Mr. Goodhair

[wolfie]

Goodhair instructed me to book the loan, advance the first $1000 (out of $100,000), and start organizing the documents. He gave me no documentation on the guarantors. He didn't charge them any fees, not even for filing the UCC. The borrowing resolutions aren't fully completed.

Not in the banking business, but it sounds to me like some of the missing documents are necessary for setting up a loan. What I'd probably do in those circumstances? E-mail Goodhair (copy to person above him, BCC myself) that the paperwork he gave me was missing documents X, Y, and Z, and that without those documents it would be against bank policy to advance any of the money.

He said we didn't need it because we purchased the previous loan from a different bank.

Is this the same "purchased from a different bank" loan where the account to pay it from was overdrawn?

[ADeMartino]

This isn't incompetence; it's deliberate malfeasance on a grand scale - but then, I don't need to tell you that. I've never known a bank to NOT get at least the information you're describing. Hell, at my bank, I have to show ID and answer a security question just to get the balance in my checking account. I filled out about 4 lbs of paperwork just to get a loan to buy my truck! and the fact that none of this impropriety has reached the ears of the higher-ups astounds me.

I'm starting to wonder who's REALLY paying Goodhair, and what he's REALLY being paid to do.

[KatherineB]

I'm starting to wonder who's REALLY paying Goodhair, and what he's REALLY being paid to do.

While I think I understand your suspicions, I don't believe Goodhair or anyone else is that subtle or actively criminal. I suspect this is a lot of laziness on the part of those who employed him, with a large dash of 'old boys' club' and a sprinkling of 'as long as it's not me, I don't care'.

[Kittykat]

No, No, and NO. Take EVERYTHING to the FDIC, EVERY document you have, make copies of EVERY loan he gives you to do (Redact SS #'s) and make SURE none of them have your name on them. If so, contact a lawyer (If you haven't already) and get OUT. You are getting set up my dear, big time. We're talking FEDERAL prison.

[Pikabirb]

I think this seems to sum up the feelings of most of the people in this thread :

http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mc7ffkMW4A1rrlbkp.gif

[Ghel]

Not in the banking business, but it sounds to me like some of the missing documents are necessary for setting up a loan. What I'd probably do in those circumstances? E-mail Goodhair (copy to person above him, BCC myself) that the paperwork he gave me was missing documents X, Y, and Z, and that without those documents it would be against bank policy to advance any of the money.

I wish I could do that. He'd just tell me (like he has when I've pointed out missing documents) either that he'll get it afterward or we don't really need it. -_-

Is this the same "purchased from a different bank" loan where the account to pay it from was overdrawn?

Nope, a different one. But each of these has its own issues. Starting with why did the previous bank agree to sell the loan, anyway?

While I think I understand your suspicions, I don't believe Goodhair or anyone else is that subtle or actively criminal. I suspect this is a lot of laziness on the part of those who employed him, with a large dash of 'old boys' club' and a sprinkling of 'as long as it's not me, I don't care'.

Yeah, that's what it looks like to me, too.

No, No, and NO. Take EVERYTHING to the FDIC, EVERY document you have, make copies of EVERY loan he gives you to do (Redact SS #'s) and make SURE none of them have your name on them. If so, contact a lawyer (If you haven't already) and get OUT. You are getting set up my dear, big time. We're talking FEDERAL prison.

I very much doubt he's setting me up, at least not deliberately. He's doing what he thinks is best for him, his job, etc., and damn the consequences. Taking the information to the FDIC would mean either talking to them during the exam (and I doubt they'll be at our local branch at all) or taking the initiative to contact them myself, which basically falls under whistleblower law (despite which I can be certain I would never work in banking again).

We were closed yesterday for MLK Jr. Day, but this morning, my former boss asked me again if I'd been offered the position that I'm already doing. (Even saying it like that shows just what BS they're pulling.) So I told her that no, they hadn't even talked to me about it, I just keep getting more and more work piled on my desk, with no training and no one I can pass any of it off to. She said that she was disappointed in management and said she was going to put in her notice. When she first put in her notice in December, they asked her to stay part-time for a month. Then 6 months. Then a year. Now she doesn't want any of it, and I can't blame her.

Meanwhile, I wonder if she'll let me use her as a reference on my resume. I'm almost afraid to ask.

[KatherineB]

Meanwhile, I wonder if she'll let me use her as a reference on my resume. I'm almost afraid to ask.

Why wouldn't she? She clearly values your work and your skills. I think she would be more than happy to support you in getting out of that nightmare.

[Ghel]

Why wouldn't she? She clearly values your work and your skills. I think she would be more than happy to support you in getting out of that nightmare.

I'm just worried that she might transfer her frustration at the situation onto me. She did seem to be frustrated at my lack of training yesterday, even though she didn't offer me any training when she decided to go part time. It's true that I have done mortgage loans before, but that was either balloon renewals or it was before the bank changed hands, so my last training was at least 4 years ago. A lot of the regulations have changed since then. And I certainly never made credit decisions myself.

