Posted by Poulton Document and Notary LLC on 3/30/07 10:19pm
Msg #183080

Weigh in on derelict signing co incident please

So I get a confirmation for a signing out of my area and at first they say the borrower wants to close late, but then I called him to verify our appointment time and he said I could come down any old time. The next day the signing company calls back and asks me to do it later, like 10:00. Hmmm. I said I'd do it for an extra $100-, being so far away. I questioned what company would be pumping out docs and figures that late and was told this company works 24 hours a day. All of the sudden, the manager grabs the phone from the girl I'm talking to and declares that they're going to get another notary to do it. I told her I'd bill her for some kind of charge since I already had my confirmation and was ready to happily accomodate the borrowers despite the difficult requests. I know its probably hard luck and the nature of the beast, but since I couldn't accept any late appointments on the last day of the month, do y'all think I should even bother sending an invoice for like, $50-.

Reply by CaliNotary on 3/30/07 10:39pm
Msg #183086

Of course not

You want to bill $50 for a couple of phone calls? Ridiculous.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 3/30/07 10:55pm
Msg #183090

You could send one, but I wouldn't bet a nickel on getting

paid. Receiving and printing a confirmation and being happy to accomodate, IMHO, is not billable time; more like a cost of doing business. Yet, you want to charge $50. Is your time really worth $25 per minute? No.

Plus, $100 above your fee for a 10 PM appointment? And you say that you couldn't accept any late appointments, (but for an additional $100 you could)? I'd call BS too. Unless it's a blizzard, and you have the only snow plow in town. But, gouging is not the same as competitive pricing.

Just my opinion: succeeding in a business requires common sense and an honest assessment of the worth of my time and expertise.

Cheers!
Susie

Reply by Becca_FL on 3/30/07 10:58pm
Msg #183091

Sure, you could send an invoice, but don't spend that $50 until you see it...and that will more than likely be never.

Reply by Jenny_CA on 3/30/07 11:39pm
Msg #183100

This is the first message I have read in quite a while since I have been off the board, You probably were serious but I had to laugh. Can't bill someone because they changed their mind about you.

Reply by MikeC/NY on 3/30/07 11:36pm
Msg #183099

<< do y'all think I should even bother sending an invoice for like, $50 >>

You can send it, but don't hold your breath waiting for them to pay...

Why would you invoice them if you haven't actually done anything? Did you pass up another job in this time slot? Did you print edocs you then had to shred? Why demand an extra $100 after already accepting the assignment?

Based on what you've posted, I don't see how it's a case of a "derelict signing company." It's not unusual for docs to be generated late, especially at EOM when the pressure is on. Demanding more money at the last moment is what made them decide to go with another notary - whose fault is that?

Please add more info to clarify if you can - right now, there's not much to justify your position.

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 3/30/07 11:52pm
Msg #183105

So, do you send an invoice everytime someone cancels?

I just don't get what you think you did to earn the $50.

Reply by Ernest__CT on 3/31/07 6:39am
Msg #183132

Another viewpoint

You had a confirmed appointment. You'd already checked with the borrower (and presumably told the borrower what kind of ID, witness[es], et cetera, would be needed). Had you refused (an) other appointment(s) for that time slot?

It is not clear from your Post whether the signing was being pushed back on the same day as the signing was originally to take place. If it was the day before the scheduled signing, I'd say that you weren't entitled to any cancellation fee because they were giving you 24 hours notice.

If it was the same day as the signing, I agree that you certainly would have been entitled to a cancellation fee IF you had not demanded an extra $100. When you demanded an extra fee, YOU broke the contract. I don't blame them for looking for another Notary. Sorry.

IF the signing service had cancelled with short notice, it would be really nice if they gave you a cancellation fee. It's not likely to happen, but it would be nice.

Please see Post 182048.

Reply by Poulton Document and Notary LLC on 3/31/07 3:08pm
Msg #183182

Re: Another viewpoint

Yeah, I did have to not accept another signing that day, and it was cancelled about 8 hours before it was scheduled to go. Thing is, they said it wasn't about the money - seemed like they knew it wasn't going to happen and were trying to get me to think it was because I couldn't accomodate the borrower, but I knew better having spoken with him already. It occurred to me that they were trying to avoid the cancellation charge, which some companies will pay, no?
I have been a closer for the last 5 years and just began the signing agent thing. So far, I'm poor but I like my job much better. Docs at 10pm ? I laughed, but maybe its how some operations are in the signing agent world? Seriously? And if so, it was out of line to ask for more money? Is that always out of line no matter how desperate they reveal themselves to be?
Thanks for the viewpoints everyone.

Reply by CJ on 3/31/07 11:14pm
Msg #183203

10:00 jobs

I take 10:00 pm jobs at the regular price becuase then I can make more money at night. Not everyone can have the 7:00 spot. I find that if I am accomodating and helpful, they tend to give me more work. It gets crazy at the end of the month, but then the rush is over and I get to spend some nights at home again, so it all works out.