I ran into something called a “processing review fee” and literally had to Google it because nobody could give me a straight answer. Turns out, it was just another weird add-on. At this point, I feel like I’m playing spot-the-fake-fee bingo...
At this point, I feel like I’m playing spot-the-fake-fee bingo...
Right? I swear, every time I thought I’d found all the fees, another one popped up like a bad sequel. Here’s what got me:
- “Courier fee” for documents that were emailed. Not even a stamp in sight.
- “Flood certification fee” when I live on a hill. Like, come on.
- “Processing review fee” is just the cherry on top. What are they reviewing, my patience?
It’s wild how creative they get. I started keeping a list just to see how many I could collect. At this point, I’m convinced someone’s making these up as they go...
It’s wild how those fees sneak in under the radar. I’ve seen buyers get blindsided by things like “document prep” or “administrative review” charges that are just… vague. Years back, I actually sat down with a client and went line by line through their closing statement—turns out, half the fees were negotiable or could be waived if you asked. Not saying every fee is made up, but yeah, some of them are a stretch. Gotta read every page twice, it seems.
Gotta read every page twice, it seems.
Honestly, I’d say three times if you want to keep your credit score out of the danger zone. Those “processing” fees are like the junk food of closing costs—sneaky, unnecessary, and they add up fast. I once caught a “courier fee” for $75 on a digital-only transaction. Like, what courier? My inbox?
I once caught a “courier fee” for $75 on a digital-only transaction. Like, what courier? My inbox?
- Totally agree, those random fees are wild.
- I had a “document prep” charge that was literally just an email with a PDF attached.
- Also, watch out for “title insurance” costs—they quoted me two different prices in the same week.
- It’s exhausting, but reading every line actually saved me from paying for “optional” stuff I didn’t need.
- Not sure if three times is enough... feels like you need a magnifying glass sometimes.
