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Replies (23)
- Joan Braunschweiger, "Morris County NJ"
- Contributions:1543
I find this disturbing too....
- Pasadenan
- Contributions:21466
The "rumors" that I've heard had to do with "complaints" from some of their better paying "customers" (auto-quoters).
I have no way to verify that one way or the other, and would suggest E-mailing Russ Hatfield for clarification.
Apparently it has to do with mentioning specific individuals/parties by name, as it could be interpreted as derogatory to imply that some people may not be licensed, or that licenses may not be checked before accepting a robo-quoter. Clearly, the $25 fee was supposed to be for checking license status.
I have no way to verify that one way or the other, and would suggest E-mailing Russ Hatfield for clarification.
Apparently it has to do with mentioning specific individuals/parties by name, as it could be interpreted as derogatory to imply that some people may not be licensed, or that licenses may not be checked before accepting a robo-quoter. Clearly, the $25 fee was supposed to be for checking license status.
- Tug of War
- Contributions:1970
I think it was removed because there are some Silly people making decisions at Zillow & the transparency spiel is just that..a spiel
Of course I'm sure Zillow will reassure one and all they care/listen then will launch a investigation they can't comment about ..
Of course I'm sure Zillow will reassure one and all they care/listen then will launch a investigation they can't comment about ..
- hpvanc
- Contributions:2579
Very disturbing. Answering with the general method and frequencies would have been far better and more reassuring to consumers.
- sunnyview
- Contributions:25139
Professor B, love your mix of smarts and humor. It always keeps the conversation honest. Don't know why it would have been removed, but I would hope that Zillow keeps up to date with licenses. Even so, consumers should really check the NWMLS themselves to be sure.
I think that before you hire any licensed professional) agent, broker, attorney, doctor) it's smart to look the license up to make sure that it's current. That also gives you an opportunity to step back and take another look at who you are hiring in general.
" Apparently it has to do with mentioning specific individuals/parties by name, "
Pasa, if you look at my response in the link I provided you will see I did no such thing. I just asked if they have checked since January 1. That would require a YES or NO.
Pasa, if you look at my response in the link I provided you will see I did no such thing. I just asked if they have checked since January 1. That would require a YES or NO.
- Pasadenan
- Contributions:21466
As far as I can tell, they only check the license status when someone signs up for "confirmed lender" status, unless someone flags the profile or quote for further checking for possible change in status.
So, posting the "frequency" (once when registering) would not really answer the question asked, and would not appease the robo-quoters that were worried about the affect on their quote responses.
Of course the real answer to the question in the linked PDF file is "no, not all the robo-quoters have a valid active license status; there is no way to keep that information up to date all the time on the site". And of course, the answer to that is, well, why not set up auto checking of the state license status once per month? How hard would that be to program?
So, posting the "frequency" (once when registering) would not really answer the question asked, and would not appease the robo-quoters that were worried about the affect on their quote responses.
Of course the real answer to the question in the linked PDF file is "no, not all the robo-quoters have a valid active license status; there is no way to keep that information up to date all the time on the site". And of course, the answer to that is, well, why not set up auto checking of the state license status once per month? How hard would that be to program?
- Pasadenan
- Contributions:21466
"if you look at my response in the link I provided you will see I did no such thing. I just asked if they have checked since January 1" -
Yes, but if the Robo-quoter named in the original thread post stated the user was likely an alias created just to bad-mouth them, and one read the post stating that they maybe didn't check the status since January 1, the implication is that likely the status did change since January 1 for the named quoter, and that this could affect the quoter's business.
As mentioned, this seems to be a very touchy subject with some of Zillow's higher paying robo-quoters. Personally, I would rather side with those that call out the business that have questionable practices... but apparently Zillow has decided to side with the money instead.
Yes, but if the Robo-quoter named in the original thread post stated the user was likely an alias created just to bad-mouth them, and one read the post stating that they maybe didn't check the status since January 1, the implication is that likely the status did change since January 1 for the named quoter, and that this could affect the quoter's business.
As mentioned, this seems to be a very touchy subject with some of Zillow's higher paying robo-quoters. Personally, I would rather side with those that call out the business that have questionable practices... but apparently Zillow has decided to side with the money instead.
