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Disclosures

Privacy Policy

NOTE: If you have an impairment, disability, language barrier, or otherwise require an alternative means of completing this form or accessing information about housing counseling, please talk to your housing counselor about arranging alternative accommodations.

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Financial Education Associates (FEA) is committed to assuring the privacy of individuals and/or families who have contacted us for assistance. We realize that the concerns you bring to us are highly personal in nature. We assure you that all personal information shared orally and/or in writing will be managed within ethical and legal considerations. Additionally, we want you to understand how we use the personal information we collect about you.

Please carefully review this notice as it describes our policy regarding the collection and disclosure of your nonpublic, personal information.

 

What is nonpublic, personal information?

  • Information that identifies an individual personally and is not otherwise publicly available information, such as your Social Security Number or demographic data such as your race and ethnicity

  • Includes personal financial information such as credit history, income, employment history, financial assets, bank account information and financial debts

 

What personal information does FEA collect about you?

We collect personal information about you from the following sources:

  • Information that you provide on applications, forms, email, or verbally

  • Information about your transactions with us, our affiliates, or others

  • Information we receive from your creditors or employment references

  • Credit Reports

 

What categories of information do we disclose and to whom?

We may disclose the following personal information to financial service providers (such as companies providing home mortgages), Federal, State, and nonprofit partners for program review, monitoring, auditing, research, and/or oversight purposes, and/or any other pre-authorized individual and/or organization. The types of information we disclose are as follows:

  • Information you provide on applications/forms or other forms of communication. This information may include your name, address, employer, occupation, assets, expenses, and income.

  • Information about your transactions with us, our affiliates, or others; such as your account balance, monthly payment, payment history, and method of payment.

  • Information we receive from a consumer credit reporting agency; such as your credit bureau reports, your credit and payment history, your credit scores, and/or your creditworthiness.

  • We do not sell or rent your personal information to any outside entity.

  • We may share anonymous, aggregated case file information; but this information may not be disclosed in a manner that would personally identify you in any way. This is done in order to evaluate our program, gather valuable research information, and/or design future programs.

  • We may also disclose personal information about you to third parties as permitted by law.

 

How is your personal information secured?

We restrict access to your nonpublic personal information to FEA employees who need to know that information in order to perform their housing counseling duties. We maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards that comply with federal regulations to guard your nonpublic personal information; and we train our staff to safeguard client information and prevent unauthorized access, disclosure, or use.

 

Mobile Data Collection:

No mobile information will be shared with third parties/affiliates for marketing/promotional purposes. All other categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties. By providing a telephone number and submitting the form you are consenting to be contacted by SMS text message. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out of further messaging.

 

Opting Out of Certain Disclosures

You may direct FEA to not disclose your nonpublic personal information to third parties (other than disclosures made to project partners and those permitted by law). However, if you choose to opt out, we will not be able to answer any questions from your creditors, which may limit FEA’s ability to provide services. If you choose to opt-out, please sign below under the “Opt-Out” clause. If you choose to release your information as stipulated in this Privacy Policy, sign under the “Release” clause. You may change your decision any time by contacting our agency.

OPT-OUT: I request that FEA make no disclosures of my nonpublic personal information to third parties other than project partners and those permitted by law. By choosing this option, I understand that FEA will NOT be able to answer any questions from my creditors. I understand that I may change my decision any time by contacting FEA.

 

I acknowledge that I received, reviewed, and agree to FEA’s Privacy Policy:

Housing Counseling Agreement

I understand that FEA provides confidential pre-purchase and post-purchase housing counseling after which I will receive an written Action Plan consisting of recommendations for handling my finances, possibly including referrals to other housing agencies as appropriate.

I understand that FEA is a HUD approved, non-profit housing counseling agency that is in partnership with my lender, servicer or insurer and may require that FEA share my information with my servicer to better assist me. I authorize my lender, servicer or insurer to share my information with FEA. Funding comes from HUD, lender partners, and private foundations.

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I may be referred to other housing services of the organization or another agency or agencies as appropriate that may be able to assist with particular concerns that have been identified. I understand that I am not obligated to use any of the services offered to me.

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A counselor may answer questions and provide information about bankruptcy but not give legal advice. If I want legal advice, I will be referred for appropriate assistance. While an attorney can make a recommendation to file bankruptcy, it is a personal choice based on individual circumstances.

 

I understand that in the event I am dissatisfied, I can request a copy of the Complaint Resolution Process, a copy of which is available upon request.

 

I understand that FEA provides information and education on numerous loan products and housing programs, and I further understand that the housing counseling I receive from FEA in no way obligates me to choose any of these particular loan products or housing programs.

