An open note to all mortgage brokers

sured

just one question, why has a thread that was started with the best of intentions been reduced to this?

herbiesjp

sured wrote:

just one question, why has a thread that was started with the best of intentions been reduced to this?

I decided to leave it for the day.

Read daughter her story:D , put her to bed.:D Utter bliss!

Watched a bit of TV - fantastic.;)

MSE? Well seriously getting put off:mad:

MortgageMamma

Its happened because people are unable to let go and move on. Either that of they see some entertainment factor in this and do not care that the forums are rapidly reducing from a informative resource to a circus.

MortgageMamma

herbiesjp wrote:

I decided to leave it for the day.

Read daughter her story:D , put her to bed.:D Utter bliss!

Watched a bit of TV - fantastic.;)

MSE? Well seriously getting put off:mad:

You have got the right idea Stef. Good on you.

Squiggly_Diddly

I felt I had to add to this thread - however I've just registered with a new username because I am so concerned otherwise that I may receive aggressive posts towards me. I first came to this site (the mortgages forum) having been lurking for a while reading what generally seemed to be sensible & rational "advice" (chat) from many mortgage broker and then posted a thread asking for some basic information as a starting point. I received that help unconditionally - and was delighted. I appreciate so much that people who have knowledge in certain fields are prepared to give extra of their time to assist others to be able to go off & find the appropriate/relevant/specific information for their case and know how/where to obtain this (instead of blindly staggering around as I would have otherwise done).

However, this one person seems determined not only to post his views - which yes, he is entitled to do - but to make every thread degenerate into a slanging match with personal attacks on everyone else. I have read so many different threads where he has popped up and to me he seems to be getting downright nasty. Because of this attitude I would not take a blind bit of notice of anything constructive that he did feel he had to say.

It is terribly sad that he feels he has to be so angry at everyone on here - yet I find myself furious that he is now driving away the very people who others come here to receive help from. A case of the minority of 1 spoiling it for the majority I feel.

I cannot for the life of me understand why this person is allowed to carry on & on & on.... (and much as he has said in this thread he will let bygones be bygones, I then read another thread last night where he was behaving in exactly the same manner!!!).

As I was always told "ignore them & they might go away.....". I certainly won't ever be taking notice of anything he has to say.

And this ridiculous "thank you for your support" after every post now - well, that says it all!!!!!!!!!

payless

I posted the following on another thread- but seems Martin is now asking for views on here instead-

--
Quote:
Originally Posted by kenshaz
I would like to ask one question ,and it is not meant to inflame ,please ,please mortgage brokers do not defend .I just want a straight answer to help me understand why their are so many of you,we do not have the same numbers of estate agents ,accountants,dentists,soldiers,plumbers ,IFAs,etc.what attracts and why do you need links ,explain that ,and I will not feel that I need to protect?


Kenshaz- now actually this is a discussion I am willing to have .

I visited the site in the Summer of 2003 when it was fairly new - not actually realsiing that there was a chat forum , let alone a mortgage baord . I made a few posts as a guest ( you could then) and then signed up . I guss I am the person with the most posts on the board mortgage ( although I do go onto other MSE boards as well )

I found myself helping people with posts ( which I enjoyed - maybe vanity ?) and having discussions with a chap from L&C ... our thoughts were mainly on the same theme , although not sure he saw mortgages as a long term career . I had discussions over "whole of Market" ( pre FSA ) and sub prime/ fees etc. Between us helped many people and also saw off a fair few brokers who came on touting for business, but in general I was answering straightforward queries on a chat forum ( unlike Martin I would say it was a bit like an "ask the Expert" board)

I started to get direct enquiries by PM - which I dealt with - most were because people preferred to discuss off the forum . I added an email link , as the PM system is far from ideal.

