I once had a client who thought the “courier fee” was for someone hand-delivering gold bars to their door. Turns out, it was just a fancy way of saying “we’re charging you for paperwork.” I always tell folks—if you see something weird on your closing disclosure, ask about it. Sometimes those fees vanish faster than my willpower at a dessert buffet. It’s wild how much is up for negotiation if you just push back a little.
You nailed it—those “creative” fees can really sneak up on people. I’ve seen clients save hundreds just by questioning a line item or two. It’s wild how flexible some of these charges are if you just ask. Always worth a second look.
I’ve been through this a couple of times and every single time, there’s a weird “processing” or “courier” fee that pops up. I’m always tempted to just accept it, but then I start asking questions and—surprise—it gets reduced or disappears. Makes me wonder how much of this stuff is just padded in because people don’t push back. Has anyone ever actually refused to pay a fee and still closed the deal?
Makes me wonder how much of this stuff is just padded in because people don’t push back.
You’re spot on—those “processing” and “courier” fees are classic. Here’s what I do: 1) Ask for a breakdown of every fee, 2) Question anything that sounds vague, and 3) Tell them straight up you won’t pay junk fees. Nine times out of ten, they’ll drop or reduce them. I’ve closed deals after refusing to pay, but you’ve gotta be willing to walk if they push back too hard. It’s surprising how much is negotiable when you just ask.
Couldn’t agree more—those “miscellaneous” fees are like the socks that disappear in the dryer. I once asked for a line-by-line explanation and suddenly half the charges vanished. It’s wild how much you can save just by being a little stubborn.
