Posted by Pamela on 7/24/07 10:14pm
Msg #201595

Would like to know

if anyone else has experienced this?

A new notary (while at a signing)
telephoned me, to "help her".

She said that this was her very first
signing and that she didn't know what to
do.

That she was using the
"borrowers" computer and that is how
she found me online.


Pam

Reply by ZeeCA on 7/24/07 10:15pm
Msg #201597

that must have been super reassuring to the BOs......

sheesh

so, what did you do? and do you send a bill?

Reply by Pamela on 7/24/07 10:23pm
Msg #201603

I started going over some of the documents with her, but
she really sounded confused. She wanted me to go there
(which of course I refused).

She was very polite, thanked me for my time, and said that
she would try to find someone else to help her.

And, during our conversation, she also wanted to know
what her fee should be. The company was paying her $75.00
and she wanted to know if that was good or not.

I told her that each company is different, depending on
the type of docs etc. . .


Pam

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 7/24/07 11:36pm
Msg #201631

And just when you think that you've heard everything ..

Reply by Ernest Adams on 7/24/07 10:16pm
Msg #201599

Ladies and genlemen, we have a new definition ...

... of the word "chutzpah".

The old definition concerned a man who murdered his parents and then asked for mercy because he was an orphan.

Reply by Dorothy_MI on 7/24/07 10:16pm
Msg #201600

And they wonder why we answer

the way we do sometimes. So she took a signing in your area but didn't have a clue what to do?? Yup, we SHOULD train our competition. And after taking literally the food out of your mouth wanted you to help her so she didn't mess it up? Please tell us what your answer was.

Reply by LisaWI on 7/24/07 10:23pm
Msg #201604

Now that is too much!!

What did you do?? I dont know what I would of done. I might have been worried about the liability say if she did make a mistake and blamed you. Doing loan docs over the phone??? This is a good one!!

Reply by CaliNotary on 7/24/07 10:28pm
Msg #201608

You guys really don't know what you would have done?

I would have told her that she should have learned how to do the job before going out on a signing and said goodbye. Why on earth would you waste time trying to train a total stranger over the phone just because she called you?

Reply by ZeeCA on 7/24/07 10:29pm
Msg #201609

totally agree and also the libiability when she screws up n/m

Reply by JanetK_CA on 7/25/07 3:19am
Msg #201645

Re: You guys really don't know what you would have done?

I couldn't agree more. What makes someone think they deserve to be paid ANYTHING to pretend to do a job they have no clue about! Gee, I hear plumbers make good money... Maybe I'll put out a shingle, try to get some business and then when I DO get some work, I'll just go online or search the yellow pages for another plumber to ask him what to do and how much I should charge. What kind of a response do you think I'd get to that??!!!! It probably wouldn't be printable... Either that, or they would be laughing so hard they wouldn't be able to answer!

I have to say, though, that I also like the response of telling her to call the person who hired her. They have some culpability here, too, unless she flat out lied to them to get the assignment.

Reply by LisaWI on 7/25/07 7:52am
Msg #201654

Re: You guys really don't know what you would have done?

Dont know what I would of done in my initial reaction as in burst out laughing or given a great big sigh and said " You're kidding right?" After that, I would tell them to call hiring entity.
To this I am so glad that other professionals such as doctors dont call someone to help after the fact that they have cut someone open and are getting ready to remove their kidney. Boy, what a mess that would be!
I can see the headlines: Patient Dies from Over the Phone Surgery. A new practice in medicine for doctors who dont really know what they are doing before they get to the table.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 7/25/07 5:36pm
Msg #201793

That's a good one!! n/m

Reply by Pamela on 7/24/07 10:27pm
Msg #201607

Dorothy, Re: And they wonder why we answer

I felt sorry for her and I have never been in this
type of situation. It caught me by surprise, because
I thought she was the one, who needed a notary
for her docs.

She sounded twenty-something. . .


Pam

Reply by CaliNotary on 7/24/07 10:32pm
Msg #201611

Why would you feel sorry for her?

She made her own bed by not bothering to learn how to do the job, she deserves all the trouble she gets. Your sympathies should lie with the borrower who got stuck with this loser chick as their signing agent.

