Meridian Title Corporation
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
took action against real estate settlement services provider Meridian Title
Corporation for steering consumers to a title insurer owned in part by several
of its executives without making disclosures about the businesses’ affiliation.
The CFPB found that Meridian failed to disclose its relationship with the title
insurer and illegally benefitted from the referrals for title insurance—which
is usually required in real estate purchases involving a mortgage loan. Under the
consent order, the CFPB is ordering Meridian to ensure that it ceases the
illegal practice, provide disclosures whenever it makes a covered referral, and
pay up to $1.25 million in redress to consumers.