David v Goliath

Yesterday was a day.  It was tiring, stressful, and just plain grinchy.  I blame my bank.  One of my banks, anyways.  Me and banks just don't get along.  I've ranted previously about banks and yesterday just made me hate them more.  I was scheduled to close on the refinancing for my condo at 10am.  I started this process three months ago.  So finally, FINALLY, I was scheduled to close.  At 9am, I get a call from my loan facilitator who explains to me that she will email me the HUD for me to look over, which showed that I needed to bring $1,340 to closing.  My blood immediately began to boil.  One hour before someone is supposed to knock on my door for closing is when they tell me this. 

NEVER was there mention of me needing money at closing.  Every single time I talked to my loan facilitator or anyway at this bank regarding my refinancing, they said I would only have to pay $400 out of pocket for the application and any other fees and what have you would be wrapped into the loan amount.  The $400 was forked over when I started the process.  The $1340 they wanted from me yesterday could not be covered by the loan because my loan was capped at a certain amount.  This was all news to me and I was furious.  My complaints about them not informing me sooner and of the ridiculousness of a such a large loan not being able to cover $1340 was passed upwards to a manager.  In the end, I was victorious.  I was David.  The bank ate their own fees because the newbie who was my loan facilitator screwed up.  The fact the bank considers $1340 no big deal and can disregard it only proves to me just how greedy the bastards are - I wish I could consider money like that easily disposable. 

I was relieved but still furious.  I hate that anything related to banking has to be so damn complicated.  Two pages of fees, clarifications, and disclaimers and none of is written so a normal human being can understand it.  Yes, I realize I'm using their money, but they don't have be such a-holes about it and squeeze every possible penny out the situation.  I'm glad my lines of credit are few and far between.  I hate being beholden to anyone, especially big corporations.  If I have it my way, it will be cash for everything from here on out.  And I'll be paying my loan off early so the rat bastards get less of their expected interest.  Schmucks.

I'm glad I stood up for myself and complained.  I saved myself $1340.  I'm mad at myself because I expected it all to go so swiftly.  I had faith they meant what they said and I was a fool for doing so.  I should have known better and expected to be swindled.

I did close yesterday.  I was late for work, but it's all done and finalized.  I save some money each month, and more importantly, the loan type has changed.  My principal should start going down considerably now.  Thank goodness!  I look forward to the day I'm completely done with Goliath!!