Posted by MSFlorida on 10/17/06 10:11am
Msg #152976

Borrower Tipping Notaries

I had a closing the other day arrived on time to be told by borrower he was P/O because the
LO called 15 mins. prior to me arriving and told him about the figures. Borrower was PO because all figures were different then what he was told for a month going through the process. Borrower stated that he would've never agreed to the appt. if he was told this at the time the appt. was made. Borrower was not upset with me but contacted LO when I arrived and flat out told him he wanted all docs corrected before he would sign and that he was upset that the LO would even send me out with the docs wasting both of our times. LO told me to go back to office and they would have new docs sent. Went the second time borrower apologized many times to me for having to come back out I told him no problem that he wasn't the first and probably will not be the last and we continued with the signing of the corrected docs. When I was leaving the borrower reached for my Notary bag and put a envelope in the side pocket. I asked what is this he stated that is for you time and paitence. I proceeded to tell borrower that I was not allowed to accept any money from him due to it being unethical. He stated that he wanted me to have it and that if I didn't accept it would upset him and he shut the door. I simply placed the envelope back in the door. To my surprise in the mail yesterday I received a letter from the borrower with a 20.00$ bill in it Stating you forgot this so I am sending to you again thank you for your time and paitence. What would you do at this point?

Reply by BetsyMI on 10/17/06 10:13am
Msg #152977

I think you did everything possible to return the money, stating that it was not ethical. At this point, I'd go out and spend it.

Reply by Ernest__CT on 10/17/06 10:15am
Msg #152978

You tried to do The Right Thing. The borrower insisted. Either spend the money on something you would not normally buy for yourself or your family or donate it to your place of worship.

Reply by MistarellaFL on 10/17/06 10:18am
Msg #152982

At his insistence, I would have graciously accepted.
If you still have trouble with this, consider making a charitable donation in the brw's name.

Reply by MSFlorida on 10/17/06 10:25am
Msg #152984

Thank You for the replies.

Reply by hcampersFL on 10/17/06 11:28am
Msg #153009

I don't know about a cash tip but last week I did a signing for a woman and her Grandson. She had had a stroke and couldn't get up, so I took each document to her and walked them all back and forth for each page. Grandson sat down and looked over all paper work before signing. It took 2 hours.

When I got done he said come on out back and I have something for you. He is a Tilapia farmer. Raises fish. He scooped up about 15 fish out of his pond and put them in a cooler (his) he said bring it back when your out this way. Then he asked me what kind of greens I liked. I said any kind are great, so he gave me a whole mess of collards and rutabaga greens. I took everything he offered and told him what a treat this was. I cooked all of it that night and we ate like Kings and Queens.

Really was the best tip I have ever gotten since I started signing.

Reply by Poppy on 10/17/06 11:54am
Msg #153021

That was sweet hcampers... I bet it made his day too! n/m

Reply by Gary_CA on 10/17/06 12:11pm
Msg #153026

Maybe my ethics are slippin'

(and maybe I shouldn't post this with my name and profile and all)

I don't see a problem. There was no financial interest in the transaction created. The amount was generous, but obviously a token amount (that is, not enough to buy any influence if there was influence for sale anyway) There was in fact extra inconvenience and cost to you which you could have billed the LO and passed on to him anyway (for more than $20)

The general principle of not taking a cash "tip" holds, and your reluctance was right, but it was an appropriate way to express gratitude for extra service.

I would have told him no thanks the first time but wouldn't have slipped it back under the door... and I'd take it guild free to lunch on Thursday (that's prime rib day at my favorite joint and a $20 bill would nearly cover lunch for 2)

Who really should have given you a gift card of some sort is the LO.

Reply by SueW/Tn on 10/17/06 1:52pm
Msg #153063

Not sure this counts BUT

Last Friday was the signing day from below and I had a borrower call and request I come early....yep yep, we can do that. When I got there she had a big pot of home made soup on the stove and she could NOT have been sweeter. Signed the docs (she a LTD, lady truck driver) got ready to go and she gave me a huge bowl of soup...yum yum, I wouldn't have turned it down for a million bucks. That night I got invited to supper with my last appointment! It doesn't get much better than that!