Posted by Ronnie_WA on 7/17/07 2:16pm
Msg #200357

no pay TitleStream & TS National Closing Solutions

Signing completed 5/14/07 & no pay. I sent them an email, including Mr. Lucas their Sr. VP. Mr. Lucas has a post on this board that he is very concerned about payment issues and assures us that he will take care of them. I received a call today from a new girl saying they will put me on the priority list and it will be another 30 days before payment is sent. If it actually happens, that will make it 90+ days from signing to payment. I am certainly not impressed with the concern that Mr. Lucas has for their reputation!

Reply by Margaret_FL on 7/17/07 2:56pm
Msg #200371

I am in the same boat with you. I did one on 5/21 and the same thing happened to me, they told me it would be another 30 days. I emailed Mr McLucas, no reponse as of yet. I email the scheduler and it was forward to two different people. One reponded with the "another 30 days" I told her that this industry has gone in the toilet and that I was not taking the "Crap" anymore. I asked the scheduler how he found notaries to do the signings with all the negative posts about his company. He told me he did have a hard time getting good notaries like me. I set up their company name here at Notary Rotary, please add your comments so other notaries can stay clear.

Reply by Teddog/CO on 7/17/07 3:19pm
Msg #200378

Search button for Lots of info on them. n/m

Reply by Barb/MO on 7/17/07 8:33pm
Msg #200446

What about complaint to the TX Department of Insurance/TDI?

Following is recycled advice I gave to others via PMs, when I wasn't so sure Title Stream was going into the tank. With the getting-ever-longer promised pay timeline, it now appears it might be, so I don't feel so bad giving the advice publicly. As far as I know, the advice to actually file a complaint (given below) wasn't taken (or if it was, but was bum advice, I didn't get feedback on it). I suspect that one or more of those to whom I gave the advice may have used the threat of such a complaint and were then paid. None of them have ever come back to post that they remained unpaid.

Here's the advice:

===============

If you want to try something a bit different in the way of collection, you might see if your claim qualifies as a complaint to be filed against Title Stream (TS) with the TDI (as it refers to itself). Here's the link to the page offering the different types of complaints: http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/consumer/complfrm.html.

I've never gone down this road, but if I were to try, I might take the most conservative approach by clicking the link at the bottom of the complaint page, "TDI Customer Service Questions/Complaints," which creates an email to the "Customer Relations" to ask whether your claim qualifies. I would just very briefly describe it in matter-of-fact terms.

A more bold approach would be to just file a complaint to see what happens. I would tend to use the online form for real estate title insurance linked on that complaint page. My guess is the worst thing that would happen is they'd tell you the complaint can only be filed by an insured as to the title insurance policy. You might go at it from the angle that this is an escrow situation and the HUD shows X amount of the funds paid by borrowers are going to the notary, but that's not what has happened in your case. You should state straight out that you contracted with TS's SS, but it appears that it's a wholly-owned subsidiary and TS shouldn't be allowed to hide behind that company to avoid its obligation to fully disburse escrowed funds.

Please understand, I am not suggesting you do something you're not comfortable about. I'm not an attorney, and you must decide for yourself if this is something you want to do.

To be fair, as I said in my public post, I think TS always pays--they're just using SA fees as part of their own cash flow. I threatened Chris Moluccas of TS that I was considering doing this, among several options I named off. The check went out the same day. You might just try threatening to do the same.

===============

My own suspicion is that the TDI would want to know if one of the title companies isn't promptly disbursing its funds out of escrow to the signing agents or to anyone else. Surely that's the kind of thing over which the TDI has jurisdiction.

If any of you try anything related to the above advice, it would be helpful for you to report back your success or failure so we'll know what works and what doesn't.

Good luck to you all!

Reply by BrendaTx on 7/17/07 8:49pm
Msg #200450

Re: What about complaint to the TX Department of Insurance/TDI?

I'd start with the Texas Land Title Association and send a copy to the TDI.

