Posted by Cindy Cheely on 8/3/07 2:03pm
Msg #203825

Questions to Notary finding services - ???

Sorry if thats not the correct terminology - first off.
Something that seems to happen Alot to me here lately is I get a call from a service, asking me if I am available for a certain job - I ask the particulars, the Zip Code (so I can judge the distance) - whether its RTC, is there a bunch of Fax-Backs before actually FedEx-ing the pkg in, etc.. because those factors affect my Pricing.
Then after we agree on terms - then the deal starts to unravel. The latest one was a Thurs nite signing, like 9pm! Which I agreed to.. and within 5 minutes of me logging my info into their website, they call me and say 'Ohh yeah its for Friday night, not Thurs. You'll still do it, right??" I actually told them NO, they could find someone else.. How do they know I will be available for the next night?? They really acted like, Thurs - Friday - whats the difference?? And thats why I turned the job down. It seemed like they figured once I accepted the assignment, they could change whatever they wanted about it, and I should still do it for the original price - regardless.
Is it common for services to Yank Notaries around like this?

Reply by Eric2OO2 on 8/3/07 2:33pm
Msg #203842

You were available and you did not agree to the closing anyway ? I certainly would have! Things in this business change all the time and I would have felt lucky to have a 24 hour notice. =o)

Reply by CJ/Alaska on 8/3/07 2:35pm
Msg #203845

I already had a previous committment on the Friday night.
Its not reasonable to just Assume someone is available anytime a change is requested.

Reply by CJ/Alaska on 8/3/07 2:38pm
Msg #203846

I suppose I could have cancelled on the previous plans I'd made for the Friday night,
But it was something I was really looking forward to doing, and basically it was already
'Booked' before I even got the call for the Thurs night assignment..
They were not respectful at all to the fact that even tho we work for ourselves, we MIGHT
have other things in life to do as well..

Reply by Eric2OO2 on 8/3/07 2:45pm
Msg #203849

thats the business - things change last minute all of the time.....

Reply by CJ/Alaska on 8/3/07 2:51pm
Msg #203852

I'm sure thats true - but there also should be some indication from the company that they
respect the Notary and their time, Maybe a 'Gosh we're sorry - this Thurs deal turned into a
Friday deal, are you still available?" If they had acted like that at all, I may have been more
inclined to help them..
I guess I didn't need the job that bad... hopefully someone got it who could flow with the chaos... I am not wiilling to turn my life upside down for this stuff.. there must be some kind of balance.. and respect needs to flow both ways..
Thats all I'm saying here.

Reply by Eric2OO2 on 8/3/07 3:00pm
Msg #203855

good luck

Reply by BetsyMI on 8/3/07 3:31pm
Msg #203862

Don't feel so bad Cindy. I had the same thing happen to me this week. When the SS called to change my Thursday 6pm signing to Friday at 6pm, I told them that I had already talked to the borrower and that Friday at 430pm instead was good for both he and I.

The SS then called the TC who said no, 430pm would not work, and they wanted to have ALL day to prepare the docs, and could not have them ready for a 430pm signing for THE NEXT DAY but they would be able to have them ready for a 6pm signing. So the SS had to call around and find another notary.

I love it that they have all day to work on the docs and then are able to walk out the door at 5pm, however they expect me to work at night. I have the freedom to set whatever hours I want and I too had Friday night plans that I didn't want to change. It seems with over 24 hours notice that they might have at least tried to have the docs ready an hour and a half earlier to accomodate both me and the borrower. It was a double loan 40 miles away so that 6pm signing meant getting back home at about 8 or 830p, too late to catch up with the dinner plans I originally made.

Many here will chide you for turning down an assignment for personal plans, but you have to decide that for yourself. I choose to not cancel personal plans for a closing. Yes I lose out on business but that's my choice to make.

One last comment though, when I've had companies cancel a signing one night, they usually do not assume I'll be available the next night. They've always been courteous when calling, and will ask if I can do it the next night. You may have just hit a bad apple who assumed too much.

Reply by CaliNotary on 8/3/07 3:54pm
Msg #203866

"They were not respectful at all to the fact that even tho we work for ourselves, we MIGHT
have other things in life to do as well.."

They shouldn't have to be respectful to your personal life. It's business. If you have a pipe burst at 2 am are you going to be respectful of the fact that the 24/7 plumber listed in the yellow pages is probably sleeping at that time? Or are you going to call him anyway because he's made the decision to advertise his services 24/7 and you need his services?

If you're free to do the signing, do it. If it changes and you're not free to do it, don't do it. If you want a set schedule, you've made the wrong career choice.

Reply by Treasure Valley Notary - Tina on 8/3/07 4:16pm
Msg #203868

You Mean This Is A Business?

Thank you CaliNotary. I understand that many in our industry do this when they feel like it, but for some of us this is a business, and treat it as such! I advertise 24/7 and that is what it means. I don't let a client know if they are on my "personal" time or not. Most of my fun time is scheduled for Saturday and/or Sunday when I am the slowest. Sometimes I will change my set plans and sometimes I won't, if a last minute call comes in. It depends on the commitment level I have in the activity (plus it is the only way I get family time, so things are scheduled). I can't tell you the last time I took a Friday night off. Yes, I can choose to, it is my business. But because it is my business I have chosen to treat it as such and work on one of the busiest nights of the week (at least in my area).

I do believe that we should be treated with respect (and I'm not sure when the last time I wasn't). But I also think that alot of people just assume that we only have 1 signing per day, if even that. So that is why it is treated as no big deal. Just my thought.

Reply by Signing_Doc on 8/3/07 4:26pm
Msg #203869

Remember the motto..."Semper Gumby"...always flexible n/m

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 8/3/07 5:42pm
Msg #203884

Re: Heh..Doc...You're a hoot!! n/m

Reply by mswa on 8/4/07 12:30am
Msg #203938

I find that very common w/E Coast companies..last min docs, lotsa fax backs, no understanding that 30 miles by the crow flies really means 1 1/2 hr trip on 2 lane highways w/ vacation travelers and actual 80 miles each way anyway....

also, many of my clients want an earlier closure and I can't for the life of me figure out why these time sensitive docs can't be done in a timely manner...
Yes, I am self employed. b/am not 24/7, yes most signing times are actually renegotiated between the borrower or seller and me b/c they are just as eager to start their BBQ and beer or fly fishing or snowmobiling as soon as possible.

I just explain that I don't have the time or that I have a signing 2 counties away in the opposite direction and if the docs are downloadable or on'd or br w/in 2 or so hrs before appt time--then I don't have time to do my best for them, the borrower or me.

end of story

I prefer to build my biz in 3 states now slowly b/surely--so that I'm immune from sub-prime or any other disasters