FirstMerit Mortgage Corporation in Canton, OH

We are not new to mortgages, by any means. As we enjoy our local branch of First Merit Bank, we were curious to see about refinancing our mortgage. Our mortgage contact in Bolingbrook, IL was the worst from the start. She would rarely return our calls, didn't show up for the closing... didn't let us know that the title company wasn't coming either, so we showed up and waited for more than an hour... for nothing. She even lied about our numbers to "get the load through". I wrote to the President and he actually sent me back an insulting, 3 page letter defending her! Fine.. She lied. He doesn't care because he got our business. We got a ridiculously low rate... and that's what we wanted. Lesson learned. That was in the past (2013)... Now for YET ANOTHER BAD SURPRISE...Because our First Merit Mortgage person "fudged numbers" on our loan, we just got a letter (March 2014) stating our escrow account is about $2,000 short (about 6 months of taxes she left out of the original documents!) and that our payment just went up by $150 a month. (about a 16.5% increase in our monthly payment!) 20 years of mortgages, including 3 refinanced, and we have NEVER been more than about $100-$200 short on escrow. but we've never dealt with this group before, either. While I'd recommend our local branch for everyday "personal banking" because of the people there, I'd suggest RUNNING from ANY mortgage pitch from First Merit Bank. If the mortgage person can lie about the numbers and the President of the Mortgage Group defends her actions without even speaking to us, and then the CUSTOMER gets screwed.... WHY... WHY on God's green earth would you want to go with such a shady mortgage department? Yes... find another mortgage company. No matter who else you go with, you'll be glad you did.

Jody Allman is the absolute worst!!! She is rude and quick to rush people off the phone. I was literally still talking and she hung up on me! Thank God above I do not need First Merit for anything. If you are reading this review and are considering First Merit...ask for someone else!!!!