Man, you nailed it about those “junk” fees. I remember when I refinanced a couple years ago—my credit wasn’t exactly winning any awards, but I thought I’d found a decent rate. The lender was all smiles and handshakes until the paperwork hit the table. Suddenly there’s this “processing fee” and some “document prep” charge that looked suspiciously like someone just made them up on the spot. I swear, if you blink, they’ll sneak in a fee for using their stapler.
I actually tried to ask about each line item, and the guy started talking in circles—like, “Well, that’s just standard industry practice…” Sure, buddy. Standard for who? It’s wild how much they count on people being too overwhelmed or embarrassed to question stuff.
One thing I wish I’d done is get that loan estimate from a couple different places before committing. At the time, I figured it was all pretty much the same everywhere, but turns out some lenders are way more upfront than others. Learned that one the hard way.
Honestly, even with not-so-great credit, it’s worth pushing back a bit on those fees. Sometimes they’ll actually drop or lower them if you call them out. Or at least explain what they’re for in plain English instead of legalese.
It’s kind of funny (or sad?) how buying a house can feel like shopping at one of those stores where nothing has a price tag—you don’t know what you’re paying until you get to checkout and then… surprise! Anyway, definitely pays to be nosy and ask questions even if it feels awkward. Better than getting stuck with some mystery fee for “courier services” when everything was emailed anyway...
That “courier fee” thing cracks me up—had the same line item on a closing once, and literally everything was digital. I’ve started asking for a full fee breakdown before I even get serious with a lender. Some push back, but if they’re not transparent, that’s a red flag for me. Curious—has anyone here actually gotten a lender to remove or reduce a fee just by calling them out? I’ve had mixed results, but sometimes it works if you’re persistent.
I’ve seen the “courier fee” pop up on digital closings too and it always makes me shake my head. One time, I actually asked what exactly was being couriered—got a vague answer about “document handling,” which didn’t really clear anything up. Pushed back a bit and they ended up reducing it by half, so it can work if you’re persistent, but not every lender budges. Some will just dig their heels in. Honestly, if a lender gets cagey about fees, that’s usually a sign to tread carefully... sometimes it’s worth walking away, even if your credit isn’t perfect.
That “courier fee” thing gets me every time, too. I’ve actually asked for a line-by-line breakdown of all closing costs before signing anything, and it’s wild how vague some of the responses get when you start poking at those fees. Like you mentioned:
One time, I actually asked what exactly was being couriered—got a vague answer about “document handling,” which didn’t really clear anything up.
It makes me wonder how many people just pay these extra charges without questioning them. My thinking is, if they can’t justify a fee clearly, why should I pay it? Even with less-than-perfect credit, it’s still your money on the line.
I do think there’s a risk in walking away if your options are limited, but there’s also a risk in letting lenders tack on “junk fees” just because they assume you won’t notice. Has anyone here ever gotten a full refund on one of these? I’ve only managed to get partial reductions, but never a total removal. Maybe it depends on the lender’s policies… or just who you get on the phone that day.
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from, but sometimes those fees are just baked into the process, especially with certain lenders. I’ve tried pushing back too and only got a small discount once. In my experience, if your credit’s not great, they know you don’t have a ton of leverage. Still, it never hurts to ask—just don’t be shocked if they stand firm. Some of these “courier” or “processing” charges feel like they’re just part of the game, unfortunately.
