Posted by CarolynCO on 9/18/04 12:35pm
Msg #8270

Excuse me for venting

I realize that it's not the SS's fault when the loan/title company can't get their act together with e-docs, but why set up an appointment with the borrowers knowing the docs aren't going to be completed? I accepted signing last night at 6:15 for a 10:00 signing this morning. SS told that the e-docs weren't ready but that they would call me last night to let me know when to look for them. At 10:30, I shut my cell phone off not knowing if they would call at midnight or even after. I specifically got up at 6:00 this morning. No docs. 8:15 no docs. I called the 24 hour number (which BTW isn't toll free and apparently isn't manned 24 hours either) only to talk to a voice message. I sent a high priority e-mail. At 9:00 I still hadn't heard from SS so called the borrowers to advise that I never received docs. At 10:15 while mowing the lawn, I missed the call from the SS telling me the kinks were worked out with the e-docs and that they had rescheduled the appointment with borrowers for 11:00 because the docs needed signed before noon. What's going to happen at noon and what will happen if the docs are signed after noon on a Saturday? I'm sorry - now I have 45 minutes to get the docs, print the docs, copy the docs, take a shower and meet the borrowers -- and because I can't, the SS is very upset at ME.

Reply by Darlene/AZ on 9/18/04 12:58pm
Msg #8271

I know the frustration you're going through. I had a edoc signing scheduled for 10:00 am on Thursday and guess when I finally recieved the documents? 4:45PM. I already had several signings booked for the evening and it was an hour drive to get there so I did the signing at 9:30 PM. Almost 12 hours difference between the original appointment. I wasn't happy about it but it is a good company(escrow) and I knew the borrowers were leaving for their anniversary vacation to San Francisco 1st thing in the morning and I wanted them to enjoy it and not worry about the loan.

By the way that is why edocs are not worth $15.00!!!!!!!

Reply by CarolynCO on 9/18/04 3:17pm
Msg #8282

I suppose that since I only had 45 minutes to do everything by the time they finally got back to me, I should have opted to get the docs, print and copy and shown up at the borrowers house sweaty, stinky, grass stained and in my bib overalls. Hi, I'm your notary and I AM a professional.

Reply by CaliNotary on 9/18/04 3:26pm
Msg #8284

Or you could have told the signing service that it simply was not possible for you to be at the appointment at 11:00 and that they could either reschedule it later in the day (at YOUR convenience) or would have to find somebody else to do it at 11. I am all for making every reasonable effort to accomodate the clients, but what they were expecting of you is completely unreasonable. It wasn't your fault, no reason you should have to knock yourself out because they can't do their own jobs properly.

This type of thing is definitely a pet peeve of mine, too many signing services don't seem to realize (or more likely care) that we have other jobs to do besides theirs. But they're not likely to stop pulling crap like this if we just take it and somehow make it all work out for them.

Personally, I would have told them that I had another appointment that I wasn't going to delay because of their mistakes and that the best I would be able to do is call the borrowers and set up a time later in the day.

Reply by Dotti_CA on 9/18/04 1:08pm
Msg #8273

I understand completely. This used to happen to me on a fairly regular basis with one particular ss and lender. Since I was at the end of the chain any holdups were considered to be my fault. I finally advised that any signing with docs not received 2 hours prior to the signing would 1) carry a premium charge and 2) I wouldn't be held to the time set by the lender. I don't hear from them anymore and my life is much less stressful. I can enjoy what I do again and life is good.

Reply by CarolynCO on 9/18/04 2:08pm
Msg #8278

And to eat away the signing fee even more is the fact that the SA has to call the SS (on their own dime because the number isn't toll free) after the signing but BEFORE leaving Borrowers house and then fax (also to a number that isn't toll free) first, signature page and last page of Deed of Trust, Signature Name Affidavit, 3-day right to cancel; HUD statement AND any additional notarized pages and wait for their approval before FedExing. Thus, you've already missed the Saturday noon FedEx pickup.

Reply by HisHughness on 9/18/04 3:37pm
Msg #8288

Why do you take these signings? If I agree to an assignment from one of the companies with those idiotic requirements, I tell them up front I won't do it. Most of the time they say, well, go ahead with the signing.

Reply by CarolynCO on 9/18/04 4:00pm
Msg #8295

HisHughness asks: "Why do you take these signings? If I agree to an assignment from one of the companies with those idiotic requirements, I tell them up front I won't do it."

They called last night as I was driving home from our mountain cabin from a day of tearing out beaver dams. I've never signed with this SS, nor have I ever signed up with them, so I was unaware of their signing procedures/requirements until I pulled down the confirmation. I know I should have done something about it last night at 8:30, although I had such a wonderful day with the beavers, all I wanted to do was take a shower and crash. I am beginning al list of questions to ask regarding their practices when they call -- i.e, call backs, fax backs, etc., etc.

