Posted by Lisa Prestegard on 12/8/06 2:19pm
Msg #164828

American Title and Escrow in Oviedo FL... my experiences

First, let me start by saying I do not personally know sandi42 or Margaret/FL. I DO, however, know just about everyone at American Title and Escrow (from their operations Mgr. to their receptionist) and feel compelled to respond to the assertion from one poster that she was issued an NSF check by them.
ATA Closings is a stand-up company, period. In the past year alone, I have performed 150+ closings for them. The pay I receive is at the top of the pay scale for mobile closers. (Do the math... it's alot of $$) They are my largest client and deserve a champion... so here goes.

1. They have never written me a bad check. I have received checks that didn't belong to me (sending thousands of checks per day at EOM is bound to get crazy), I have received checks missing the signature (see EOM explaination), and have received my checks a few days later than normal on a FEW occassions (and I do mean only a handful of times in over a year).
ATA ONLY pays closers out of Escrow, except on the rare occassion that there are miscellaneous charges or ancillary services that are to be paid. Then it would be paid from a General Operating Account. They are a relatively new company that has grown exponentially in the past two years, and will continue to do so IMHO.

2. The owners and management at ATA are cognizant of the repurcussions of a dishonored check written on an Escrow account. It is a very serious infraction and a very serious accusation. In Florida, you can be rest assured that the Dept. of Insurance and Finance would be knocking at their door demanding an explanation. (I have personal knowledge of this as a Real Estate Broker, able to establish an Escrow account, hold and disburse funds, etc.)

3. Every Title Company I have worked for in the past 15 years has a SIZABLE overdraft protection plan in place for their Escrow account to avoid accidental overdrafts (it does happen... incoming wire doesn't match outgoing disbursement... Escrow officer doesn't catch it... oops! You're in the red!) Escrow accounts MUST balance out to zero and must remain separate from all other accounts.

4. As to Margaret/FL's assertion that their website is problematic: If you cannot login to the ATA website, you are not in their database. If you have "signed up" with them and were not sent a confirmation email with your login and password, or if your login and password no longer work.... well, you aren't one of their closers. You have most likely been locked out of the site for some reason or another.

Anyone caring to comment or disagree with me...feel free to email me off-post.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 12/8/06 2:22pm
Msg #164830

I love reading your posts. n/m

Reply by Lisa Prestegard on 12/8/06 3:55pm
Msg #164851

Thank you, Susan... back at 'cha! n/m

Reply by Margaret_FL on 12/8/06 3:18pm
Msg #164844

I am in their database. I have a user name and password to log on. The data in my profile keeps changing and it is wrong. I can not get anyone to return my phone calls, and emails bounce.
I am jusy saying he they have know about the website problems why can't they fix it. How can they call you if they do not have the correct phone numbers or emails? That is my question. I believe Lisa you are the one that said Troy knew about it but he was out of town. I was contacted by them
to sign up with their database and I received a confirmation that I was accepted. Got my user password but someone at ATA entered my data and it is wrong but it will not update my profile
when I try to correct the data.

Reply by Lisa Prestegard on 12/8/06 4:03pm
Msg #164853

When was the last time you did a closing for them?
They have, in the past, had website trouble like you describe. However, if your login continues to fail, I would question whether you have been deactivated.

Reply by Margaret_FL on 12/8/06 4:11pm
Msg #164854

My login does not fail. I was activated. I was recommended to them by a notary in my network.
I can log on to my profile. But my question is why do they not respond to my calls and emails? I am not calling at EOM. Maybe they did deactivate me, but how would I know if I can't get an answer?

Reply by sandi42 on 12/8/06 4:17pm
Msg #164855

I have done one closing for them and I should of called them first before posting about a check for insufficient funds. I was upset about it. Anyway talked to Troy at American Title and Escrow today and he said didn't know why that happened. I redeposited it and should be fine. Thanks Lisa

Reply by Margaret_FL on 12/8/06 4:20pm
Msg #164858

That's great Sandi that you were able to talk to Troy. I have called 4 times and just get voice mail.
I have also email him 4 times. No response to either

Reply by Margaret_FL on 12/8/06 4:40pm
Msg #164865

I just tried to email from the website and the email bounced.

Reply by Lisa Prestegard on 12/8/06 5:07pm
Msg #164871

Margaret, try emailing Courtney or Kim. If you need their email addresses, email me off post.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 12/8/06 8:13pm
Msg #164904

I Like working for them - easy to work with, knowledgeable, on top of their loans and pay quickly. Kim and Courtney are great people - I'll take all they can send my way.

Reply by Margaret_FL on 12/8/06 10:34pm
Msg #164942

I got a reply from them tonight and they will be looking into the website problem

Reply by Dave Heine on 12/10/06 9:21pm
Msg #165190

Actually Lisa a title company is prohibited under law of having an overdraft protection on their escorw account to prevent theft of funds.

The Department of Insurance along with every underwriter would have serious issues if that were the case. You are correct that they maintain seperate accounts for escorws and that you balance out.

In the case the escorw officer misses it, then guess what, it comes right out of the companies operating account and the company covers the loss until it can be recovered.

i know this first hand as I own a title company and have to deal with escrow accounts on a daily basis and lenders that short checks or send to much.

Reply by Lisa Prestegard on 12/10/06 9:27pm
Msg #165191

Thank you, Dave...

You are correct. They cannot have "overdraft protection" in the sense that a personal account does. But there are protective measures in place so that checks do not get returned NSF. The checks get paid one way or another
Thanks for the correction.