Okay... another PSA from the desk of yours truly:
If you happen to live in Michigan, and you happen to be researching a home equity loan, allow me to save you about 45 minutes of wasted time you will NEVER EVER BE ABLE TO GET BACK BECAUSE IT WILL BE GONE FOR GOOD. This PSA will also be helpful in preventing sweaty palms, grinding of the teeth, and the overwhelming inclination to punch anything within arm's length. My suggestion: do not, I repeat, DO NOT call a place called AIM Lending in Grand Rapids. Particularly if you're a woman. The sensation of simultaneously being walked all over, and having your ass kissed is an interesting one, but definitely NOT enojyable.
Allow me to explain: I called said "business" this week to see what sorts of loans they offer, what sort of rate I might get - nothing specific, mind you. I spoke first to a friendly enough trainee guy. He offered some info on the company, and took down some info so he could get me some quotes. Or so I thought. He called back later to let me know that THE senior loan specialist, Mr. Utter Ass-hat, would discuss the loan with me. "Okay - thanks. Bye trainee-guy," I said, and things just went straight to hell from there. The voice that then appeared on the other end of the line was like a cross between the guys on Car Talk and Howard Dean during his RAAAWRR! speech. He had that used car salesman/motivational con artist way of using my name at the beginning of every sentence. "So Steph - you mind if I call you Steph, there?" Yes. I do. Already my hackles are rising slightly.
What followed was an unbelieveable half hour of this guy raving and raging about how his company is a non-commision company, and "the only thing....the ONLY thing, Steph, that I want to do for you is find you a loan a a great rate! Steph, let me ask you, have you gotten any numbers from people? 'Cause whatever it is, we can beat it because those commission companies are trying to screw you every which way. Pardon my language, but it's TRUE, Steph. All I want to do, all our company is here for is YOU. (somehow I doubt that.) Lemme tell you about our owner. He's worked in this business for 20 plus years. His father worked in the business for 40 years! (pardon my ignorance, but what does this have to do with getting an approximate quote on a loan, and why should I believe that you, a total stranger are running some sort of loan charity for me out of the goodness of your heart?)
When he wasn't stridently informing me of random and entirely unrelated facts about his company, he was yelling about commision based companies, telling me anecdotes about how people's lives are ruined by them and claiming THEY are what's wrong with America today. He yelled this at least THREE times during my conversation with him.
"Now tell me, Steph - have you been reading all these articles in the newspaper about how bad they're finding out commission places really are?" (what freaking articles?) I responded that and that we had researched all the different ways of getting loans before we decided to go ahead with getting quotes. (We're not stupid here.)
"Well Steph, that doesn't surprise me one bit. No sir. She's a smart one. These guys are agreeing with me. I've got about 5 people listening in - training, y'know. Yeah, that doesn't surprise me. You seem like the type who's really sharp."
Don't patronize me, asshole. And excuse me... YOU'RE training people? God help us all.
In the process of the verbal gauntlet, he asked me if I'd been told various (unrelated and random) things about the company. I responded that I hadn't.
Now it gets even weirder and more uncomfortable: Ass-hat informed me that trainee-guy should have known better than to NOT mention all this crap to me. Then he proceeded to turn on poor Trainee for 'messing up.' Somewhere in Grand Rapids, poor new guy trainee was getting berated in front of four other trainees, and a potential customer. Talk about inappropriate. "It's ok," I said. '"We're all been the new guy at one point or another."
Then another barrage of asskissing including such gems as, "You know, Steph. I like your style. You've got STYLE."
Then: "Trainee-guy's ok, right Trainee? TELL THE LADY YOU'RE FINE."
Then: a weak throat clearing from Trainee-guy and, "Um, I'm fine."
The conversation ended shortly thereafter with Ass-hat telling me he'd call tomorrow to let us know what he could do for us.
??? Kind of weird that after 10 minutes of explaining a few facts to any other company, they were able to tell us if they could help us, and what sorts of things were possible. 30 minutes of Ass-hat, and all I'd gotten was the urge to kick the wall.
Poor trainee-guy.
I don't know why I picked up the phone to Ass-hat the next day. Maybe I was hoping that one last ditch effort would help me get the info I needed to compare with potential programs from other companies. Dumb girl. You knew what was coming. Another round of chauvenistic, egocentric, condescending, blustering. And AGAIN, in front of a group of trainees.
When he told me he'd call at the end of the week once we'd made a decision, I (gently) cut him off.
Me: "So you're not going to actually give me any information about loan programs that might help us?"
Ass-hat: "Steph, if someone told you they'd give you a rate lower than X, they're LYING. If they're friends or family, you need to CUT OFF your relationship with them right NOW! "cause they're LIARS, Steph!"
Oh. That's nice. A complete asshole stranger over the phone that I've never met telling me to sever relationships with friends and family.
Ass-hat: "Steph, you need to make a desicion, then we'll talk."
Me: "How can you expect me to make a decision if you haven't given me any information?"
Then, unbelievably, Ass-hat yelling: STEPH, YOU'RE TREATING ME LIKE A USED CAR SALESMAN AND I DON'T APPRECIATE IT!! I'M BEING MR. STRAIGHT AND HONEST WITH YOU, AND YOU'RE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF ME!!
Me yelling back (Utterly dumbfounded, yet completely pissed off): NO! HOW CAN YOU BE STRAIGHT AND HONEST WITHOUT HAVING ACTUALLY CONVEYED ANYTHING FACTUAL??? IT'S BAD BUSINESS TO EXPECT PEOPLE TO COMMIT BEFORE KNOWING WHAT IT IS THEY'RE COMMITTING TO!!
Ass-hat (shouting as fast as he can in front of his trainees) WELLIDON'TCAREIFYOUDECIDETOMAKETHESMARTCHOICEANDGOWITHUS-YOU
CANSTILLCALLWHENYOUFIGUREOUTWHATYOU'REMISSING,BUTIDON'TEVEN
EXPECTYOUTO!!!!! *CLICK*
Like an elemetary school breakup.
Me:.... bye ASS-HAT.
Such a smooth operator.
