Lender’s Convenience Fees Do Not Violate State Laws, Judge Rules

Mealey's (December 3, 2020, 10:00 AM EST) -- LOS ANGELES — A woman’s lawsuit accusing her mortgage lender of violating California and Florida debt collection and deceptive trade practices laws when charging a $2 convenience fee for monthly payments made over the phone was dismissed with prejudice by a federal judge in California on Nov. 10, after the judge found that the fee does not constitute a debt and that charging the fee is not unconscionable (Sandra E. Lish v. AmeriHome Mortgage Co. LLC, No. 20-7147, C.D. Calif., 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 215172)....