Never underestimate the power of a well-aimed RECON EMAIL

[HoustonLynne]

If at first you don’t succeed, you have nothing to lose by trying again…and aiming higher.

(Caveat: some have incurred additional HPs in recon attempts. YMMV.)

 

Two weeks ago I went into my local branch of a large regional bank (operating in 16 states) to close a checking account I was seldom using. The Team Leader who always helps me told me he could run a pre-qualifying credit card app, and while I was reasonably certain it wouldn’t work (I’m opted out), I also know they are primarily a TU puller – odds were in my favor that there wasn’t much to lose. I rightly guessed that my “soft, pre-qual app” turned into a HP, but it was on TU, and those have a bizarre habit of getting lost. Here today; gone in 56 tomorrows.

 

My banker told me it would take 1-2 business days for an answer, and he checked on it the next business day. I was initially approved for $5K in the automated phase of the process, but an underwriter vetoed the software’s decision and denied me, based on the 2 remaining medical collections that are currently in Why Chat Mode.

 

I searched high and low for a backdoor number or email – their “insider info” is guarded like a State Secret. But I’m a pretty savvy sleuth – which has annoyed more than one boyfriend along the way – and I felt reasonably certain I’d figured out the proper email formatting for employees. Yesterday, I hurled what turned out to be a rightly aimed dart at the Chief Credit Officer listed under Executive Leadership on their website.

 

Thursday:

5:10pm – I sent email

6:09pm – I received brief but very personal reply AFTER "bankers' hours"; thanked me & congratulated me for aspiring to join the FICO 800 Club; someone will review it and get back to me within

a few days

8:30pm – I replied with my sincere thanks

 

Friday:

3:41pm – I received a generously personal response from a different person: EVP, Consumer Credit Executive – approved for $5K; original contact was copied on email

4:05pm – I was overwhelmed by their level of personal service and replied to both, letting them know they’d earned a customer for life

 

In summary, you’ll win some…and you’ll lose some. But always remember the immortal words of Wayne Gretzky:

You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.

 

[nysbadmk8]

Mind on sharing the bank.. so we know who deserves our business.

 

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

[BobWang]

[moosetracks]

Grats :clapping:

[HoustonLynne]

Mind on sharing the bank.. so we know who deserves our business.

 

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

I'm hoping folks will stay focused on the theme of my post rather than the lender, itself. However, you make a well-positioned appeal.

So...it is BECAUSE I hope people will give this bank their business that I will add that the fantastic service came from Regions Bank.

[HoustonLynne]

I recognize the shape of that hiney -- that's Janet Jones!

 

ETA: Is it significant that this was post #666 for me...??

Edited May 3, 2014 by HoustonLynne

[BW1216]

Tempting... must resist...

[HoustonLynne]

Tempting... must resist...

Don't hold back on us...!?

[HoustonLynne]

Approved Friday afternoon; account listed in my online banking profile this morning. It's official!