Help me understand this type of action- who is it that benefits from this discount and how do the settlement firms account for the difference in the price of the search on the HUD-1's ?  Looks like there might be a big problem with doing this unless the consumer is the beneficiary and it is properly shown on the HUD. I just don't see how you can select one homeowner and give them an unannounced discount just because the settlement company gave you a number of cases to complete, unless the settlement company is keeping the money in violation of section 8 of RESPA, since they do not perform any "core title work" to be able to accept any money anyway.