Who services my loan after I refinance?

Your lender makes the loan. Your servicer handles it day to day: collecting payments, managing your escrow account for taxes and insurance, and answering questions about your account. Sometimes they are the same company. Often they aren't, and loans can be sold or transferred after closing.

Your closing documents show when your first payment is due, how much it is and which servicer to pay. Keep them handy. Your old loan is paid off at closing, so don't keep sending payments to your previous servicer.

Soon after closing, you should get a welcome letter from your new servicer with your account number and ways to pay.

Federal rules generally require notice when servicing transfers. Your current servicer usually sends a notice at least 15 days before the transfer, and the new servicer sends one within 15 days after. Sometimes they come in one letter.

For 60 days after a transfer, a payment sent on time to the old servicer generally can't be treated as late or charged a late fee.

• The new servicer's name, address and phone number
• The date the old servicer stops accepting payments
• The date the new servicer starts
• Your account number and how to pay
• Whether autopay or online access needs to be set up again

Scammers sometimes send fake transfer notices asking you to pay a new account. Only follow instructions from official notices, and confirm them by calling a number you already have, such as one on your closing documents or monthly statement. Never use a phone number or link from an unexpected email or text.

If you aren't sure, call CapCenter at 800-968-5844 and we'll help you check.

Once you know your servicer, set up autopay or online access through their official website. Check that your escrow account shows your property taxes and homeowners insurance. Any refund from your old escrow account comes from your previous servicer, usually within a few weeks of payoff.