Ottumwa:

Credit Employment Housing Total
Race Familial Status
Tests Conducted 3 4 3 48 58
Different Treatment 2 0 0 5 7

Credit:

Test 1

The testers met with different staff members. The African American tester met with the receptionist. The African American tester waited approximately two minutes while the receptionist helped another customer. The receptionist quoted the current rates for new cars. She did not write the rates down or offer any additional information. The receptionist did not offer to shake hands.

 

The white tester met with a loan officer who asked if he could help. The loan officer took the white tester to his office. The loan officer quoted the current rates and wrote them down. The loan officer offered the white tester an application and explained the different parts. The loan officer offered the white tester his card and told him to call if he needed information about used cars. The loan officer told the white tester they could process the application in an hour once he completed it. The loan officer offered to shake hands with the white tester.

 

Test 2

The testers met with different staffers. The African American tester was told the rates varied. The African American tester was told that the base was 9.25% but would go up or down based on various factors. The African American tester was told the lowest it would go was 8.75%. The African American tester was offered an application. The African American tester was told to let them know if he got a lower rate from another lender.

 

The white tester was told the rates vary from 8.5% to 9 or 10 %. The staff member told the white tester he could take an application then or call back and she could take an application over the phone. The white tester was told he could have an answer by 5 p.m. the same day.

 

Familial Status:

Test 1

The tester posed as a single parent with a child and inquired about a one-bedroom house. The owner told the tester, "You've got a daughter. OK. Well it's just a one bedroom." A second tester posing as a married couple with no kids also called about the house. The owner did not caution the tester that the apartment was one bedroom.

 

Test 2

The tester posed as a single parent with two kids and inquired about a two-bedroom house. The owner told the tester, "It's pretty small for that [two daughters]."

 

Test 3

The tester posed as a married person with two kids and inquired about a two bedroom apartment. The Realtor told the tester, "It is just two bedrooms which might be one of the problems."

 

Test 4

The tester posed as single parent with two daughters and inquired about a two bedroom duplex. The owner told the tester, "Oh, we don't rent to children."

 

Test 5

The tester posed as a single parent with a child and inquired about a one-bedroom apartment. The owner told the tester, "The only problem, you mentioned you have a small child. The only problem. It has pretty steep stairs. And it does have a deck on the back. It's not a real, how do I want to put this. I don't want to talk it down but it's not real conducive to small children." The owner added, "We've had people in there in the past. Mainly elderly people, and ill. People without children because it's not really a good place to coup a child up in, is what it amounts too."

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