Posted by CarolynCO on 9/29/04 2:09pm
Msg #9047

Interesting Article

I just received my October Notary Bulletin. On page 5, there is an article "In Some Horror Stories, the Signing Agent is the Villain, not the Victim." The article begins by telling stories of SAs not getting paid, SSs who regularly lie to their Agents about the complexity of a particular assignment, unruly pets, SSs who disappear or pay late --

However, this article paints a different picture -- the other side. A SS contracted with SA to perform a closing at borrowers house for $150. Instead of going to the borrowers house, the SA somehow got the borrowers to drive to her place of business in another town, claiming she was too tired and had physical problems. The SA then sent the SS a $150 invoice for notarizations and supposed travel. The borrowers complained to the loan officer about SAs rudeness and her generally offensive and unprofessional demeanor. ... The SS refunded borrowers the full $300, SS refused to pay SA's invoice and turned around and sent the SA an invoice for $150, the fee the SS lost.

Reply by Daniel Conti on 9/29/04 3:46pm
Msg #9050

That's an outrageous story of un-professional service.

But, now that signing service knows what it feels like to be jerked aroundm something they do to us all the time.

Reply by HisHughness on 9/29/04 4:35pm
Msg #9055

Daniel Conti admonishes:

***But, now that signing service knows what it feels like to be jerked aroundm something they do to us all the time.***

You use "they" as if this particular signing service has been doing the jerking. There's nothing in the posting to reflect that, and, from all appearances, the SS seems to be pretty ethical. We should remember that the large large majority of signing services are reputable, hardworking business people, just as we are, and we should not tar them with another's misdeeds.

Reply by Clay / TX. on 9/30/04 8:36am
Msg #9083

Re: Well said Hugh...nm

Reply by sherconner on 9/29/04 4:45pm
Msg #9057

I read the article yesterday. Yes, the Singing Agent in the story was horrible. But...Since NNA is marketing the heck of the great Signing Agent opportunity I think an article or investigation on how Agents are being treated poorly would have been in better taste. I am hoping the NNA/NSA would be more proactive in supporting agents rather than just recruiting them and throwing them to the wolves, so to speak. Sheri-Nebraska

Reply by CaliNotary on 9/29/04 4:49pm
Msg #9059

The NNA *should* be more proactive in supporting agents, but they're not. They've made it quite clear where their priorities lay, and it's certainly not supporting agents.

Reply by CarolynCO on 10/1/04 11:44am
Msg #9147

While I'm not supporting or condemning the NNA, I think it's an issue that needs addressed. While the SS refunded the borrowers their $300, it still doesn't ignore the fact that the SA deceived the borrowers and the SS in the first place, and who is to say this was the first time? In the eyes of SSs as a whole, this one SA has given ALLSAs a black eye.

Reply by CarolynCO on 10/1/04 11:45am
Msg #9148

**this one SA has given ALLSAs a black eye""

I was trying to insert a space between ALL and SAs and somehow posted instead.

Reply by Ninna Mantooth-Lopez on 10/1/04 10:20am
Msg #9140

This reminds me of a signing I took a few months ago... where I found out I was the second notary contracted to do the signing. As I was filling out the jurat on the mortgage, I lined through the language that stated "at my office"... since I was not at my office (which is my home), but at a local McDonalds taking the signing. As I lined through the "at my office" language and initialed it, the borrowers started to laugh. Puzzled, I asked what they were laughing at. The wife told me that I was not the first notary contracted to take this signing.... that the first notary told them (the borrowers) that they needed to come to her because of the "at my office" language in the jurat! That it was illegal to conduct the signing anywhere else but at her office because of the language. Doing my best to maintain composure... I simply told the borrowers that all the notary had to do was line through the language and initial it... as I was doing... or if she was that uncomfortable with it, she could have attached her own jurat. To myself I was thinking... OMG... now I've heard everything. I'm just wondering how many borrowers she's done this to... who haven't complained. These particular borrowers complained and the title company fired her and hired me. Good for me... but the whole thing rubbed me the wrong way... the notary should be ashamed of herself.