Consumer Financial Protection Bureau v. Siringoringo Law Firm

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, also known as the CFPB, is a government agency responsible for enforcing laws that protect consumers. In July of 2014, the CFPB sued the Siringoringo Law Firm, Stephen Siringoringo, and others because they illegally charged upfront fees for mortgage-relief services, such as home-loan modifications. A court found that the Siringoringo Law Firm and Stephen Siringoringo violated Regulation O, formerly known as the Mortgage Assistance Relief Services (MARS) Rule.

Affected consumers paid fees to Siringoringo. Consumers had the opportunity to file claims if they did not receive a full refund of payments they made to Siringoringo during the eligibility period. The deadlines to submit a claim and provide additional information have passed. New claims and supporting documentation are no longer being accepted.

On January 11, 2017, a court entered a judgment against the Siringoringo Law Firm and Stephen Siringoringo. The CFPB obtained Siringoringo’s payment records and individuals who paid them upfront fees for mortgage-relief services between July 2011 and July 2013 may be eligible for a refund of those fees. Epiq mailed initial checks to refund individuals identified in Siringoringo’s payment records in August 2020.

In addition, Individuals who believed they were an eligible consumer and did not receive a refund of all fees they paid Siringoringo, have the option to file a claim by mail or online. Epiq has mailed four rounds of supplemental refund payments since the initial mailing in August 2020.

On January 18, 2024, Epiq sent letters to consumers whose claims were missing information or supporting documentation for one or more payments they made to Siringoringo. We will review responses to those letters and mail additional checks if more payments qualify for a refund. Any additional checks will not be mailed until after processing all the responses. We are unable to provide any information when additional checks will be mailed. Thank you for your patience.

The deadlines to submit a claim and provide additional information have passed. New claims and supporting documentation are no longer being accepted.

Eligible consumers include all consumers who paid the Siringoringo Law Firm fees from July 22, 2011 through July 26, 2013.

Consumers had the opportunity to file claims if they did not receive a full refund of payments they made to Siringoringo during the eligibility period. The deadlines to submit a claim and provide additional information have passed. New claims and supporting documentation are no longer being accepted.

Receiving a refund from the CFPB does not prevent you from pursuing other legal claims, if any, against any individual or entity named in the CFPB’s lawsuit. While Epiq nor CFPB can give you individual legal advice, you can speak with an attorney who can provide legal advice specific to your situation.

The letter detailed reasons we were unable to refund all payments you made to the Defendant, Siringoringo Law Firm, or someone acting on their behalf. The Response Deadline was printed on the letter. The deadline to provide additional information has passed and supporting documentation is no longer being accepted.

To qualify for a refund, each payment had to be supported by documentation proving the payment date and amount, and that you made the payment to the Defendant, or someone acting on their behalf. Types of documentation you could have used to prove you made a payment may include copies of the following:

• Cancelled check;
• Receipt from the Defendant;
• Receipt for a money order or eCheck;
• Credit card statement or bank statement; or
• Invoice showing the payment was made or the remaining balance is zero.

The documents needed to include the payment date and amount, and identify the Defendant, or someone acting on their behalf. Documents you prepared yourself or invoices with “Paid” handwritten on them, were not enough proof to qualify payments for a refund.

Some additional information, including the final court order, is available on the Documents page of this website. You can also visit the CFPB website for this case at www.cfpb.gov/payments/Siringoringo.

The CFPB stands for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 established the CFPB.

Congress established the CFPB to protect consumers by carrying out federal consumer financial laws. Among other things, the CFPB:

• Writes rules, supervises companies, and enforces federal consumer financial protection laws;
• Restricts unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices;
• Takes consumer complaints;
• Promotes financial education;
• Researches consumer behavior;
• Monitors financial markets for new risks to consumers; and
• Enforces laws that outlaw discrimination and other unfair treatment in consumer finance.

To learn more, visit www.consumerfinance.gov.

Epiq Class Action & Claims Solutions is a Third Party Administrator that CFPB has contracted with to answer questions regarding this case, and to administer this website.

No, this is not a scam. If you wish, you can verify that Epiq is contracted with CFPB by calling CFPB directly at 1-855-411-2372, or visiting their website: www.cfpb.gov/payments/Siringoringo.

The information requested is being collected to determine your eligibility for a Civil Penalty Fund or redress payment from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to compensate you for harm suffered from a violation of Federal consumer financial law that was the subject of a Bureau enforcement action.

Identifying information collected may be used by and disclosed to employees, contractors, agents, and others authorized by the CFPB to receive this information to assist in related activities. It may also be disclosed:

• To a court, magistrate, or administrative tribunal in the course of a proceeding;
• For enforcement, statutory, and regulatory purposes;
• To another federal or state agency or regulatory authority;
• To a member of Congress; to the Department of Justice, a court, an adjudicative body or administrative tribunal, or a party in litigation; and
• Pursuant to the CFPB’s published Privacy Act system of records notice, CFPB.025 – Civil Penalty Fund and Bureau-Administered Redress Program Records.

The collection of this information is authorized by Pub. L. 111-203, Title X, Sections 1017(d) (Civil Penalty Fund) and/or 1055(a) (Redress), codified at 12 U.S.C. §§ 5497(d), 5565(a).

You are not required to submit or provide any identifying information; however, not doing so may delay processing or be a basis for rejection of your claim.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or CFPB, never requires consumers to pay money up front or provide additional information before consumers can cash refund checks that CFPB has issued.

If anyone claims that they can get you a refund but asks you for money, it could be a scam. Please contact CFPB right away if this happens to you or if you have other questions about this matter.

If Epiq mailed you a Claim Form or letter saying information was missing from your claim, we may have asked you to provide additional information about payment(s) you made to Siringoringo Law Firm, or someone acting on their behalf. The deadline to provide additional information has passed and supporting documentation is no longer being accepted.

To request that we update your name and address, please send a signed letter via postal mail with your request. Please include your full name and current mailing address. For the name change, also provide copies of any documentation that support the name change. Documentation could include a Marriage Certificate, Divorce order, valid state issued ID, or other documentation depending on your situation.

Mail your request to:

CFPB v. Siringoringo
Civil Penalty Fund Third-Party Administrator
P.O. Box 3747
Portland, OR 97208-3747

You may also email us at info@stoploanscams.org. Supporting documentation must be attached to the email if you are requesting a name change.

You may contact Epiq in writing at:

CFPB v. Siringoringo
Civil Penalty Fund Third-Party Administrator
P.O. Box 3747
Portland, OR 97208-3747

Do not send any information to CFPB.

The deadlines to submit a claim and provide additional information have passed. New claims and supporting documentation are no longer being accepted.

Please note that information you submit is treated in accordance with the Privacy Act. You can view the Privacy Act in FAQ 9.