Posted by Ierva Durant on 9/1/07 2:01pm
Msg #209061

New Signing Agent

Good Afternoon,

New Notary requesting your help

My name is Ierva Durant. I am a fairly new notary signing agent that needs your help. I am looking for someone in Osceola County or Orange County Florida that would not mine helping me learn the business. If you are willing to help me please email me back at [e-mail address]

Thanks for your time!!!!


Ierva Durant

Reply by Loretta Reed on 9/1/07 2:08pm
Msg #209062

type in "newbie" on the search button and start reading. Almost all of us have suffered a bad hit in business.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 9/1/07 3:11pm
Msg #209068

Or try searching "new signing agent". There's been quite a few people coming here and asking basically the same question, while the experienced people you want help from are posting questions about how to survive in this downward market. (Look down a few threads.) And the strongest recommendation you will get is to read and study what has already been posted before asking questions - because they have all probably been answered a gazillion times.

Good luck - and don't quit your day job!! ;> (NOT kidding!)

Reply by JanetK_CA on 9/1/07 3:13pm
Msg #209069

Above is for Ierva, not Loretta, obviously. ;>) n/m

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 9/1/07 3:10pm
Msg #209067

Ierva
Don't want to seem harsh, but do you really think, especially with todays market, that someone would help train their competition?
I have a signing service and you have no idea how many signing agents are listed in Osceola and Orange county that I have to select from. Many of them with several years experience that I would call first before a new notary/signing agent.
This is not a good time to get into this business.

Reply by Nick/MD on 9/2/07 8:41am
Msg #209129

I totally agree Sylvia. I also have a signing company with agents who are very effected to this slow market. I feel bad that I don't have work for the people that have been with me for several years, let alone a new person. Many of my people are looking for other work or part time jobs now.

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 9/2/07 9:14am
Msg #209132

I have been lucky that I have picked up another title company a couple of months ago wanting to use my signing service. They had been getting their own notaries, but had got some who didn't know what they were doing and were obviously new to the business, so they decided to use a signing service that guaranteed the work, and I was recommended to them.
So, the slow down I was experiencing is being made up some by the addition of the added title company.
And luckily the agent is able to set their own time, so if they have picked up a part time job to help out, they can usually fit in a signing or two that day. Very rarely have the title company set the time for the signing. And in most cases the docs aren't date sensitive so they can do the signing the next day if it is convenient with them and the borrower.

Reply by jba/fl on 9/2/07 1:53pm
Msg #209161

Ierva: I work Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Brevard counties,

and I have no work to speak of these days. I have been doing this for 6 years now, and am now looking for other work. can you help me? Did you just leave a job? Have they re-hired to replace you? Will you recommend me? I am error free in my work (which you were not in your post), will work 24/7 if need be and will travel throughout central Florida to accomplish my tasks. Please reply quickly before I starve. Thank you.

Reply by RickinVA on 9/2/07 2:40pm
Msg #209164

Re: Ierva: I work Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Brevard count

IF I had to guess, and so far, I do, it's Land Am One stop and Countrywide.
They've both done it to me in the last several weeks. They can't seem to get
it together.

Rick

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 9/2/07 2:49pm
Msg #209166

Re: n/m

Reply by CJ on 9/3/07 10:27am
Msg #209190

Splitting my paycheck

Borrowers are asking me all the time, "Gee, your job looks like a lot of FUN! Is it LUCRATIVE?" (salivate, salivate) "How much to do get paid per job? And how many jobs do you do a week? How many did you do today?". I look around at their big, nicely furnished home, lots of toys, expensive cars in the driveway, and I realize, "Gee, they are at home tonight while they sign, and I am at work". I have a single wide mobile home, drive a car I bought for $2,000 many years ago. I know if I train these people, they will just be taking my work, since they obvioulsy live in my territory. I used to try to politey evade the question. After a while, I realzed how rude it is to ask me all these VERY personal details about my job, and I would NEVER ask any these same questions about their job. Plus, I am at work and I HAVE to be polite and profesional, whereas, they can be as rude as they like. I tell them, "I'm sorry, but this is my LIVLIHOOD, and I cannot afford to tell you anything. But I'll tell you this: you are at home tonight with your family, and I am at work. I work days, nighty, weekends and holidays. I work Christmas Eve, Thanksgiving morning, and New Year's day. I don't get reibured for milage or anything. I don't have benifits, vacations, or sick days. If I turn down a job, and 'Suzie' take it, they will call her next time. Signing companies call me up for a certain time, and then the borrowers want to switch it, so I have missed things I have planned to do with my kids, like attend school events. I have had to come home from a vacation early becuase they borrowers who refused to sign, changed their minds. I took an "open time" signing, but since they were flying out of town in the morning, I had to be at their house at 5:00 a.m. I took a 4:00 pm. signing, and the email docs were late. He had to MC a live award show on TV, so he could not sign later. I signed him at 11:30 at night when it was all over. And if I make a mistake, I have to go back on my time for FREE. I could NEVER do this job if I had little kids. I am so glad that my kids are old enough to take care of themselves, and my husband likes to cook." (Her husband usually make a yukky face at that point.) (And my husband really does like to cook. Every night I come home to a yummy dinner, and a REALLY messy kitchen. No compliants though.)

All of this is true. But what I REALLY want to say is, "How about you train me to do your job, and split your paycheck with me, and then I will train you to do my job and split my paycheck with you." The borrowers are already ALWAYS making more money then me. They want to take the money I use to pay the bills for their manicures and mad money. I can SEE that they have enough money all ready, and the mom just wants something to do and more money to spend. I say, "Wow. You are so lucky. If my husband coud support me, I would stay home in a heartbeat and do lots of hobbies, like scrapbooking and quilting."

I'm all worked up now.

And that was when business was good. Now I am down 50% -- in the busy month. In the slow month, when I am normally down 50%, then it will be cut in half again, and I will be at 75%. So NOW in my spare time, I am cold calling looking for more work, which of course there isn't any, since notaries are a dime a dozen in my area.

I live in the suburbs. You need a lot of houses to make the job work, but with a lot of houses, comes a lot of ohter notaries in the area. So I'm screwed any way you look at it. Good thing I have been buying donuts for everyone at Kinkos on a regular basis. I think they will hire me if things get worse. They know I will work all crazy hours, and I see the job through, so I am a good candidate for them.

Reply by Brenda Stone on 9/3/07 10:41am
Msg #209191

Re: Splitting my paycheck

CJ, The world is full of rude idiots. Stop fighting them. Just learn to placate their rudeness with polite idiot talk.

Reply by CJ on 9/3/07 10:44am
Msg #209193

Placating.

I do stay chipper and polite at their house, but I am appalled and livid when I drive away.

One time a borrower got so worried about my sob story that she gave me the phone number to some HR people to save me from this terrible job. That was a couple years ago when things were good.