Seriously. This needs to stop. I don't, won't work for them any longer.

I was lax about calling a halt to it because they eventually DO pay...then one of my network members was about $1000 into it with them at 90 days and I said that's a bunch of crap...no more.

It was probably a boon to me in the long run. It pushed me over the edge to go on and take a great opportunity which came up when I might have otherwise not looked at it twice.

I did many, many signings for them but only received my check from them on time twice. The rest of the times it would run forever. Once I let them go as long as I could stand...over 120 days before I called...just to see.

Call them Texas SOX...what is the difference?

Reply by Barb/MO on 7/18/07 11:26am
Msg #200512

That's Chris McLucas, not Moluccas--1st C/P error I've seen n/m

Reply by goodgirl on 7/17/07 3:19pm
Msg #200377

I had an AWFUL time with this co last fall. It took me nearly 4 months to get paid for the 1 job I did for them. I kept calling and sending letters and threatening prosecution, etc. I have no idea what it was that I did or said that finally convinced them to pay me. I'll never know because I'll never work for them again. The worst part is they kept calling and asking me to do more work for them.
Just stick to your guns and stay after them. That's my best advice. I really feel for you right now because business is so hard to come by. I understand where you're at with this.

Reply by Ronnie_WA on 7/17/07 3:32pm
Msg #200385

I am emailing the lender as well. Lenders and title companies need to know when they are dealing with a company that is experiencing serious financial issues. If we all take the a moment to do this, it may result in them sending their business to reputable companies in the future, or to us directly.

Reply by CaliNotary on 7/17/07 5:53pm
Msg #200408

Is this the one in Coppell TX?

If so, try Dale in accounting at 214.578.7068. That's his cell number. Once I got a hold of that number, I had a check within a week ( which was approx. 45 days from signing, I started my followups at 30 days).

I'm sure a few well timed (3 am) phone calls to Dale on his cell phone will help provide a bit of motivation on his end.

Reply by Margaret_FL on 7/17/07 8:37pm
Msg #200447

Re: Is this the one in Coppell TX?

Yes, that's them. I contacted Seattle Mortgage with no luck

Reply by BrendaTx on 7/17/07 8:42pm
Msg #200448

Re: Is this the one in Coppell TX? Calinotary

Did you really call Dale at 3 am? Or were you just exaggerating? What a novel idea! (Not recommending it, just saying it's novel.)

Reply by CaliNotary on 7/18/07 2:21am
Msg #200481

Re: Is this the one in Coppell TX? Calinotary

No, but only because I didn't need to. The scheduler gave me that number, when I called him at it on a Friday he sounded really surprised, told me the check would go out the following Monday. I figured I'd give it until the following Friday before following up and lo and behold, it showed up on Thursday.

But heck yeah, if I hadn't gotten the check I would have used that method. I figure one well timed phone call would have gotten the message across. Luckily, he got the message just by discovering I had his cell number.

Reply by NorthernNotary JenniferGuinasso on 7/17/07 10:17pm
Msg #200460

I did a signing on 4/9 for them. After many un-successful attempts (faxed invoices, mailed invoices, 15 day demand letter, phone calls), I reported them to the local BBB !

Reply by A1/TX on 7/18/07 12:05am
Msg #200471

I did a closing for them on 4/25, I sent invoice after invoice and then a demand letter. They ignored it all. Then I filed a complaint with the BBB on 6/26 and I had my money on 7/7 !!!!

Reply by Margaret_FL on 7/18/07 1:33pm
Msg #200553

Re: Newsflash - try this it worked for me

I just faxed another invoice to Title Stream and then faxed the invoice to the lender. Within 5 minutes I get a call from the lender. They could not believe that I had not been paid and she assured me it would be taken care of. She said they had not had any complaints regarding non-payment. I told her to come to this board and read, read read. I said I guess most notaries do not contact the lender but I do. Within 30 minutes I got a phone call from Title Stream to tell me that my check had been cut and it was in the mail.
I also filed a BBB complaint this morning.