Apparently, a customer that I dealt with yesterday interpreted my being overwhelmed with workload and my lack of experience as not wanting to take the time to help him. He had a lot of questions, yes, and I answered them as best I could. But he wanted me to drop everything I was doing and process his application right then. Which I couldn't because he didn't have all the information I needed with him. So he decided to go to a different bank, which, at this point, I couldn't care less.

[ADeMartino]

I very much doubt he's setting me up, at least not deliberately. He's doing what he thinks is best for him, his job, etc., and damn the consequences. Taking the information to the FDIC would mean either talking to them during the exam (and I doubt they'll be at our local branch at all) or taking the initiative to contact them myself, which basically falls under whistleblower law (despite which I can be certain I would never work in banking again).

He's already demonstrated remarkable apathy for proper procedures, the people that work for/with him, and for the bank in general. So, deliberate or not, the end result is going to be the same. He'll motor away, made of Teflon so none of the inevitable flying fecal matter sticks to him, while those left behind will be covered head to toe.

The reason I suspect collusion and deliberate malfeasance is because they haven't trained you, even though there's been talk (and inaction) to promoting you to a job you happen to already be doing. I have the terrible feeling that the higher-ups are completely (though unofficially) aware of what Goodhair is doing, and the logical next step, if I'm right about that, is to find someone to blame. And if that someone is YOU.... well, they don't need to train or promote you, do they? I'm worried that someone's watching you through a figurative rifle scope.

Maybe I'm paranoid. I *HOPE* I'm wrong. After all, I don't work in the field of banking, and there are probably dynamics I don't know about. But I honestly don't see a favorable outcome here. Do YOU?

[Ghel]

I'm just not sure. Yesterday, I had a frank (and rather blunt) talk with Goodhair about my title, training, and raise. He said that absolutely he wanted me to get the training I needed. Nothing about my title. And he said that the raise wasn't up to him, but he promised to talk to those at the main branch who could make that decision. Now we'll see if anything comes of that.

What started this discussion was him saying that he needed help getting registered with the NMLS, and oh, by the way, let's get you (me) registered at the same time. That was supposed to happen today, but here it is lunch time and it hasn't happened yet. I'm not holding my breath. Goodhair Time is a lot like SC Time - it'll happen when he's good and ready.

The whole time during this conversation (like during most conversations that Goodhair has), he was leaning back in the chair across my desk, his hands behind his head, his elbows pointing east and west, and his face getting redder and redder.

And towards the end, he suggested that since the exam is in a week or so, and since I haven't had time to organize his worst problem loan, why don't the two of us lock ourselves in the basement (ok, he didn't say it that way, but my creep meter was going off) and spread out the loan documents over the big table to get the file in order. I couldn't think of an excuse not to, so I tentatively agreed. But I really don't want to be alone with him, especially behind locked doors, for any reason.

[Shalom]

I really don't want to be alone with him, especially behind locked doors, for any reason.

I'd say, if you do, make sure you are both within clear view of a security camera at all times.

(You do have working security cameras, right?)

[Ghel]

Not in the basement, no.

[Kittykat]

Don't do that, not unless someone knows you are in there. If your cell phone has video capability, let him know you will be taping while you are down there for your own safety. If he disagrees, don't go down.

[ADeMartino]

No. No. No, NO, NO. Anything that happens there becomes a case of 'your word versus his' - and we already know how that will play out. You've already told us how useless HR is, and his bosses are all buddy-buddy with him.

I have a pretty good idea of what's going through his head - and so do YOU. None of it is particularly savory. At the very least I suspect he'll try to intimidate you. At worst, this may be his attempt to barter a promotion for certain... favors.

Politely but firmly decline his suggestion. If pressed, you simply tell him that you think it's inappropriate. Any review or what-not of loans can take place in sight of witnesses. If, for whatever reason, you feel you MUST work with him in this way, invest in one of those micro-cassette recorders and keep it with you. DO NOT LET HIM KNOW YOU HAVE IT. No, tapes are not admissible in a court room, but they be pretty damning when played for the big bosses when/if you have to file a complaint of harassment. And if you MUST file a complaint, you bang on the door of every single manager in that bank - all the way to the CEO if you have to - and you play that tape for them. And do not relinquish custody of that tape to ANYONE, or you run the risk of it just vanishing.

Ghel, I desperately hope I'm just paranoid. But this guy has already demonstrated that he can't be trusted. At the very least, he's a crook. But I'm getting a whiff of 'predator', too.

[eltf177]

Ghel, I desperately hope I'm just paranoid. But this guy has already demonstrated that he can't be trusted. At the very least, he's a crook. But I'm getting a whiff of 'predator', too.

Totally agree, this situation smells worse than week-old fish. And let your boss know, hopefully she can watch your back.