Posted by goodgirl on 8/17/08 10:55am
Msg #260376

Question

Is there a way to figure out who has posted a message about a company who is infamous for non payment. I checked the signing central link and see that when someone posts a non complimentary payment issue about a co, a couple messages are then posted that compliment the co on their quick payment. Looks like someone is watching the message board and then seeding the negative comments with positive comments.
Thank you.

Reply by GA/Atty on 8/17/08 11:54am
Msg #260377

You can PM them and ask them. n/m

Reply by jba/fl on 8/17/08 11:57am
Msg #260378

Usually only by state. This forum has not done a complete update in so far as purging all cvomments since the beginning of time so the ratings reflect from the beginning of postings about a particular company. Yes, this is somewhat misleading as so many are struggling, out of business or getting ready to die a many times infamous death. If people don't keep current and register all their complaints, then even a few good ones can weigh heavily tipping the scales. Most important is staying current, and only use the current ratings, which means going beyond the cursory search and looking at stars only.

I really understand your frustration on this point.

Reply by jba/fl on 8/17/08 12:01pm
Msg #260380

For example: I looked at

Lender's First Choice, who was given 5 stars even though the poster from ID reported that the company closed their doors today (7-30-08 post)

Now, why would someone give an out of business company 5 stars? Just doesn't make sense. So their rating stands at 4 1/2 stars. If you do not read the comments, you would think that all is ok.

Reply by ReneeK_MI on 8/17/08 12:01pm
Msg #260381

No good way around it

If we could see who authors a comment, so could they - that would most likely prevent people from posting with complete honesty. Unfortunately, leaving the posts anonymous presents the same issues as anything else written anonymously on the Internet - there is no credibility where there is no accountability.

You can PM the poster, but that doesn't mean you'll ever get a response OR ever know the true identity of someone who doesn't want you to.

Reply by LKT/CA on 8/17/08 1:12pm
Msg #260384

Re: No good way around it

<<<If we could see who authors a comment, so could they - that would most likely prevent people from posting with complete honesty.>>>

I think people would still post with honesty because what they are posting is their experience with a company. If some are worried that their comment slanders or is libelous....well, an experience is a statement of fact. Such and such happened when "I" dealt with said SS or TC. If that's bad, oh well. It is then in the eye of the beholder whether the comments are an event, just a case of bad luck in that situation or a pattern of deadbeat behavior. I certainly would not have a problem sharing my experience and attaching my name to it.

If the entity doesn't want bad reviews then they need to operate with honesty and integrity.

Reply by sue_pa on 8/18/08 8:38am
Msg #260434

I personally think a rating system - to be useful - should be a checklist type because a lot of people on these boards seem to think differently than I do. Someone saying 'great company' may not equal my definition of 'great'. "Great" shouldn't be judged on one or two criteria. The total picture should be taken into consideration.

Timeliness of docs 1-5 (Blaming a signing service or title company for late docs isn't always accurate -although sometimes it is. If your client has one client and the docs are always late that's not a good situation. If your client has 10 clients and 9 of those are timely and 1 of those is always late, that's still a good client.)

Amount of compensation for required tasks 1-5 (do you have the knowledge and does your client expect you to point out errors to them? or do they expect you to point and sign?)

Ease of work 1-5 (do you receive 1 or 2 e-mails w/docs or routinely receive 7 or 8 with us having to substitute corrections in the package). Package splitting, faxing for funding number, etc. Do they give you what you need up front? Tell you how to collect funds (anything under $500 personal check, etc). Do they give you an overnight account number? Do you have after hours contacts? Do they tell you on your confirmation when they want 2 copies of certain docs signed (such as the Mortgage). Drives me nuts when I print the loan package and close it. I then open and print title docs and instructions and then I see 2 Mortgages. Back I go to the first e-mail. Only takes a few minutes but when we're running late a few minutes would be one less stress factor. Must you ask for all the little details that make our job easier?

Quibbling over compensation 1-5 (the majority of my clients know what I charge and we never even discuss fee.)

Communication 1-5 (drives me nuts when I must make a call and ask about docs - and I'm talking 15 minutes prior to the appt, not hours - and they have no idea and will make a call to check. I realize they're sitting in an office and doing other work - working on the closings they have paperwork for but we shouldn't have to ask). If they know fax backs are required, that should be divulged up front (since it seems to drive so many crazy). If package splitting is required with this client, that should be divulged.

Adherence to payment schedule 1-5 (goes without saying - if they pay on disbursement, twice a month, 30 days, 60 days, whatever, it should be done consistently)

LOYALTY 1-5 (would eliminate a A LOT of issues)

etc.