Posted by ILsigning on 8/17/07 12:17am
Msg #206109

2 sign companies tricked me tonight -Be Careful

One company called me a week ago and set up a signing. They never sent me a confirmation. But I gave them my word I'd do it. So I waited. Another company calls me with a signing an hour right after my first and in the same town. How convenient. So I said I was going to be there anyway so I'd do it for less since it was overnighted docs.

So today I was still waiting to do the first one. Still no confirmation. I am angry. I could have gotten other signings. But my word is my word. The first comany finally called me and told me that they got the other company to call me and get me for a lower fee (bold huh)--- which happens to be the second company that I was signing with!!!!!!!!!!!!! So these two companies tricked me essentially. So the first signing was a bluff. I wonder how often this happens. I was just curious if this has happened to any of you out there. Stick to your fees and get those confirmations.

Reply by David Kral on 8/17/07 12:19am
Msg #206111

I would not do the signing

Any company that unethical is not worth dealing with. It the signing is at 5pm. I would have called them at 4:59 and told them. No go.

Reply by Tracy Walters on 8/17/07 12:24am
Msg #206112

Re: I would not do the signing

These are 2 companies taht we all know and usually like working for though.

Reply by Barb/MO on 8/17/07 10:57am
Msg #206194

These companies don't exhibit the traits I look for

The companies I like send my confirmations within minutes after the call. And if I were getting calls for other signings at the same time, then I'd definitely be getting the confirmation for the original one post-haste or advising they'd need to find someone else. (I know there are exceptions, especially where the parties have a long-time, close relationship.)

And my reaction after learning of the scam would have been to tell them both to find someone else for the assignment. Your "word" does not obligate you after the other side has broken the (unwritten) terms of the agreement, which is what occurred here. And company #2 was acting in collusion with company #1. These are NOT companies I'd do business with.

And I don't "work for" my customers. I provide services to them (my aim being to exceed their expectations). Different mentality.

Our fees are based on the value of our services. We can't possibly take unrelated criteria such as signings in close proximity/time into consideration, because scheduled signing times so very often change.

To be blunt, your business needs to be run like a business. This is not a business that's run on folks' "word," but on specific, written confirmations of terms. I apologize if I have offended, but there's just no other way to put it.

I do wish you the best of luck, and I encourage you to continue to keep up with the postings on this forum. You can learn much from those here who are highly successful and generous with their knowledge.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 8/17/07 2:46am
Msg #206120

Somene has rightly mentioned on this board more than once that it is *never* a good idea to give a discount to a company because of the situation you described. If you are able to work out a savings, that should be simply to your benefit. If you can manage your time and schedule well, then that should be to your gain. We certainly have the opposite situation come up often enough, so why should you give away the benefit of your own efficiency on those few occasions when things fall into place? And of course, you never know when a situation, like one of those jobs cancelling, can arise honestly. For any company to intentionally and cynically pull a stunt like that really stinks.

Having said that, I can't count how many times I've caught myself telling (or starting to tell) a potential client that I will be in that neighborhood anyway... But I'm learning to just keep my mouth shut. We all have to remember that we are in business to make a profit!

"Stick to your fees and get those confirmations." You are so right!!

Reply by Elizabeth Soliday on 8/17/07 9:51am
Msg #206170

I think that was me (and I'm sure it's happened to others). Janet is absolutely right, NEVER discount your fees for ANY reason. I just had a 150 page purchase last night, what a pain in the butt!! (no RTC, of course so they had to look at everything). You have to always assume the job will take your maximum time and effort, because those slim, easy loans are few and far between anymore.

Reply by Joan_OH on 8/17/07 6:42am
Msg #206129

At that point I would have made them cough up the original fee or tell them to find another notary. When you dealing with a company this unethical, who knows if you're even going to get paid?

This is just another reason to not give "discounts". The only companies that get any type of discount are those known to me that give me a volume. Funny how those companies never ask for a discount.

Joan-OH

Reply by John_NorCal on 8/17/07 8:45am
Msg #206146

There is no excuse for their actions, no matter if it is a company that one usually likes to work for.
As Janet has said, never make an allowance for a company just because you will be in the neighborhood. It's to your benefit if you can make the most of your time and money, not to the benefit of someone else. This is a business, you need to treat it that way.

Reply by CJ on 8/17/07 10:20am
Msg #206176

Discounts

Sometimes I get calls to sign one piece of paper, so they want me to do it for less. I figure something is better than nothing. But of course, no one ever offers more when one package is 200 pages.

One time it was a Grant Deed, right around the corner. So I was doing it for less, "Only one signature". But they took two hours hemming and hawing before they signed it. (IT was an internal transfer within the family, and they did not trust the relative.) They only signed it after another grant deed was faxed to undo this one later.

Other time it was "just two pieces of paper, one notarization" 10 minutes away. Again, he did not want to sign it, and had to call his attorney, his processor, etc. and after an hour, he signed it. Grrrr.

Reply by PJ on 8/17/07 10:36am
Msg #206178

I'm sure we could be more careful if you tell us who the Slug was that did this dastardly deed to you.

Reply by Sharon Taylor on 8/17/07 11:00am
Msg #206196

Discounting because 2 in same area is Murphy's Law waiting

to happen! Inevitably if you are sweet talked into giving the second company a discount because you'll be able to just go right from one to the other, the first one will be (a) cancelled, (b) changed to a time that is several hours earlier or later than the second one, (c) changed to a different date, or (d) have a huge edocs package much larger than normal, edocs will arrive very late, and the borrowers will take double the typical signing time at the table..........or the second one will be (a) cancelled, (b) changed to a time that is several hours earlier or later than the first one, (c) changed to a different date, or (d) have a huge edocs package much larger than normal, edocs will arrive very late, and the borrowers will take double the typical signing time at the table.
Full fee, period. That way when Murphy's Law kicks in, you won't be kicking yourself.

Reply by dickb/wi on 8/17/07 1:31pm
Msg #206240

you need to learn that your fee is......

your fee, whether youwill be there from another closing or not.....your business plan needs to be upheld by you....if the fee is $xxx.xx for that area then that is the fee.....one closing or 3 closings........jmho

Reply by thnotary_NY on 8/17/07 4:28pm
Msg #206281

Re: you need to learn that your fee is......

Give us some names so we watch for these bas32456s.!!!

Reply by Barb/MO on 8/18/07 11:15am
Msg #206395

Smart business practices will keep you safe from these scams n/m