How to handle this? I hate conflict
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
United States
August 31, 2010 9:12am CST
We were looking to refi our house. However, before we knew it the appraisal company calling & it was not the manner we knew it to be the last time. We won't be saving enough money for all this hassel & drama involved. So what's the best way to say this....
Would something like.....
"We have regretfully decided against doing a refinance at this time. Please refund our appraisal fee to our credit card."
I hate conflict or drama for that matter but since we did not sign anything but paid for the appraisal that is not happening nor has been performed I want my money back!! I just don't want a phone call with all they "Why don't you want to do this?" Not saving us enough money saved for the drama with prepping for an inhome apraisal.
Or do I just be sneaky and go to the credit card and dispute the charges after e-mailing the above sentance and leave it at that?
I just don't want to open a can of worms as they are our lender.... you know like what's going on over there that we can't do this KWIM? They sent me a list of repair providers... anyone else see a possible red flag with that since hubby has "fixed" or rigged things in our house himself?!?!
Or should I wait til the rate lock is over then fight the credit card over the charge and leave the company out of it?
2 people like this
11 responses
@hardworkinggurl (37062)
• United States
1 Sep 10
Yes refinancing is just like purchasing the home all over again, if not worst. You would think they can just see your payment history and know you qualified when you purchased the home so what is the big deal. HA! They obviously look to see if there is a pattern or history so they are extra, extra careful
I would suggest after email wait only 1 day and give them a call and see what the response is. Do you know if you signed something saying it is non-refundable. Perhaps there will be a fee, you sort of have to look at agreement papers you already sign to find this answer if you are unsure.
Anyways during the call simply explain you have weighted you options and find it is not feasible right now. That is it they cannot force you so do not hesitate and make that call.
If after the call you get nothing then I would contact the credit card company and they will email you paperwork to sign and you simply complete that you have asked both in an email and via telephone and they are not cooperating.
Good Luck to you, be persistent, do not wait as there may be a time limit in the agreements already.
1 person likes this
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
1 Sep 10
We have not signed anything just prelim papers we got delivered last week via fed-ex wich are still sitting unsigned. I did send the e-mail a couple hours ago.
I don't think I want to pay $6k to save $140 a month. Not that I wouldn't want to save money but too much work and too much scrutiny since the market fell out and more regulations.
1 person likes this
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
1 Sep 10
One has to be smart now days and watch every penny like a hawk! I just hate using that 2 week float the mortgage company gives you.
We're not saving enough to go thru with it and as long as utilizing that 2 week float doesn't hurt our credit in anyway and we can still pay it on time.
1 person likes this
@hardworkinggurl (37062)
• United States
1 Sep 10
Sounds like you have given this a lot of thought. That makes for a smart shopper. Good luck with all of this. 
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169448)
• United States
31 Aug 10
I would alert the company that this is not something you can do at this time. You do not owe them a reason why, or any explanation at all. You just will not be doing it at this time. You have the right to dispute the charges if the appraisal company goes ahead and makes them, but surely they will not. Send it in writing, with a copy. Actually, send them a copy of the request letter, and mark it as a copy. Often they say you can fake e mails.
1 person likes this
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
31 Aug 10
They have already charged our credit card for the appraisal wich I am urked about 
because we have not had the appraisal and declined to make an appointment with the company & just gave an explaination of time constraint. The appraisal company is a bunch of flakes anyways... kept calling and calling, then I spoke to the lady and she told me she had the wrong number and she would not bother us again. I spoke to her again and she had no idea who told me they were not the company BUT it was the same lady! 
because we have not had the appraisal and declined to make an appointment with the company & just gave an explaination of time constraint. The appraisal company is a bunch of flakes anyways... kept calling and calling, then I spoke to the lady and she told me she had the wrong number and she would not bother us again. I spoke to her again and she had no idea who told me they were not the company BUT it was the same lady! 
@Christmas2006 (1661)
• United States
31 Aug 10
If I am understanding you, they have already charged your card but not done the work? From all you have said this sounds like a 'sham' I didn't think they could charge cards until after the fact. If it was me I would call my credit card and ask them about removing the bill and explain that the service was not preformed. I think you will have to "Plant your feet, stand your ground" or you will lose.
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
31 Aug 10
Yep the mortgage company already charged our credit card. Too much drama in the fine details for us right now. I told the appraiser we could not make their appointment and be presentable in 2 days time. I have since found out that Hubby does not want to bother if this is going to be so much drama. Though, I have to wait til tonight and ask him or as late as Thurs how he want's me to handle this.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
3 Sep 10
In order to avoid the most conflict, I think that I would politely write the mortgage company and tell them that you've decided not to go through the refinance at this time and because of that you would like to have the money refunded to your credit card because you haven't received the service that you've paid for. If 30 days goes by without them responding to you, that is the point at which I would dispute the charges against the credit card company. You don't want to wait too long because you only have 90 days to dispute a charge.
@aurorastorm (1131)
• United States
31 Aug 10
I think you are better off just starting off nicely with the company and state we have decided not to go through with the refinance at this time, due to some other things going on. So we would like our appraisal fee returned, since it was not performed yet and we no longer wish to go through with this.
Then if they do not say they will, then you go to your credit card company after that.
1 person likes this
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
31 Aug 10
Wonderful phrasing Aurora! I may have to use that... thanks!
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
1 Sep 10
If you have already had the appraisal done, odds are you can't get it back. If it has NOT been done, and you have NOT signed any loan documents, then you should be able to get it back I would think. It was that way when I did loans. The appraiser would give us a general appraised amount to see if the value we needed was even close and that was a deal we had with him...no borrow involvement. He just looks at comparisons and does a verbal close or not. And usually you don't even do the appraisal until the processor does part of her job to verify you even qualify for the loan amount. That is the first thing ever done. So if that is done, and the loan agent says, you qualify and the appraiser says we can get the needed value...THEN you pay for the appraisal.
But if not done, just call the loan officer and say...just not worth it right now, but we will keep you in mind.If you didn't sign anything, there shouldn't be a problem.
@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
1 Sep 10
Tell them not to bother--say just what you told us. You might get some fees waived. Businesses are desperate for customers right now, even the re-fi people. It can't hurt to be truthful and you might get enough of a discount with appraisal and re-fi services that you can afford the re-fi.
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
3 Sep 10
hi 3snugglebunnies I would do it the way you suggested and sort
'of leave the company out of it as they are your lender. less
said soonest mended'as my mom used to say and sometimes that
applies to business deals too,.
@savypat (20216)
• United States
31 Aug 10
If you can stop payment from the credit card. Do that right away, did you cancel the transaction with your lender? Do that in writing. If the appraisal fee has already been paid the lender should return this amount to you. You may have to pay for any services they have already done, like a credit report. But usually on a refinance fees are not paid if cancelled before the deadline.
@gdesjardin (1918)
• United States
1 Sep 10
I would tell the finance company exactly what you put in your discussion. You do not owe them an explanation as to why you have decided not to refinance. I would also put in the part where you ask them to credit your credit card ASAP for the appraisal charges that you never had. I would also notify your credit card company asap that you never had an apraisal, and see if they see a credit. Usual mortgage companies will tell you it takes (blank) amount of hours to credit it back to your card, but if you speak to a supervisor, they can manually credit your account back, and the credit should show up with 24 hours. You should be able to verify that with your credit card company. I hate to say it, but it sounds like something is fishy with the whole deal. Good luck to you.
