‘Paid the Same’ Commission Rate Commitment

Mortgage Choice doesn’t play favourites

Australia’s largest independently-owned mortgage broker, Mortgage Choice is re-affirming its commitment to its ‘paid the same’ commission rate policy for home loans arranged by its franchisees, to re-iterate the company’s strong consumer advocacy stance.

This comes at a time when mortgage broker commissions and the move to a ‘fee for service’ model for financial planners are attracting increasing attention.

Mortgage Choice head office pays franchisees the same commission rate for the home loans they write, regardless of the rate paid by the lender selected by a new customer - and has been doing so for most of its 17-year history.

According to Mortgage Choice CEO, Michael Russell, in continuing its commitment to such a policy, “Mortgage Choice stands apart by cementing its loyalty to providing customers with a service that is not swayed by one lender over another due to commission payments. We are happy to be different and will staunchly hold the line in this respect, to do what is right for our customers’ needs.”

“With so much talk at present focusing on commissions, we thought it timely to remind and reassure our customers, investors, analysts and other interested parties that Mortgage Choice continues to adhere to a ‘paid the same’ policy for its home loan services.

“Varying commissions paid to financial services providers can encourage bias. Our franchise owners’ dedication to being ‘paid the same’ for sourcing home loans for Australian borrowers is indelibly stamped into the way we do business.

“It is also a strong drawcard for Mortgage Choice customers. It provides us with a fantastic, tangible point of difference.”

A Mortgage Choice franchise owner of 10 years, Ben Herden from Gymea in Sydney’s south, has noticed a large difference in his lead conversion rate since he incorporated the company’s ‘paid the same’ message into his recently-improved sales process.

“I find it an invaluable tool for attracting new customers to my business. It negates the need for ‘fee for service’ and makes people aware of the purity of Mortgage Choice’s proposition,” Ben said.

“My team and I draw attention to our ‘paid the same’ policy during every interview, and when a potential customer is broker shopping and asks why they should use Mortgage Choice over another broker, we’ll get the business every time.

“I like that we even formalise the message in writing via our Customer Charter, which is handed to every customer. Our payment policy puts Mortgage Choice ahead of the pack in terms of commitment to the essence of being a broker, which is all about finding each customer the most suitable loan for their circumstances. It is an essential part of our value set.”

Michael Russell said, “The Mortgage Choice ‘paid the same’ policy for home loans is cultural, it’s part of our psyche. We are proud of retaining such a strong consumer advocacy stance.”

Call the customer service centre on 13 MORTGAGE, visit www.mortgagechoice.com.au or www.facebook.com/MortgageChoice or http://twitter.com/MortgageChoice.

9 Comments

Xerxes July 29, 2009

How does ‘fee for service’ get a mention under this subject.

Who the hell is pushing this agenda??????

Oz Boy July 29, 2009

Yeah great until eventually the commissions drop further and it is not sustainable for a broker to submit a deal to the lenders then what!! Russell seems to have taken to his new job “get us out in the media” like a duck to water.

Greg July 29, 2009

Well any good broker is using the National Broker Agreement which shows all the lenders and their commissions and lets face it with licensing nearer then ever it is up to the Broker to explain why they may be using a lender that pays a higher commission. However most of my clients have stated I do not care what you earn in commission as I know you are running a business and you are offering a service and lets face it we over the same products as what is available over the counter at a Bank. So taking that into account I have had clients say that you are providing me with choice. I would not like to be a Mortgage Choice owner and specialize in Non Conforming as Mortgage Choice Head Office would be making a nice Commission.

broker in the burbs August 3, 2009

Big lack of trust with the MC suits in their front end brokers me thinks.

This statement imputes that MC operators would pounce on unsuspecting customers and ’sell’ them higher commission based products, if given the opportunity to do.

Mustn’t have much faith in your professional broker network.

orecedalo November 26, 2009

Tender thanks you championing details. It helped me in my responsibility

SMc November 26, 2009

This article prompts the question to test whether MC genuinely honour this statement (or whether its just advertorial spin - refer their previous posts):

If there was a really, really great product out there where the commisson was only say 0.3% upfront and 0.15% trail - would they then reduce all comms to the same? If they genuinely honour that staunch pledge, they’d not be able to to use that product or any other below the “set rate” - otherwise its a lie. Or, just more spin.

broker in the 'burbs November 26, 2009

What irks me about all of this ‘holier than thou’ rubbish is;

1. There is no mention of the back door volume bonuses (not disclosed) from lenders to aggregators

2. This ’same pay’ policy in fact reduces lender competition, as brokers (sorry, bank agents) see no reason to use lesser known non bank brands, thus helping the CBA & WBC to tighten their squirrel grip on the market.

3. If MC brokers (sorry, bank agents) happen to write a non bank or non conforming loan for either policy &/or rate reasons (i.e. offering the most appropriate product) then does the client reap the benefit of the fatter commission margin being rebated to them. Not likely…..straight to MC’s bottom line.

4. MC’s commission policy simply patronises the broking industry. Handing out the margin scraps to the writers of the business. Goodness knows why MC brokers (sorry, bank agents) stick around. Oh that’s right, a lot of ‘em don’t.

5. No wonder I pick up many MC orphan clients, as their MC broker (sorry, bank agent) either can’t set a ‘difficult’ loan profile or won’t, as it simply doesn’t pay.

6. Logic also implies that MC don’t trust their brokers to write appropriate loans. If they did, then why bother with the ’same pay’ policy…..oh that’s right….it infers that non MC brokers are dodgy! What a great sales spiel.

More brokers need to learn to run their own businesses, with their own brands and being self determinant with their business models.

McMortgage Choice……do you want fries with that!!

SMc November 27, 2009

Some good points ‘burbs - yes it could be a restriction of trade that can limit a brokers income for a fair days work, and an MC broker may well have a case under the trade practices act. Risky stuff MC, a public company, playing with the free market and not encouraging a broker to act for a non-conforming type client. Nahhh, of course MC would never ever skim or retain the additional payments for themselves…. surely not, because Santa wouldn’t like that, and he is real.

Kevin November 27, 2009

The commission rate should come second to the most appropriate product for the client. Get the client the right loan and let the commission look after itself.

MC Orphans appear to be growing in number as we tend to pick up quiet a few of them as well.

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