Posted by MBCA on 8/5/06 12:33pm
Msg #137245

What are we worth?

Got a call the other day from a signing service and had to haggle with the rep just to get $90! They said they couldn't send over a confirmation since I wasn't in the system and had not signed their contract (those contracts where everything is for them, nothing for us) and that the confirmation came automatically through the program they had in their system. Every other e-mail they sent came through just fine, so I asked them to fax it over to me, which they did.
The signing service informed me that some of the docs would come via FedEx and others would be faxed/emailed to me. I said Ok. The FedEx package came with the note, dot, til, all the main docs. The next day the remaining docs were e-mailed to me. When I checked them I notice there wasn't a 1003. I called the the company who had sent the docs over and the person I spoke to didn't even know it was missing. I said I wasn't sure we if needed it to proceed, but thought I'd better check. She said we did and she in turn called the lender. Evidently the lender couldn't send it over because they were having trouble with their computers. So I was instructed by the title company that if I didn't received anything within the next half hour to proceed to the borrower to have the main docs signed and sent. After waiting 45 minutes I left for the signing. I got a call half way there (we're talking a good 35 miles) that they'd just received the 1003. This was the second time I'd setup an appointment with this borrower so I really didn't want to cancel again (she was losing patients with all of us)! The representative of the title company told because of the circumstances to proceed to the signing. When I got there the borrower looked over the docs and was incensed with the terms, interest rate, no impound account and just about everything else with this loan! We spent a good 3 hours on the phone with the lender. I always bring out the RTC before I start the signing and I reminded her of this document, so she decided to go ahead and sign the rest of the docs and the lender would correct any of the terms she didn't like and I'd go back again!
This was on the 1st of August. I then had 2 days of e-mails and phone calls from the lender, borrower and title company. Docs were sent and printed up and then I would get a call telling me those docs were wrong and they'd half to send others! Mind you, while all this was going on I was writing to the signing service and keeping them informed as to the progress of the assignment! Finally there was a meeting of the minds and the correct docs were ready! Hallelujah! The borrower signed the rest of the docs and they were sent off yesterday.
When I got home last night I received an e-mail from this signing service wanting to know what was going on and if I didn't go to their website and automatically sign in and state the progress of the loan it might hurt my chances of getting paid $85! The funny thing is when I went to the website to sign off on the loan it wasn't even the right loan! I then wrote the signing service, gave them the pertinent info with the tracking number and also said that I'd have to charge an extra fee! Haven't heard a thing yet!
I'm really getting very impatient with signing services that try to nickel and dime us to death and tell me, "why are you charging so much? You only have one or two documents to notorize!" Yes, that may be true, but what about the other 200 pages that have to be printed out, signed and initialed properly, plus the copies for the borrowers. In the first 3 minutes that we walk into someone's home we have to make them like, trust and want to do this signing with us. It's not just getting docs signed here, you have to have a lot of people skills. What are we worth? I'm also finding out that all these experts in this business make tons and tons of mistakes, but the only ones we hear about are the ones the notarie make!
Sorry for the ranting and any spelling mistakes, just had to vent!!

Reply by Della Elswood on 8/5/06 12:43pm
Msg #137248

Re: Sad what we have to go thru sometimes when the rest

of the team we are dealing with just does not communicate.

Reply by BetsyMI on 8/5/06 1:14pm
Msg #137251

I agree that they continue to try to lowball us because someone higher up wants them to.

I don't think they realize:

1) the shmoozing we have to do
2) the detail oriented part of our job..making sure every "i" is dotted and every "t" is crossed or they might dock our fee
3) that we must act professionally being that we are representing them
4) that we must problem solve and think on our feet
5) that we have to drop everything when they call and possibly cancel plans
6) that we wait forever for edocs even at the expense of our other appointments
7) that we often drive out of the way to fedex or UPS to still get docs out same day
8) that we must establish trust in the first few minutes of an appointment
9) that we must be familiar with a hundred different forms
10) that we are now paying $3 plus a gallon of gas driving in close to 100 degree temps
11) that we must maintain equipment and supplies for their business
12) that we must be technically proficient to take care of printer and internet problems
13) that we save them thousands of dollars in overhead for not having to maintain an office in every city in the U.S.

and on and on and on. It seems thankless but at this point in my life, I wouldn't do anything else! LOL.

Reply by BrendaTx on 8/5/06 3:35pm
Msg #137267

Re: What are we worth? - Oh they realize it...

they just hope we don't.

We work in a bully industry. Did you ever see a bully give another person credit for anything, even when it was in front of his face? Nope. In fact, they'll do everything they can to minimize credit due to another person.

Aren't we ecstatic to be working for ourselves?

Reply by ewing2surf on 8/5/06 1:49pm
Msg #137257

One call to a notary and the agency is off the hook... NOT!

This rant is not directed at you because I have made the same mistake over and over again.

What most Notaries fail to realise is that by accepting an assignment from a Signing Agency you are THEIR subcontractor. Your just the paper carrier. All lender problems etc. should be directed at them and they are legaly responsible to work them out with the lender. I try my best to funnel all correspondence through the Agency. Don't thik they should earn their slice of the pie?

Reply by Scott_IN on 8/5/06 9:23pm
Msg #137292

MBCA , I so agree and feel your pain. I don't know what it's like to work in a title office or prepare these documents, but do they know what it's like to try working in a smelly home, sitting at a filthy table, while dogs, cats, rabbits ( yes, I was once the center of attention of a rabbit at a signing), children or other critters sniff you, lick you or play with your briefcase. I have also had difficulties finding signing locations, and have seen Mapquest miss badly. I have pulled into a driveway, and knocked on the wrong door and had a "MAD NEIGHBOR CUSS ME FOR KNOCKING ON THEIR DOOR". I must say that I have met some very nice people at signings and seen a few beautiful homes. I guess that and being my own boss are why I"m still in this. I wish I could actually stand up to title and signing companies and say "if documents aren't received at least 1 hour prior to signing, I will not do it". But if I did that, I would probably lose 15 to 25% of my signings. Well, I"m just venting with you, helps talking to others who understand and have been thru the same things. Take care. Scott

Reply by MBCA on 8/5/06 10:01pm
Msg #137294

I just went back and read my post and must apologize for the incorrect spelling and sentence structure! When I'm ranting I don't stop to check! Good thing my son doesn't read Notary Rotary, he's a college English Professor and he'd probably have me put to sleep!

Reply by TitleGalCA on 8/5/06 10:30pm
Msg #137296

MB, you always make perfect sense.

Somtimes spelin and gramar are ovverratted when geting a point accrross.

Reply by Ohiolady on 8/6/06 12:29pm
Msg #137341

I have had the experience of working in several title offices and preparing the docs. All I can say is that some people that work at title companies hate doing closings at the borrowers home. They know how bad it can be. They all have their stories of going into a home with a black suit on and getting covered with white cat and/or dog hair. Stepping in cat p**p and getting licked and sniffed by all the critters. I know the TC's can be hard to deal with but they have it hard too. Ever had 8 people on hold for you all wanting hud's and all of them pissed off and asking for your supervisor? That's what processors go through at the title companies. It's hard to get docs to you when the lender hasn't even sent instructions to the title company yet. It's know wonder we have to wait so long for docs sometimes!

Reply by MBCA on 8/6/06 12:48pm
Msg #137343

I guess I didn't make myself clear. The title and escrow girls were great and I know they carry quite a load.

Reply by LawrenceOK on 8/6/06 1:36pm
Msg #137352

And to that I say, Don't scehdule the d**n signing appointment until the docs are ready. If lenders can get this one point set in their head, there would be no late e-docs either.