Complaint Review: American Benefit Mortgage Inc.

Dear Rip-off Report,



I just wanted to take the time to say, Thank You again for your timely and efficient assistance in resolving my complaint with American Benefit Mortgage. I appreciated the fact that I was able to deal with a real person instead of a machine. One never knows who is actually behind the web sites one finds on the Internet, but in this case, I found a very squared-away outfit! The results were fast and not only was I repaid for the actual amount of money I paid out, but reimbursed for my time and inconvenience. I encourage others to try it out.



With the Rip-off Report, who needs the Better Business Bureau?



Thanks again,

Mary

First, I would like to commend Rip-off Report Volunteer Frank Torelli for his professionalism and ability in handling this matter. I would like to have him make a few comments regarding this matter, and then I will conclude.



"This is Frank Torelli. I handled this matter, and spoke directly to Tim Bullard. I want to state that he is one of the most professional individuals I have had the opportunity to work with and the manner in which he handled this situation should be an example to all other business owners who receive complaints on this site.



First, he apologized for the unprofessional attack on Mary by Jeff. He discussed with me how it was not his vision for this thing to happen to his clients, future, past or present. There was also an admission that Jeff had probably engaged in unethical behavior as part of his retaliation, which is never part of his philosophy.



Next, we also discussed another matter...the BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU. Jeff had referred Mary to the BBB site as evidence of ABM's credibility. This case hilights a cogent issue: the reliability of the BBB as a source of information. Tim thanked our site for bringing an oversight to his attention: the matter of the Annual Report was delinquent and their registered agent was no where to be found.



I told Tim that we have a real problem with the BBB for this reason, the incompleteness of the information. I told him that there were cases of business owners reporting that the BBB shakes them down if they are not members. The way this happens is that after a complaint is lodged on a company, someone from the BBB calls and offers assistance with complaints if they would only join the BBB.



Tim also expressed the fact that there is a "tacit form of terrorism" (my words) regarding the BBB. He said that people look at you strangely if you do NOT join the BBB, like, what's wrong with you if you don't join. The psychology behind them is that non-members must be inherently crooked or bad. I agreed and told him that I must admit that before I began investigating the BBB, I thought that way, too.



The bottom line is that the art of doing business is not perfect and since it involves dealing with people on both sides of the desk, Tim Bullard's philosophy is exactly the attitude that we believe should be taken by all. In Tim's words: 'I wouldn't stay in business very long if I didn't respect the customer.' KUDOS, Tim Bullard."



...more from the EDitor....

I echo Frank's sentiment. If there were more Tim Bullard's out there doing business, there would be more satisfied customers. But since there aren't, and since there are a lot more guerrillous customer service gorillas, like Jeff Watkins, there will always be a need for this website.

Thanks to your efforts (Frank), I got the money I demanded...$1,140. I am very satisfied and will tell everyone I know about this site. You can expect a donation to your very worthy cause in the near future.



Thanks,

Mary

Dear Tim Bullard,



How dare Jeffrey accuse me for his sloth. It is the height of indolence to blame others for one's own shortcomings. I am certainly glad I didn't complete my deal with you. I ended up doing business with Daniel Ruskin who did so much better than you and in a fraction of the time. There is a reason why bad news travels fast.



I now need to modify my claim by 20 per cent due to additional time and expenses required to collect this:



Refund Demand

$275 for the actual expense for the appraisal.

$475 for my time.

$200 for my aggravation.

$950 Sub Total

$190 for 20 per cent

$1140 Total



Mary

Phoenix, AZ

Jeff,



This is the public forum and you can't get by with telling half of the truth and using misdirection. Sure you sent me the appraisal, but how long had you been promising me that you would send that appraisal. The appraisal is no good to me any longer, but it might have been two months ago.



Thanks for finally admitting that your annual report was delinquent, but that was not discovered from the Better Business Bureau. I had to check that on my own. Is that why you directed me to them instead of the official documents of Arizona? You also never addressed the whereabouts of your registered agent, who can not be contacted and does not accept mail.



So, is it all in MY mind?

If you ask me, anyone who really believes you don't have the right to express your opinion and present facts, should go live in Russia. Unfortunately, bad news does not travel fast enough.



I got bent over with my mortgage with Citigroup and I checked with the Better Business Bureau. Later I found out that there WERE outstanding complaints that got buried. I checked your company out, Jeff and you are NOT in good standing in Arizona. Check your facts!

Mary received a copy of her appraisal by UPS (tracking number # 1ZE9587313433517449) after cancelling her bill consolidation loan with American Benefit Mortgage.



Mary originally contacted our company to refinance her first mortgage.



After delays in completing the file I took it over and advised her she could save $405 per month by paying off her 30,000 in installment and credit card debt and pay off her existing 2nd mortgage-far exceeding the savings she could have received on a first mortgage refinance.



Despite the initial delays Mary seemed confident in proceeding with the bill consolidation loan.



Mary was mailed, as directed by consumer protection laws, a NEW SET of disclosures detailing all terms of the bill consolidation loan and how they were DIFFERENT than the refinance loan. Mary signed the disclosures and returned them to our company.



If this is "reinventing the wheel" it's a wheel that is required by law and significantly improved her financial condition by getting her out from underneath her debts.



Mary cancelled her loan because questions arose about my company's annual report filing with the state of Arizona. This is a valid point and the paperwork to cure the problem is being forwarded. American Benefit Mortgage has been licensed in Arizona since June 1997 and the annual report should be filed on a timely basis--our mistake.



Mary should be more fair, however, about blaming American Benefit Mortgage for the actions of Approved, Coppertree and Westgate mortgage brokers--guilty by association is not an educated argument.



In my attempts to counter her baseless accusations I suggested she contact the Better Business Bureau for a second opinion. Mary cast aside the credibility of the Better Business Bureau and chose to believe the ripoffreport accounts of "Approved, Coppertree and Westgate" ???



Is this a valid basis for actions of my company, American Benefit Mortgage?--only in Mary's mind.



Being a government employee, herself, Mary should be more sensitive of unfair characterizations. The "incompetence and laziness of government employees" is a blatant mischaracterization which discounts the hard work and dedication of people and undermines consumer trust.



Unfortunately, Mary knows Bad News travels faster than Good.



Mary has every right to take her business elsewhere, she doesn't have the right to misrepresent my actions merely because she owns a computer keyboard.