Posted by ALL SONOMA MOBILE NOTARY - Judith Neeley on 2/20/08 4:31pm
Msg #236282

What about faxing an Order Confirmation with details?

Does anyone do this? Say you get a call to do a signing, and you discuss the details including price and when you'll get paid, any specific policies you might have (no shows - loan doesn't close but you still get paid, etc)....so then you have a form you fill out with the general info and your agreed price and policies - and fax that to them to sign and fax back to you to confirm the order??? This could eliminate a lot of the payment issues and ease collections if you have agreements in writing up front before even going out on a job. It would also give you the teeth to collect in small claims, if necessary. Is anyone already doing this, and how does it work for you?

Reply by CopperheadVA on 2/20/08 4:54pm
Msg #236292

It sounds good in theory, but I'm not sure that many hiring companies would comply. They'll probably just move on to the next notary.

Reply by Margaret_FL on 2/20/08 7:18pm
Msg #236307

Just as they send you a contract to sign, you also can send them YOUR contract that states your requirements.

Reply by Les_CO on 2/20/08 10:19pm
Msg #236330

The good companies do this. They let you know what their policies are, as to no signs, cancellations, print fee, etc. and confirm the agreed upon signing price. If they don’t do this… I’d be hesitant in working for them. This has been discussed MANY times.

Reply by CopperheadVA on 2/21/08 6:01am
Msg #236338

Les, ALL SONOMA was talking about having her own form that she requires the SS or TC to sign as to her terms and policies, and they must sign and fax back to her before she will accept the job. I'm not sure many companies would comply with this readily without just going to the next notary on the list. Of course, I may be wrong.

Reply by Les_CO on 2/21/08 10:00am
Msg #236357

I agree. If it’s a Title Company, by the time you, or they, run it past their legal dept. the loan will have been long closed. If it’s a legit SS, getting to the owner, or someone empowered to sign, and getting them to look at your “contract” could be difficult. If it’s a deadbeat, they don’t care, since they don’t plan on paying you in the first place. Most will just go to the next notary on the list.

Reply by sue_pa on 2/21/08 7:45am
Msg #236341

They're NOT going to do it. Number one, the person scheduling often times is just an employee - they have no authority to sign contracts on behalf of their employer. As someone else said, they'll just move on. Many times they are on a deadline to get theorder filled. As someone else said, many companies have those exact same terms spelled out on their confirmation - many also don't. Sad to say, in most other businesses, this would be the way things are handled but if you want to work in this business, you play by the client's rules or you don't play.

Reply by ALL SONOMA MOBILE NOTARY - Judith Neeley on 2/21/08 12:25pm
Msg #236374

More of what I meant...

When I get called to do a loan doc signing, we agree up front on fees, policies, etc before the docs are even sent to me. My concept is to have a ready-made form where I fill in the details for the job - the items we agreed upon. Then I would fax it back to them just to confirm the details. I really wouldnt need them to sign and fax back because one statement would be that these are the details we agreed to by phone, and by nature of them sending the docs to me (or sending me out on the job) that these terms apply unless they notify me in advance.

It seems that a lot of the posts here are from people who have SS that change the terms, say the notary charged too much after the fact and want to argue price, don't want to pay for waiting or whatever you charge extra for, etc. "If it isn't written, it isn't true". If you do end up in small claims court, you have this to show what you agreed to up front. Just having that will probably eliminate some of the miss-communications - or at least claims of such so they can't be used as easily for an excuse.

Certainly there are riff raff out there who just scam - and if they move on - great! This saves you from wasting your time. If you do go on a job and you don't get paid, you can use this to help you negotiate getting that $ before filing small claims. Having your policies and agreements written down that you can fax back after agreeing to them on the phone just adds weight to your cause. You've already agreed to do the job...you just put the facts in writing to be sure you are all on the same page as to what you agreed to. OH well. It was an idea.

Reply by Les_CO on 2/21/08 2:59pm
Msg #236415

Re: More of what I meant...

Actually it's a good idea. It just won't work. (IMO) You are welcome to try it yourself, say on the next 10 deals you are offered, I'd like to know the results.

Reply by Lee/AR on 2/21/08 4:00pm
Msg #236432

Waaay back when, this faxing really is how it was done. They called. They faxed order. You signed or clarified unclear things or added your stips & faxed it back. All in writing. With fax reports to prove it. It really was more businesslike than it is now.

Reply by Keys_Notary on 2/21/08 11:08pm
Msg #236506

I email an 'estimate' after receiving the confirmation with all of the stips and require them to sign and return to me either email or fax. T/C's usually sign and send back within 5 minutes.
SS's ignore it, then I call and ask for it, if they refuse or no one has authority I don't do the job. Way I see it if they won't sign agreeing to pay the amount in their own confirmation, they probably won't pay either