INTEGRITY...how is it best served?
Consistently.
An interesting thing happened to me today, and unfortunately it wasn't the first time. I have often shared how proud I am of the team I get to be a part of at MetLife Home Loans...and today really supported my feelings.
At some time during my afternoon a client walked into my office and introduced herself as a person I had previously pre-qualified to purchase a home. I remembered her well and was excited to meet her face-to-face. We had several months of phone conversations while she was looking for a home in late 2007 and early 2008. Back then, I was employed with Brand X Home Mortgage. I started my career and spent several years of my life in the service of Brand X so I have a great respect for the company.
My old client is looking back into the real estate market so she went into Brand X Home Mortgage yesterday looking for me. She said that she met with an old associate of mine and repeatedly asked the representative where I was. In my client's words: "...she (my old associate) made it sound as if you (me) had moved to China or something and wouldn't tell me where you were!"
My client was NOT notified that I had moved just down the street to another place of business? WOW. Unfortunately, this has happened several times since I left Brand X. Not having any other experience in my career leaving an employer: is this normal?
To make it even more interesting: About 2 months after I left Brand X, many of my clients got a letter that was written to them as if it were from me...it even had a fake signature. (The effective date of the rates quoted in the fine print was long after I left the company.) It encouraged them to refinance and because the advice was appearing to be from me: several of them called the bank. They were promptly notified that I was no longer working for the bank and not informed at all where I was working or in what capacity.
A few of my clients who later found me were anything from puzzled or amused to furious that they were blatantly lied to by the representatives at my local Brand X Home Mortgage. Bear in mind that I am only a few blocks from where I used to work...but was under an obligation not to contact my clients for a period of one year after I left the company due to a "non-compete" clause. Strange what people will do in an attempt to make a buck... What is their integrity worth?
2010 is upon us and more than ever: It really matters who you do business with. If a person is willing to lie to clients as above...what else will they do to "turn the buck"? Isn't this the attitude that ultimately became the lending crisis and fuels the fraud perpetrated on the populace by "Wall Street"?
To be perfectly clear: this is not an attack on "Brand X" as a corporation or even an attack on the people who work there. It is simply an observation of choices made to gain a business advantage. We are often faced with similar choices. Do we "bad mouth" the competition or express our esteem and stand on our own when marketing to our clients? Maybe. Are we putting care in every hypothetical brick we lay and making each day count? I hope to… Good luck in your endeavors and here's to 2010.
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Chad Schauers
Have you metChad?
MetLife Home Loans
406.522.0922
406.522.0924 (fax)
1924 W. Stevens, Ste. 202
Bozeman, MT 59718
Cell: 406 799 8613
ccschauers@metlifehomeloans.com