Reply by Michelle_KY on 7/24/07 10:30pm
Msg #201610

Wow! (that's all, just "wow".) n/m

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 7/24/07 10:33pm
Msg #201612

Since she's on the borrower's computer - tell her you can't answer unless you see the information she was given - have her access her e-mail, forward the confirmation to you with a list of her questions and you'll get right back to her...

Then forward it to the hiring entity....the LO...the lender...and the SOS....and..and...

That's if you want to be a Class A B**** - But incompetance like that should not go ignored or unpunished...IMO..she needs to be stopped.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 7/24/07 10:33pm
Msg #201613

Re: P.S. and I hope she reads this board... n/m

Reply by Becca_FL on 7/24/07 10:48pm
Msg #201619

G'me a Frigin Break..this is why you don't hire an NNA dweeb n/m

Reply by goodgirl on 7/24/07 10:58pm
Msg #201622

And to top it all off, she undoubtedly undercut you (her competition) and expects you to help her continue doing it???
I would have said, "Sorry, NO CAN DO. I'm on my way out."
If she's an NNA dweeb, she would understand the NO CAN DO part.

Reply by DD/OR on 7/24/07 11:15pm
Msg #201628

Someone's pulling your leg.

Reply by Treasure Valley Notary - Tina on 7/24/07 11:22pm
Msg #201629

What To Do

Pamela,

Getting caught off guard can be horrible. Thanks for presenting this to the board. Just one more thing for some of us to think about . . . the what IF?!?

I personally would have asked her if she is a member of the NNA. If so refer her to them (I would love to listen in on that type of phone call to them). And/or tell her to call the person who hired her. Let them walk her through it. At least they would know what they got themselves into and can decide what needs to be done.

I agree with the others, I wouldn't help her out (once figuring out what she really wanted). I refuse to train my competion, or anyone elses, for that matter. As most of us know, this industry is tough enough. As much as I love helping people I just can not justify training anyone. My biggest advise to anyone is to start with a business plan. A very thorough business plan. And figure out how to run a business, before you get started.

Yesterday I was offered $50 to do a signing with ON docs. Oh boy. Then I find out it was a purchase. A refinance was bad enough, but a purchase?!? Told them I could do it IF they made me an employee, complete with benefits, inc. a two week paid vacation. Because as being self employed that kind of fee would put me out of business. I like being paid more than minimum wage, if it was even that. Needless to say she did not take me up on my offer. I know what my services are worth and what it takes to keep my business afloat. Too many do not. (ok, I got side tracked - sorry).

Reply by Ndwa on 7/24/07 11:42pm
Msg #201633

OT sorry! How was vacation Tina? n/m

Reply by Treasure Valley Notary - Tina on 7/25/07 12:03am
Msg #201639

OT - Vacation

Andy,

Good to hear from you. The vacation was beyond awesome!!! Two glorious weeks with no cell phone, mainly because Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons just don't have service (family was concerned about withdrawals, but I made it through). What a joy it was to share it with my parents and our two younger kids. All are still talking about it. IF anyone ever needs ideas for this trip please let me know. We did more in two weeks than my parents ever did in all the times they have been to both areas. We even had a great time in Cody. We know more about Buffalo Bill than I could have ever dreamed. It was a trip of a life time. I've got all the cameras downloaded, but now I need to sort through about 4,000 pictures.

Not sure where our next big trip will be, but we are planning a smaller one to see family in California after Christmas, with a side trip to Las Vegas. Figure a couple of days in Vegas with the youngest kids should really be fun. Then in December, 2008, we are going on a family reunion with a cruise to Mexico for about a week.

So Andy, please send me all that you can! Being self employed means that I'm not getting that paid vacation time, and these trips are adding up. When my parents go with us, it is our treat to them. But oh . . . so worth it. Wish you could have gone with us.

Reply by MelissaCT on 7/25/07 7:36am
Msg #201652

OT: Federal Minimum wage went up eff. 7/24/07 to $5.85/hr

CT state min wage is $7.65/hr eff 1/1/07

Reply by snoopdogMs on 7/25/07 10:18am
Msg #201685

I call it tact what Pam exibited

I commend Pam for exibiting tact as obviously this gal didn't know her stuff and had already experienced humiliation. Who are we to fault someone for stepping out prematurely. Surely none of you have ever found yourself needing grace in a situation. I would have helped this gal if time allowed and then recommended to her not to take another assignment until she had more knowledge and information. I don't understand the beef here with the NNA as that was the vehicle I chose to enter this business and with much study and research making about $3,000 a month. And I don't accept low ball jobs and plan on much higher earnings in the months to come. What does it matter how we get there if our potential is great when we earn our way through diligence and study? Mine has paid off.

