Posted by notarybycony on 12/11/06 5:10pm
Msg #165294

last minute calls

SS are calling quite last minute for the last couple of days. I get calls for services 1 hour prior to scheduled services. are these generally cancelation by other notary and SS are calling to fill in gabs?

Reply by Joe_PA on 12/11/06 5:56pm
Msg #165301

I don't know but I have been getting the same thing, last minute closings.

Of course when this happens my fee goes up, I call it a last minute booking penalty

Many are too close to make scheduled appointments takes tiome to print docs and drive to borrowers house.

Reply by notarybycony on 12/11/06 6:01pm
Msg #165302

hahaaha yes, call it penalty.

well i rejected one at 3pm for a 4pm appt and here I am accepting a 6pm appt at 4pm. I hope this will give me enough time to get there.

I hope everyone will drive carefully for their last mintue callers.

Reply by Nancy Korb on 12/11/06 11:06pm
Msg #165328

That's way too close for me.

By the way, has anyone ever done any work for Notary Direct? I did a closing for them tonight and everything is pretty well computerized. They called me at 4:00 for a 7:00 closing. Turned out the client wanted a 9:00, so did that. I'd never worked with them before, but it was going pretty well, until I had to close the file, when all of a sudden in order to get paid I had to close the file, and in the event that I've made any errors, according to a little codile at the end of the file I have to close, it says that if I've made an error, I will not get paid. Not only will I not get paid, but I will agree to go back out and correct the error. Have notaries been working that way?

I closed the file, but I went back in and told them that was not our contract. I will not ever sign a contract where I take a chance, use my ink, my equipment, my car, my gas, and my time, and then someone else gets to decide after the fact whether or not I get paid. NO WAY!!! What a sneaky way of doing business.

I told them that I would not be doing business with them again until that codicile is gone. If I made any errors, which I don't think I did, but if I did make any, I'm glad to go back out and get them corrected. But you have to pay what you agreed to.

Reply by CaliNotary on 12/11/06 11:34pm
Msg #165333

What do you mean by "close the file"?

They really tell you that? That not only are they going to stiff you for your fee, but they expect you to drive out a second time and get it fixed, so they can then send you nothing? Are people actually stupid enough to fall for that? (yes, I know there are MANY who are that stupid in this industry)

Reply by Ndwa on 12/12/06 2:59am
Msg #165340

Not stupid at all

I run my business under the same term & condition. In a commodity surplus market, I have to tighten up my QA and that I stand behind my product/service with integrity (no questions ask).

As an SS I'd use that condition to promote and recognize professionalism from those I chose to work with. That kind of accountability put everyone involved at ease. Thus, your guarantee is rewarded with higher fee from me not having to spend it toward hand holding and babysitting.

How else you can prove your worth against the faxback overkill? FWIW...I did a $300 heloc Saturday for a new client (called Fri evenning) who today said during my follow up call, even $350 is not a problem b/c he's covered either way and was worry free.

Reply by CaliNotary on 12/12/06 3:51am
Msg #165342

Re: Not stupid at all

Hey, I guarantee my work too. I've made the occasional mistake and of course I've gone out and fixed it for free. But I'll be damned if I'm going to eliminate my initial fee and do the entire 2 trips for free.

I don't know of any other industry that operates like that. If an auto mechanic doesn't fix your car right the first time they should fix it correctly for free, but are you going to expect them to give you a refund for the first servicing? There's having integrity, and there's bending over and telling them to stick it to you.

We're human, mistakes are bound to happen to even the best of us. And it's not like they're going to refund the fee to the borrower, it's just more money going into the pocket of whoever hired you. If they're not willing to waive their fees when they screw up (and we've all seen that happen time and time and time again) then why should I be expected to waive my fees if I screw up?

Reply by Calnotary on 12/12/06 10:11am
Msg #165363

They are one of the worst in this industry, JMHO.

I only did a couple of loans many months ago and it's one of the worst experiences I ever had doing signings.

They schedule a signing and if they find a cheaper signer even 5 dollars cheaper they call you and cancel you.

It happened to me when I first started doing signings.

All of the above is just my opinion, so they can not sue me for stating my opinion or they can? LOL

Reply by John_NorCal on 12/12/06 8:58pm
Msg #165477

Re: Not stupid at all

**As an SS I'd use that condition to promote and recognize professionalism from those I chose to work with. That kind of accountability put everyone involved at ease. Thus, your guarantee is rewarded with higher fee from me not having to spend it toward hand holding and babysitting.**

I would think that to be fair, the same guarantee would be extended the initial hiring party, tc, etc. So in that case, nobody would be paid.
But the problem with that is the trumped up mistakes that would suddenly occur, missed/lost acknowledgement, etc. So there's another source of contention.

Better to offer a guarantee like most of us do, we take care of our mistakes at no additonal charge. As a SS your option is to not use a SA if they contiunually make mistakes.