Posted by fiKS on 4/17/06 11:11am
Msg #113968

SOX

I've read about them and just wonder how they can still be in business after burning so many notaries. They call me about once a month and each time I decline, telling them why and they would still call next time.

I've spoken to a few notaries who say that they also decline SOX's assignments but don't actually say why. I think everyone should tell those dead beat companies the truth. I do. I tell them that they have a bad rating when it comes to payment and unless they would be willing to include a cashiers check with the docs, I would have to pass. Never got an assignment that way but it's no loss in my book.

Reply by Dee_Fla on 4/17/06 11:43am
Msg #113971

Now...pre-payment is the key to most of these companies!!! I will have to agree with you and i too will stand up if they try anything on me. thanks for the suggestion.

Reply by Charles_Ca on 4/17/06 11:58am
Msg #113973

The problem is that someone will take it. There are many new notaries desperate for work and who haven't a clue (some of them show up on this site asking how to start). SOX just dials until they find someone who doesn't know and Bingo! They have a signing. Heck we found out just the other day that they got someoone 10 times before the lights cam on! There will always be someone who is comitted to making the big bucks in notary work and so insecure about starting in this business that the deadbeats will continue to exist unitl they are either driven out of business or legislated out.

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 4/17/06 12:33pm
Msg #113983

You hit the nail on the head.

The percentage of notaries that bother to read the message boards is small. As far as SOX is concerned, their main client, Quick Loan Funding doesn't seem to care if SOX pays or not. I have worked for Quick Loan Funding and they do pay on time and pay well. I can't figure why they use SOX.

Is it still raining up there, Charles? Lots of wind down here.

Reply by Charles_Ca on 4/17/06 1:02pm
Msg #113987

Re: You hit the nail on the head. Actually Glenn its not

raining that is. Its a beautiful day today but it is supposed to start raining again day after tomorrow. I keep waiting for a message to start building an ark but there may be an outside possibility that I just haven't been that good . We have had 20 straight days of down pour and that's half the great deluge. Travel up here is actually quite dangerous, the bay area has had a lot of street closures because of mud slides, they get all the publicity. I know our area has a lot of rock and mudslides and many of the levees I understand are breached. Actually had three days last week when we were completely isolated, 1 north and south had washed out, the road to Hopland and Cloverdale was underwater because of the Navarro river overflowing its banks and Hwy 20 had a huge rock slide. I had to go to Sacramento the other day and there were continuous rock slides all along Hwy 20 and then when I took the Rumsey canyon shortcut the roads were just awful and in some cases only one lane with controlled traffic because everything was slipping into Cache Creek. There is just water everywhere even coming out of the cuts in the roads.

Reply by Jane McCarthy on 4/17/06 12:59pm
Msg #113985

On behalf of the newbies...I dont think we are despirate. I think we dont know any better. Im brand new to this.. Ive done all of 5 closings. Yes I get excited when the phone rings. I dont know a good company from a bad one. Its not that im despirate. Its that I'm eager to learn and earn. To prove to you how slow i am.. what the heck is SOX anyway?

Reply by Charles_Ca on 4/17/06 1:07pm
Msg #113989

Re: SOX - Jane you may not be, but

there are many who are desperate (check your spelling) and we do see them on this website. You are right about SOX (Sign on the X) many newbies may not know. Since you are speaking on behalf of the newbies why don't you get back to them and let them know, I am sure that they would appreciate their spokesperson doing that. SOX is one of the more egregious non-paying Signing Services that are out there. There was recently one newbie who did 10 jobs for them before questioning how come pay was not forthcoming. Good luck to you and all your constituents.

Reply by fiKS on 4/17/06 1:16pm
Msg #113991

Jane, SOX stands for Sign on the X. I heard that they have opened up a new company - don't know what its called. You ought to search this board for the companies that don't pay or pay late and keep it handy. There are some companies who seem to pay some notaries but not others so you'd get mixed ratings. If you decide to chance it, it's your dime. We're here to share our experiences about the companies we do business with. Had I paid more attention to this board, I would not have been stiffed with hundreds of dollars.

Also Jane, I know as a new signer, you get excited just by being asked to do a signing. But please don't fall prey to those who take advantage of new signers by paying ridiculous fees like $40. Those companies would spend money to pay people to get on the phone to call notary after notary until they find someone to do closings for $40. You're not going to "learn and earn" from deadbeats and/or cheap blood suckers. You should know that those comapanies who are paying $40 to do a closing is getting a whole lot more from the Title comapnies who gave them the work. They've just decided to give us notaries the shorter end of the stick.

Reply by Charles_Ca on 4/17/06 1:25pm
Msg #113995

Those are great suggestions fiKS, its a lot easier to

do the research up front than to suffer later

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 4/17/06 2:12pm
Msg #114013

Jane, and all newbies

Whenever possible, I keep this board up on my screen, or minimized in another window, so when I do get a call from an unfamiliar company, I use the search function type in the name and read what is posted, if anything. Then make my decision. Just for practice, try typing in SOX and see what you get .....

I also would not use the term desperate, I would aggree and say most are eager to get going. But in your eagerness, do your research. There are plenty of resourses and posts on this board for you to be successful.

Reply by Charles_Ca on 4/17/06 2:49pm
Msg #114024

OK Glen, maybe desperate was a little strong ;-) n/m

Reply by Leslie_Mo on 4/17/06 3:34pm
Msg #114029

Re: OK Glen, maybe desperate was a little strong - try naive

When I was new, I was also thrilled to get signing appointments - from anyone. At that time I didn't know this or any other forum was available to check out the various companies. I might also add that I was very naive and thought that every company would pay me and in a timely manner too. I've since learned that isn't true. While I haven't gotten totally burned (shorted my fee a couple of times), I have had to wait up to 80 days to get paid. I no longer work for those companies, by the way. My point is that not everyone knows to even look for a website like this. It is a great place to get information and is the first place I log onto each day now. Thanks to all the knowledgeable signing agents that share their experience here.

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 4/17/06 6:31pm
Msg #114043

Desperate is a term you use ..............

when it's been raining for 20 or so days in a row, water and washouts everywhere and you want to go for a motorcycle ride .........

I would be going nuts .......

Reply by Dee_Fla on 4/17/06 11:12pm
Msg #114122

someone mentioned that they have a new name or a new company with a new name...does anyone know for sure if there is and what the name is...so we can prevent a repeated mistake and not be taken as fools by SOX??? rather be safe then sorry later on, ya know?