Posted by Pam/FL on 12/8/04 8:19am
Msg #12979

Sick and tired of deadbeat Signing Companies

I am owed from 2 signing companies and I can tell you that it has put a fear in me to accept any closings from any company.
I put my trust in them as I thought they had put their trust in me to do the closings for them.
I just cringe when I get a call from a company asking me to do a closing.
Is it just me or is anyone else feeling this way?

We all work so hard to be there for these people. We spend our time, gas, and experience to get these closings done on a timely manner and some choose to not pay us for our services. We wait, patiently for our money. Don't they know that we have a family to feed and bills to pay just like them?

What do you do when you get a call? "Hold on a minute, let me see if you are on the no-no list"? Or let me call you back in a few minutes? God knows that you hate to give up a signing cause you need the money.

Can I get some in put please on how you handle this situation.
Thank you for allowing me to vent.

Reply by kmnotary_CA on 12/8/04 10:02am
Msg #12985

Pam,
I know the feeling. I too have been leery about some companies, and I have gotten several calls from companies I never heard of, and am waiting for payment. One of them I called back after accepting, and said I was concerned as their name had a bad reputation wtih Notaries. The lady assured me she wasn't the "bad one" and so I took the signing. I haven't been paid yet, but she did tell me it was a 30 day pay, at least i think so.

I am owed for several signings, but I just try to be optomistic, and just like people, some of the agencies are good, some aren't. Some might burn us, but most don't. I like to try to find the good, then if I get a bad one, I just chalk it up, and move on. it isn't worth it to me to spend a lot of my emotional energy on them.

anyway, hope we all get more of the "good" agencies than the bad.

Reply by PAnotary on 12/8/04 10:33am
Msg #12993

I would not chase signing companies for business. I developed my business from title companies in the yellow pages. Once I got a good relationship going with one company, I would ask for leads to other companies. I've been doing this as my sole source of income for the last 10 years and have never, ever been stiffed. Came close once or twice, but always got paid. YTD volume as of today is 391 closings. Forget about signing companies....they
are parasites !

Reply by asicollect on 12/8/04 10:51am
Msg #12995

PAnotary does your local title comapnys use you? Or do you pursue out of state Title companies. Thanks

Reply by PAnotary on 12/8/04 11:08am
Msg #12997

I have one local closing co. that gives me 20 to 30 closings a month. I also close for out of town title cos. that have multiple offices. One in particular has offices in Harrisburg, Pittsburgh
and Malvern, PA. I close for all of them. Some only give me one a month, some none & some
5 to 10...I try to give them all good service and go out of my way to let them know that I'm at least as concerned about THEIR welfare as I am about my own.

Reply by BJT on 12/9/04 9:02am
Msg #13099

EVERY TRIED HAVING THEM FILL OUT A SURVEY ON YOU FOR YOUR RECORD?
HAVE YOU RESEARCHED TO SEE IF OTHER SIGNING AGENTS FEES ARE LESS THAN YOURS? HAVE YOU CHECKED OUT THE GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS (RENTERS VS. OWNERS) IN YOUR AREA?
THIS TO CAN RAISE A LOT OF QUESTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO DOING SIGNINGS IN PA. -- JUST A SUGGESTED THOUGHT.

Reply by sue on 12/8/04 11:39am
Msg #13002

I'm in York, will you please contact me - [e-mail address] - I've got a question/s about getting work w/local companies

Thanks, Sue

Reply by Happy in Fl on 12/8/04 12:38pm
Msg #13012

Re: Know what you mean...!!!!

Pam-- I know the feeling--If I'm in another part of the house- I very nicely keep them talking while I head for my Loose Leaf book and Avoid List and the Companies I've signed up with...Quick check that way first- then check Zip of borrower and go to my list of rates based on mileage etc.-

But if it's a $50 company- and they have to raise fee to say $65 and $35 for E-Docs-- if they hestitate- my "gut feel" (which to date as far as I can tell, has worked for me)- is what I go with-- if they are Cheap- they will also not think twice about cheating you out of your fee.

In all honesty-- when you charge the higher fee--and let everyone you sign up with know thats it--and stick to that-- even if they say- " I'll have to check and get back to you"- in essence they are going to keep calling around for that $50 Notary..and 99% of the time they find one--and thats fine- but I'm not going to waist my time working for almost peanuts and for "EL- Cheapo" Signing Services who may or not pay for my work..

I have started telling these s/s when they call "My Notary work is NOT dependant on whether or not the loan is funded--- this service is just that- and payment is due when rendered- or as agreed on the phone at contact time.. "

Also- when a S/S sends a" Independent Contractors Agreement" for me to sign etc.- I always change their Fee Schedule and insert my own... I will not agree to $50- and 100 mile travel or whatever they want--- It's time to take a stand and just say "NO"!

