I don't think it's necessary to respond like that!

OK, it has to be said, "REO and BPO providers, communicate with your vendors in the same way you want to be communicated with!"  How many of you have received those annoying, "Send this back ASAP!" or "I need this back IMMEDIATELY!" notes from a company you're providing a service for? 

Not only is it annoying, but it is simply juvenile.  I was busy with two clients, and I had a BPO due.  The company sent me an email and a text asking when it was going to be turned in.  I said I was busy with clients, and as soon as I was done I'd get it done and submitted.  That satisfied me, but apparently it didn't give them that same warm fuzzy feeling.

Two more emails and texts came, and two more responses from me saying the same thing went.  Then this note showed up, "I have yet to hear from you with an ETA on this file.  Please provide a specific time this will be in today."  Actually, I had responded every time. 

By now, I'm annoyed enough to tell them to "bite me" and reassign the order.  I was in the midst of a series of important contractual issues, and I responded back (a bit snippy I admit), "Well, I can drop my client who I'm filling out a contract for and get right on this $75 BPO,  or I can complete the contract and then complete the BPO.  If today isn't good enough, please feel free to reassign it.  My goal is to have it in by close of business, but I keep getting interrupted."

She responded with,"I don’t think it's necessary to respond like that." Well, the truth is, she ignored my previous responses.  Many of the notes that come out of these companies are automated, and they are  emotionless, a little curt and they can be very annoying, but that's not always the case.  I recently had one come from an REO company that was down right offensive.  I sent the sender a note back telling her that I don't like being talked to like a small child.  I also asked her to send me her supervisor's name and number.  I never heard from her again.  I have a feeling that was her personally written note.

The bottom line for these REO and BPO providers is that if you want professional and quality service, treat your vendors like they are a valuable part of your business.  Without vendors, you don't have a business.  Realtors and brokers will produce if you treat them with respect, and if you find one that doesn't, stop using him.  It's that simple.