Posted by KS_king on 4/21/06 10:36am
Msg #115088

What would you do?

I'm kinda new in this business. Got a call for a signing. Small city, have not heard of it. Scheduler said it's 30 miles from me. We agreed on a fee. When I got home and planned out my route for the next day, found out it is really 100 miles RT. Called SS to say that I need my fee increased or they need to reassign. SS was upset, saying that I put them in a difficult situation (they have almost a whole day to find another notary, mind you). Scheduler said she noted that the fee had been increased to accomodate the additional driving distance of 60 miles one way! LOL!!! I said if she had told me that it was 60miles one way, I would not have agreed on the fee. After all, this is MY business, I know what my fees are. I couldn't care less what her notes said. She started to become defensive, saying that I was calling her a liar and offered to increase my fee by $5. Is that insulting or what? Then she went on to say, these closing don't take long, I've done it before. What I should have said was "So why don't you do it yourself" But I bit my tongue and tried to stay civil. Anyway, to make long story short, she said she will reassign but will put a note in my file. I told her fine, and please be sure to note what my fees are!

I don't think I did anything wrong here, what do you guys think? I mean she did misinform me and if it made things difficult for them, it's really not my fault. Besides, they had enough time reassign.

Reply by SueW/Tn on 4/21/06 10:50am
Msg #115089

Sometimes it's hard (sounds like a C/W song Brenda)

to stay civil but kudos to you for that! I have a zip code/fees chart on my wall that will prevent me from getting in over my head. Too many times I've taken those "it's right in your back yard" signings and found that eating crow is not my forte'. I go faithfully by my chart because I took the time to take a look at the areas I wasn't real familiar with, it works like a charm. Good luck in your business and have a glorious day!

Reply by Jersey_Boy on 4/21/06 10:52am
Msg #115090

One of the problems I face very often is a company calling to tell me that the signing is XX number of miles from my office.

The number the give is very often correct, BUT in a dead straight line from my office to the borrower's location. The distance would be exactly that number IF I had a helicopter to use to go to the signing... but, since I am a mere earthling... I have to use the roads that our wonderful government gave to us. Often making the driving mileage near double what was quoted.

To save myself ALOT of aggrivation, I have created a small pocket-guide listing every zip code in the state of NJ. Right next to the zip code is the approx DRIVING mileage to that town/city.

When a company calls, I break out my handy dandy pocket-guide, ask the zip code, and tell them what the mileage is... then I can quote an ACCURATE fee.

It's ALOT of work to put this guide together, but it is one of my favorite tools!!

Reply by Theresa Codilla on 4/21/06 10:57am
Msg #115092

I don't think you did anything wrong. Some SS use zip codes to determine miles. One signing company told me before that it is only a few miles from me. I told them that if they use zip to zip then yes, it might say that but i told them to use the borrower's address and mine to calculate miles.

Reply by TRG_wy on 4/21/06 10:59am
Msg #115093

Just what you did. It was their error in telling you the incorrect distance and they should have been more than happy to adjust your fee accordingly. For them to then put a note in your file is unprofessional.

I have what I call a "Cheat Sheet". I keep a copy here at my desk, in my brief case and in the vehicle. It is just a list of cities, their r/t mileage, drive time and my basic fee for each. They get a chuckle when I say "let me check my cheat sheet" on that. But I need one here in Wyoming. Everything is very rural and the distances are great between cities. I has my rear on many occasions when I have to quote a fee - I learned the hard way by quoting way under and not realizing just how far I had to travel.

As an aside: Something else I started doing last year because I do have to trave great distances, I add into my mileage allowance fee a small cost for time as well. Travel is time and time is money. If I'm on the road for 3-4 hours I need to get paid for that time as well.

Reply by KS_king on 4/21/06 11:06am
Msg #115095

Thank you all. I do have a "cheat sheet" but what I didn't mention to you all before was that I was lunching with a friend and didn't have my bag with me. I guess we know business is slow when we have time to socialize at lunch time!!!

Reply by BetsyMI on 4/21/06 3:12pm
Msg #115173

I have used www.melissadata.com to get mileages between zip codes but find it's way under what the mileage really is.

Does anyone know of another online tool to determine mileages beween zip codes?