Posted by BrendaTx on 3/15/06 9:38pm
Msg #105494

Poll - Faxing Back

Please post your policies on faxing back if you are of the mind to share that info. I am working on mine.

My policy will be crystalized in a similar way to the following. It is becoming very necessary as 50+ pages are being requested in 35%-50% of even title company work.

If I am getting paid $145+ for a job, I will fax back 50 pages...I don't like it but I am trying to be reasonable.

If I am getting paid $100 or less for a job, I request an additional $15-$50 for more than 10 pages.

I ask now before accepting a job.

If I am blindsided with faxes, I request more money.

If more money is not authorized for excessive faxes, I reserve the right to drop the job at the time I become aware of the faxes and no agreement can be reached.

What say ye?

Reply by Dorothy_MI on 3/15/06 9:42pm
Msg #105497

Sounds like a plan to me n/m

Reply by AngelinaAZ on 3/15/06 10:24pm
Msg #105510

Faxing itself doesn't bother me as much as the extra trip that I have to make to drop the docs. Kinkos is next door to Starbucks about 150 miles away so it's not really something I can do in the field.

I charge $15 no matter what for faxbacks (because the trip) and an extra $10 if it is over 20 pages. That's just me.

I ask as well before taking the job and I call back and request more money if I am blindsided.

Reply by TitleGalCA on 3/16/06 12:02am
Msg #105522

I don't and won't do it.

Less than 5 pages, okay. More than 5, hire someone else. I don't need the grief and if they are so unsure of who they have hired, they need to change their policies, pure and simple.

I don't have any concern about a company that has no quality control. I have less than concern about a company who hires any ole' notary. Case closed. Call someone else.

Reply by Teddog_CO on 3/16/06 4:07am
Msg #105531

Have to agree with TitleGalCA

To many faxes - excessive phone calls - unclear or no instructions - problems getting the docs in a timely manner translates to > They Gotta Go. I just do not work with people that take-up that kind of time.

Like you TitleGalCA , my responce is "call someone else."

Reply by MelissaM_FL on 3/16/06 6:33am
Msg #105536

I charge $25 to fax back over 4 pages. If the fax back is more than 50 pages, I charge $50. Most of the companies I work for regularly have waived their fax back requirement and the few that do require it pay for it. I do make one exception to the fax back fee; I will do the fax back the first time I work for a company to show that I am competent if they request it. After that, the fee kicks in.

I have several companies that call and will tell me up front "The lender requires a fax back on this one" and automatically add my fee.

Has anyone else noticed that the lower the fee, the more work the company thinks they should get out of you?

Reply by BrendaTx on 3/16/06 7:32am
Msg #105545

**Has anyone else noticed that the lower the fee, the more work the company thinks they should get out of you? **

Yes.

Reply by Julie/MI on 3/16/06 7:11am
Msg #105540

The ONLY time I have to fax back for title companies is for purchases, commerical loans, and other non-recission loans. I hope this is not a new trend. I think 50 free faxes for $145 is not reasonable.

This needs to be nipped in the bud, just like those that grab the $40 closings.

Signing companies are a different story which is why I only work with a few, that don't require fax backs.

Reply by LilyMD on 3/16/06 7:24am
Msg #105542

I will fax back 5 pages or less at no extra charge. But more than 5 pages I charge an extra fee for. Usually $25. And that's not because of the act of faxing it's because of the time it takes away from my schedule. Especially if I'm expected to faxback anything on a day like yesterday. There 5 appts. back to back to back. Luckily, the companies I work with on a regular basis don't require faxing back from me.

Reply by BrendaTx on 3/16/06 7:28am
Msg #105544

Re: Poll - Faxing Back-Julie

Julie - the reason I am asking this is because it *is* a new trend with two title companies. Write me if you want the name of them and the particulars.

Reply by LilyMD on 3/16/06 7:43am
Msg #105546

Re: Poll - Faxing Back-Brenda

I recently had this problem with a big TC. This company has recently started a big laundry list of things they expect notaries to do per loan. Their name is usually referred to by 3 letters. Same?

Reply by LurkyD_TX on 3/16/06 7:57am
Msg #105551

Thanks, Brenda, for the support!

Reply by Beth/MD on 3/16/06 8:03am
Msg #105555

Re: Poll - Faxing Back--I don't

However, if they want the faxbacks, they pay my faxback fee.

Reply by BrendaTx on 3/16/06 8:35am
Msg #105571

Re: Poll - Faxing Back - Lurky

D: I am trying to find out if it is just my "network" people who are the problem or if this is nationwide. I have recently received a complaint about the network agents who have balked on this.

It was stated to me that it was a matter of "decency." I submit this is not merely a problem of *my* network but a situation which is nationwide.

Reply by LawrenceOK on 3/16/06 8:07am
Msg #105558

I do not see anything wrong with charging a fee for excessive fax backs. I don't mind the typical fax back requests, but some of these requests are getting totally ridiculous. It is my personal opinion that a fee of $1.00 per page after the first ten pages is appropriate.

Reply by LilyMD on 3/16/06 8:12am
Msg #105560

I actually had a company want the entire, yes I said entire, DOT faxed back! And that was the only faxback they wanted. Needless to say, I didn't take the appt. when they wouldn't agree to the faxback fee.

