Posted by Ernest__CT on 6/1/06 9:02am
Msg #123398

Edocs: Late is bad enough, but ...

... what do we do about those which don't arrive at all?!

Things have gotten out of hand lately, IMHO. It seems that overnight used to be the norm, with edocs being the exception. This year it seems reversed. (sigh) Well, we charge our fees for edocs and hope they'll arrive not too long after they are supposed to. It seems that edocs seldom arrive on time.

(So far I'm preaching to the choir, right?r)

The latest wrinkle is edocs not arriving at all. What do people do when a signing has been scheduled (at the last minute, usually) and edocs never arrive, even after email messages and phone calls saying "They'll be ready Real Soon Now. Just hang in, please!"?

Late edocs have been par for course, and just one more annoying facet of this business. Those of us who accept edocs know that we can't be sure of our schedule. We have to book appointments with enough space between to allow for edocs being delayed, leading to fewer possible signings per day. (I won't knowingly double-book!)

So, folks, are other people experiencing this problem or is it just me? What can we do to be sure that we are compensated fairly when edocs don't arrive? (Or don't arrive in time for the signing to take place.)

We don't want to be branded PITAs, but ....

Thoughts?

Reply by PL on 6/1/06 9:20am
Msg #123400

I am still waiting for

docs from last Wed, Thur, Fri, Tue, & Wed. The borrower is so ticked that she doesn't want anything to do with it anymore, but she's over the barrel so it has to be done. Hopefully the docs will come today, normally I would wash my hands of something like this, but I have formed a relationship with her now and I can't let her down.

Reply by Ernest__CT on 6/1/06 9:28am
Msg #123402

You bring up a good point, PL!

As I've said dozens of times, I have to live here. The NSA is the LOCAL person. The borrowers may see us in the supermarket, at a restaurant, et cetera. Like it or not, we get blamed for docs being late, having spelling errors ("Darlene" versus "Darleen", as in a recent example on this Forum), and borrowers not having valid ID that matches the docs (for a host of reasons).

We're supposed to be honorable, reliable, trustworthy people. That's why we're Notaries Public.

Reply by Ndwa on 6/1/06 9:54am
Msg #123413

Re: You bring up a good point, PL!

Appointment at 4:30, docs came at 5:00, LO called BO right after he sent docs and told them I'd be there in 5 minutes. Mind you this was a double, so I called BO to tell them that I've declined the appointment b/c the earliest I can make it there is 6:00PM and that I also have a 6:30 appointment where docs been sent at noon.

This is the very first time I have to cancel an appointment b/c I normally can accomodate the late docs with my mobile capability. BO was suppose to sign noon, 2:30, then 4:30.

Reply by Reem Al-Hindi on 6/1/06 10:02am
Msg #123420

Re: You bring up a good point, PL!

happened to me once, but borrowers were very nice and understood and waited. but i did not have another appointment after so it did not really matter.

Reply by carlos/nyc on 6/1/06 12:52pm
Msg #123458

Re: Edocs late!!!

Here is a nice one. I was called on Friday 5/26/06 to do a signing on Saturday 5/27/06...big Memorial Day weekend getaway right, the borrower was visiting New York City for the weekend. I was told she was going to be here the whole weekend. When I called to confirm the appointment she told me that she was leaving NYC that same Saturday, 5/27/06. I never received any docs. I called the borrower back to inform her that I didn't have any docs. I left e-mails to the SS that hired me and to company that was supposed to sent me the docs. Long and behold they e-mail me the docs on Tuesday May 30, 2006. Hahahaha don't you just love it!!!!

Reply by Ernest__CT on 6/1/06 2:33pm
Msg #123477

Thanks, everybody who shared stories! The question is ...

... how can we all handle such crazinesses?

You've all heard the tales told by the companies which call us: "We can't promise when the edocs will be available." "It is out of our control." "We'll ask them to send the edocs by xx:xx." What we need is some way to get paid for our wasted time and effort (especially at EOM!) when we, in good faith, reserve hours for a signing that doesn't happen due to no fault of ours or the borrowers. Oh, and we've got to do it without being looked on as PITAs (or is it PsITA?r) and having companies stop calling us.

Reply by MelissaCT on 6/2/06 11:06am
Msg #123651

Re: Thanks, everybody who shared stories! The question is ...

I always tell the bwr at the time I call to confirm that I'm expecting the documents via email. I also tell them that I will call them once I've received the docs or have any further information. Communication goes a long way in not having PO'd bwrs -- especially since witnesses are a requirement in CT. I communicate w/ the bwrs so they don't have a witness waiting around all night. Usually, this alleviates some of the headaches associated w/edocs.

Like you, I allow extra time when dealing w/edocs in case of corrupted files, printing/computer problems and late docs. I phone/email requesting updates on doc status. Sometimes, I am hounding for docs, but I've never (I don't think) lost business as a result. I don't feel bad about inquiring (multiple times even) about document status, since it's part of my job to ensure docs are received & printed correctly.

The key is to communicate with the bwr, to let them know the status of their signing. They are anxious too, for docs to arrive & be able to sign. Plus, sometimes if the bwr calls their LO & puts pressure on at that end, docs move along a little more quickly, in my experience.