I work in the mortgage department of a big bank (who shall remain nameless) in their loss mitigation department. I basically try to help people who can't or haven't made their payments due to whatever hardship is going on, by setting them up on repayment plans or see if they are eligible for loan modifications, whatever. Point is, my department is to help people who have a hardship.
I try to help people out when I can as best I can, try to give each person I deal with personalized attention, but lately with the way the economy is going, houses are being foreclosed on left and right , so I've been pretty busy. Generally most of the customers I work with are pretty sympathetic. I get the husband who lost his job and can't support his family, the wife who has never worked and who's husband left right after she gave birth to their baby. I mean I can really feel for these people.
Occasionally I get a lot people who don't need help they just want you to lower their payments. And ever since the speech Obama made about helping people with their mortgages I've been getting more and more of these calls. One especially stands out.
Me: Thank you for calling ******. I'm Natalia with the Hardship Assistance Department. How can I help you today.
SC: I want to get my payment down.
Me: Well, I can certainly see what we can do for you today. I do see you are current with your mortgage. What's going on that's going to cause you problems on making your next payment? (Usually we do get a lot of current customer's calling saying they lost their jobs and such and we can help them. I thought this call would be similar)
SC: I don't have any problems. I just want you to lower my payment. Like reduce my interest rate or something.
Me:
..... Um sir *looks at account* You have a 5% interest rate which is pretty low... Without a specific hardship I can't lower it any further...
SC: You look here! President Obama said you had to help me. And I want you to lower my payment NOW!
Me: But sir, you just told me that you don't have anything that is causing you to make your payments as it. Have you thought about contacting our refinance department, they may be able to get you a lower-
SC: I am not refinancing. Do you know how many fee's they cost you to do that?! Obama said you have to help me! Are you going to help me or not?!
Me: Sir, I can't help you. This department is to help people with hardships-
SC: Oh so I have to be behind to get help from you people? I see how it is. I pay on time, I'm never late and you won't help me.
Me: No sir. That's not correct. We help people who are current as well. But you need to have a hardship for me to assist you. If you don't have a hardship I will be happy to give you the number of the refinance department-
SC: You are NO HELP AT ALL! *hangs up*
So yeah.. Dunno what he expected calling the HARDSHIP DEPARTMENT when he didn't have a friggin hardship >_<
I try to help people out when I can as best I can, try to give each person I deal with personalized attention, but lately with the way the economy is going, houses are being foreclosed on left and right , so I've been pretty busy. Generally most of the customers I work with are pretty sympathetic. I get the husband who lost his job and can't support his family, the wife who has never worked and who's husband left right after she gave birth to their baby. I mean I can really feel for these people.
Occasionally I get a lot people who don't need help they just want you to lower their payments. And ever since the speech Obama made about helping people with their mortgages I've been getting more and more of these calls. One especially stands out.
Me: Thank you for calling ******. I'm Natalia with the Hardship Assistance Department. How can I help you today.
SC: I want to get my payment down.
Me: Well, I can certainly see what we can do for you today. I do see you are current with your mortgage. What's going on that's going to cause you problems on making your next payment? (Usually we do get a lot of current customer's calling saying they lost their jobs and such and we can help them. I thought this call would be similar)
SC: I don't have any problems. I just want you to lower my payment. Like reduce my interest rate or something.
Me:
..... Um sir *looks at account* You have a 5% interest rate which is pretty low... Without a specific hardship I can't lower it any further...SC: You look here! President Obama said you had to help me. And I want you to lower my payment NOW!
Me: But sir, you just told me that you don't have anything that is causing you to make your payments as it. Have you thought about contacting our refinance department, they may be able to get you a lower-
SC: I am not refinancing. Do you know how many fee's they cost you to do that?! Obama said you have to help me! Are you going to help me or not?!
Me: Sir, I can't help you. This department is to help people with hardships-
SC: Oh so I have to be behind to get help from you people? I see how it is. I pay on time, I'm never late and you won't help me.
Me: No sir. That's not correct. We help people who are current as well. But you need to have a hardship for me to assist you. If you don't have a hardship I will be happy to give you the number of the refinance department-
SC: You are NO HELP AT ALL! *hangs up*
So yeah.. Dunno what he expected calling the HARDSHIP DEPARTMENT when he didn't have a friggin hardship >_<

I'm sorry! I mean seriously 5% is a really low interest rate. He should be happy, I know a lot of people who would kill to have an interest rate that low.
We just have all sorts of people coming out now since the presidents speak. I swear that the day after the speech almost ever customer started the call with "Obama said..." >_<
Nevermind that this had yet to take effect...Or that the IRS has not yet analyzed the statue.

Comment