Wanting to know our chances for refinancing and debt consolidation, my husband and I contacted Optima Funding and spoke w/Brian Sweet. After providing him information as he requested he told us what our options were.
Interested in getting back on top of our bills, I asked him what possible negatives were involved with moving forward. He explained that all we needed was for our house to appraise at a certain amount. I told him that I could only afford the appraisal fee if there was some way he could guarantee the loan.instead of being honest and telling me that he couldn't guarantee that, he proceeded to explain his expertise in neighborhood comps, and how our house was on a larger lot having more square footage than other houses in our area selling for more than I needed a loan for.
He also explained how they use an appraisal company that is only in business because of Optima and how they'll appraise my home for what the loan needs. I then asked a "what if, worst case scenario" question about the appraisal and Brian told me that he "knew" what the appraisal would come back as and to put me at ease with it, he'd have my fee refunded if, for whatever reason, the appraisal didn't come back as he knew it would.
After paying for the appraisal, Brian wouldn't answer his phone or return calls from message that I or my husband left. I also sent numerous e-mails, getting no response. On the few occasions that we did get through to him, we were given a song and dance and promise to be given a call back with information. We found out that our home didn't appraise as Brian said that it would, so he offered to try and get the appraisal company to give him a "bump" on the figure.
He still never called us back as promised so we had to call over and over and over again before getting ahold of him. Through my complaints they received via e-mail and voice mail, we were put in touch with his supervisor, Kirk Washington. Kirk replied to one of my e-mails with "The bottom line is your house is worth what it is worth and no one can magically make it worth more."
I explained to him that I didn't ask anyone to make it worth more than it is - Brian, in his expertise, told me what he could have it appraised for - thus making it worth that.
I have requested a refund numerous times over voice mail, e-mail and also through the Better Business Bureau. To date, all requests have been refused.
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