Data mining from X-Sites?

[Pat Butler]

I was reading the newspaper that Alamode sent out and the lead article quotes all sorts of statistics regarding the volume of business going through their X-Sites and Mercury Network as well as various fees being charged by appraisers.

That information came from the data inputted by appraiser's when they used their X-Sites. Sure nice to know that Alamode has no problem using appraiser's confidential data for their own gain. They are even able to calculate an appraiser's gross income using that same data.

 

[dbiggers]

I was reading the newspaper that Alamode sent out and the lead article quotes all sorts of statistics regarding the volume of business going through their X-Sites and Mercury Network as well as various fees being charged by appraisers.

That information came from the data inputted by appraiser's when they used their X-Sites. Sure nice to know that Alamode has no problem using appraiser's confidential data for their own gain. They are even able to calculate an appraiser's gross income using that same data.

Pat, that's not the case at all. There's no data mining from any data in anyone's site or reports. We of course track usage stats (volume, etc.) because the servers are affected by it, and it's a statistic we've quoted for years (way back since the Project 2000 days) with no personally identifiable information. As we indicated, we also do surveys to correlate the data, which of course includes explicit permission to publish.

The fee data comes from our credit card processing services (again, something we track naturally, just like Mastercard and Visa do -- something you see in the news every month as the average credit card charge is an indicator of economic health), as well as the published fee tables on Mercury's transaction side (which never went away -- it just got incorporated into Mortgage XSites). That's not private data when appraisers publish it, but again, we also don't ever use any individual data. Summary stats is all we ever use.

You're barking up the wrong tree. We have people ask to buy "data" all the time and we tell them point blank that it's not ours to sell anyway. We don't "mine data" from your sites or reports, never have, and never will.

Dave Biggers
Chairman
a la mode, inc.

 

[Pat Butler]

I realize that the data is not personally identifiable, but you are using the data for your own benefit. My credit card processing company is not compiling appraiser's fee data and creating reports with it.

Nonetheless, your post explains your side and appraisers can decide whether or not it's beneficial for them.

 

[Joyce Potts]

Now that Mr. Biggers was courageous enough to answer the data mining question head on, what does Mr. Rich Heyn have to say concerning ACI Software. Also, does ACI or any affiliate, subsidary, etc., also sell or give away software that affords the conversion of reports for either data mining or anything else?

 

[Tim Hicks (Texas)]

Now that Mr. Biggers was courageous enough to answer the data mining question head on, what does Mr. Rich Heyn have to say concerning ACI Software. Also, does ACI or any affiliate, subsidary, etc., also sell or give away software that affords the conversion of reports for either data mining or anything else?

ACI is never going to admit it publicly, even though they know we already know the truth. I had LSI tell me specifically they were going to convert my pdf. The web site actually stated "ACI conversion" under status. I have not seen that status since I pointed it out here. LSI prefers ACI. Why do they prefer ACI? It still kills me that the name of the software is Appraiser's Choice when in actuality is Lender's Choice. It is the Lenders and their managment companies that demand the use of ACI. They state the reason is to run rule sets, but I believe there is much, much more to it than that. Mr. Heyn has every right to defend his company here just like Mr. Biggers.

I wonder why Mr. Biggers never touches this issue publicly. You would think he would want to educate appraisers on his competition's business practices. If he actually considers them competition.

 

[CANative]

Now that Mr. Biggers was courageous enough to answer the data mining question head on, what does Mr. Rich Heyn have to say concerning ACI Software. Also, does ACI or any affiliate, subsidary, etc., also sell or give away software that affords the conversion of reports for either data mining or anything else?

Sheesh. Give it a rest Joyce. Why don't you go out and invent something besides conspiracy theories.

 

[Tim Hicks (Texas)]

Sheesh. Give it a rest Joyce. Why don't you go out and invent something besides conspiracy theories.

I am still trying to figure out the crystal skull.

 

[ddnma]

ACI is never going to admit it publicly, even though they know we already know the truth. I had LSI tell me specifically they were going to convert my pdf. The web site actually stated "ACI conversion" under status. I have not seen that status since I pointed it out here. LSI prefers ACI. Why do they prefer ACI? It still kills me that the name of the software is Appraiser's Choice when in actuality is Lender's Choice. It is the Lenders and their managment companies that demand the use of ACI. They state the reason is to run rule sets, but I believe there is much, much more to it than that. Mr. Heyn has every right to defend his company here just like Mr. Biggers.

I wonder why Mr. Biggers never touches this issue publicly. You would think he would want to educate appraisers on his competition's business practices. If he actually considers them competition.

It doesn't matter what software you use, if someone wants to capture and or convert the data, they can- even a locked pdf...

 

[Mr Rex]

It doesn't matter what software you use, if someone wants to capture and or convert the data, they can- even a locked pdf...

And the point is, some make it easier than others with a slight wink, or is it twinkle$ in their eye?

 

[JRS at OBX]

I wonder why Mr. Biggers never touches this issue publicly. You would think he would want to educate appraisers on his competition's business practices. If he actually considers them competition.

I think Mr. Biggers doesn't feel the need to sling mud at his competitors. We know which companies are on our side.