Posted by Pierces Notary Services on 7/28/07 10:37am
Msg #202465

What would you do?

I was suppose to sign a borrower last nite - at the time of appt. she had not received her documents via UPS so the lender emails the docs to me. By that time I was already at another signing - called the borrower when I was finished my first one - she was on her way home from work and therefore I met her at her house not knowing if the package had arrived...prior to this they tracked it and it said the package was on the truck for delivery - so i told her i'd run home print the docs and come back - well i get home and I can't print - the files are corrupted - can't get a hold of her LO or the SS so what do I do (by this time its almost 8:00) - well she finally calls me at 9:20 and says UPS just delivered the package - by that time I'm in bed. Can't get a hold of anyone today - she wants to sign because there is a soon to be ex involved getting his portion of the proceeds - I don't want to take a trip out there for nothing and have her sign the docs with today's date when they should have been yesterdays. What would you do?

Reply by Loretta Reed on 7/28/07 10:41am
Msg #202466

Personally, I would try once again to get in touch with the title company. Sometimes, they put an emergency number you can call. She should have her loan officers phone number and you can call them. If you can't get in touch with anyone, I would hesitate to go. Some lenders docs are "date sensitive" and you cannot cross out and correct the date and initial, they have to draw up all new docs. I did a closing yesterday and the lender said that if an error was made, that page had to be re-printed, no cross outs were allowed.

Reply by Pierces Notary Services on 7/28/07 10:44am
Msg #202467

I tried the LO and the SS and no one answered - don't know who the TC is because I don't have the package - she does and now I can't get a hold of her. Left message for her to call me. I believe it's a lending tree loan package.

Reply by Pierces Notary Services on 7/28/07 10:44am
Msg #202468

I even emailed and faxed the SS and left them a message on their voice mail.

Reply by Loretta Reed on 7/28/07 10:46am
Msg #202469

You have done all you can at this point.

Reply by Pierces Notary Services on 7/28/07 11:02am
Msg #202470

Thanks - I was stressing about this because I want to do my job but didn't want to take the trip out there and not be paid and have to have her resign docs again because they wouldn't accept the ones she would sign today. I tried to call her but no answer so will wait for her to call me back.

Reply by LJ on 7/28/07 12:14pm
Msg #202478

If it had been me, I would have gotten out of bed, got dressed, put my contacts back in, slapped some foundation on and out the door I would go. I understand that none of this was your fault but sometimes we have to go above and beyond to get this loan signed. It can be very frustrating to all involved, no doubt.

P.S. How do you manage to get in bed by 9:20??? Can't seem to get there before 11-12 every night. lol

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 7/28/07 12:30pm
Msg #202481

I agree with LJ - at 8:00 pm you knew you had a signing pending and you knew docs were being delivered to her (confirmed on the truck for delivery) - a little over an hour later you get the call and you're in bed? IMO you should have gone and completed the job.. By not going there was no signing and they may have lost their rate or, at the worst, lost the entire loan (let's hope it wasn't a loan to prevent foreclosure). You were the last one holding the ball for this game and it was up to you to get it done. Yes someone should have been available to you to consult but the fact remains that no one was and it was your responsibility to get out there and get the loan signed. All concerned thought you had it under control.

Again, JMHO

Reply by Becca_FL on 7/28/07 1:38pm
Msg #202490

Couldn't agree more, Linda. Well said. n/m

Reply by MistarellaFL on 7/29/07 8:54am
Msg #202586

Re: Couldn't agree more, Linda. Well said.

That makes 2 of us...I'd have got my butt outta bed and done the deed.

Reply by dickb/wi on 7/28/07 1:44pm
Msg #202492

were the docs delivered @ 9:20 pm on the......

day it was supposed to close?...if so you should have gone....or...were they delivered @ 9:20 am the next day, in which case you couldn't go and close it as in to days market most docs are date sensitive and would have to be re drawn....i have several e-mail accts and when i get docs and a dialog boxcomes up and says the file is corrupted or can't be down loaded i forward the e-mail to one of my other accts and usually am able to get it down loaded and printed with no problem........my .02............

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 7/28/07 1:49pm
Msg #202494

Re: Quote the post...

" well she finally calls me at 9:20 and says UPS just delivered the package - by that time I'm in bed."

I read that to be they were delivered at 9:20 last night - date of scheduled signing.

Reply by JohnnyB on 7/28/07 2:09pm
Msg #202496

Re: Quote the post...

how were the files corrupted, was it your computer possibly. Try another computer or send to Staples.

Reply by JohnnyB on 7/28/07 2:09pm
Msg #202497

Re: Quote the post...

how were the files corrupted, was it your computer possibly. Try another computer or send to Staples.

Reply by Sharon Taylor on 7/28/07 2:18pm
Msg #202499

I agree with Linda and LJ - get out of bed & go!

This is a professional job, and you did not show professional behaviour - that means going above and beyond the ordinary, considering the consequences of your actions not only for you but also for all others who might be affected by how you handle a situation. The fate of that poor lady's loan depended on you, and you thoughtlessly chose your own temporary comfort. Most of us have experienced your situation, and most of us have chosen to "get 'er done". I've had closings scheduled at 2 PM that didn't get done until 11:30 PM! Lenders, title companies and signing agencies appreciate, remember and call the notaries who they know will go the extra mile and a half for them and the borrowers if need be.
This is NOT a predictable 8-5 desk job.

Reply by CJ on 7/28/07 2:31pm
Msg #202500

Yep, I feel like I am on the clock until midnight.

