Posted by MD/agent on 3/5/08 3:30pm
Msg #238190

Mortgage Servicing Department, CA

Thought I should share this unpleasant experience.

Got a call to perform a closing tonight at 8:00pm in Silver Spring, MD. When receiving confirmation, there was no information of company, address, phones. I called Nick, my contact and he said that I was going to receive that information with the docs. I received docs sent from [e-mail address]. The company's name was Mortgage Servicing Department, toll free number, efax number, all was just typed as part of the message.

I checked the HUD and the settlement agent was Lenders First Choice and the signing fee to Portfolio Consulting LLC $300.00. Got instructions to send docs back to
1143 Sibley Street #400
Folsom, CA 95630 (strange, I was told first that company was located in Arizona, but then Nick confirmed it was actually California).

I did a California business search and nothing came up. When Nick called me to confirm receipt of docs I expressed my concern that I was not able to find anything on his company. He said he could get that information for me and I kindly apologized for asking many questions, but given the current market and with all companies going out of business, I needed to be extra careful. He said "I understand", then I asked him if his company was new in business, thinking that this could be the reason why I can't find information. Nick said his company has been in business for quite some time, and right after that he said that I was making him feel uncomfortable and that he had no problems in finding another notary, "that's not going to be a problem for me", he said. I was dissapointed, surprised, doubted for a moment, and then replied "Yes let's do that. Sorry", and he immediately hung up on me.

He said he found my name on 123.notary.com and I checked the zip code and I was number 34 on the list, because of the distance. One thing for sure.. I am not going to become unlucky number 34 now.

Watch out with suspicious signing offers like this one.
Thanks,
Janet

Reply by BrendaTx on 3/5/08 5:03pm
Msg #238197

Placer Title must be their neighbor

Placer Title Co. 1143 Sibley Street. Folsom, California 95630

Reply by Lee/AR on 3/5/08 7:34pm
Msg #238218

Good work, ladies. I smell a weasel. n/m

Reply by Christina Byrd on 3/5/08 7:54pm
Msg #238220

Re: Good work, ladies. I smell a weasel.

I have done work for Lender's First Choice for the past month and have gotten paid within the month of submitting my bill. I will work for Lender's First Choice anytime. Sorry you had a bad experience. I usually listen to my fellow notary's but I guess you have to base your experiency not only on others but on your own as well.

Reply by Linda Juenger on 3/5/08 8:57pm
Msg #238227

Did an LFC tonight. No problems at all. n/m

Reply by SheilaSJCA on 3/5/08 11:37pm
Msg #238241

Mortgage Servicing Department, CA or Portfolio Consulting

The concern is not with LFC or Placer Title, but with Nick who hired him. I think you were correct in being careful. Porfolia Consulting LLC, this is getting ridiculous! Do they really think we can't smell a signing service when we see one?

Reply by MD/agent on 3/6/08 9:23am
Msg #238263

You are correct Sheila

There is no issue with LFC. I just want to clarify that since I do work for them too, from time to time. I only mentioned that they were on the HUD as settlement agent, and that I was "hired" by an unknown source, for which I wasn't able to find any information whatsoever.
Thanks,
Janet

Reply by BrendaTx on 3/6/08 9:49am
Msg #238265

Re: Mortgage Servicing Department, CA or Portfolio Consulting

**The concern is not with LFC or Placer Title, but with Nick who hired him.**

I did not say there was an issue with Placer Title.

What I said was that they were neighbors.

Strategic locations can mean a lot.

Reply by MSFlorida on 3/6/08 10:24am
Msg #238271

Re: Mortgage Servicing Department, CA or Portfolio Consulting

I posted a couple of days ago about a Nick Lucia. This is the same company that I have been trying to collect from that contacted you. I completed a closing for him on Jan. 25,2008. My confirmation came from his office as well as docs. I billed him directly states right on the confirmation to fax or email invoice so I could be paid. My invoice was faxed that night and also emailed to him that night. I then proceeded to email him to ask if he received my invoice he never responded. I then waited until Feb. 26th to contact him directly by phone seeing how he was not responding to email but had to leave message. My invoice stated payment due 30 days from date of signing it is now March 6th still no payment or return call or email. I then contacted Title Co. Reunion Title they told me I would have to contact National Title services a Matt Perry I contacted him he stated he didn't hire me that he would try to get ahold of Nick and find out what is going on. I then proceeded to try Nick again got same old story from person answering phones and had to leave another message. This time I told him that if I didn't hear from him that I was starting Small Claims against him, Title Co., Washington Mutual, and borrower. Still no reply. The name of Nicks Company is Liberty One Mortgage services something to that effect per Matt Perry. I would suggest no one work for him he is not paying notaries and purposely hiring them knowing that he is not going to pay. There is also a name of Gene Quitasol on my confirmation so if anyone of them contact you don't take the closing. The address you were given is also the address that was given to me to send package back to. The notary fees on HUD were also 300.00 and going to a Portillo Consulting. If this doesn't give you warning signs I don't know what will. I will be starting small claims today it just sucks that i have to pay money out of my pocket just to get paid and hopefully to get paid.

Reply by Les_CO on 3/6/08 10:05am
Msg #238269

My question is: “Why would LFC hire an outside SS? Especially for $300.00? When they have their own people scheduling signings for between $50 and $80 depending on location. They have been doing this for months now?????