Reply by Kevin Louderback on 3/16/06 8:18am
Msg #105565

I charge $15 per 20 pages faxed back regardles of the signing fee. If they don't want to pay the fax back fee, they don't get the fax or else they hire someone else. If they expect me to waste my time seperating out a package and faxing stuff to them, paying the long distance to do so, and waiting onthem to call me and tell me they received it, it is going to cost them. If they disclose the fax back up front, I quote them the fee with the closing, if not, I cal back and let them know what it costs. They have the option to either waive the requirement (which most places do) or pay the fee, or hire someone else. I never have an issue with it. The ones that insist on the fax back pay the fee.

Only had one try to argue that I could not change the price so I pointed out that she did not fully disclose the job or it would have been quoted initially. She tried to go elsewhere then later changed her mind and called back and agreed to it. It is a shame I had already accepted another order by that point. Guess she got it worked out.

Reply by Beth/MD on 3/16/06 8:20am
Msg #105566

Re: Poll - Faxing Back --Kevin

***If they don't want to pay the fax back fee, they don't get the fax or else they hire someone else. If they expect me to waste my time seperating out a package and faxing stuff to them***

I think we are kindred spirits in the world of faxbacks! Not only do some expect you to pull out certain pages, I think they expect you to insert them back in the correct order. My answer to that -- I don't work as your processor.

Reply by MBCA on 3/16/06 9:11am
Msg #105602

Re: Poll - Faxing Back --Kevin

This has been a real thorn in my side! I live in a very isolated area, so going out again to ship really eats away at my profits! Brenda is right, the less these title/escrow/signing services pay you, the more they demand! One SS wanted me to fax back about 20 docs before I could ship (if you ship before they won't pay you). So I thought I'd go over to Kinkos since I was in town. I'd fax the docs to them, wait for the OK, go directly to FedEx and ship. Well, guess what, the faxed docs cost me over $15.00! You are right to charge more for faxing! When I tried to add it to my billing statement, they wouldn't pay (I even included the receipt with my bill)! I've gotten some really great ideas from this board on how to handle this! Now I come home, fax the darn docs, wait for approval, call FedEx or whoever it is and have them pick them up. It's a lot cheaper than using a half tank of gas and the package will still get where it needs to go the next day! If the company gives me a bad time about it, I have to ask myself, "Is this someone I really want to do business with"!!! Life is too short!

Reply by BrendaTx on 3/16/06 8:48am
Msg #105578

Re: Poll - Faxing Back - Holding Hostage?

Okay, when you are blindsided with fax backs and told "No, there will be no more payment for your faxing fees." is that like being held hostage by social engineering? In other words, you are expected to go and do it so the bwrs don't lose their rate lock.

That is a problem to me. I am have done it all I will.

Reply by BrendaTx on 3/16/06 8:49am
Msg #105579

Re: Poll - Faxing Back - Holding Hostage? Correction...

I am have done it all I will.

SHOULD BE

I have done it al that l I will.
It is very unfair to expect it.

Thanks.

Reply by BrendaTx on 3/16/06 8:50am
Msg #105582

Re: Poll - Faxing Back - Holding Hostage? Correction 2...

I need a new keyboard on my laptop.

I have done it all that I will.
It is very unfair to expect it.

Thanks.

Reply by patricia on 3/16/06 9:21am
Msg #105609

Re: Poll - Faxing Back - Holding Hostage? Correction 2...

I also refuse to do fax-backs, usually I can get the request waived. Too bad there are
some people with an "employee" attitude who will do as requested. This seems to be like
the issue of accepting low fees, they will find someone who will take what they are offering.

Reply by Marlene/USNA on 3/16/06 11:32am
Msg #105731

I thot you were speaking Dr. Seuss there for a minute. . . n/m

Reply by Cynthia Walder on 3/16/06 6:18pm
Msg #105906

Re: Poll - Faxing Back - Holding Hostage?

I have recently had this problem. Took a signing at approx 5:30pm on a Friday for a Monday 9am app. Didn't have time to even look at the confirmation closely till Sat evening. I emailed the SS on Sunday (figured they wouldn't be in the office, but would probably still check email) to tell them that I would need to have an extra fee for faxing back approx 50 pages. I told them to feel free to find another notary if my requirements could not be negotiated. They did get the email and called me and we did come to a understanding on the extra fees, even though it was only $15 instead of the $25 I requested. I accepted this because I knew it would have put the signing service in a bind if I refused to do it. From now on, I will ask before taking any signings if faxbacks are required. If so, they will meet my fee for it or they can find someone else. It's not fair to ask us to do this extra work for free. Normally, I always drop my package off on the way home. When you have to do fax backs, you then have to make another trip to town, not counting the hour it sometimes takes to do the fax backs themselves. In my opinion if a SS knows the company they are dealing with requires faxbacks they should alert the notary upon the first call to make sure this is not going to be a problem. Any smart SS could avoid the issue of notaries backing out of a job because of faxbacks if they would practice the courtesy of informing the notary upon the first call to them and not wait and blindside them with a confirmation with these requirements. Of course, most of us would call back and let them know that an extra fee would be needed, regardless if the signing was two days away or an hour. Just my two cents.
Cindy