 

I acknowledge that I received, reviewed, and agree to FEA’s Housing Counseling Agreement.

Program Disclosure Form

About Us and Program Purpose:

Financial Education Associates (FEA) is a nonprofit, HUD-approved housing counseling agency. We provide free and low-cost education workshops, landlord, pre-purchase and non-delinquency post-purchase housing counseling.

We serve all clients regardless of income, race, color, religion/creed, sex, national origin, age, family status, disability, or sexual orientation/gender identity. We administer our programs in conformity with local, state, and federal anti-discrimination laws, including the federal Fair Housing Act.

Our goal is to provide you with impartial information and tools to help you make informed housing decisions. We do not guarantee housing outcomes, nor do we provide direct financial assistance for home purchases, rentals, or mortgage payments.

As a housing counseling program participant, please affirm your roles and responsibilities along with the following disclosures and initial, sign, and date the form on the following page.

 

Client and Counselor Roles and Responsibilities:

Counselor’s Roles and Responsibilities

  • Reviewing your housing goal and your finances; which include your income, debts, assets, and credit history.

  • Preparing a Client Action Plan that lists the steps that you and your counselor will take in order to achieve your housing goal.

  • Preparing a household budget that will help you manage your debt, expenses, and savings.

  • Your counselor is not responsible for achieving your housing goal, but will provide guidance and education in support of your goal.

  • Neither your counselor nor FEA employees, agents, or directors may provide legal advice.

Client’s Roles and Responsibilities

  • Completing the steps assigned to you in your Client Action Plan.

  • Providing accurate information about your income, debts, expenses, credit, and employment.

  • Attending meetings, returning calls, providing requested paperwork in a timely manner.

  • Notifying FEA or your counselor when changing housing goal.

  • Attending educational workshop(s) (i.e. pre-purchase counseling workshop) as recommended.

  • Retaining an attorney if seeking legal advice and/or representation in matters such as foreclosure or bankruptcy protection.

 

Termination of Services:

Failure to work cooperatively with your housing counselor and/or FEA will result in the discontinuation of counseling services. This includes, but is not limited to, missing three consecutive appointments.

 

Agency Conduct:

No FEA employee, officer, director, contractor, volunteer, or agent shall undertake any

action that might result in, or create the appearance of, administering counseling operations for personal or private gain, provide preferential treatment for any person or organization, or engage in conduct that will compromise our agency’s compliance with federal regulations and our commitment to serving the best interests of our clients.

 

Agency Relationships:

FEA has financial and/or professional partnerships with HUD, CHAPA, lender partners, and private foundations. As a housing counseling program participant, you are not obligated to use the products and services of FEA or our industry partners.

 

Alternative Services, Programs, and Products & Client Freedom of Choice:

FEA has a first-time homebuyer program developed in partnership with Bank of America. However, you are not obligated to participate in this or other FEA programs and services while you are receiving housing counseling from our agency. You may consider seeking alternative products and services from entities including the MyMassHome.org for other first-time homebuyer programs. You are entitled to choose whatever real estate

professionals, lenders, and lending products that best meet your needs.

 

Referrals and Community Resources:

You will have access to a community resource list which outlines the services available to meet a variety of housing and home purchase needs.

Please be aware of the following:

  • While we may suggest or share the services of various businesses, organizations or consultants, you are not obligated to use them.

  • You have the right to choose service providers that best meet your needs.

 

Fee Structure:

FEA may charge nominal fees for certain services thanks to the support of our donors and sponsors.

 

Errors and Omissions and Disclaimer of Liability:

I/we agree FEA, its employees, agents, and directors are not liable for any claims and causes of action arising from errors or omissions by such parties, or related to my participation in FEA counseling; and I hereby release and waive all claims of action against FEA and its affiliates.

I have read this document, understand that I have given up substantial rights by signing it, and have signed it freely and without any inducement or assurance of any nature and intend it to be a complete and unconditional release of all liability to the greatest extent allowed by law. If any provision of this document is unenforceable, it shall be modified to the extent necessary to make the provision valid and binding, and the remainder of this document shall remain enforceable to the full extent allowed by law.

 

Conflict of Interest Policy:

We are committed to maintaining impartiality in all counseling services. Our counselors do not receive incentives for referrals or outcomes. If a potential conflict of interest arises, it will be disclosed to you promptly.

 

Quality Assurance:

In order to assess client satisfaction and in compliance with grant funding requirements, FEA, or one of its partners, may contact you during or after the completion of your housing counseling service. You may be requested to complete a survey asking you to evaluate your client experience. Your survey data may be confidentially shared with FEA grantors such as HUD or CHAPA.

 

I acknowledge that I received, reviewed, and agree to FEA’s Program Disclosures.

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