Posted by Jersey_Boy on 1/13/06 8:53am
Msg #88090

Don't make this Stupid Mistake - LONG...

I am so mad at myself. If it was physically possible, I'd kick myself!

Last night I had a signing that was a 1.25 hour drive one-way. The borrowers were great, very pleasant and knowledgeable. It happened to be one of the borrower's birthday. Every time he wrote the date, he wrote 1-12-YEAR OF BIRTH instead of 06... Ok, cross of, initial, re-write the date. After a while we were all making a joke of it. Still, this was no big deal... just another goofy thing about being a signing agent right?

Once the signing was completed, I completed my journal entry and went into my briefcase for my thumbprinting pad... IT WASN'T THERE. I looked through the whole bag and it was MIA. Oh Well--- again, no big deal right.... (NJ doesn't require a thumbprint in the journal, I just do it for an absolute means of proving a signors identity, should the need ever arise.)

I thank the borrowers for their time, wish the one borrower a happy birthday and leave. As soon as I get into my truck----> there's the ####ing thumprinting pad on the passanger seat. Must have come out of my bag during the drive up. I decided not to go back in for the thumbprint; and just drove away.

After I got home, I open my briefcase and I HAVE THE BORROWER COPY OF THE DOCS! I completely forgot to give them to the borrowers! GRRRR... I've done three hundred signings, and this is a first for me! I called the borrowers and gave a thousand apologies. They were still great. I offer to email the PDF file to them and overnight the docs to them. They requested that I email the file and "save a buck" by mailing the docs regular first class.

I sent the email, and requested that the borrower reply as soon as possible to confirm that the message was received and that they were able to view the documents. Confirmation received. I am still overnighting the docs anyway. I want a signature receipt from FEDEX that they had the docs in hand BEFORE the recission period expires.

I also spoke with the attorney's office that contracted me for this signing. Let them know what happened, and they are happy with what I've done to recify the situation, and thankful for my honesty for reporting the error.

SOOOOO... LESSON LEARNED! I've been a signing agent for four years... but I guess a STUPID MISTAKE can still be made when your not on top of your game.

Reply by Cheri Armentrout on 1/13/06 8:57am
Msg #88091

Oh, but it IS physically possible to kick yourself. Just stand up and throw back your heel up towards your butt!

Reply by Jersey_Boy on 1/13/06 8:59am
Msg #88092

Thanks Cheri... I had that coming... n/m

Reply by Beth/MD on 1/13/06 9:14am
Msg #88096

Re: Thanks Cheri... I had that coming... n/m

My dad would say to tie a rope around your ankle and pull the rope over your shoulder (from the back) stand on the other foot and pull rope as often as necessary.

Reply by BetsyMI on 1/13/06 9:43am
Msg #88104

Re: Thanks Cheri... I had that coming... n/m

Not such bad mistakes really, and you DID take the appropriate steps to correct them.

I usually say at the beginning of the closing that I have a copy of the documents for the borrower and then I set them down away from the borrower so they aren't going through them while we're doing the signing. That way the docs are already there and I never forget to leave them.

Reply by thnotary_NY on 1/13/06 11:51am
Msg #88184

Re: Thanks Cheri... I had that coming... n/m

Some time ago I took a tip from our Brenda, that wonderful gal from Tx. I've been putting my signing docs in a plastic bag along with my seal and pens. I have a couple of times almost forgotten to give the bwrs., their copies. Because of this thread, I think I'm going to include the copies in there also. I just wont take them out till the end, when I'm putting the signed docs back.