Can I appeal if my servicer denies a loan modification or other foreclosure-avoidance option?

A short sale or other non-modification loss-mitigation denial is not an appealable decision under the process the CFPB describes. If you want to appeal a modification denial, contact the servicer to start.

The CFPB describes an appeal when you filed a complete assistance application no later than 90 days ahead of a scheduled foreclosure sale and the servicer denied any trial or permanent modification it offers. The appeal generally must be filed within 14 days after that denial. The servicer must assign the appeal to someone who did not make the first decision and must answer in writing within 30 days of the appeal. A further appeal is not available if that review upholds the denial. If the servicer then makes an offer, you generally have 14 days to accept or reject it.

These timelines come from the CFPB's description of the federal servicing appeal path. Appeal rights and timing can still vary with the servicer process and loan type. State law may provide additional or different requirements. This is general information, not a promise that a denial will be reversed or that a foreclosure cannot proceed.