Reply by HisHughness on 9/18/04 4:33pm
Msg #8297

You gave up watching the beavers for that? I realize beavers are considered inspirational little critters because they work so hard, but you've taken it waaaaay too far, Carolyn. Relax, pop a cap on a cold one -- a Lone Star, of course, not a Coors -- and tell the signing company you don't do faxbacks, you don't do last-hour docs, you don't do cheap signings, and you don't take advice from some arrogant know-it-all down in Texas on how to run your life, how to operate your business, and what beer to drink. You'll feel much better.

Reply by CarolynCO on 9/18/04 5:11pm
Msg #8301

Wow, Hugh -- you're really mellowing out. As for the beavers, there is nothing inspirational about them because every year our cabin is in fear of flooding out because of the varmits and last year, I was very fortunate when one of their willows I tore out of a dam went into my eye -- fortunately the 3 rips were in the white part and I didn't loose my sight -- I just got to wear a pirate patch for 2 weeks -- very attractive. Last year I did find out that by doing a search for beaver damage you will be connected to this XXX movie that no matter how many times you click "X" you can't get out of it. Pete Coors is running for Senate, btw.

Getting back to signing, I realize that I had two issues -- one with the title or loan company for their lack of planning and the other with the SS. It's all water under the bridge and another learning experience of things to be careful of and questions to ask. Thanks for your kick in the butt.

Reply by HisHughness on 9/18/04 5:40pm
Msg #8305

CarolynCO recalled:

***I was very fortunate when one of their willows I tore out of a dam went into my eye -- fortunately the 3 rips were in the white part and I didn't loose my sight -- I just got to wear a pirate patch for 2 weeks -- very attractive.***

My late wife -- "late" long after our divorce -- lost her right eye when she was 12. She had a glass eye, which occasionally on long trips she would take out and put on the seat back, telling the kids, "I've got my eye on you."

The glass eye was a masterful match, but nonetheless I preferred the eye patch she often affected. I called her Cap'n Crunch (previously, I called her "The Girl in the Hathaway Bra," after the "Man in the Hathaway Shirt" ads that nobody remembers now; he, too, sported an eyepatch). She would make the patches in various shapes, such as butterflies. One time we were in the French Quarter in New Orleans and in one shop counter I spotted a set of pasties made to look like little black cat faces. I asked the clerk how much one would cost. He looked at me, then looked at my wife very carefully, looked back at me and said drily: "Well, usually they come in matched pairs like...well, you know." My guess in that St. Peter got quite a start when she showed up.

And everybody can relax. I'm not going to come within a country mile of commenting on what googling "beavers" on the Internet will pull up.

Reply by CaliNotary on 9/18/04 11:11pm
Msg #8335

That this was a brand new signing service just makes it even worse. If they're going to pull this sort of crap on you and get mad at YOU because you didn't bend over and take it quick enough for them, why on earth would you consider doing anymore signings for them in the future?

If I were in your shoes, the second the attitude from them began, I would have told them to get a different notary. I can't believe you knocked yourself out to impress a signing service that clearly had no respect for you.

It's not very often a signing service is considerate enough to wave a huge red flag in our faces like this one did to you. Don't ignore it when it does happen.

Reply by CarolynCO on 9/19/04 1:49pm
Msg #8373

CaliNotary said: "why on earth would you consider doing anymore signings for them in the future?

If I were in your shoes, the second the attitude from them began, I would have told them to get a different notary. I can't believe you knocked yourself out to impress a signing service that clearly had no respect for you. "

I didn't do this signing and an certainly not planning on doing other signings for them. I called at 8:15 and left a voice message and a high priority e-mail. With no response by 10:00 (the time of the signing which I had no docs for) and nearly 2 hours since my attempts to correct that situation, I decided to quit babysitting my computer and mowed the lawn, missing their call at 10:15 saying they had rescheduled the signing for 11:00, a signing that had to be completed by noon, and that if I did not do the signing, I was their second osbtacle -- the first obstacle was with the e-docs which they had apparently just gotten the bugs straightened out of.

It was later in the afternoon that I posted regarding the callbacks and faxbacks, all on the signing agents dime, posted more as something to keep in mind and ask any new SS when we get calls.

Reply by CaliNotary on 9/19/04 5:57pm
Msg #8383

Glad to hear that you didn't do the signing. Your previous posts made it sound like you did do it.

They really called you an obstacle? Real smart to insult you when they are trying to get you to drop everything to do the signing for them. What morons.

Reply by sue on 9/19/04 7:22pm
Msg #8395

if they want to blame you they will, no matter what. but, I guess on one of your calls you can always say something like 'after xx I won't be in the office to take calls and will not be able to accommodate'. just because most of us work from home doesn't mean we must work and be on call all the time.

Reply by Gatorpond in Louisiana on 9/19/04 9:49pm
Msg #8404

My motto, "Your lack of planning does not constitute an emergency on my part."