Faxing...in 2024. I swear, I thought that was just a running joke until my servicer actually asked for it. I’ve tried the phone thing too, but half the time I get transferred around like a hot potato. Sometimes I wonder if they even know which method they want.
Faxing is still a thing, somehow. I’ve had lenders insist on it for “security,” but then lose the documents anyway. I always tell clients to keep every confirmation page and email backup, just in case. It’s wild how much time gets wasted chasing paperwork that should be digital by now.
Faxing drives me nuts, honestly. I’ve had files “lost” in the black hole of a lender’s fax machine more than once. I always double up—send the fax, then email a scanned copy, and ask for written confirmation they got it. It’s extra work, but at least there’s a paper trail when things go sideways. You’d think in 2024 we’d be past this... but here we are.
Fax machines are like the Bermuda Triangle for paperwork—stuff just vanishes. I swear, I’ve had to resend the same document three times before someone finally “found” it. I’m with you on the double-up method, though it feels a bit ridiculous in this day and age. Ever tried calling to confirm and just gotten put on hold forever? At this point, I half expect them to ask for a carrier pigeon next. Has anyone actually had luck with those online portals lenders brag about, or is that just another black hole?
Title: Getting Results When Your Loan Servicer Drops the Ball
Fax machines are the bane of my existence, no question. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve sent a stack of paperwork, only to have it disappear into some mysterious void. The only thing more elusive than a fax confirmation is getting someone on the phone who actually knows where your documents went. I once had a client whose W-2s were “received” three separate times—each time, a different department swore they’d never seen them before. It gets to the point where you start wondering if you’re just sending documents to Narnia.
About those online portals—mixed bag, honestly. Some lenders have really stepped up their game and the portals are actually reliable (dare I say, even user-friendly). You upload a doc, get an immediate confirmation, and boom, it’s in the system. Others? Well... let’s just say I’ve seen “upload successful” messages that apparently mean nothing, because two days later I get the dreaded “we’re missing your documents” email. It’s like Schrödinger’s paperwork: both received and not received until someone confirms it.
Double-up method feels silly, but it’s saved me more than once. I still recommend sending via portal AND email, just in case one method decides to take the day off. As for the phone call follow-ups—yeah, being on hold is its own special kind of purgatory. I’ve started timing how long it takes before I hear that “your call is important to us” message. Spoiler: it’s not getting any faster.
Carrier pigeons might not be such a bad idea after all... at least you’d know if they made it or not.