Posted by BrendaTX on 8/31/04 11:37pm
Msg #7106

What do you say when...

I get the eDocs--it is 150 pages, plus 150 copies of each for the borrowers and there is more than just one transaction in all of this.

I am printing out the second copy and I call the ss and tell her that I need another $25 to cover this job--she says "but then I won't make anything!" in a tone and pitch similar to Fran, The Nanny's.

Two different SS's have said that to me this month. Is there any good response that a person can say to that other than the obvious things that come to mind? I held my tongue and did not become a Sarcastic Sally, but, man oh man !!! That was an opening I had to bite my tongue hard over.

Oh ye that are more experienced than I, when a signing agent hears that, does it mean that this company is for the list of former signing services because they are not going to stay in the business, or am I being overly critical of their professionalism and ability to price their services to their clients?

Reply by Butterfly on 9/1/04 12:52am
Msg #7110

I am a little confused about more than one transaction. Is this one signing or two? If you accepted one signing with a neg. fee, I think you are stuck, but know everything is up for negotiation. Now, if you accpted one signing and received a double package or a second property, then they owe for each package.

If she is not making any money as she quoted too low, well she made a bad BUSINESS choice and she will have to learn from her mistake. Remember, never lower yourself to her level (even if we REALLY want to) it just makes you come down to her level and we are above that.

If the SS that you are working with can not properly perfom at their job and give correct information, it is there problem. They may need to loose money in order to figure out how to do it the correct way. Personally I make sure I am very clear to them my fee and what they will expect and in turn I will let them know what I expect of them.

I hope this helped a little

Reply by BrendaTX on 9/1/04 7:02am
Msg #7115

Butterfly, thanks for your post. You basically answered my question. I agree with what you.

To clarify, it was supposed to be a straight refi. The package had a second loan. I called to tell her that I quoted her a base fee plus edocs for one transaction. This was involving two.

The gripe I had was that when I called back to advise I believed the description of the package was less than forthcoming and that it had crossed the limit of being one straight refi, she said "Then I would not make anything!"

Maybe it's just me, but I would suck up the fee and pay the notary the additional $25 and chalked it up to a learning experience over revealing what I would make or not make as the SS. Or, I'd tell the notary, "Forget it, I will get someone else to do the job." But what I would not do is to say to a notary "then I would not make anything."

Reply by sue on 9/1/04 7:44am
Msg #7118

I agree w/Butterfly. If it had been one loan and just a large package, that's part of the job. But, as it turned out to be 2 loans, you were MORE than generous asking for $25. My fee would have been $100 extra, $50 for the second loan and $50 for the second e-mail.

Reply by Butterfly on 9/1/04 8:12am
Msg #7122

Your welcome. I guess it is a sore spot for me with the SS's, I look at the estimated closing statement of the HUD to review their fee's each time. They usually receive an average of $125 for a 1st signing and then we are paid $65 (without edocs) or what ever we have agreed upon. I did forget to have you look at the estimated closing statement or the HUD. Check them to see if the fee is there. This is a good place to see their fee's and if they are being honest.

When charging for a SS my minimum fee is the NNA sugessted minimum fee's. If they are not willing, I do not accept the job.

Let me know if you would like the fee schedule. Based on the 1st & 2nd with edoc you should receive: Certified Signing Agent: $140, Noncertified $120.

Reply by CaliNotary on 9/1/04 1:12pm
Msg #7140

"Let me know if you would like the fee schedule. Based on the 1st & 2nd with edoc you should receive: Certified Signing Agent: $140, Noncertified $120."

I agree with most of what you've said Butterfly, but this part is BS. The NNA wants newbies to believe that you can charge more as a certified signing agent and that is simply not true. I've done over 500 signings without being certified by any of the notary associations and it has NEVER been an issue with my fees. Most signing services or title companies could care less about NNA certification - they're much more concerned with experience and what fees you're willing to accept.

I'm pointing this out not to put you on the spot, but just to make sure that any new notaries reading this thread don't get the wrong idea about the (non) importance of certification, especially from the money grubbing NNA.

Reply by Butterfly on 9/1/04 2:40pm
Msg #7147

I see things a little differently with the Certification course. I have been in the mortgage business for 16 years + and did take the course. For someone that is not familiar with loan docs or what is or is not expected of them as well as some legal issues are in there and I found it very helpful and I have quite a bit of experience. I am not say that all the course had good stuff but, I will say that chapter two is very important. If anyone does have access to the cert. book, I would say don't spend your $ but spend the time to learn more.

I think the cert. fee and non is a crock as well. I feel a seasoned Notary is confident and will charge the fee they feel they are worth, but it serves as a guide line for those that are new.