Why do we process LOLs?- We process LOLs to ensure continued compliance throughout the life of a loan. An LOL update is processed only for users who have ordered Life of Loan Servicing.
- Whenever FEMA publishes a new or revised Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) panel for a community, we go back through the history of users who have ordered LOL Servicing to re-check the addresses previously submitted in the affected community to make sure that the flood insurance requirements have not changed.
- We have been asked why FEMA publishes new and/or revised FIRM panels. The answer is that FEMA and an expert local to the affected community have coordinated a detailed flood study so as to update the maps (local experts include the State Army Corp. of Engineers, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the City or County Engineering or Planning Office, etc.).
How do we process LOLs?- On the specified “effective date”, we query our system to determine which previously submitted addresses in those new and/or revised communities will require a LOL Update. These addresses are compiled and re-mapped to update the new map panel number and new panel date, and to make sure that the community name, participation status, and flood zone information is the same.
- The Life of Loan process is also a good way to ensure Quality Assurance, as a GIS site or aerial view map might not have been available at the time of the initial determination.
How often should I check my Life of Loans?- First and foremost, how often you check your LOLs is completely up to your institution. Do what is best to meet your business needs.
- We recommend checking your life of loans at least once a week. You will be notified of all changes, but it is up to each institution to check for updates on their certificates and to update their files. Print the updates and the zone changes so you can notify your customers of the changes and then place the updated determinations with your records to maintain current and valid flood determinations.
- Note that the update notifications are automatic and technology can sometimes fail. Perform regular periodic checks to ensure you always have the most up-to-date determinations in your files.
- If you are not receiving notifications and should be or are receiving them and should not be, please contact our customer service (send email to: floods@wolterskluwer.com) to verify the proper contact information is set up for your account to ensure that the notifications are being sent to the appropriate party.
How long does it take for LOLs to be sent back?
Though there is not a specific “deadline” stated in the regulations, it depends on the total number of past requests that need to be re-mapped. We process Life of Loans as quickly as possible to ensure the best possible service.
How will I be notified of LOL updates?
You will be notified of available LOLs in various ways:
- If we have a valid email address on your account, you will receive notification via email. Please check to ensure that our email address (floods@wolterskluwer.com) is not blocked by internal firewalls or spam filters.
- If you are not receiving notifications and should be or are receiving them and should not be, please contact our customer service (send email to: floods@wolterskluwer.com) to verify the proper contact information is set up for your account to ensure that the notifications are being sent to the appropriate address.
Where do I get my LOL updates?
Updated certificates are available through your ordering system or by going to
www.settlementservices.com- Option 1 (if you know the updated map date)
- From the Wolters Kluwer Settlement Services website: Go to “Order Maintenance” and then for Life of Loan searches, perform either of the following methods:
- Enter a date range in the From Map Date or Through Map Date fields, or
- Click the calendar icon to the right of each field to select a month and day.
- To sort the columns in the Search Results screen, click the desired column heading. The results are arranged by column. To view the order details for a specific order, hover over the desired order and click anywhere on the order.
- To “Save” and/or “Print” your new flood certificates, you can “Save” one or more FEMA forms and Notices to a .ZIP file
- Option 2 (if you don’t know the updated map date)
- We notify you of all changes, not just the zone changes, to be fully compliant. All new determinations should be printed.
- Log into the website (https://www.settlementservices.com/fds_web)
- Go to the reporting tab and run an LOL update report to view any determinations that may have changed due to this update.
- Export the report to a manageable file size to ensure you’re viewing all results. Use the Export button.
- Print the determinations through the website.
- Search on the Order Maintenance tab using the certificate numbers.
- Click on the results and ‘view FEMA form’.
- We recommend using a date range that does not include the last time you ran the report. If you have never run one, we suggest doing it year by year for as long as you’ve been ordering to ensure that you see all results for your portfolio.
- We recommend searching one year at a time to ensure no errors or timeout messages. Note: If you see only a grey screen after clicking ‘view report’, the report is timing out and you should select a smaller date range. The emails are sent a day after the changes have been made.
Can an institution’s Admin user name retrieve LOLs for all other usernames at the institution?
If a user has been set up with Admin rights, they may view the LOL Updates for all users. To do so, the user should go to the “Order Maintenance” tab and enter a date in the From Map Date or Through Map Date fields.
What if a property was “removed” from the flood zone by FEMA previously, but the new map shows it to be located in a flood zone again?
If a homeowner was issued a Letter of Map Correction (LOMC) previously, but the new map shows them to be within the Special Flood Hazard Area again, there is still a chance the property may not require flood insurance. We will normally call the community and determine if FEMA issued a “Revalidation Letter”. A “Revalidation Letter” is listing of past LOMC Case Numbers that are still valid even though the map was not corrected to show them outside of the flood zone. If the Revalidation Letter is not available at the time of our call, the homeowner may wish to contact FEMA or their Community Floodplain Administrator on their own to speed up the process.
Does LOL tracking survive the contractual term of our vendor relationship?
You can notify us of a change in loan status by logging onto your account on the website, pulling up the affected loan in the “Order Maintenance”, and clicking on “Change Loan Status”. The two options are: Paid or Cancel.
If you are not a Wolters Kluwer Settlement Services user, you can email or call our customer service with the request. Email: floods@wolterskluwer.com or Phone: (800) 447-7893.
Does my institution get charged for LOL updates?
Life of Loan monitoring is an option upon the submission of the original determination. If you choose the Life of Loan monitoring, it is included in the original charge of the determination.
If a loan has been transferred, who will receive the LOL update?
The LOL updates will be available under the original institutions account and it is the responsibility of the original institution to forward the LOL updates to the transferred institution. If we have a valid email address on file for the new institution, that email address will receive notification with a copy of the revised determination.
