A mortgage file is paused during a lock-desk handoff because of Privacy Protection Breach Response. Which answer should choose the compliant next step?
Correct Answer
A) Limit sharing of nonpublic personal information
Why this is correct: The governing concept is the duty to protect nonpublic personal information (NPI) under privacy laws like the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA). When a privacy protection breach is suspected or identified during a process like a lock-desk handoff, the immediate, compliant step is to limit further sharing of NPI to prevent additional unauthorized disclosure. Why the other choices are wrong: "Continue the activity because the borrower appears willing to proceed" is wrong because a borrower's willingness does not override the legal duty to safeguard their information. "Ignore the consumer-protection issue unless the borrower complains" is wrong because the obligation to protect data is proactive and not dependent on a consumer complaint. "Document the issue later instead of correcting the compliance problem first" is wrong because the primary response to a breach is containment and correction; documentation is secondary. Exam tip: In any privacy breach scenario, the first action is always to stop the unauthorized flow of information. Containment comes before documentation or investigation.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
The correct response is "Limit sharing of nonpublic personal information" because Borrower information must be protected and shared only with authority.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option B: Continue the activity because the borrower appears willing to proceed.
Continue the activity because the borrower appears willing to proceed. is not correct because it does not apply the rule tested by this file scenario.
Option C: Ignore the consumer-protection issue unless the borrower complains.
Ignore the consumer-protection issue unless the borrower complains. is not correct because it does not apply the rule tested by this file scenario.
Option D: Document the issue later instead of correcting the compliance problem first.
Document the issue later instead of correcting the compliance problem first. is not correct because it does not apply the rule tested by this file scenario.
Memory Technique
borrower privacy and confidentiality: identify the rule being tested, then choose the action that documents or applies that rule before the file moves forward.
Exam Tip
Match the file facts to borrower privacy and confidentiality; do not choose an exception or shortcut that skips the required rule.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- -Choosing an internal exception instead of the governing rule
- -Treating preliminary or informal facts as a substitute for required documentation
- -Answering from a familiar but unrelated mortgage topic
More Ethics & Fraud Questions
In a closing-readiness check, a disclosure specialist sees facts tied to Appraisal Fraud Detection. What should the file reflect?
An MLO recommends a loan with a low initial payment that will increase sharply in two years. The borrower says retirement income will be fixed and asks whether the payment can change. What is the appropriate response?
An MLO alters a bank statement to make the applicant's account balance appear higher and submits it to underwriting. Which response is appropriate?
A branch manager asks about a loan file because marketing proposes a rate the company is not prepared to offer. What should happen?
A borrower wants cash for necessary home repairs. A proposed refinance provides $15,000 cash but adds $12,000 in costs and extends repayment by 15 years. What is the best next step for the MLO?
Before closing, the team discovers that an ad shows an interest rate but omits the APR presentation. What is the safest compliant answer?
The loan team is resolving Privacy and Confidentiality during a quality-control sample. Which action best fits the rule?
A house last sold for $185,000 in January. In March it changes hands 3 times in 9 days, reaching $410,000, with the same appraiser and the same closing agent on every leg. Assuming the parties colluded to inflate appraisals without improvements to support the higher prices, what fraud scheme does this pattern illustrate?
For closings involving federally related mortgage loans, a title company pays a real estate brokerage $75 for each referred client who closes. The brokerage only passes along the client’s name and number. Does this referral payment comply with RESPA Section 8?
Before closing, the team discovers that a loan officer wants different terms because of a protected applicant characteristic. What is the safest compliant answer?
People Also Study
Federal Mortgage-Related Laws
24% of exam
General Mortgage Knowledge
20% of exam
Mortgage Loan Origination Activities
27% of exam
Uniform State Test Content
11% of exam
Related Study Resources
Previous Question
A lender tells an 81-year-old applicant that eligibility for an FHA-insured HECM is conditioned on buying an annuity from its sales partner with the loan proceeds. Is that condition permitted?
Next Question
Before the team acts on a servicing handoff check, the loan team must address TILA Advertising Requirements. Which response is most defensible?
