I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually seen a few lenders include “document prep” as a recurring admin fee—especially with certain types of servicing companies. Not saying it’s right or even justified, but sometimes it’s buried in the fine print as an ongoing service charge.
I always thought that was a one-time deal at closing.
That’s usually how it should be, yeah. But some lenders get creative with naming fees to pad their bottom line. If it’s showing up monthly, I’d definitely push back and ask for a breakdown in writing. Sometimes they’ll just remove it if you make enough noise.
Had a similar thing pop up on my statement last year—some “processing maintenance” fee that made zero sense. I called them out and, after a bit of back and forth, they dropped it. Makes me wonder how many people just pay without noticing. Ever feel like you need a decoder ring just to read these statements? It’s wild how creative they get with the names.
- Been there, more times than I’d like to admit.
- I keep a spreadsheet just for tracking random “fees” that show up—makes me feel like some kind of financial detective.
- Honestly, half the time I wonder if they’re just seeing who’s paying attention.
- Had a “document handling surcharge” once... for a statement they emailed me?
- My rule: if it doesn’t make sense, I call. Sometimes they push back, but usually they drop it fast.
- It’s wild how creative they get with these names—almost impressive, if it wasn’t my money.
I totally get the spreadsheet thing—I do something similar, but I also keep a folder of every statement and fee notice, just in case I need to compare later. Once, I spotted a “processing adjustment” that turned out to be a rounding error... but it took three calls to get someone to admit it. My process now: 1) highlight anything weird, 2) check last month’s for changes, 3) call if it’s not crystal clear. It’s a hassle, but I’d rather spend ten minutes double-checking than let them sneak in extra charges.
That “processing adjustment” thing rings a bell—seen it pop up on a client’s statement once, and it took way too long to get a straight answer. I like your system of highlighting anything weird and comparing month to month. Honestly, I wish more people did that. Mortgage statements aren’t exactly designed for clarity.
“I’d rather spend ten minutes double-checking than let them sneak in extra charges.”
Couldn’t agree more. It’s wild how often small errors slip through, and most folks just pay without noticing. I do wonder sometimes if the banks make these things confusing on purpose... or maybe it’s just bad design. Either way, you’re right—ten minutes now can save a lot of hassle later. I’ve seen people catch escrow mistakes or random fees just by being persistent like you are.
It’s a pain, but you’re definitely not alone in thinking it’s worth the effort.
