Posted by Juanita Godinez on 5/26/06 4:57pm
Msg #122555

Did I GOOF.....

Hey everyone, did I goof I had a signing last night last min. -2 towns over 1st and 2nd agent contacted me he said he would be present to explain docs and he had the package I agreed knowing that I haven't done this before so I figured cool maybe i'll learn something from agent he explains the docs to borrower then the ones needing to be notarized he hands to me ,all the others go directly to borrowers .ok so I get a phone call today from borrower 2 docs that needed not. were skipped could I go right away to borrowers work 5 towns over I says later this eve. I'm at work now but there would be an add. fee for mileage he says why I say thats a way to go and the docs were in your possession at the signing my thoughts his mistake? Now that I'm thinking about it was it his mistake or mine for not going through the docs initially ? the whole package was never handed over to me so i'm thinking they were in his possession making him document custodian ....

Reply by Danny_FL on 5/26/06 5:22pm
Msg #122560

Definately their mistake. Id tell them that going out to get those signed would be another negotiated fee as the first one is already completed. Consider it as a second signing. Only time I do not charge for a return trip is if I made the mistake.

Danny

Reply by SarahBeth_CA on 5/26/06 6:32pm
Msg #122569

Oh definately their mistake. You should go out again for a fee not free. Other than that you got a chance for some paid training which is always good.

Reply by LkArrowhd/CA on 5/26/06 8:07pm
Msg #122590

Re: Did I GOOF.....Firsr let me say you received an

education on agent being present however unprofessional he appeared to be. # 1 you must be in control of the signing however if this is new to you I assume, and I haven't read the board and not quite up to speed with what is going on.
When the LO is present it is my position that he or she sit tight as we begin the signing, they are there to answer questions only if the borrower has any.
You, as the notary controls the signing page for page, moving right along, state the name of the document, it's purpose direct them as to where they need to sign, next page and so on and so on. If a question arises the LO of course will answer, he or she should have never even been handling the docs in my mind. Totally unprofessional, you control the signing period!

Reply by SarahBeth_CA on 5/26/06 8:44pm
Msg #122593

Re: Did I GOOF.....Firsr let me say you received an

Interesting. I'd like to hear from those who have done signings with the lo present what their involvement has been. Yes I would prefer it the way you describe Susan. But for this topic it was beneficial for the sa whether appropriate or not.

Reply by NCLisa on 5/26/06 9:38pm
Msg #122601

Re: Did I GOOF.....Firsr let me say you received an

If the LO is present, I keep control of the closing. Getting the BO the loan is their job, getting the loan docs signed properly is my job.

Reply by BrendaTx on 5/26/06 9:27pm
Msg #122598

Just like in our early years of life everything seems so critically important which might reflect poorly on us, so it is with our life as a signing agent.

Remember when your parents told you it was not getting upset over? Apply testy situations to your signing career and resolve not to become disturbed over your errors except to make sure you do not make them again. Be careful and be sure to check, check and recheck...then guarantee your work and suck it up if you mess up. Learn from your errors. Beat on yourself about eight minutes. Then, move on.

Whether or not the docs were unsigned because of your error or the LO's error, it's likely not going to make a hill of beans to your career one way or the other. This is not to say to be careless or indifferent to your job...it's just the truth.

If you can go, and you feel like making the drive for free, go do it...it's not worth it to me to argue sometimes over something like this...if you feel you need to be paid again and you cannot see past that, then do not go if they will not pay you.

If it were me as a new SA I would go on and get it done, even if I had to drive the trip for free. Now, at my ripe old age of almost three years into studying this business and getting started at it, I would be sure about whose fault it was and act accordingly.

Since you never saw the entire package after the signing, I'd say it's his problem. But, you gotta wonder about the hairs being split here. If he's getting a commission on this, then he ought to be willing to make some kind of financial arrangement with you.

JMHO

Reply by Missy_Lulu on 5/26/06 9:42pm
Msg #122604

As Susan said, I believe you should be in control of the signing.
It does make for a bit different situation since the LO brought the docs and (I assume) took them with him. However, if it were me and I had a real overbearing LO, I would at least insist on reviewing the package in it's entirety before leaving. I have done a few with the LO present. I have facilitated the signing and any questions were directed to him by the BO.

As a new SA, you don't really want to tick this LO off. I would be acommodating to see that there is continued business. Then like Brenda said, learn from it and go on.

Reply by hcampersFL on 5/26/06 10:24pm
Msg #122616

Juanita,
I really admire the way you are handling yourself on these boards. You are being very honest and that is great.
If I was in you shoes I would complete the notarization with no charge. You got some experience out of the signing and that is worth something. You have learned that from now on you will control the documents and how the signing is handled. This is a very valuable lesson, and you learned it very soon. Take that to heart and consider yourself paid for the second trip.
Just my thoughts, take it with a grain of salt.
b.

Reply by Juanita Godinez on 5/27/06 12:19am
Msg #122647

update

ok so I drove the 47 miles to meet brws @ 4:30 agents asst. was suppose to meet me there , confimed this twice w/ agent she doesn't show til 5:45 brws are p/o so am I ..rrrrrr...complete notarization I date it with todays date she says it needs yesterdays date I say noway I'm notarizing it today so todays date will be on doc..phew...never realized how strong of a moral backbone one needs for this job....lessoned learned always be in control..darn snappy they will be billed for my milage 1 hr. 15 mins. late....Thank you all for the great advice

Reply by Annette Hendricks on 5/27/06 3:57am
Msg #122656

I've had a LO present; he brought the docs, I controlled the signing, and sent him out to make enough copies of the Notice of Right to Cancel (he looked relieved). By the time he got back we had finished. He went away happy in his very new, nice, sporty car.

Reply by SusanOH on 5/27/06 8:37am
Msg #122668

Re: Always keep control

The closings that I have had where the LO is present is almost always a situation where I know more about what the docs are for then the LO. Not trying to toot my own horn but that;s just the way it has been, thus the LO never gets his or her hands on the documents so I can keep control and have a smooth signing. If the borrower has specific questions about their loan then I look to the LO for the answer. Other then that I prefer for them to stay out of it.

Reply by SharonMN on 5/27/06 11:26pm
Msg #122815

Notary vs. signing agent - and who's paying you, anyway?

I've had a couple where the LO is present - they usually just sit there unless the borrower has a question. They did go over the HUD with the bwr but I presented all the docs.

HOWEVER, Juanita, there are a couple of things about your situation which seems unusual to me: 1) you were hired by the LO, not a SS or title co? So it's hard to say whether he intended you to do the closing as a signing agent or simply to notarize some docs as a notary. 2) The borrower called you the 2nd time? This is weird because then you're stuck negotiating your fee for a second trip with the borrower, not the LO who originally hired you. Who's paying you?

Good for you for refusing to backdate. I swear, you'll get an easy, regular signing soon.

Reply by Juanita Godinez on 5/28/06 3:18pm
Msg #122876

Re: Notary vs. signing agent - and who's paying you, anyway?

oops the LO called 2nd time