Reply by MelissaCT on 7/25/07 11:05am
Msg #201691

Then you're an exception, not the rule

"and with much study and research" -- is the difference with you. Many only take the NNA Certification test (terms used loosely) then venture out thinking they know what to do, only to find out at borrower's expense that they are, in fact, very ill-prepared for the real [signing] world.

The problem with the rose-colored glasses you're apparently wearing "Who are we to fault someone for stepping out prematurely. Surely none of you have ever found yourself needing grace in a situation. I would have helped this gal if time allowed and then recommended to her not to take another assignment until she had more knowledge and information." is that helping this gal (or any other) out of the jam she created for herself & telling her not to do it again won't [historically] work. She obviously learns the hard way & falling flat on her face is the only way she will learn not to make the same mistake again. Helping this type of person only enables them to flounder through again & again.

Reply by CJ on 7/25/07 11:15am
Msg #201695

Needing help.

Many times I have been in a signing and been completely stumped as to what to do. But that is MY problem to figure out (if I can't get a hold of the LO, processor, or SS). She needs to be able to think, or she will never survive. Is she going to call another notary every time she can't solve a problem?

Reply by ZeeCA on 7/25/07 11:10am
Msg #201693

snoop? would you want to be the bo a newbie comes to

w/o doing any due diligence? uses your computer to ask for help and doesn't have a clue? well than fine.. Me, I would be on the phone to my LO asking wth is going on as this is MY $$$ that will be impacted for years................

jmo............

Reply by snoopdogMs on 7/25/07 4:02pm
Msg #201769

Missed my point

As stated, I would advise the girl to refrain from any other signings until she had more knowledge and training. Here is someone trying to create employment for herself as we all are. Is this a perfect world? I think not. If all jobs required perfection upon entry then we would all be F.O.L.. We have all been subjected to newcomers in every aspect of our lives be it doctors, carpenters and vice-versa. I choose to edify and give a hand to others along the way and let my own talents speak for themselves without threat. Cream always rises to the top and this girl will either sink or swim based on her determination to be a top notch agent. Obviously she went to the signing half-cocked and maybe she will realize her need for more knowledge.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 7/25/07 7:21pm
Msg #201828

Re: Missed my point

Giving a hand to others may be all well and good, but sometimes I feel it helps perpetuate an attitude of entitlement which we have seen all too often here. If someone makes at least a reasonable effort on their own to be as competent as possible, I think many of us would offer assistance, perhaps even contrary to our own best interests. We've seen plenty of evidence of that on this board. But to charge in with out at least making that minimum effort, thinking that just because they managed to pass a test and maybe acquire a meaningless certification that they are now ready, is irresponsible, in my opinion.

The fact is that even though none of us were perfect when we started, there apparently is a wide variation between how much effort some invest to prepare before going after that first assignment. When I was a very green newbie, it never ever would have even ocurred to me to ask my competition to help me out, if I had a question or issue. I always called my client and took my lumps, if necessary (i.e. if it came across that I was still on a steep learning curve - and I'm sure that happened, although hopefully not too often! )

And I'll bet that the cream that rises to the top in this business has been/will be those who work hard, conduct themselves professionally and take responsibility for their own businesses, without expecting someone else to bail them out when things get dicey... and we know they will!!

Reply by snoopdogMs on 7/25/07 8:18pm
Msg #201844

Re: Missed my point

The assumption in this whole thread is that this girl might continue to call another notary for help. Yes she made a major error by calling another notary and apparently the whole closing was a mess. We know nothing at all about this individual except that she got in over her head and was ill prepared and made a bad decision about calling for help. She may not be cut out for this job. There seems to be an irrational fear about folks going the NNA route. My good friend is making about $4,000 month and her entry was the NNA also as myself and she is highly sought after. We have no regrets about using the NNA as the key to break into the field. If I had known at the time of other alternatives then those could have been an option.