“Courier fee” for emailed docs is pretty questionable these days.
Ran into this exact thing last year—$45 “courier fee” for a PDF. I asked them to break it down and, surprise, they dropped it. Sometimes these fees just stick around because nobody questions them. Always worth a second look.
Yeah, those random fees can be sneaky. I’ve seen “processing” or “handling” charges pop up too, and half the time they’re just leftovers from when everything was done on paper. Good on you for pushing back—most folks just pay it because it’s buried in a stack of paperwork and the whole process is already overwhelming.
I had a lender try to tack on a $60 “document prep” fee after we’d already signed everything. I asked what it covered, and suddenly it disappeared. It’s wild how often that works. Guess it pays to be a little nosy, especially with mortgages where every dollar counts.
Honestly, if something looks weird or outdated, I say question it. Worst case, they say no... but sometimes you end up saving enough for a nice dinner out.
Had the same thing happen with a “courier fee” on a refi. They claimed it was for overnighting docs, but everything was digital. I pushed back and—surprise—it vanished. It’s wild how many of these fees are just hoping you won’t notice or care. I always tell people: if you see something that doesn’t make sense, challenge it. Worst case, you’re out five minutes. Best case, you keep your money where it belongs.
I get what you’re saying about pushing back on weird fees, and it’s definitely satisfying when they suddenly “disappear.” But here’s a little twist—sometimes those line items aren’t just made up out of thin air. I’ve seen lenders roll legit costs (like notary or recording fees) into vague categories to simplify their paperwork. Not great for transparency, but not always some evil plot.
- Pushed back once on an “admin fee” and it turned out to be for processing county docs. Still felt fishy, but after they broke it down, made more sense.
- That said, if something sounds off, yeah—ask questions. But sometimes the answer is just... boring admin stuff.
- My favorite? The “technology convenience fee” when their website barely works. Now that’s comedy.
End of the day, challenge what doesn’t make sense, just don’t be shocked if the explanation is as dull as dishwater. Or occasionally hilarious.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’d push back a bit on the idea that “boring admin stuff” is always harmless. In my experience, vague fees—even if they’re technically legit—can still be a red flag for sloppy or even predatory practices.
- If a lender can’t clearly explain every fee, that’s a transparency issue. Even if it’s just paperwork, you deserve to know exactly what you’re paying for.
- Sometimes those bundled charges end up higher than if they were itemized. I’ve seen clients pay double for “processing” because no one asked for specifics.
- The “technology convenience fee” is classic. But honestly, if their tech is that bad, why are you paying extra for it?
Bottom line: don’t just accept “it’s standard” as an answer. Even if the explanation is dull, it should be clear. If it isn’t, that’s when I start to worry.
