The “admin review” fee is my personal favorite—like, what are you reviewing, exactly? My ability to spot junk charges? It’s wild how many of these things just get slipped in because most people don’t even question them. I’ve definitely had that moment where you push back and suddenly the fee is “negotiable” or magically disappears. Makes you wonder how much of this stuff is just there to pad the bottom line.
I’m with you on the credit union thing, though. Last time I went through a big bank, it felt like talking to a robot that kept repeating policy lines. The local credit union at least acted like they gave a damn and were willing to work with me a bit. Not saying they’re angels, but you can usually get a straight answer.
The bank statement loan route is a double-edged sword. It’s nice to skip the tax return circus, but man, those rates add up. I guess it’s just part of the self-employed tax—less paperwork, more interest. And don’t even get me started on faxing... every time I have to do it, it feels like I’m time-traveling back to 1998.
