Posted by droman_IL on 2/17/06 10:27am
Msg #97953

Should have followed my first instinct....

Really taking the opp to gripe about SA's that try to get over, and the fact that I should have followed my gut reaction when things started getting fishy.

Accepted a closing required bilingual skills, which I promptly inform the caller that there's an additional fee for translation (b/c in my experience, it ALWAYS takes longer). She agreed, and later that eve I get the confirm. Of course, it's for less than the agreed fee. I immediately email, and by the next day/afternoon, still no response so I call. I get transferred around and finally get someone who immediately gives me the boohoo about "all we get paid is xyz- can you meet me half-way?" Reluctantly I agreed b/c I have done work w/ this SA before. Then all things started going haywire. The signing location changed to a different city; the borrowers had no parking on their block and I had to park two blocks away and walk in the rain to the location; there were fee discrepancies immediately (of course) and the LO was out to lunch and no one could seem to find her. The borrowers wouldn't begin to sign anything until after they reached the LO. Almost 45 minutes later, after finally getting to talk to the LO, the signing started. 2 1/2 hours after the appointment time is when I left this closing. Not only was I late to my next appt., but I was now STEAMED b/c the notary line item fee on the HUD indicated almost 3X the amount the SA told me they were getting paid!! Not like when the notary fee is included in the closing costs, but a COMPLETE SEPARATE LINE ITEM FOR THE NOTARY FEE. I was so angry I immediately called once I was in my car. Of course, no one wants to connect me to the guy I orginally spoke with and someone asks how can they help. You REALLY WANT TO KNOW, EH? I spill it out. She pauses and says, oookkaaayyy, let me connect you - I THOUGHT SO. Did she connect me to the guy I talked to? NO- To yet another person who I never had any conversation with, and he IMMEDIATELY goes on about how they pay a fair price blah blah blah. I tell him the other guy lied about how much they were getting- he tries to tell me the HUD is an esitmate of the fee and they don't get that. I said BULL. I saw the GFD and that was 1/2 the fee that was listed on the HUD - two separate fees, both HIGHER than what they told me they were getting paid. He insisted they didn't get paid that, and then I said, OH, so then you're trying to tell me this escrow company is commiting FRAUD by overbilling their borrowers? Of course, now he changes his tune and says how much did I want to be paid and then we'll end our business relationship. THE GALL! I told him I wanted the full fee I initially asked for and NO PROBLEM with ending the relationship. Like I will really miss their one closing per month! GGGRRRRR!!!!

Reply by Bonnie_CO on 2/17/06 10:41am
Msg #97960

That's one of the reasons I'm really starting to hate dealing with signing services... There are a few good ones out there that do treat the notary fairly, but they are few and far between.
There was a msg on another notary board recently, the SS owner stated that it was funny that Notaries were griping about how much the SS gets and how little they offer the notary, she goes on to state that while the notary is "sitting around waiting for her to call them, she is out beating down doors, calling companies etc to get business..". The fact that she insinuated that all we notaries do is sit around and wait for her to call us really PO'd me (I know, the grammer is all wrong on that one!).
She claimed that they worked hard and deserved the biggest portion. When I responded that we also work hard marketing and calling and banging on doors, etc, I was told I didn't know what I was talking about. It got so ridiculous that I just said forget it!
The SS are taking more and more of the fee all the time, some just trying to keep their head above water. A lot play down and dirty, and I think the majority of them feel just like the woman above felt, they do all the work and we just sit and wait for her call and what few peanuts she might decide to throw our way. They don't like to be called on it.

Reply by MistarellaFL on 2/17/06 11:11am
Msg #97971

The best thing I ever did was stop accepting MOST SS jobs

Last year I got fed up with all the baloney excuses, and the baloney paydates 45 days out and such. I quit accepting most SS jobs, and started focusing on notary law and marketing to TC's. I do work with a few SS's that have a proven track record, but the majority of my biz comes from lenders, atty's and TC's. There is still some drama and waiting for docs, but nothing like the drama of working with uneducated SS's and their non-notary employees.
From what opinions I remember, these hiring companies believe that this nonsense is due to a glut of notaries becoming signing agents to make their fortune. They also say the turnover is high, many getting out almost as quickly as they got into it. If that is true, then eventually it seems that the people who really want a career will be the only ones left standing.

Reply by Mung/CA on 2/17/06 11:40am
Msg #97981

Mannnn. That calls for a couple of shots of Don Julio. n/m

Reply by CaliNotary on 2/17/06 11:51am
Msg #97982

This is exactly why we need to just set a fee schedule and stick to it. If they're willing to pay it, great, if not, give the signing back or don't accept it in the first place. No fuss, no muss, no drama.

Reply by LauriecPA on 2/17/06 12:10pm
Msg #97983

Every now and then, especially when things are as slow as they have been for me, I will do the same thing, reluctantly accept an assignment for a lower fee. This week I had a $50 offer, the SS said it was a "simple package" which to my way of thinking would be a Citibank or NFCU. It was 3 miles from my other appt. so I figured "what the heck" I'll go for it! 2 1/2 hours and 16 notarizations later, I feel like I've been hoodwinked again. Oh well, it was my own fault for accepting it, the BO's were lovely people, I just know now not to accept another appt. from this SS. Lo and behold they called the next day for another signing. Same story...simple package. I asked if it was the same simple package I had spent 2 1/2 hours on the previous night with 16 notarizations...

Reply by Calnotary on 2/17/06 1:58pm
Msg #97996

I, one time accepted a 50.00 dollars signing from Precision, oh my god, one of the worst!
I dont remember the amount of pages of instructions, and it turn out that the borrowers
had more info on their docs that the ID doc, so I refused to notarize them. I return home
invoice them for 40.00 trip fee and I was paid that amount.

If you think you can do 50.00 dollar signings, and you expect to be on easy one, well good
luck, they are harder to do than others. And of course JMHO.

Reply by Tina_MA on 2/18/06 9:43am
Msg #98166

>>>.....just set a fee schedule and stick to it. If they're willing to pay it, great, if not, give the signing back or don't accept it in the first place. No fuss, no muss, no drama.<<<

Amen.