I would have called the borrower and said, "I can't print the docs, but if UPS shows up, call me right away". Then I would have stayed up and waited. If you track the package, and it is still on the truck, they could still show up. Also, someone's idea about forwarding the docs to Staples is good too. I did not think of that. Our Kinkos is open 24/7, and I could have done that if I had thought of it. (I bring donuts to my Kinkos periodically, so that they will do favors for me when I need them, like get my docs out of the Fed Ex bin becuase I need to fix something.

One time I went to sign someone at 8:00 pm. They were on the phone with the processor until 9:00 and did not sign. I still had another job. I got there at 9:30, and they read everthing as they signed, turning it into a 2 hour job. I get a call at 11:15 from the 8:00 guy, and he wants to sign, but the guy I was with would not speed up. He said, "They had their chance, now it's my turn. I got out of there at 11:30, and at the 8:00 guy at 11:45. A bad night, but I feel that's my job.

Another time, the guy was not home. (He didn't return calls, but I was told to go anyway.) I got there at 9:30 pm, and waited the customeary 1/2 hour. I left at 10:00, and got home at 10:30. I left a note on his door, and he called me when I got home, so I had to turn around and go back, getting there at 11:00. And he was an engineer and read the docs. Again, that's my job.

Reply by christiSocal on 7/28/07 3:04pm
Msg #202510

Re: Yep, I feel like I am on the clock until midnight.

I gotta agree, I would've gotten up and gone last night. At this point though, even if I never got a call back, I'd go ahead and do it today. There's a good chance it will be Ok and if not, well at least you did what you could.

Reply by Pierces Notary Services on 7/28/07 4:47pm
Msg #202524

Re: Yep, I feel like I am on the clock until midnight.

Well I see what you guys are saying....one I take medicine when I go to bed that would prevent me from driving...I'm in a very rural area and there is no kinkos or staples anywhere near me and no I don't have another computer....plus I do this part-time as I have a FT job during the day and I was exhausted especially after I took my medicine. I know most of you would have gotten up but I couldn't drive...and my hubby was out with his brother last nite so that left that option out.

Turns out she got a hold of the LO and she emailed me new docs that have to be signed with today's day and that file opened. I have no clue what was wrong with the files but I could not get them to print...kept saying file was corrupt or damaged. I'm going to meet with her tonight to sign the docs she has and the new ones they sent me.

Reply by Loretta Reed on 7/28/07 2:52pm
Msg #202508

I didn't comment on what happened last night. You should have gotten up and gone. I have done closings as late as 11pm because of things like that that happen.

Reply by Ndwa on 7/28/07 4:35pm
Msg #202522

Profile reads - Available evening & weekend

And you were already in bed 9:20 on EOM? What a service!

Reply by Pierces Notary Services on 7/28/07 4:49pm
Msg #202525

Re: Profile reads - Available evening & weekend

yes as I work FT during the week. I can't jeopardize my day job. When I put my hours that I'm available evenings and weekends I don't take closings after 7:00 p.m. generally.

Reply by Ernest__CT on 7/28/07 10:23pm
Msg #202559

You do not belong in this business. Get out now.

Be happy that you have a day job.

Don't call yourself a professional. You blew it big time.

Revise your profile to say "Hobbyist, available only when I feel like it."

Please don't do any more damage to the reputations of real Notary Signing Agents.

Reply by Pierces Notary Services on 7/29/07 7:45pm
Msg #202630

Re: You do not belong in this business. Get out now.

First off I don't appreciate you guys saying that I'm unprofessional - I would have gone out but as I explained earlier I take meds when I go to bed and no one would have wanted me on the road driving with that. I don't feel I have to explain this to you but you are bashing me for something. I went to the borrower's house, the docs were not there and so I drove home to print them. It's not my fault the file was corrupted and I don't live near a kinkos or staples. I went out of my way I believe. She was my second closing that night. Also, I do have a FT day job and yes I choose to do this business but it is my business and there are other notaries around that they can call. I believe I am professional and I will jump through hoops if I have too. I closed a loan for this woman before and I was trying to be accomodating. I in fact closed the loan yesterday. She told me when I showed up she was in bed too. It was more convenient for her for me to do this yesterday as she has a small child at home that was in bed also. You can bash me all you want but I've been in this business for 3 years and I believe I have done a great job. I have people requesting me over and over and also it is my business so if I choose to not take a closing after 7:00 p.m. that is my perogative. I am up at 5:00 a.m. every morning to get my husband off to work and then I'm in work at 8:00 a.m. Last week I was out everynite doing closings - some two a night and home by 9:00 in bed and up at 5:00 a.m. So if you want to call me unprofessional that's your choice. I will not give this business up because I enjoy what I am doing. I've spoke my piece!!!!!!!!!!!!

Reply by SharonMN on 7/29/07 4:36pm
Msg #202622

Re: Profile reads - Available evening & weekend

First of all, I think you guys are being a little harsh on Pierce. If someone books my services for a certain time and is unable to provide documents at that time, I would have no problem calling them and saying they need to reschedule when everything is ready. They have booked a certain time and not my whole evening. I probably would have gone out at 9:20 pm and done the signing, but I wouldn't have felt obligated to do so unless I'd already made calls implying I was available later in the evening. I think it is important to let people know at the outset whether or not you're flexible.

But, Pierce - your profile says "available evenings" but you aren't available after 7 pm? My profile says "available evenings" and I can't usually take appointments UNTIL 7 pm.

Reply by MelissaCT on 7/30/07 10:10am
Msg #202671

Re: Available evening & weekend or avail 24/7 - definition

I AM available 24/7, but that doesn't mean someone can call me at 2AM & expect me to dress & run out to notarize at the last minute. What it does mean is that with advance notice, I can arrange my schedule to accomodate a very early morning or very late night appointment. I've been in Bridgeport at 1am, Meriden at 5:30am, etc... to accomodate 2nd & 3rd shift worker's schedules for document signing.