" And of course, the answer to that is, well, why not set up auto checking of the state license status once per month? How hard would that be to program?"
They don't even need to do that. The lender agreement with Zillow should span 1 year as all MLOs have to renew annually by December 31. Each confirmed lender should be required to submit their renewal certificate before December 31 or lose their quoting privileges. This is a minimum consumer safeguard that should be required. This is not just me being a jerk about things, working with unlicensed loan officers is a big issue. Many just think they will "get to it later" but ever quote made until then is illegal. It should be more of a priority. Lenders won't fund a loan with an expired NMLS ID so a consumer could get all the way to funding and get screwed when they find out that they cannot close.
" Yes, but if the Robo-quoter named in the original thread post stated the user was likely an alias created just to bad-mouth them, and one read the post stating that they maybe didn't check the status since January 1, the implication is that likely the status did change since January 1 for the named quoter, and that this could affect the quoter's business."
Pasa, what are you talking about. No one was named in that thread. Did you read it?
They don't even need to do that. The lender agreement with Zillow should span 1 year as all MLOs have to renew annually by December 31. Each confirmed lender should be required to submit their renewal certificate before December 31 or lose their quoting privileges. This is a minimum consumer safeguard that should be required. This is not just me being a jerk about things, working with unlicensed loan officers is a big issue. Many just think they will "get to it later" but ever quote made until then is illegal. It should be more of a priority. Lenders won't fund a loan with an expired NMLS ID so a consumer could get all the way to funding and get screwed when they find out that they cannot close.
" Yes, but if the Robo-quoter named in the original thread post stated the user was likely an alias created just to bad-mouth them, and one read the post stating that they maybe didn't check the status since January 1, the implication is that likely the status did change since January 1 for the named quoter, and that this could affect the quoter's business."
Pasa, what are you talking about. No one was named in that thread. Did you read it?
- sunnyview
- Contributions:25139
I read the thread and Prof B named no one. It was a general question only.
- hpvanc
- Contributions:2579
Pasa,
If they really are paying favoritism the robo-quoters (Confirmed Lenders), how long before they start doing the same for the aggressively marketed Preferred Agents. I like Zillow, but . . .
Things like this give me serious pause about its future as a media company.
If they really are paying favoritism the robo-quoters (Confirmed Lenders), how long before they start doing the same for the aggressively marketed Preferred Agents. I like Zillow, but . . .
Things like this give me serious pause about its future as a media company.
- Pasadenan
- Contributions:21466
"Wondering if the lender/broker listed is legit or scam" -
which "listed" lender/broker?
"San Diego credit union I have found to have the most favorable rates." -
"Wrong! SDCCU does not have the lowest rates by any stretch of the imagination!" -
I have no clue who is being referred to in the original post, but obviously someone flagged the post, and there is other things going on behind the scenes that us average people are not aware of.
Yes, it would make more sense to require submittal of their annual renewal certificate each year and be suspended until the certificate arrives, but the Zillow policy since the beginning of the ZMM was a "one time" review at time of registration for quoting status.
The way to change this is to E-mail Spencer a good logical explanation why they might want to consider changing their policy.
Of course, if mailed, someone has to process all that paperwork. Can't they check the renewal status electronically January 1st of each year, and then for those that hadn't renewed, temporarily suspend those, and then auto-check the status of those suspended each day until the status indicates it is OK to remove the suspension?
which "listed" lender/broker?
"San Diego credit union I have found to have the most favorable rates." -
"Wrong! SDCCU does not have the lowest rates by any stretch of the imagination!" -
I have no clue who is being referred to in the original post, but obviously someone flagged the post, and there is other things going on behind the scenes that us average people are not aware of.
Yes, it would make more sense to require submittal of their annual renewal certificate each year and be suspended until the certificate arrives, but the Zillow policy since the beginning of the ZMM was a "one time" review at time of registration for quoting status.
The way to change this is to E-mail Spencer a good logical explanation why they might want to consider changing their policy.
Of course, if mailed, someone has to process all that paperwork. Can't they check the renewal status electronically January 1st of each year, and then for those that hadn't renewed, temporarily suspend those, and then auto-check the status of those suspended each day until the status indicates it is OK to remove the suspension?
