Posted by Robin_IN on 12/28/04 10:43pm
Msg #14731

What would you have done?

Just curious what some of the veteran agents would have done...last night I was with a client at their home at 8:45 p.m. and I got a call from a company wanting me to do a signing at approximately 11:00 last night. I was not familar with the city he named so I asked what county and he was unsure, but his information showed it was 24 miles from where I live. Ok, I agree to do it for an additional $25.00 for the "late night last minute" hassle. I get home about 9:30, get my confirmation and make contact with my Borrower. Now, the SS assured me the docs would be on my computer when I arrived home. No docs at 9:30. 9:50, no docs, so I called him. I finally get my documents at approx. 10:00 and begin printing them out. One of the attachments had a virus that I could not download, so after a couple more email attempts, the SS faxed that particular document to me. I got done printing everything and I don't have a HUD! Now I am calling the SS, who told me to call the Lender and I had to leave a message on voice mail. I called the SS back and he tells me to send the lady an email and leave without the HUD - they will deal with that tomorrow. So, I am FINALLY on the road at 10:55 p.m. and the Lender calls me in my car and wants to fax the HUD to me. HA! I don't have a fax machine in my car...yet! She assures me that it is not a problem and to get the rest of the documents signed - they would email the HUD to the Borrower tomorrow. Now, the quoted 24 miles was actually 33 miles and 3 counties away! I finally get to the Borrower's house (one of them had fallen asleep on the couch, so we had to wait for him to wake up...lol), do the signing and got home at nearly 1:30 a.m. At this point in the evening, the extra $25.00 was NOT worth the hassles and extra mileage. I am chalking this up to needing to learn my cities (and the outlying bergs) in Indiana and their counties...lol, but was wondering, have any of you ever called back an SS after the fact and let them know what kind of problems you encountered? I have also decided if an SS tells you X number of miles, add about 7-8 miles average one way because I think Mapquest gives the mileage "as the crow flies". This is not the first time this has happened. What do you do if an SS calls and you are unfamilar with where it is at? Do you quote a price and hope for the best? Anyway, just wondering out loud what you would have done and if you would have handled any of this any differently. TIA!

Reply by Joan-OH on 12/28/04 11:08pm
Msg #14748

Just like the last day of every other month, by 6pm, I am ready to throw my cell phone out the window along I-90. I received dozens of calls last night from Signing Services I have never worked for. On the last day of the month you can guarantee when they ask you to do a "late night" signing, the docs are going to be late. Chances are, it was already scheduled for 4pm, the docs weren't ready and the first notary could not do the later time.

In my book, everyone pays title company fees on the last day of the month, especially, new to me signing services. I know there are going to be problems and I'm going to get paid for them. The few exceptions to this rule are signing services that give me regular work throughout the month and signing services that I know well and pay on time.

In the nearly 2 years I have been doing this, I have learned you build your relationships with your clients the first 3 weeks of the month and give them priority at the end of the month. The new to you signing service that you do backflips for on the last day of the month are not going to remember you when they have a local signing on the 5th - they are going to go with the cheapest notary they can find.

So....they all paid title fees yesterday.

Joan-OH

Reply by Robin_IN on 12/28/04 11:20pm
Msg #14753

Thanks for the information, Joan. What you are saying definitely makes sense and I will remember it!

Reply by Lori/CA on 12/29/04 12:04am
Msg #14767

I'm with Joan, that was great!

I personally have gone back to the SS on some of the signings. I know there is no way for them or I to know what is going to happen at the table so I try and work with them. I am accurate as to the details and explain my situation. I usually find the loans that have problems are where the LO has been less than honest with the borrower and is hoping I can settle the borrower and do their job! This is why I fight for the money, lack of them doing their job does not constitute me doing it for them.

I only work with one SS and they have been more than fair when I explain what has happened. I am VERY lucky.

I suggest you state your case and see, the worst they can say is that is the agreed fee.

Reply by JanetK/CA on 12/29/04 2:12am
Msg #14803

I agree. I try not to be confrontational, starting out assuming that they will be reasonable and they usually are. I never want to come across as trying to squeeze them for a few more dollars ('cause there's so much competition in my area) but I don't want to be a pushover, either. My time is not free. In fact, I'll be making one of those calls in the am about a signing that ended up being a piggyback. If things turn out as other than represented, most reputable companies will want to make good on it for you. And in fact, they very well might end up increasing their fee to their client and making more, as well.

Reply by CaliNotary on 12/29/04 2:33am
Msg #14804

You need a rate list with fees for every city and/or county that you cover. That's a pretty foolproof way of preventing you from lowballing yourself when you're not sure where the signing location is located.

And I agree with the other poster about title company fees. I've never had to deal with a situation like yours, but if they're calling at 8:45 pm for a same day signing, it's safe to assume that they're not gonna be price shopping. And if they are, let them shop for another notary .

Reply by Robin_IN on 12/29/04 11:09am
Msg #14840

Thanks for the advice and tips! I think I will "google" my way through Indiana and put that rate sheet together - thanks again!

Reply by Lee/AR on 12/29/04 2:35pm
Msg #14882

Check Melissa Data for all ZIP codes in the counties you serve. Go from there... It's a pile of work to do, but well worth the effort.

Reply by Robin_IN on 12/29/04 11:06pm
Msg #14939

Thanks, Lee! A pile of work means more money and hopefully, when fiascos like last night happen, I won't feel so bad about what I charged!!