Class action lawsuit accuses Veterans United of deceiving homebuyers
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A class action lawsuit was filed on Thursday against one of Columbia’s biggest employers.
A complaint was filed in the Western District Court of Missouri against Veterans United Home Loans. The plaintiffs in the class –which includes Christian Payton, Salem Zahn and Ernest Easter – are seeking at least a $5 million judgement.
The lawsuit accuses Veterans United of two counts of violating real estate settlement procedures, a count of violating the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act and unjust enrichment. Court documents accuse VU of “blatant steering.”
Court documents claim a section of a page of VU’s website claims it is “The Nation’s #1 VA Lender” was intended “to fool home buyers into believing that it is part of, or affiliated with, the VA.” A “continue” button is seen paired with the sentence in a screenshot shown in the court document.
Small print above the claim says Veterans United identifies itself as “not a government agency.”
“Just as with Veterans United Home Loans, there is no reason to make the disclaimer so tiny other than to deceive,” the lawsuit alleges.
The complaint also claims information gathered from questions linked to the previously mentioned “continue” button deceptively suggests only Veterans United Realty agents receive information, but claims the company always shares information with a “real estate referral network.”
Those who bought a home using Veterans United are able to join the class using a law firm’s website.
ABC 17 News has reached out to Veterans United.