Pasa you obviously did not read or understand the post. The SDCCU comments have nothing to do with the original post or a Zillow confirmed lender. Those comments were from an agent touting the benefits of NOT USING a ZMM lender and using a local CU. Had they removed those coments for being off topic that would at least make sense. What they did instead makes zero sense.Why are you always defending Zillow anyway? I didn't ask you for your explanation, I asked Zillow.
- Cory La Scala, "San Diego CA Realtor"
- Contributions:419
[off topic. deleted by Zillow moderator. Please refer to our Good Neighbor Policy for posting guidelines]
Attagirl Cory. Just search for questions in San Diego and post whatever you want to post whether related to the topic or not. Well done!
This is exactly what irritates me most. I ask a perfectly, on topic and relevant question and it gets removed; yet day in and day out we are subjected to this pseudo commercial nonsense.
I challenge anyone to explain what Cory's remarks have to do with the original post.
This is exactly what irritates me most. I ask a perfectly, on topic and relevant question and it gets removed; yet day in and day out we are subjected to this pseudo commercial nonsense.
I challenge anyone to explain what Cory's remarks have to do with the original post.
- Pasadenan
- Contributions:21466
I keep hoping someone from Zillow will show up on this thread soon and provide any kind of answer that might make some sense.
Actually, I'm hoping that they do a bit of checking and make sure they provide a real answer instead of a platitude, and that if they deleted a post in error, that they restore the post, and that if they closed the thread in error, that they re-open the thread.
Actually, I'm hoping that they do a bit of checking and make sure they provide a real answer instead of a platitude, and that if they deleted a post in error, that they restore the post, and that if they closed the thread in error, that they re-open the thread.
- Andrew Adams, "203K Specialist"
- Contributions:9349
It was a good run chuck...looking forward to the next incarnation!
Consumers cannot trust anything they get on this site...or any for that matter! Verify everything!
Consumers cannot trust anything they get on this site...or any for that matter! Verify everything!
- Candace Camacho, "CandaceCamacho"
- Contributions:420
We do apologize but the post mentioned here was not supposed to be deleted or locked. This is a very good question and we do agree that this is important. We have unlocked the thread and have reposted Professor Brown answer.
We do have regular checks in place to make sure that all lenders are compliant with licensing requirements. However if you suspect a lenders' licensing is not compliant, please flag for our review by emailing us at mortgagesupport at zillow dot com . All lenders must meet all state and federal licensing requirements in order to quote in Zillow Mortgage Marketplace. Thank you for all your suggestions.
Candace
Thank you for putting my post back.
- Candace Camacho, "CandaceCamacho"
- Contributions:420
Your welcome I appreciate you bring this to our attention.
- Andrew Adams, "203K Specialist"
- Contributions:9349
Looks like you were just granted Tenure Professor!
- Norm D Plume, "America Needs Nixon!"
- Contributions:1670
The roboquoters can update the lic easily; I don't see a valid excuse for them not to.
I don't think all licenses expire Dec 31st, mine has to renew by December 1st.
There is still a non-licensed felon quoting; his name has come up regularly over the years yet he continues to quote. The regulars know to whom I refer.
I don't think all licenses expire Dec 31st, mine has to renew by December 1st.
There is still a non-licensed felon quoting; his name has come up regularly over the years yet he continues to quote. The regulars know to whom I refer.
- Pasadenan
- Contributions:21466
I didn't know that quoter was still around. So many of the threads related to that quoter were deleted by Zillow.
Thanks for the update!
Thanks for the update!
Why was my answer removed?
The question was asked if Zillow lenders could be trusted and after a Zillow employee responded that licenses were checked to see if they were current and up to date. I then asked if they have done so since January 1, 2012 and if they are sure they are properly licensed.
My comment / question was removed and the topic was closed.
I find this very troubling and wonder why an "on topic" response to a question was concealed and the topic closed.
Here is a link to what was said prior to the comments being removed. Could someone please tell me how this violates the GNP please?
I'm not trying to start trouble, but I do want to know why that the topic of licensing of quoters on Zillow is such a touchy subject when I keep seeing the word "transparency" thrown about.
Thank you in advance.
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