form. So you're asking the lender to pay that fee for you? This isn't them waiving some fake, made up fee. The county recorder's office will charge the lender. If you feel that you've paid them enough interest and they can eat a fee to benefit you and not them (the release of the deed of trust recorded against your home), great. Fight that battle. But they could tell you to stick it and not release the deed of trust. Your righteous indignation about a made up fee is incorrect. You agreed to pay this when you signed your original loan documents.