Posted by jjill_CA on 2/8/07 5:45pm
Msg #174780

E-Docs...

I am scheduled to a signing tomorrow, with docs overnited to borrower. Then today, the signing service sends me over the escorw docs to print out and take. Docs are still going to borrower, but I'm not getting a printing fee. Silly me, I didn't ask for one since I was told the docs were being overnited. Has anyone had to deal with this before?

Reply by Cam/CA on 2/8/07 5:59pm
Msg #174782

I'd call the SS tell them that your fee did not include a printing fee as you were told the Bo had the docs and that you require XX amount for printing one set or XX if you are printing 2 sets. Then get a new confirmation from them. I would do this unless I was being paid more than I would usually get for e-docs.

Reply by Howie35CT on 2/8/07 6:05pm
Msg #174784

Ditto. No free-bees. You may choose to add a small $ instead of your regular edoc fee, but in principle, you should add something for your time, paper, and wear/tear on your printer. Then, you have set a standard for the next time this SS/Lender calls needing your services. Good luck!

Reply by ZeeCA on 2/8/07 6:01pm
Msg #174783

they changed their requirements so to me now it is a diff $$ n/m

Reply by BarbaraL_CA on 2/8/07 6:06pm
Msg #174786

Have you asked the SS about why they are asking you to print the escrow docs? Did they just send you an email or did they call you?

You need to set your fees for your business offerings and "stick to them". As soon as you received notice that you needed to print escrow docs then you should be on he phone to the SS explaining that printing ANY docs was not part of your agreement with them. You charge $xx for printing service fee, let them know that, and if they agree to pay it have them send you a confirmation accepting that BEFORE you go to your appointment or tell them they can find another notary who will print those few docs for zero dollars and do a loan signing where borrower has the loan documents.

Below is a quote by Seth Godin's blog I stumbled upon. I printed it on the notary program I passed out at our so.cal. luncheon/mtg last Saturday. It's so true - I had to share it.

"Letting your customers set your standards is a dangerous game, because the race to the bottom is pretty easy to win. Setting your own standards--and living up to them--is a better way to profit. Not to mention a better way to make your day worth all the effort you put into it. - Seth Godin"

Reply by MR_INDPLS on 2/8/07 6:47pm
Msg #174792

Maybe they sent you the docs by mistake. I'd call the SS and ask them and tell them if I print them that there will be an edoc fee. Worth a try!

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 2/8/07 7:10pm
Msg #174793

7 years ago before a lot of companies went to e-docs, docs were overnighted and Escrow docs were often faxed or e-mailed (often about 20 pages depending on company).

Reply by LawrenceOK on 2/9/07 9:09am
Msg #174874

Re: E-Docs... I agree with Sylvia

Even today when docs are sent overnight, it is typical for a few title/escrow docs to be e-mailed. It only takes a couple of minutes to print these out and they are usually last minute changes. I don't charge a print fee for these.

Reply by cara on 2/8/07 7:42pm
Msg #174798

I was to get a fed ex package yesterday for a signing last night. When the docs did not arrive, I notified loan broker who had given me the assignment. He called back to ask if I could print e-docs. I said, "of course, but you understand that there will be an additional printing charge to the fee we discussed." He replied, "no problem, just added it on your invoice." Very smooth. I agree with everyone else who suggested that the trick is to advise of the additional charge as soon as the deal changes, then confirm it by e-mail. Best of luck with these changes in the future!

Reply by CaliNotary on 2/8/07 7:57pm
Msg #174800

How many pages are you talking about?

If it's just a few pages then don't worry about using a few cents worth of toner and paper. People forget, there are costs of doing business, we don't have to increase our fee every time we do something slightly out of the ordinary.

Reply by MistarellaFL on 2/8/07 9:42pm
Msg #174825

Re: How many pages are you talking about?

Thank goodness you mentioned this.
I was thinking I must be losing my mind.
How many times have I downloaded and printed a few pages
of updated/addtional docs on an overnight pkg. w/o thinking
this is an additional way to up-charge my clients?

Reply by CaliNotary on 2/8/07 9:58pm
Msg #174836

Re: How many pages are you talking about?

Yeah, I was surprised that I was the first one to mention it too. There are edocs, and there are odds and ends, and they're not the same thing. Right now I have a 12 page .pdf in my email box for a signing tomorrow. I would never dream of calling them and saying I now need $25 bucks more because they're using 35 cents worth of toner and paper plus 4 minutes of my time.

Reply by MistarellaFL on 2/8/07 10:02pm
Msg #174837

Re: How many pages are you talking about?

They don't like being nickel and dimed anymore than I do, and will always pay
my edoc fee when the whole package changes and requires full printing.

Reply by sue_pa on 2/9/07 7:48am
Msg #174863

Re: How many pages are you talking about?

I also agree and am wondering how little this person originally charged so that a few extra pages are apparently an issue. If you charge the proper fee to start with, a few pages (even if it's 20) shouldn't matter.