half the time, lenders can’t even explain what some of them are for
That’s kind of what worries me, honestly. If they can’t explain it, what else might slip through? I tried to push back on a “processing” fee and got this whole spiel about it being non-negotiable. Made me wonder if I was missing out by not being more aggressive, or if you sometimes risk losing the deal by pushing too hard. Anyone actually had a lender refuse to work with them over questioning fees?
I get where you’re coming from—those “processing” fees can feel a bit like paying for air. In my experience, most lenders won’t drop you just for asking questions, but they might get cagey or defensive if they sense you’re going to be a pain. That said, if they can’t clearly explain a fee, that’s a red flag. I’ve seen folks negotiate junk fees down, but it’s a balancing act. If a lender gets offended by you wanting transparency, maybe they’re not the right fit anyway… just my two cents.
- Totally agree that “processing” fees can be sketchy—sometimes they’re just padding the bottom line.
- If a lender gets defensive when you ask about fees, that’s a red flag for me. You’re the customer, not a nuisance.
- I’ve seen lenders back down on some of those charges if you push a little, but yeah, it’s a balancing act.
- Honestly, if they can’t explain every line item in plain English, I’d start looking elsewhere. There are too many options out there to settle for someone who’s cagey about costs.
- One tip: get everything in writing. Verbal promises about waiving fees tend to “get lost” later... learned that the hard way.
Had a lender try to sneak in a “courier fee” once—$75 for what, sending an email? I pushed back and they dropped it, but it made me wonder how many folks just pay without questioning. Has anyone actually gotten a lender to remove more than one fee, or is that pushing your luck?
Had a lender try to sneak in a “courier fee” once—$75 for what, sending an email? I pushed back and they dropped it, but it made me wonder how many folks just pay without questioning. Has anyone actually gotten a lender to remove more than one fee, or is that pushing your luck?
I’ve had a similar experience—except mine tried to tack on both a “processing fee” and some random “document prep” charge. I questioned both and, after some back and forth, they dropped one but not the other. I think there’s a limit to how much they’ll budge before they start acting like you’re asking for the moon. Still, it’s wild how many of these fees are just... made up? Always worth asking, though. Worst they can say is no.
