Posted by Leon_CO on 11/7/08 1:41pm
Msg #269230

'Just go. They're expecting you.'

I think just about every notary signing agent has heard this one. You've tried to reach the borrowers to confirm the appointment, but couldn't for some reason. You call the company that contacted you and are told:

'Just go. They're expecting you.'

Easy for them to say. They aren't the ones who have to do the driving. But there is a reason why we have to reach the borrowers. Yes, they may be expecting us. And they are expecting us to come to the right address.

I got a call to do a closing today. The house number that I was given was '4269'. But when I called the borrower, she told me her house number is '4629'.

Just some food for thought to companies who tell you to 'Just go ...'

Good luck.

Reply by RedBaron/IN on 11/7/08 1:57pm
Msg #269232

I have had that same experience. Also, the telephone contact number is sometimes incorrect.

Reply by snoopdogMs on 11/7/08 2:01pm
Msg #269233

Usually the errors(house and phone #s) are on the confirmation sheets and not the docs. Might be prudent to review the address on the documents before you go if you cannot make contact with the borrower.

Reply by Leon_CO on 11/7/08 2:07pm
Msg #269234

** Might be prudent to review the address on the documents before you go if you cannot make contact with the borrower. **
-------------------------------------------
There are many other reasons why we have to contact the borrower.

I had a 'Just go ...' a few months ago. I finally was able to reach the borrower's wife. She told me her husband was in ... Ireland!

Reply by snoopdogMs on 11/7/08 4:20pm
Msg #269244

That is true Leon. My post was in response to yours about the borrowers address only. I have never made a trip without first speaking and confirming the time.

Reply by TRG_wy on 11/7/08 2:13pm
Msg #269235

That's true and i'm sure if we HAD the docs it wouldn't be an issue. However, whenever I have encountered this same problem the docs are already with the signer(s).

Reply by pat/WA on 11/7/08 2:35pm
Msg #269237

Heres one for the books!!
I confirmed the appointment with the husband when he answered my call.
When I arrived at the appointment the wife said WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? The documents had arrived by UPS at the borrower's home but evidently the husband had not mentioned to his wife that he had arranged to refinance their home.
They signed after she insisted on reading every word. I think it probably got really interesting after I left.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 11/7/08 2:36pm
Msg #269238

I won't "just go"....too many variables and unknowns

Just a few of the things I've heard:

1. Appointment is for 7:00 - "we work from 6 pm until 6 am."
2. Finally reach borrowers and am told "You do realize we're in <<any state other than mine>>.." or
3. "I told them we can't do it then" or
4. "I told them we're not signing!!:
5. Property in county adjacent to me - borrowers tell me they're in a county 3+ hours away and have no intention of coming to this area...

That's just a few - in addition to the fact that we are so rural here there's no way I'll "just go" until I'm sure borrowers/signers are there and they're ready...

MHO

Reply by jba/fl on 11/7/08 2:50pm
Msg #269239

Re: I won't "just go"....too many variables and unknowns

Another: when you live in toll country and it can cost $5-10 just in tolls, one finds it hard to get excited about 'just going'.

Reply by ChristineHI on 11/8/08 1:19am
Msg #269280

I won't "just go"....too many variables and unknowns

I have done this for 17 years.....no way will I go to a signing without talking with the borrowers first. There are Definately too many variables and unknowns.

Reply by Steven Pearce on 11/8/08 8:53am
Msg #269291

That happened to me

I was told to just go because the BO is waiting for me. Even the LO called to ask me where I was. I can't find the address, just the crossroads..... They sent me to the coast and the BO was on the other side of the state. Just happened to have the same crossroads.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 11/8/08 9:01am
Msg #269292

Re: That happened to me...yep

I like it when companies tell me "just go", give me what they consider spot-on directions and say "it's ten or twenty minutes from you" - the only thing ten minutes from me is the end of my dirt road!! 20 minutes gets me a little farther than that, but not much!! Like I said, I don't "just go" - and this is just another reason...

Reply by Kline - Anthony on 11/8/08 6:53pm
Msg #269322

Re: That happened to me...yep

Agreed... many companies I work with do a lot of broker work...and nothing is ever on point. If the closing is within a close distance and for some reason can't reach the borrower I will still go... but for the most part I will call the LO on the deal and explain I can't reach the borrower and ask them to conference in BO. Thank god only been really burned a small number of times in which case I charge a trip fee!

Reply by Bob_Chicago on 11/7/08 3:58pm
Msg #269243

We were supposed to meet at;

My job
The Bank
My Lawyer
My brother
The broker
or

Does my wife need to be there?
Lost my wallet last week
Do I need a cashier's check

etc, etc.

Reply by HrdwrkrVA on 11/7/08 4:58pm
Msg #269247

No one us we were signing today; my husband's in the hosp.

You can't find the house (for those of us still w/o GPS) & the borrower won't answ the phone 'cause they don't recognize the # - meanwhile, you're calling and calling and calling and calling...!!!!!!!

Reply by brass/LA on 11/7/08 5:26pm
Msg #269250

There is no way I would "just go" either! In my state we need two witnesses (notary cannot be one) for mortgages and deeds. That is one of the things I discuss when I make the confirmation phone call. Also verify the appointment time, location, and their need for current photo ID.

