Posted by Anonymous on 10/13/05 10:49am
Msg #70233

California Professional Signing Service Last Minute Liars

Got a call last night from them @ 8:00 PM for an edoc closing 60 miles one way from my office for tonight @ 8:15 pm. I quoted $175.00. She agreed and sent confirmation and called again this morning to confirm I'd spoken with borrower. I did confirm with borrower. She then calls me back 10 minutes later and cheerfully tells me that they are only able to pay $100. I have the confirmation in hand stating $175. What is going on with these signing services???? Anyone else ever have this happen????

Reply by Anonymous on 10/13/05 11:14am
Msg #70242

Re: California Professional Signature Service

Company name should read California Professional Signature Service. I sorry I cant bill them for the other job I turned down in order to take theirs

Reply by Lavetta Paul on 10/13/05 11:18am
Msg #70244

There is always someone out there willing to do the job for less. These ss companies do not feel that we have any recourse. I know we are all independent contractors and set our own rates, but some of these folks that are accepting the lessor fees need to add up their true costs. Time of downloads on edocs, cost of printing, driving time, auto mobile cost , time with borrower, time to recheck, some companies require faxed copies before shipping, that is time and money,and time and miliage to take to shipper. Then when they fail to pay timely, time for handling accounts receivable (additional billing -cost plus time). The costs relative to the phone, printers, computers, supplies that you have to maintain to do this business. Your taxes even need to be considered.

Those ss companies that are wanting to pay $50.00 and $75.00 (including edocs) for loan costings are finding notaries to do the work.

The biggest grip I have right now is they quote a simple refinance, and when you get the docs it is a refinance with a second (line of credit).

The biggest misrepresentation I had was a Reverse Mortgage Loan Package, a Line of Credit Loan Package, a Conversion of the Line of Credit to a fixed rate. Represented as a simple quick closing with a single borrow. Borrower was 83 years old, spent two and half hours with borrower to complete all if the paper work. All for a fee for supposed simple refinance.

Reply by SignerCA on 10/13/05 12:47pm
Msg #70273

...it is a refinance with a second (line of credit).

I had that happen last night. I received a call from an SS who said it was a second only. I received the package this morning and it's a refinance with a second (line of credit). 15 notarizations. Anyone ever go back to SS's and ask for more?

Reply by taxpro on 10/13/05 12:57pm
Msg #70274

Re: ...it is a refinance with a second (line of credit).

Absolutely! If the fee was negotiated based on incorrect information, it's not valid, period! I've had this happen several times, and I always call the ss back and tell them the package has two loans, and the fee for that is ......... They agree to the higher fee, apologize, and say they didn't know it was for two loans.

Reply by DM_FL on 10/13/05 1:22pm
Msg #70281

Re: ...it is a refinance with a second (line of credit).

I do the same. It's happened several times, and usually, it's not a problem. Sometimes, the SS doesn't know--especially when the docs are sent overnight. Sometimes, they do know. :-(

Reply by Frederick Armayor on 4/4/06 12:25pm
Msg #110913

Re: ...it is a refinance with a second (line of credit).

Yes, you tell them the fee needs to be adjusted for the 2nd mortgage loan docs. And you do that prior to the signing and have them send an updated confirmation of fee. If you cannot get the SS prior to the signing, call them prior to returning the package and request the updated fee confirmation. If they only want to pay the fee for one set of loan docs ask which set they want you to send in.
Many times I have found that the SS wasn't told of the piggyback and they are glad to adjust the fee because they in turn readjust theit fee to the TC.
Rick

Reply by Kevin Thrasher on 10/13/05 7:04pm
Msg #70380

You are right about the signers who are taking less fees. They should add up the costs of doing this business. They must not look at the HUD and see what the SS are charging. They do the real work, the SS makes a phone call and makes 3 to 4 times the money.

I have set fees based on zip code and mileage from my office (I have a home office) and I don't care if the signing is around the corner from my house (office) I will not do a signing for less than my set fee for the area. And my fees don't start at $50. And, not getting paid for email docs is out of the question. If the SS will adjust my fee to cover e docs, I will take the job. Signers who do free email jobs must not know it costs about 3cents per page for a laser printer. Not to mention the cost of the paper, wear on your equipment, and your time.

When I get the email and find out its a 1st and 2nd (or line of credit), I call the SS and get my price increase (with email confirmation) before I print one page. Only one time did I have to withdraw from the signing because the SS would not increase my fee. Never got a call from that SS again, but I was not going to get jipped. They wanted me to do a 1st and 2nd (150 page 1st and 130 page 2nd) for $85, and after I had already reduced my e doc fee $5.

What really gets me is the title companies who call you at 8p or 9p and want you to do a signing at 10 or 11p and don't have all the docs ready.

Reply by Kevin Louderback on 10/13/05 3:33pm
Msg #70318

Been in that situation many times myself. I always call back and re-negotiate the fee when that happens. They either pay what it is worth, or they find someone else. Their choice. I am usually firm on my prices. One company used to call me all the time. I always charged them the same amount for local signings. They started calling stating they would "pay the usual fee" which I assumed was my usual fee, not theirs. They stuck me with a $50 fee which I would have normally charged them $150 for. When I called them and asked them about it, they said they are only authorized to pay $50 for the signings now. I informed them that they would have to find another notary then and have not heard from them since. I believe you get what you pay for. If they want things done right, on time, and professionally, then they will come back and pay the higher fees instead of having to pay for two or three other cheaper fees just to get it done right.

Reply by AmandaCA on 12/16/05 11:23am
Msg #83028

I know this is an old post but I wanted to add my 2 cents about CPSS; for future searchers on this company.

I reluctantly took work from them due to the 50 buck fee. But they said they had volume in my city. I basically told them I would work for them on a TRIAL basis, and was very clear on the fact that I was the one testing them out, not the other way around (because I know I am worth more money, because of my experience, track record, etc.) They also assured me that any work I did during the month would be paid in its entirety the first week of the following month. Sounded good to me.

Sure enough, I did tons of work for them during one month. I began to think the 50 fee was not so bad, their docs were not too bad etc. I think I had two bummers in the whole bunch. They owed me a total of approx 800.00 for the month. They seemed to really be on top of things, their office is practically open 24/7 so anytime you had a question they were there. Seemed like a nice setup.

The first week of the next month comes and no check. Surprise surprise. I call and ask, did I misunderstand your policy? No, no checks are going out today. OK...I get my check (around the 12th, and by the way they are literally one large metro area away from me, no mail problems) and it is for approx. $250! I was livid! Suffice it to say it was like pulling teeth to get the remainder of my money, oh yeah and when I got the other check, it was the subsequent check number to the check I had received weeks earlier. Obviously they cut two checks and held onto one for whatever sick reason.

I told them it was not worth it for me to work for them, accept such a low fee and then have to wait for my money. They could either pay me a minimum of 100 or that would be that. They said no problem, see ya later. I am sure they just moved along to a newbie in my town who was glad to get the work.

I will NEVER work for them again.