You will get signings- No need to be fretfull - but this is your Business- do it the best you can- treat everyone fairly- but don't be pushed or coerced into working for a company who wants you to lower your rates to theirs-- because "I think" thats just the outfit that will go Dead-Beat on you..

Cheer up Pam- There are a lot of Great Companies out there--and a lot of nice people to meet and to assist in getting their Loans etc. processed-- And when you do get a Deadbeat--Post it and let us ALL know so it will be harder for them to find Notaries willing to take their assignments. LOL

Reply by Nd/WA on 12/8/04 3:08pm
Msg #13029

Right on Happy FL!

"Dead-Beat" and "El-Cheapo" goes hand in hand. I will not sign an ICA that contain a close to nothing fee schedule. There are not mamy SA in my area and I know some will take just anything based on my experience with the "sorry, doc is not ready, loan is cancel, or let me see if I can get that fee approved." I've learned that it would be their last resort (last minute)to call me so I always quoted atleast 2x more.

There are lots of fish in the sea and tree to cut....They will come/grow your way so, be patient!

Reply by Ted_MI on 12/8/04 2:01pm
Msg #13022

Pam,

Rather than responding the way you have stated, I would suggest saying let me check my calendar or let me check my appointment book and then checking (conceivably also) your no no list. In addition, over the course of time I would put together a three ring binder of "good companies" and one of "bad" companies. That is what I have been doing. Surprisingly they each seem to be the same size!!

Reply by CaliNotary on 12/8/04 4:02pm
Msg #13033

You're owed from 2 signing companies. How many companies have paid you without any effort on your part?

The fact is, most signing services are honest and reputable. There are a few bad ones in the bunch, but that's going to happen in any industry, not just ours. The problem seems amplified in this group simply because nobody makes posts like "I did a signing, they sent out the check on the 15th just like they promised". We post about the problem companies to vent, to warn each other, to get advice, etc. But the reality is that most of us are being paid in a timely manner for just about all of the signings that we do. Sometimes it takes a little effort on our parts to get it, but I'd say that the percentage of signings that we're completely stiffed on (as a group) is shockingly low, probably less than 1%.

Remember, we're in business. Collecting money owed is part of every business. Having vendors sometimes not want to pay is part of every business. Why people think that we should somehow be exempt from this type of extremely normal behavior is beyond me. If you're going to be in business for yourself you need to take the good with the bad.

Reply by Mortgage Closers of San Antonio - Kenneth C Whitton Jr on 12/8/04 9:53pm
Msg #13069

You know, you are right... We do not post enough about the good experiences. Here is one...

Lender's First Choice, closing on Friday, November 27, they cut my check on December 1 and it arrived at my home on December 4...

Certified Signing Services, Inc., payment is rendered on the 15th of the month following the month of the closing... i.e. Closing on May 19, check issued on June 15, without fail...

General American Corporation, payment is rendered on the 15th of the month following the month of the closing...

BancServ, payment is rendered in short order, usually paying on the 15th and the 30th of the month for closings rendered to date...

Nations Signature Closers, payment is rendered in reasonable time, usually rendering the check between the 10th and 12th of the month following the closing...

E-Mobile Notary, payment is rendered in reasonable time, usually the month following the closing...

Document Assistance Company, payment was rendered on October 1 for a closing dated August 23, but which did not hit their computer until September 1...

AMTS (A Multi Travel Signing), payment was rendered on October 8 for a closing dated September 23... (this included a delay for a misplaced W-9 I had to resubmit)...

That is all I have at the moment, at the tip of my tongue at least.

Reply by kmnotary_CA on 12/9/04 1:17am
Msg #13084

I would like to add Hatton and Associates. Theresa is wonderful to work for, understanding, and helful. the pay is two weeks, and has never been late.

Reply by kmnotary_CA on 12/9/04 1:18am
Msg #13085

Sorry theresa, I ment to say "helpful."

Reply by Terri - CA on 12/9/04 2:13pm
Msg #13120

While many won't work for them, that's their choice. Vital Signings always pays 2-3 weeks.

Reply by HisHughness on 12/9/04 2:27pm
Msg #13121

I've done two for Vital Signings. One paid in 11 days, the other in 9. Both were many months ago, and both were above average pay for an SS. In fact, looking back at my records, it's been quite a while since they've sent me anything. I think I'll give them a reminder call.

Reply by AngieCA on 12/9/04 6:23pm
Msg #13150

When you call them to solicit more business, how will you word it?

Reply by AngieCA on 12/9/04 7:38pm
Msg #13159

Hello HisHughness,

Your last msg read "I've done two for Vital Signings. One paid in 11 days, the other in 9. Both were many months ago, and both were above average pay for an SS. In fact, looking back at my records, it's been quite a while since they've sent me anything. I think I'll give them a reminder call."

When you give them a reminder call, what will you say in order to get more signings from them? Thanks in advance.