carl i have an issue with all lenders that take direct applications . they do not know the market and will sell the merchant that it is the best option for them . That is where a honest broker is way more ethical then any lender can ever be .
i have moved a merchant with 500 credit off a 6 month term to a 18 month term at a cheaper factor to a lender that put more weight on the time in business . same with moving a guy to a lender that didnt hold his industry against him . not every lender is for every file.
now we can take it further , i have had an argument with bob shaw in the past as he believed taking any merchant to cash advance (even a lenders ) with out first trying the different type of financing is unethical .
100 people on this site will have 100 different guidelines on what is the right way to do business .