To Whom It May Concern;

I am a self employed woman of nine years with good credit and well-documented income.I am literally debt free and my debt ratios are well within line. I have been denied a mortgage loan unless I add my husband, since the financial institution feels more "safe".

Can you please contact me?

Thank you,

Martha Ciocca

-- Martha R. Ciocca (MCiocca777@AOL.com), November 10, 1999

Answers

you should have got a loan on your qualifications, technically they can't even ask if you are married. It would have been interesting to see if your husband applied if the bank would have felt safe with you on the loan, further was it an old s&l and did you go to a man? I am a female loan officer, never have turned down anyone because of gender, and think it a crock you were treatred that way- you should contact the authoritites. Call me and I might be able to do your loan. good luck just e-mail me if your have any other questions

-- kate crawford (johnkate@netpath.net), December 20, 1999.

Contact the National Fair Housing Alliance 202-898-1661. They'll tell you which attorneys and/or fair housing organizations in your area can help. They might also have information concerning the lender involved.

-- Steve Dane (dane@cwclegal.com), January 06, 2000.

Kate the "female" loan officer is grossly misinformed. Kate, do yourself a favor and read Reg. B. Then read the staff commentary to Reg. B. "Technically", the lender may inquire if you are married. The question has to be posed as "married, unmarried, or separated". It's a shame there are so many misinformed people out there taking loan apps....*sigh* As for the facts of this incident, they are sketchy. Do we know if the lender asked for a spousal application or perhaps the lender only asked for the spouse to sign the mortgage to perfect the lien. This is a typcial practice in community property states and is also provided for in Reg. B.

Remember, there are only 11 prohibited bases of discrimination. In other words, a lender can discriminate on non-prohibited basis, such as stupidity. In which case, I shall make no further references to those invovled in this little comedy of misinformation.

-- brett maverick (brettt@starplace.com), April 03, 2000.