Posted by Bob-Chicago on 10/2/04 11:37am
Msg #9238

Collections

There is a post on GMN entitled "It started at $600 and now I have lost $3,800" posted today a 5:24 AM. It is an excellent example of how NOT to collect a signing fee and of "how a little knowledge can be a very dangerous thing"
I have seen a number of the illegal (or just dumb) techniques used by "Jack" proposed by posters on this and other boards. Following "legal " advice from amatuers is like going to your barber for medical treatment .
If you don't know what you are doing, and don't care to seek competent advice, you might just be better off eating the loss and moving on.

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 10/2/04 12:16pm
Msg #9242

I read that message to and have my doubts as to its validity. I suspect (and I could be wrong) that the poster is the owner of a signing service here in FL that has recently gone out of business owing the notaries, and this is a warning not to try and collect the money.

Does anyone really think that a signing agent would go to all those lengths for the $600? That post sent all kinds of red flags up.

Reply by Bob-Chicago on 10/2/04 1:01pm
Msg #9249

I won't mention any names, but I guess that you are referring to a rather large gentleman , who might answer to JJ.
You might be right, but for "Jack " to have made up the letter he would have needed a fair degree of legal knowlege. I have enough lawyer friends and have observerd enough courtrooms to know that that the strory might well be true.
I don't think that the person you have in mind would have taken the time to embellish the story with the mechanics lien, title co and govt official stuff.
You migh recall on the old NASA board, when a cerain gentleman from the mid-south (where was Elvis from?) advocated filing a mechanics lien against the borrower. I said then that I thought that it was a terrble idea, and I still do.
I spoke to a lawyer friend this AM, and he thinks that the judge was correct. He also mentioned that if Jack had just sued the Signing service, that he might have collected. The judge was clearly POed at Jack for suing the homeowner, threatening everyone in sight and involving all of the wrong government officials. The judge might have used the "late reports" as a hook to deny Jack his fee.
If Jack didn't want to pop for a lawyer, (understandable with a $600 claim, he maybe should have spent more time watching Judge Judy. He might have learned something.

Reply by BrendaTX on 10/4/04 10:32am
Msg #9284

I agree with you, Sylvia about the poster's intent--but Bob makes good points as well.

I read occasional manipulative messages on the public forums designed to do the opposite of what they are masquerading to do.

I tend to use a little bit of "critical reading" and I read *between* the lines for motive on the part of the poster/writer. Like I keep telling my mom who was raised in an era that believed that "printed" words are the truth, you cannot believe everything you read!

A lot of what gets posted regarding fee raising and fee collecting is worth what you are paying for it (as Bob stated), if not less, and when I post, I admit, I tend to forget that some folks just won't do their own due dilligence when conducting business or doing notarizations.

I forget that there are newer notaries / new business owners who do not realize that conducting business in Montana may not be anything like conducting business in Maine.

And, I do forget that people often take what they have read in postings at face value and
excerpt what they want to hear and ignore the part about "check with your local secretary of state/laws/JP court" to get the answers for your area.

Reply by mimi_NJ on 10/4/04 4:31pm
Msg #9313

Bob from Chicago says-"There is a post on GMN"

What does GMN stand for? I'd like to read the post but don't know where to go.

Oh! Bob, I was just in your neck of the woods for a conference. This was my third time in Chicago since 911 and I still don't have the heart to do the Sears Tower. I need to visit the Wizard of Oz for some heart/courage.

Reply by mimi_NJ on 10/4/04 4:39pm
Msg #9314

I Figured it Out

GMN is GoMobileNotary, right?

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 10/4/04 5:31pm
Msg #9317

Re: I Figured it Out

You got it!!!