role of your mortgage servicer in managing your loan, visit Mortgage Servicing.
For guidance on disputing errors and the difference between QWR and modern terms like “Notice of Error,” check official sources such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
Sending a Qualified Written Request is your best formal approach to ensure accuracy in your mortgage servicing and to hold your servicer accountable under federal law.