Posted by Lee_CA on 12/16/05 1:34am
Msg #82969

Realized Now I Totally Undercharged...

I got a call tonight around 745pm to do a refi about 10 miles away. I basically told the SS that it would be an additional $25 b/c of the late hours and the urgency to get it done tonight (don't know WHY since the signer was available tomorrow morning anyway and FedEx doesn't even pick up until 430 pm). The SS hesitated, but then realized how late it was getting--finally agreed to my fee and e-mailed me the docs.

The e-mail I receive says this: "XXX Signing...Notary Instructions Attached...No HUD to sign...Docs are ready!" I print out everything. Check my mailbox again 45 minutes later once I'm done printing and ready to go... nothing else comes in so I send a confirmation to the SS, tell them the appointment time and just comfirm that I understand the Notary Instructions for this specific co. This is my usual practice so the SS knows I've received the docs, and what they can expect from me to get the job done.

Get this. I do the signing. Come home and find another e-mail (dated 9 minutes after the original e-mail was sent to me, reading: "XXX Signing...Correction...There IS a HUD to sign" not to mention 2 pages of Statement of Information forms. Now I have to go back to the signer. I'm not charging to have to go back tomorrow since I don't want to make a big stink about this second e-mail (9 minutes after the original e-mail must've meant some electronic mail bogdown on someone's part), but if you send something that says "Docs are ready!" and then later realize there's a correction and it's close to 9pm at night, if you're the SS won't you CALL and say, "hey, hold on... there's a correction... make sure you have this second attachment"?

The reason I feel like I completely undercharged was not only did this SS require FaxBacks (which seem to be the standard now for most SSs) but they wanted copies of the HUD, Any other escrow docs, all deeds and riders FedExed to one title company and then copies of the original HUD, escrow docs, deeds/riders and the originals of the rest of the loan to another title company. This might not seem so complicated since I just typed it all out, but this loan package was close to 175 pages!

I had paper strewn out all over the place tonight and thank goodness my toddler is already asleep or I'd be a wreck. Is this a normal practice for you notaries out there? Have you had to prepare 2 loan packages to mail out? I probably used up almost a complete ream of paper on this signing.

Am I just complaining about something I shouldn't be? Or what?

Thanks in advance for any response. I'm so frazzled and a little bit irrate right now I think I'll just sit in front of my computer and eat a carton of snickers ice cream...

Reply by Brenda Stone on 12/16/05 2:36am
Msg #82972

Lee, It's ridiculous to ask this of you without being willing to pay you extra. I'd insist on an additional trip fee. You sound like a good SA in the making. Good luck and be tough about this. Brenda

Reply by Nd_WA on 12/16/05 2:39am
Msg #82973

***The SS hesitated, but then realized how late it was getting--finally agreed to my fee and e-mailed me the docs.***

You bit the bate. I'd bet you made a call and got voice mail at 750pm. If borrowers can sign in the morning, the SS would have closed their door at 5PM and saved the order for early bird "notaries bazaar/auction".

Splitting package is uncommon, but soon will be the new trend as the refi bubble has bursted. TC's are cutting their overload staffs (EO has 1 to none assistant instead of 2+) so there won't be a luxury of splitting package/faxing. It's now fear factor time, those responsibilities will soon pass to SA by lender to make that signing a complete package. You're getting a head start there.

You're complaining b/c you thought you hit a jackpot with that extra $25.

Reply by Nd_WA on 12/16/05 2:42am
Msg #82974

OMG Brenda, you're still up?....n/m

Reply by BrendaTx on 12/16/05 3:00am
Msg #82976

Re: OMG Brenda, you're still up?....n/m Yep...Andy...

Was asleep earlier, got up and working on my laundry. I get up and prowl between 2 and 4 am sometimes. I love it when it's quiet and I know the phone won't ring...no one will be coming to the door, the Notary Security Dogs won't be sounding the FEDEX/UPS alarm, etc.

Comes from being a mom with a high maintenance family. I love how quiet it is in the middle of the night.

Reply by BrendaTx on 12/16/05 2:46am
Msg #82975

Re: Realized Now I Totally Undercharged... Andy

But, Andy, what about the 9 minute later email? Don't you think that's a little excessive to expect her to make the second trip for nothing?

Sounds lto me ike she was blindsided even with the extra $25.00.

Reply by Nd_WA on 12/16/05 3:05am
Msg #82977

Re: Realized Now I Totally Undercharged... Andy

My interpretation of the "No HuD...Docs ready" confirmation is that docs were ready but the HUD not, therefore s/he should have follow up on that part. We don't normally go with out a HUD.

Reply by BrendaTx on 12/16/05 3:14am
Msg #82978

Re: Realized Now I Totally Undercharged... Andy

#1
"XXX Signing...Notary Instructions Attached...No HUD to sign...Docs are ready!"
and
#2
"XXX Signing...Correction...There IS a HUD to sign"


ND, If the above is what she recieved, that sounds like a phone call was needed from the ss to let her know.

I was thinking I had read in CA a HUD is not always required. Not sure...just what I thought I remembered from somewhere.

Okay...quiet time is over...heading back to get my beauty sleep...Lord knows I need more of it each week.

Reply by patricia on 12/16/05 7:28am
Msg #82984

Re: Realized Now I Totally Undercharged... Andy

I am in California and occasionally I do get a loan package with no HUD. The title companies
do not require the original signature so it can be faxed to the borrower later. Of course the
borrower would like to have the HUD at the time of the signing.

Reply by ReneeK_MI on 12/16/05 3:47am
Msg #82979

Lee, are you using Hotmail or Yahoo mail, or did the SS? Might explain the delay in getting the e-mail with the Hud. I'd read that those types of e-mail accounts were being bogged down by the 'worms' of late.

Reply by Lee_CA on 12/16/05 9:00am
Msg #82993

This silly signing kept me up for almost 3 hours in bed last night! (Well, maybe the ice cream didn't help matters any). I can't believe I got less then 2 hours of sleep all because I was irritated I got taken on this one. My little girl is going to RUN me today. Thank goodness it's friday!

Thank you to everyone who responded. I feel so great knowing now I wasn't complaining over nothing. Package splitting is the pitts! I suppose now I'll always have to ask when I accept a signing whether the company requires faxbacks and package splits because from here on out, I'm going to charge a little bit extra for these things. I'd almost drive that extra few miles to go out again for this HUD then to have to worry about making all these extra copies and splitting packages.

You're right ND. Hah! I totally thought I scored last night with the extra $25. Oh well. You win some, you lose some.

Everytime this happens, I just think of that HELOC 2 doors down with the ex-real estate agent who totally knows what's going on, has no questions about anything--and a tray of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies wafting smells out the front door.

Anyway, happy friday everyone. =) Thanks again for all your supportive responses.

Zem

p.s. BTW, HUDs are not always required for signings in my area of California. OK, I'm not thinking about this anymore... there's better things to concentrate on... like that other half gallon tub of ice cream in the freezer.

Reply by janCA on 12/16/05 12:01pm
Msg #83040

Could you e-mail me.

Lee, I'd like to chat with you about this. I believe I know who you are talking about and I'll let you know how I've handled this situation.