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NoSoup · 09-20-2006, 07:24 PM

Although this isn't quite the same, it is remarkably similar.

I'll give you the long and short of it...

The Short: You don't have to pay the fee

The Long: As a mortgage broker, relatively often a new client will approach me as a second or third option when they are considering getting a mortgage (they are shopping around). Often times they'll end up utilizing my services, and I would bet greater than 90% of the time the company that they were working with before attempts to collect something from them, whether it be an appraisal fee, an "application fee" or some other nonsense. At any rate, if the client hasn't signed anything agreeing to pay that fee, they don't have to pay it - even if services are rendered - as long as they haven't been asked for. For instance, I had a client of mine cancel their application with another brokerage, and later that same night dropped by their home to go over some paperwork with them (young couple buying their first home - I felt they feel much better about it face to face rather than getting things in the mail)

At any rate, a few days later they get a bill for the appraisal. Obviously, since the appraisor didn't go in their home, nor get their approval to come over in the first place, they were rather surprised. When they contacted me to see what to do, I advised them that they shouldn't pay for it, to contact the other company and let them know what the circumstances are. The next morning, the couple woke up to find and appraisal stuffed in their screen door - the same one they hadn't asked for. Along with it was a bill. The appraisal date on it was a few days prior to the date that they cancelled. The problem - other than the obvious, which was they hadn't requested, approved of, or signed anything - was that in the photo of the home, my car was in the driveway, so it obviously wasn't completed the day that he said it was.

I could go on and on about the appraiser harrassed these poor people about getting paid, and how they had "accepted delivery" of the appraisal, but I won't. Basically, one quick phone call from me saying that if my clients heard from him again I'd call the licensing board (falsifying the date) and the BBB for basically being a ridiculous business owner (Literally dozens of voicemail messages in the course of three or four days, and probably 10 letters) he finally went away. Needless to say, I'll never send any business to him...

Oh, and if you're reading this, you owe me $200.00. Y'know, 'cause I thought you were excited and everything.

09-20-2006, 07:24 PM	#25 (permalink)
NoSoup Non-Rookie Location: Green Bay, WI	Although this isn't quite the same, it is remarkably similar. I'll give you the long and short of it... The Short: You don't have to pay the fee The Long: As a mortgage broker, relatively often a new client will approach me as a second or third option when they are considering getting a mortgage (they are shopping around). Often times they'll end up utilizing my services, and I would bet greater than 90% of the time the company that they were working with before attempts to collect something from them, whether it be an appraisal fee, an "application fee" or some other nonsense. At any rate, if the client hasn't signed anything agreeing to pay that fee, they don't have to pay it - even if services are rendered - as long as they haven't been asked for. For instance, I had a client of mine cancel their application with another brokerage, and later that same night dropped by their home to go over some paperwork with them (young couple buying their first home - I felt they feel much better about it face to face rather than getting things in the mail) At any rate, a few days later they get a bill for the appraisal. Obviously, since the appraisor didn't go in their home, nor get their approval to come over in the first place, they were rather surprised. When they contacted me to see what to do, I advised them that they shouldn't pay for it, to contact the other company and let them know what the circumstances are. The next morning, the couple woke up to find and appraisal stuffed in their screen door - the same one they hadn't asked for. Along with it was a bill. The appraisal date on it was a few days prior to the date that they cancelled. The problem - other than the obvious, which was they hadn't requested, approved of, or signed anything - was that in the photo of the home, my car was in the driveway, so it obviously wasn't completed the day that he said it was. I could go on and on about the appraiser harrassed these poor people about getting paid, and how they had "accepted delivery" of the appraisal, but I won't. Basically, one quick phone call from me saying that if my clients heard from him again I'd call the licensing board (falsifying the date) and the BBB for basically being a ridiculous business owner (Literally dozens of voicemail messages in the course of three or four days, and probably 10 letters) he finally went away. Needless to say, I'll never send any business to him... Oh, and if you're reading this, you owe me $200.00. Y'know, 'cause I thought you were excited and everything. __________________ I have an aura of reliability and good judgement. Just in case you were wondering... Last edited by NoSoup; 09-20-2006 at 10:14 PM..