Posted by AmandaCA on 12/20/05 9:51am
Msg #83616

Hand holding from a Title Company?

I was cleaning out my inbox today and came across an email from a company that calls themselves "a nationwide Title Company." I immediately thought, wow, why did I not fill out this sign up package? I have been searching the internet these past few weeks for nationwide title companies to expand my work and here was one right in my own inbox.

Then as I read further I realized exactly why I did not respond. The email concluded this way:
"We require our signing agents to complete the following items for each closing: Contact the client to confirm assignment, dress professionally, make the borrowers a copy of their package (you must be able to print on legal paper), obtain copies of drivers license for all involved in the signing, fax back required critical documents on specific packages, return document package as soon as possible to ensure proper funding of loans. We also ask that you give us real time tracking of signings: Call when you are on your way, call once closing is complete and email us as soon as you send the package and provide the tracking number. We believe in quality pay for quality service. "

No problem with most of those items, that is part of my service. But "call when you are on your way, call once closing is complete AND email us"???? And "fax back critical documents on specific packages", how much fax back?

I wonder about the statement "quality pay for quality service." The more I think about it, if I price my services at a high enough price and if they meet that price, maybe I won't have a problem with the hand holding. For 50-75 dollars? No way. For 150-200, maybe.

Just thinking out loud about this.

Reply by Charm_AL on 12/20/05 9:59am
Msg #83619

As with anything else, you get what you pay for. Decide what it'll take to get you to take the job and stick with it.
I've been getting signings lately that require fax backs, copy making and splitting docs out to two separate places. I intensely dislike these and I am raising my fee for the next one.

Reply by BetsyMI on 12/20/05 10:02am
Msg #83621

Amanda, sometimes I've seen instructions like that, written by God knows who, and then when I call to do just what they instructed, they act like I'm a moron for calling. I think some "trainer" somewhere writes this stuff, but the real people doing the real jobs at the title company don't really want you doing all that.

One set of instructions I got said something about not changing the appointment time without their prior approval. I did change the time, at the borrower's request, and then called it in to the TC, and their response was "why are you calling?" "we don't care!".

So I guess I'd take it with a grain of salt and give them a try. If they pay well, you might be glad you did. Good luck!

Reply by AmandaCA on 12/20/05 10:05am
Msg #83623

Betsy, you may be right. I decided to go ahead and fill out their application and I notice the app says to contact them with tracking number after closing and send invoice with package. That's a no brainer and very different from what their email said.

Reply by BetsyMI on 12/20/05 10:06am
Msg #83626

Good, I'm glad you decided to give it a try.

Can you imagine the person on the other end of the phone when you call to say "I'm on my way to the closing!" I can guarantee they'll say "huh?"

Reply by AmandaCA on 12/20/05 10:11am
Msg #83630

Betsy, with companies that require that, I often have wondered if they are trying to guage just how much time we spend with the clients, and use that as a bargaining tool. We all know that sometimes the signing is a breeze and we are in and out of there. But in my opinion those signings just make up for the "readers" and trouble signers we get.

Reply by PAW_Fl on 12/20/05 10:04am
Msg #83622

Sounds like Richmond Title. I've registered, but never have received any work from them so I don't know if they require all that hand-holding or not.

Reply by AmandaCA on 12/20/05 10:05am
Msg #83624

That is exactly who it is. I need to do a search on them.

Reply by Charm_AL on 12/20/05 10:12am
Msg #83631

Are you kidding me?

I'm surprised to hear that. I never signed up with them, they found me and never required anything other than a faxed in invoice. Are companies changing policy do to mass notary mistakes?
I've noticed more reminders of of common notary mistakes with some recently acquired companies.

Reply by Charm_AL on 12/20/05 10:13am
Msg #83633

typo do - due...n/m

Reply by Charm_AL on 12/20/05 10:06am
Msg #83625

With regards Richmond Title, all they require is a faxed invoice from me.

Reply by AmandaCA on 12/20/05 10:09am
Msg #83627

Thank you Charm-AL. I am going to send in my application and see what happens. I have just begun to realize that nationwide title companies, along with the local title companies, mrtg cos I get work from, is the way to go in this business. I have just had it with SS companies!

Reply by BetsyMI on 12/20/05 10:09am
Msg #83628

I talked to a Christie at Richmond Title in late November and she just said to email her my information, and to fax my W9, copy of Commission, and E&O, which I did, but I've never filled out an application. Did you find one online or did they email you to fill one out?

Thx,

Betsy

Reply by AmandaCA on 12/20/05 10:13am
Msg #83632

They emailed me the app. It came from a Jeffry, but the contact person listed at the bottom of the email was Christie. That is who I am faxing too. The app is only one page long. Doesn't ask for much, but does want prices listed. I am putting down a "range" I hate to get locked into one price quoted.

Reply by Jenny_CA on 12/20/05 12:37pm
Msg #83664

Amanda, I received a Richmond Title email a while back too and filed it. I also didn't want to deal with the "real time" tracking. Now, after reading this thread, I am going to go ahead and send in my info.
PAW is too keen, how does he know exactly what company a person is talking about? :-)

Reply by PAW_Fl on 12/20/05 1:11pm
Msg #83678

Key phrase ...

"quality pay for quality service"

Struck a chord in my head as I remembered that phrase. Sure enough, it was in Richmond's documents.

Reply by Brad_Ca on 12/20/05 1:56pm
Msg #83688

Re: Key phrase ...

Richmond Title Services out of Plano, Texas is an excellent company to work with. I did a Countrywide for them last night that required faxbacks. However, unless it is a Countrywide, they usually do not require faxbacks. You simply fax them your invoice. When you receive the docs, they want a confirmation e-mail that you received and printed them. Then when you are complete, just e-mail and advise them the closing is complete. Very nice company to work with, and pays TC fees. Christi Ybarra is the person who handles the applications.

Reply by Ernest__CT on 12/20/05 1:57pm
Msg #83690

Re: Key phrase ...

I'll take all I can get from Richmond Title and beg for more!

Reply by BrendaTx on 12/21/05 10:35am
Msg #83850

Did they ever pay Mike? Msg #24782 & My experience...

I once had a problem with them dual booking me and another notary on AQ loans. At the time there was a gal scheduling for them out of Centerville, Tx. At other times it was straight out of the Plano office.

I was new then and did not realize why the signings kept cancelling. I continued to hold a spot open for them on around six different occasions. On the last time around I was the cheapest available still standing when the docs finally came through. While I was at the bwr's house a call came from another notary to be there at a later time.

In the months following, I found that they would call and more than one signing service would call me for their jobs. So, that's how I guess these things happened.

Not saying that this is still their mode of operation but in early 2004 it was. I have not taken closings from them again because I was too burned when I figured that out as I had turned down lots of signings holding out for them.


However, many seemed very pleased to work for them now.

Reply by BrendaTx on 12/21/05 10:37am
Msg #83852

**PAW is too keen, how does he know exactly what company a person is talking about?**

PAW's got a mind like a steel trap....or is it a grease trap?

Reply by PAW_Fl on 12/21/05 12:22pm
Msg #83884

It's a steel trap!! But I've been accused of it being rusted shut too!! Happy Holidays.

Reply by BrendaTx on 12/21/05 12:29pm
Msg #83889

Happy ones to you, too, Paul!

Reply by LawrenceOK on 12/21/05 8:42am
Msg #83830

I have never had to fax back anything or play phone tag. All they have ever asked me to do is send in my invoice and e-mail a tracking number.