Protecting your privacy when working with mortgage companies – Emilio DiSpirito

By Emilio DiSpirito – Realtor | Co-owner Engel & Völkers East Greenwich and Engel & Völkers Barrington East Bay

Anyone you do business with, from mortgage companies to health insurance companies, have privacy statements. They are required by Federal Law to get these privacy statements in front of consumers. Usually, they are sent in the mail or electronically. Take a few moments to review them, understand them and the information that they may share about you.

Recently, we had a client apply for a mortgage with one of the three reputable lenders we regularly refer. Within a week of applying for a loan with this trusted company, a bank in which she has previously obtained mortgages with contacted her and basically asked her for a shot at the new mortgage! Our client was livid with concerns that the company we recommended was selling her information.

The unfortunate thing is, that this is a long-lived practice with financial institutions and insurance companies. You, as a consumer, may be able to limit what they share to third parties. According to “Truecaller”, the United States saw a 56% increase in spam calls, of which 60% were robocalls.

We, of course, contacted the lender immediately and asked for details. The lender, someone we trust, explained that neither she, nor her colleagues were in contact with anyone in regard to our client’s file and that whenever credit is pulled and information received, as stated in their privacy policy, other companies and sometimes affiliates may have access to that information. After some research, we found that it was commonplace.

So, what can you do? Whenever you are speaking with anyone who will be pulling your credit, you will have the ability to review their privacy policy. Ask them for a copy and or find it on their website. If you are viewing online, click on the privacy policy and press “Control Key F” when on a PC or Option-Command F on a MAC and type in “opt-out” or “opt-out policy” in the provided search bar. This will save you a tremendous amount of time sifting through legal jargon. Follow the instructions and opt-out of any information sharing that you can.

Your phone will ring less, your mail and email will have less “spam”, and you will ultimately limit the eyes on your personal and financial information. 

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For more information, contact [email protected]

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To read more articles in RINewsToday by Emilio, go to: https://rinewstoday.com/emilio-dispirito/

Phone: 401-359-2338

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @EVRhodeIsland

Website: EastGreenwich.EVRealEstate.com

Emilio DiSpirito

If you would have asked me what I wanted to be growing up, little Emilio would have told you “an archeologist” or “an architect” despite the fact that at age 8 I had my first lemonade stand, landscaping business and was recording my first “news show” on my boombox!  Well, I never was much good at trigonometry and did could not see myself traveling for months and possibly years at a time, so becoming an architect or archaeologist clearly did not happen!

Fast forward 26 years later and I’m running a team of the finest residential real estate professionals, own a media company and host my very own radio news show about real estate!

For 7 years straight it seemed that I had put in more hours than the day had to give on my real estate business. 7 days a week, 14 to 16 hour days, without a break! Why? My friends and family did not understand the sheer magnitude of moving parts and services we offer to our clients during a transaction! One slip up or one missed call could mean make or break for someone’s dream home or even a lost deposit!

Running a team of like-minded, highly qualified and capable professionals has allowed me to offer a very streamlined, simplified and efficient approach to the sales process for our clients and allowed me to earn personal time again with my family while not missing a beat for my clients!

When I’m not working, I’m with family and friends, riding my mountain bike, eating at local restaurants, enjoying live entertainment, hiking, skiing or reading!