I certainly don't print any Edocs unless I have spoken with the borrowers and confirmed the appointment.

Reply by Yowheelz on 11/7/08 6:54pm
Msg #269253

Thats my rental, I live in a different state

Happened to me just today, fortunately I was able to find a correct phone number on the 1003. TC gave me two wrong numbers and was no help finding a correct number.

Reply by Linda Juenger on 11/7/08 6:59pm
Msg #269254

On the other hand.....

Had a 9pm scheduled for last night. Kept trying and trying to call. No answer, just machine. Had left a brief message. At 8:30, I decided to print docs anyway and just go. It was only a 10 min drive. Got there at 9. No one home. Sat in car for just a few minutes and here they came. They both just got off work. They were glad I waited. It worked out for me and them, thank goodness. Luck on my side this time, but have been burned also. Just never know.

Reply by Lee/AR on 11/7/08 8:41pm
Msg #269262

If I can't reach them & have exhausted all options (1003, phone book, etc.), I call the hiring co. & discuss the situation. If I go, I expect to be compensated if B's don't show up--but it's their call. Go & get paid, no matter what, or No Go & you pay for edocs if we can't use them later. Happened last night. Rescheduled (with a working phone # this time) and all is well. Paid for both trips.
Once or twice, with no B contact, I have just flat refused to go because I haven't a clue where the dang fool rural location is--and neither do they!

Reply by CaliNotary on 11/7/08 11:48pm
Msg #269277

I have no problem just going to the appointment without contacting the borrower if that's what they want, as long as they're willing to pay me full fee if the borrower is a no show. Getting 2 full fees but having one of the signings end up being 30 minutes or less (which is the max time I will ever wait for a no show) isn't the worst business deal in the world.

But if they're not willing to guarantee my fee, I ain't walking out the door until I've confirmed with the borrower.

Reply by LKT/CA on 11/7/08 9:36pm
Msg #269266

I call the borrowers to verify: date/time of appointment, correct address and so they can tell me if house is in gated community, rear house or to look for large dogs, and if signers have current ID. If I see "Jr. or Sr." on the docs, if the man's driver's license has Jr. or Sr.

One time I left messages and the husband finally called the next day to say not to come because his wife was in the hospital having a blood transfusion. Yikes !! This was a deed exchange for a timeshare and not date sensitive so we took care of it about 2 months later when she recovered. I always call and never just show up.

Reply by Teddog/CO on 11/8/08 6:38am
Msg #269282

LKT/CA

Agree with you 125% LKT. Never go "Just show-up" Always call to confirm, let them know you will require their current photo ID's and make sure you have their correct Address.

It's Never an appointment until we receive our fee confirmation and confirm the appointment with the Bwr's.

Reply by Frank Carpentier on 11/8/08 5:06pm
Msg #269315

Anyone who has been doing this work for some period of time really should know that when you contact the borrower to confirm the appointment, it's important to also confirm the address, correct spelling of the borrower's names as well as the fact that if one person is named on the signing request, to first ask the borrower if anyone else is signing on the loan. If they say that no one else is signing, and, if you live in a dower state, ask if they are married. If so, their spouse must sign certain docs. In addition, remind them that they must produce whatever identification and copies when you arrive. All this is important to make it a smooth closing. In the event that you can't confirm the appointment, it's also important to let the TC or service that gave you the assignment that information and then confirm that you will be paid even though the appointment can't be confirmed. This gets an awful lot done right up front. We don't need any more surprises than we ordinarily get

Reply by sue_pa on 11/10/08 9:22am
Msg #269357

As usual, I am odd man out. If my client tells me to go, I go. VERY seldom does it create a problem. When it does, it's as frustrating as can be but the percentage is so small it's not an issue for me.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 11/10/08 9:35am
Msg #269359

Re: 'Just go. They're expecting you.'....Sue

I think the opinion/practices here are based on region - if you were as rural as I am you'd have a different outlook on it - most travel time for me is 45-60 minutes...not something I'm going to do if it's up in the air whether or not the borrower knows I'm coming.

Reply by sue_pa on 11/10/08 4:04pm
Msg #269392

Re: 'Just go. They're expecting you.'....Sue

I'm guessing that most of mine are 20-45 minutes each way. Unless something really jumps out at me ahead of time, I basically will go, no matter what.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 11/11/08 2:57am
Msg #269421

Re: 'Just go. They're expecting you.'....Sue

I think Linda may have a point about different regions, but I think the client you're working for has a lot to do with it, also. If it's a long-term, solid business relationship with a company that pays well, that's a different ball game from some ss you've never worked for.


My favorite was a last minute call where the property address in the docs matched my confirmation and I was told that they were working late and would just be getting home by signing time. I get to the door and no one's answering, so I try calling them again. Fortunately, they answered this time. Turns out that it was a purchase (not what I was told) and they hadn't quite moved into the new house yet. Lucky for me, the old house where they still were was only about a block away and I didn't have to give up my precious parking space -- very hard to come by in that area (near the beach). Could have been much worse, but I was still not happy about it. (It was late and dark.)