Mortgage Broker usernames

InMyDreams

And now I see another issue. I've just opened up the Mortgages ans Endowments forum. I see a list of who made the last post in each thread. As a regular reader, I recognise who are the mortgage advisers, and have made my own judgements about what I think of them based on what they have written over the months/years, not their username. I am likely to open a thread if someone who's opinions I value was the last poster. But the username 'mortgage broker advisor' catches my eye (partly because is is long, but also because it implies someone who knows what they are talking about. A newbie poster may be drawn to this for the same reason. It does create a false sense of security, especially to a newbie poster. And lets face it, there are enough people who post who have clearly not been reading the board for long and don't have much of a clue! These subliminal messages are what advertising is all about. The sig is standard (so no subliminal self-promotion is possible) and to be honest, I think a "please do not contact me for advice" would make no difference.

I think that to protect the interests of *all* readers, MSE should not allow usernames that imply knowledge and experience over others. People will then have to make their opinions about the credibility of each poster by their posts, without being distracted by their username. To me, if MSE allows a username such as 'mortgage broker adviser' it implies that they recognise that you are one. And I do believe, given the nature of the site, it's a bit different to recognising you as a jedi or a monkey!

jedimonkey

mortgage_broker_advisor wrote: »

Oh hi I did not realise I would offend people with my username.

Its not a case of offending people with usernames - like InMyDreams says, given the nature of the site certain names can be misleading to new users...

JM

MortgagesInc

This is a fair point - and one I hadn't really considered when I registered. Therefore will no longer be posting as this username, and will have to start trying to accumulate 'thanks' under my own name from now on!!!

Noz

I'm sure you could just ask the admin folks to change your name MortgagesInc if you explain your motives

MortgagesInc

I did send a quick email asking, and there's an automated reply saying please read FAQ's, but here's an email if you really really need help. I probably won't bother them with this - it's not like I've got 000's of posts anyway! <ust try harder!!!

payless

MortgagesInc wrote: »

This is a fair point - and one I hadn't really considered when I registered. Therefore will no longer be posting as this username, and will have to start trying to accumulate 'thanks' under my own name from now on!!!

I think thats very big of you... especially as yours is less balant than some others

Edinburghlass_2

MortgagesInc wrote: »

I did send a quick email asking, and there's an automated reply saying please read FAQ's, but here's an email if you really really need help. I probably won't bother them with this - it's not like I've got 000's of posts anyway! <ust try harder!!!

Email the normal abuse address and give them a couple of options of what you would like your user name to be and they will sort it for you.

In fact it is against the rules for anyone to have a website as a user name as here...

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=3477039&postcount=27

edited to add, the same applies to Dan, abuse will change it for you as you are using your "proper name" but perhaps you might find another suggestion

Geoff13_2

That's me all changed then!!!

HelpWhereIcan

Have a thank you from me for being so obviously willing to treat this site the way it should be. :money: :T

I was starting to wonder if I should change my name. Would not want to mis-lead anyone as I don't have the slightest intention of being helpful at all.

In answer to the OP - I agree that some have been very obvious with their usernames recently and have been a bit silently miffed but actually believe that most regular posters do enough to steer people the right way - and that's not just the advisers.

Let's hope that the site continues to attract the right sort to come and stay. Afterall we wouldn't want to have to set Kenshaz on too many newbies!!! :rotfl:

Geoff13_2

Thanks HelpWhereICan - and I wouldn't change your name at all - I think the point was more where a company name is listed, or website.

From most of the posts I read, the vast majority of advisers seem to be keeping to the spirit of the site, and the ones that don't tend not to hang around, as presumably they don't get the millions of leads that they seem to think would be generated from here.