Posted by Samantha Reed on 1/29/08 7:11pm
Msg #233046

Need Advice!!!!

I did a signing for a Countrywide loan for CTC Notary and I received a phone call today saying that the "borrower called his loan officer to thank him for everything but thought their fees were high and that the notary signing agent (me) made the comment that "Countrywide is expensive"" I ABSOLUTELY DID NOT say anything of the sort. I never discuss or comment on any details/fees/costs/etc of the loan. He gave me a mini-lecture on how that could ruin relationships with lenders, etc. I told him that it was not true. Do you think the borrower used me as a scape-goat to complain about costs or is that CTC's way of being un-satisfied with my work? I made them agree to my full price or I wouldn't do the assignment. PLEASE HELP - how can I fix my now possibly tainted repputation with Countrywide - has anyone experienced anything like this before??? Sorry so long.

Reply by JinCA on 1/29/08 7:28pm
Msg #233051

Sorry to say I had a similar situation once where the borrower said I said something I didn't, while they were complaining about something to their L.O.. I never heard back from that SS again. Unfortunately, borrowers don't know that they are screwing us over when they make things up that we said. Sometimes the lenders and SS's believe you, and sometimes they don't, and unless you taped everything that was said during the signing there isn't much you can do, except keep insisting you did not say what they said you did.

Reply by JT Cook on 1/29/08 7:30pm
Msg #233052

Oh dont even worry about it...I made a mistake with ctc and everything was fine. That company works with you not aginst you and I got paid... I always get paid...

Reply by JanetK_CA on 1/29/08 7:39pm
Msg #233055

Most of us run into something like that if we're at this long enough. It is real easy for the LO to blame the notary for their own inadequacies.

I had one not too terribly long ago where there were two properties involved with two separate loans. (They were investment properties in the same city, easily confused.) It was a last minute, late afternoon call with docs to print, and borrowers were not happy about previous delays, etc. that came into the picture before I even got involved. At their home, we found out that some of the data on the docs had been mixed up between the two packages and there were misspellings of one borrower's name. There was no RTC, so they refused to sign anything and were not happy campers. Also, they were expecting company that night for a party and had thought they would be signing earlier in the day. (Royally pi$$ed may be a more accurate description...)

We rescheduled and when the new docs came, I immediately checked to see if the previous errors were fixed before contacting the borrowers again - and found more errors. I called the LO instead of the borrowers and let him handle it. Had I showed up a second time with docs like that, the borrowers would have completely backed out of the loans and found another LO. (They told me as much.) Long story short, the next day, I get a call from my client saying that they wanted a different notary -- this after I'd invested tons of time and saved the LOs rear -- and possibly his sale by catching his mistakes for him. But I ended up somewhat paying the price. (I think I just got paid for the first trip.) I don't think I want to know what lame story the LO told them to put the blame on me.

Point being, that "stuff happens", as they say. Probably the best thing to so is to suck it up and move on. The more you protest, the more you sound like a whiner. I think this is pretty much a no-win situation, unless you decide to not let it get you down. This is where you are either grateful for your thick skin -- or you begin to develop one. Someone else may have a better idea.

Reply by jba/fl on 1/29/08 7:49pm
Msg #233056

Do as JanetK Ca says and remember Shakespere's line: Me thinks thou dost protest too much.

Don't be a whiner, take it in stride. If the SS doesn't think that others lie, they have bigger problems. Old sales phrase: Buyer's are liars. (they will lie about anything to put themselves into a better light - that is human nature.)

I know it's hard - let it go. Altho to be fair to you and how you are feeling right now, I've had buyers lie about me - one told the TC that I smoked in their house! - and I did rant for days bending anyone's ear who would listen, but did that w/friends, not TC or SS, whoever the case may be. It is funny now, and one day this will be another story to put in your book if you ever decide to write one.

Reply by CaliNotary on 1/29/08 7:49pm
Msg #233057

It's definitely a no win situation. Borrowers lie, they twist your words around into something that you never said, loan officers lie, signing services lie, and we're the easy scapegoat. All you can do is tell what happened and they'll either believe you or they won't.

Reply by Samantha Reed on 1/29/08 7:49pm
Msg #233058

Thanks - I just really wanted to hear some opinions on the matter. This is the first time I came across a situation like this!

Reply by Phillip/TX on 1/30/08 10:21am
Msg #233105

RTC

Why would there be a RTC in an investment property in the first place???? RTC is only required on a homesteaded property.

Reply by Becca_FL on 1/29/08 7:51pm
Msg #233059

Hi Samantha,

I'm sorry this has happened to you. Yes, I have had this happen once. It was a CW I did for EFS. Having been a preferred closer in good standing, the EO (Melissa) on the deal called me first thing to ask what was up. At this point I had closed many loans for her, had worked for the company for 2 years and had a very high rating on their internal database. I explained to her how the closing progressed, what questions the borrowers asked me and the answers I had given. I let her know that I know how to answer questions posed by borrowers and if a question about fees was brought up, I would have called someone. Melissa said, "yeah, I know. sometimes the borrowers or LOs like to use you guys as a scape goat. No problem, I know you did the right thing."

In this situation, I had longevity on my side and an EO that knew when someone was blowing smoke. IMO, I don't think you've lost much with CTC. Now, you need to market more, find the good companies to work for that back you up and push on. Don't let this little bump become a speed bump in your day.

People do some strange things; shift blame, tell tall tales and do what ever to make them feel better, don't let it eat you up. You know what really happened.

Reply by LKT/CA on 1/29/08 8:08pm
Msg #233060

One interesting comment found about this SS is that "they devise a reason not to pay you". I wonder if this accusation really came from the borrower? Could this all possibly be a ruse to reduce your fees?

Reply by Samantha Reed on 1/29/08 8:21pm
Msg #233061

I read the same comment when I researched them before I did the signing. I was very careful to do EVERYTHING right because of that comment. Thats why I thought maybe they made it up since everything else was right!

Reply by Philip Johnson on 1/29/08 8:36pm
Msg #233065

Call the borrower and ask them. n/m

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 1/30/08 9:51am
Msg #233100

Re: Call the borrower and ask them.

I disagree - getting confrontational with the borrower won't accomplish anything and might even make matters worse...borrower is going to deny then go running back to LO to report the call...MHO

Reply by desktopfull on 1/30/08 10:21am
Msg #233106

I agree with you Linda, you aren't going to track down who

told the falsehood. Unless it's something like this: I had a borrower call the TC and complain that I never showed up for their closing. Fortunately I had the signed docs to prove I really was there. The TC actually made me FAX the docs to them to prove I was telling the truth, they wouldn't just take my word for it that I had been there and completed the signing. After receiving the FAX they called back and wanted to know why I thought the borrower's would do such a thing? LIKE I WAS SUPPOSED TO KNOW!!!!! Sheeeeeeeish. I told them that I knew the borrower's were old, but had not appeared to be senile or I wouldn't had notarized or completed the closing and would have called them immediately.

Reply by HudsonBayCA on 1/30/08 4:12pm
Msg #233183

Re: Need Advice!!!! - This has happend to me also and.......

I bet to a lot of notaries public. I wrote a rebuttal and demanded an apology from the borrowers who lied about what I had said. Needless to say, I didn't receive an apology nor would I have accepted one from those lowlifes.