Most queries did not involve any business . Some people asked me to act on their behalf - I did some business for a few MSE users, yes business is good ( I'm in business !)- every person who approached me was offered a rebate on commission ( and of course no fees) - so actually a lot of the cases were done at a loss ( after costing for time etc..), but as this was never seen as a main source of business , I was not looking at making mega bucks . That said I have formed long standing relationships with some , and I'm aware that even some that I did not do business with have recommended me or mentioned me on other financial forums.

Martin said how good it was to have someone on board, and he hoped I was gaining business from it. ( said he could see the mtg board was in safe hands)

He then became aware of my rebate to users ( I had never advertised it) but a users had mentioned it , and I found myself "mentioned " in an article . MSE became almost an addiction - I was posting early morning, throughout the day and at night - my "real" business actually suffered from it.

Enquiries grew, - (especially as L&C chap left the board) but then so did the number of other brokers , some honest, some which came and went, some seemed to be touting ( one of the main touting merchants actually likely gets more business from these boards than any of the regular posters- and I'm not talking L&C ) - others maybe came on the site with the wrong intention but views changed ?- overall it would appear that most have consumers interests as first priority ( but you can't take the sales out of salesperson) .

I decided that as well as wanting to drop the addiction , that it was unfair for these other brokers might spend time and assist , only to be told that "payless" gives a few quid back ... so I asked for the article to be changed .
( actually it was not done at this point)

Martin changed his article to include "cashback- no advice " brokers - I disagreed , as I feel that whilst it might suit some , the majority benefit from advice - plus most proper brokers would do a deal on no advice if asked ( in fact I'm aware I done advised cases with bigger cashbacks than available from those sites )

At this point Martin did action my further request to remove my " username" from his article.

Since then I have reduced my time on these boards, and dropped my signature
- yes sometimes I think some brokers seem to be touting - whether they do it on purpose or just because rules restrict them , but overall most users are getting good information , and from what I see could do a lot worse in a choice of broker than those that post here .

Whilst its Martin's site, I have seen the mortgage board as a bit of my baby , and am really upset that its been spoilt

---

I have stayed out of this thread uintil now, as I felt it was going nowhere - and looks like I was right.

If Martin wants a "consumer discussion board" I can only suggest that it would be best if no brokers / IFAs were able to have signatures

If he welcomes the help of industry professionals , who may then as a side issue gain a little business, then some protection from the madness, but also some rules on touting needs to be in place.

either way I'm not likely to have as much input as I did before , just hope the wolves don't come knocking ...

MSE_Martin

STOP THIS PLEASE!

This thread is meant to help things. We said we were drawing a line. I am now going to get draconian; please stop bating each other.

Kenshaz - there has been bad blood here - your repetitive replies above are not helping;

Other posters, Kenshaz had said (s)he (sorry im not sure which gender you are) would be constructive - why continue to attack after that point.

STOP IT PLEASE!

THIS IS A GROWN UP DISCUSSION; IF SOMEONE SAYS SOMETHING YOU DON'T LIKE. YOU DON'T HAVE TO RESPOND AGRESSIVELY.

I Have to go and do work. I can't monitor this. I almost wrote that I would simply make this a no-tolerence thread and anyone who starts bickering unhelpfully would be PPR'd. Yet I don't want to have to do that. Take a deep breath please before carrying on.

Let's try and find the solution.

Martin

payless

On a side note I don't think L&C are the answer to all people's mortgage enquiries

There are people with more experience, people with better service levels and even people who charge less ( less than free! ), peoplke who are willing to look "outside the box" and even research non- broker lenders.

payless

I Have to go and do work. I can't monitor this. I almost wrote that I would simply make this a no-tolerence thread and anyone who starts bickering unhelpfully would be PPR'd.

seems a good idea to me

AndrewSmith

MSE_Martin wrote:

I almost wrote that I would simply make this a no-tolerence thread and anyone who starts bickering unhelpfully would be PPR'd. Yet I don't want to have to do that.

I think that it is fast becoming the only course of action to stop those who cannot help themselves.