LendingTree WTF
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The wife and I are looking to buy a house, so I decide to check out LendingTree. I'm going through their series of forms when I come across this.
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This is probably just a way to invite the visitor to create a safe password, not composed of a sole common noun. However, the sentence makes us think that the password must be unique within the users database, which I don't believe is actually the case. Also, the password box is rather small...
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They might have also intended "unique" as in "not the same password that you use on any other site". (But then they totally failed to explain that, too.)
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@emurphy said:
They might have also intended "unique" as in "not the same password that you use on any other site". (But then they totally failed to explain that, too.)
I would never have even noticed if someone hadn't posted it here, and highlighted it, and have someone else explain the wtf. I would've interpreted as said above, unique to me. Which I would've ignored anyway (I tend to use several passwords, from 'safe' to 'used on the internet', but not unique across different places otherwise I would need more passwords that I have fingers...and toes). In any case, its not much of a wtf, since you should be able to understand what they want.
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LendingTree is the WTF. I decided to give them a shot. Do you know what happens when you get denied by someone? You get stuck in a vicious "try again" cycle by the lender themselves. There's no way to get out of it! It then spawns off to other credit providers. Eventually you'll be blitzed by so much spam that you'd want to hunt them all down.
So, if you really want to try that thing, I suggest using a disposable e-mail address. They are definitely not reputable when it comes to restraining themselves from sending useless e-mails.
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Some of Lending Tree's partners are the real WTF. I used them for my last house, about 5 years ago. I got an offer from a organization I thought I could trust. (Mortgage arm of a large online brokerage).
Do all the paperwork, everything is fine. We have one odd bit- due to some timing issues, I need to formally buy the new house about two months before the sale of the old goes through. The old was sold- I had formal committment and good faith money down from the buyer. I was completely up front about this with the company, and had plenty of money in the bank to cover both the intial down payment on the new place and two mortgage payments for two months.
I get a letter saying the mortgage on the new place is approved. Great- I put down the $3k good faith for the new place and relax.
Two days before closing, I get a call from the mortgage broker; "We've declined your application since your debt to income ratio is too high."
Me: "WTF! I have a letter from you saying the application was approved"
Them: "Well, that was just preliminary: it hadn't cleared our review staff"
Me "WTF? There's a period after 'approved' There's nothing in the letter that says it was conditional"
Them: "This happens all the time. It's nothing big."
Me: "I'm going to lose $3k and a house and you think it's nothing big???"
Them: "Well, you can just tell us your old house has closed and you'll be fine"
Me: "But it hasn't closed. I'd be committing fraud by lying to you, and you'd even know I was lying" (Yes, they actually suggested this)
Them: "Sorry, there's nothing we can do. You don't meet our criteria"
Panic ensues- I can't find any lender that would offer me something on two days notice, I don't have enough to buy the house with cash so it's to the laywer I go. Best decision I ever made after he explains some of the differences in laws between Virginia (where I am) and California (where they are). Next phone call
Me: "Ok, I've spoken to my lawyer and real estate broker. Here's the deal. By denying me this loan after claiming it was approved, you are in violation of Virginia statue #XXX. I and my real estate agent will be seeing you in civil court shortly. We will also be petitioning YYY, the head of the VA department that regulates home loan brokers to have your license in the state pulled for fradulent lending practices. Enjoy"
Them: "Umm, wait. I think I need to talk to my supervisor"
Ten minutes later I had my mortgage. Amazing how fast they did a 180 when the legal hammer appeared. I was almost sorry- my lawyer was looking forward to it since he apparently gets a few of these a year and wins them all.
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How do you catch a unique password?
Unique up on it.
