Posted by Marie Methner on 10/30/08 8:08am
Msg #268635

Blue Sky Closings-Warning

I was removed from this companies call list because I inquired on this website about being paid in a timely manner. I said nothing bad, I was just wondering (in view of the times and with so many companies closing down) if anyone had any information about the company. What concerned me about the company was that when I called during normal business hours, no one answered the phone. This always makes me nervous. I just received a message from someone else that they were also removed from the companies call list, because of this website.

Just a warning - if you inquire about this company on this website - you will be "Black listed"

Reply by sue_pa on 10/30/08 8:49am
Msg #268638

Doesn't sound like a company anyone would want to work for anyway. Black listed by a generic signing service ... quite scary ... or not.

Reply by Meridith Closings on 10/31/08 3:24pm
Msg #268774

sue_pa, we are not a generic signing company. We have been in Tampa, FL for 5 years. Nothing "scary".

This is Marie's quote copy pasted exactly as she typed: Just a warning - if you inquire about this company on this website - you will be "Black listed"


That is "scary" that a person that I count on to be professional would type such a false statement. Please don't hesitate to call me if you have any further questions about this.

Reply by LisaWI on 10/30/08 9:13am
Msg #268639

So Marie, did you receive payment? I looked at the post in question and did not see anything wrong with it. Perhaps Blue Sky can come on board and explain why you were removed for basically protecting yourself from non-payment. Its a sad sad day when we cannot come on NotRot and ask about a particular company especially involving payment issues.

Reply by Meridith Closings on 10/31/08 3:31pm
Msg #268775

LisaWI, thank you for asking me to come on board I am happy to address any concerns. You are right - t would be a sad day if you couldn't come on NotRot & ask about a company. Marie also stated that someone "called" her to say that they had been blacklisted as well. The "blacklist" is in front of me & her's is the only name put on in in several months. Her fellow members on our company's blacklist have either botched up several closings (as I do believe in second chances & I also believe that everyone makes honest mistakes) or conducted themselves with the utmost unprofessionalism that Blue Sky Closings will not tolerate. And yes, downright lying in a public forum that causes us to have diffuculty singing on closers is considered unprofessional.

Reply by notaryinmo on 10/30/08 10:10am
Msg #268643

I did a closing for them back in mid June '08 and was paid about 5 weeks later with no problems.

Reply by SReis on 10/30/08 10:13am
Msg #268644

Never had an issue w/pymt from Blue Sky n/m

Reply by goodgirl on 10/30/08 10:18am
Msg #268646

I certainly wouldn't worry about it. You don't want to work for a company like this that is so affected by an honest question in today's financial climate.
I can guarantee you I will never work for them if they call.
I appreciate your post.

Reply by Carla Reed on 11/5/08 8:39am
Msg #269040

Meredith/Blue Sky? great person! very professional! Always gets back to the notary in a timely fashion. No probs

Reply by MW/VA on 10/30/08 6:26pm
Msg #268695

What kind of company would do that? Don't they understand that not all the posts are negative? IMO Signing Central is equally important to notaries & companies. When I was starting out I didn't know of a place to go to check on companies. There is something very strange about a company that "blacklists" someone for participation here. I do understand that what when we post we need to be aware that anyone could be viewing, and our reputation is at stake. This is so scary--a "Big Brother is watching" kind of thing.

Reply by Meridith Closings on 10/31/08 3:38pm
Msg #268777

Reading through the other postings, I don't believe it is necessary to comment on all of them. For the most part they seem to be commenting on Marie's false comments. So hopefully I have cleared this situation up for everyone. If I haven't, PLEASE contact me at any of the numbers or email address that I previously posted. For those of you that are staying positive in this day in our industry, thank you for your genuine comments. Just a side note: I took over ownership of this company in March of 2008, so any postings prior to that I cannot comment on. The previous owner is no longer in this industry so I cannot speak for him. But I can tell you that he managed Blue Sky Closings fairly & honestly or I would not have purchased this company from him. He genuinely cared for closers & made certain that everyone was paid & treated as he would want to be treated as a notary himself.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 10/31/08 1:02am
Msg #268722

I don't really understand that kind of attitude, either, unless they had something to hide. I didn't see the other posts, but if they are on the up and up, for all they know, you'll get positive replies.

Having said that, I'll generally give them the benefit of the doubt if all else sounds OK and if I don't find any negatives. Most of the time, no news is good news, but like so many said, in this climate, you just never know.

Reply by notaryinmo on 10/31/08 9:54am
Msg #268744

Looking over my records for companies that have been researched- I've noticed that there are two Blue Sky companies. One is Blue Sky Settlement Service, the other is Blue Sky Closings. Are they one and the same? I've worked for Blue Sky Closings earlier in the year. They were most helpful, very friendly and paid in about 5 weeks. That's not too bad, considering the economy.

Reply by UKCowboy_CA on 10/31/08 11:06am
Msg #268748

What has the economy to do with getting paid in a timely manner? They still get paid on time.

Reply by notaryinmo on 10/31/08 11:14am
Msg #268749

Simple - a lot of companies aren't paying anything at all. To be paid in 5 weeks, I don't consider that too bad - but it beats the heck out of not getting paid at all!

Reply by UKCowboy_CA on 10/31/08 12:25pm
Msg #268757

You get what you accept. A professional always establishes what is acceptable upfront.
If you accept not getting paid they will not pay you. Using the economy as an excuse is completely non sequitor.

Reply by notaryinmo on 10/31/08 12:48pm
Msg #268759

lol...yeah - Since July 4th is a national holiday that the USPS doesn't deliver, the check was running a little late. However, It was dated within 30 days. I have no problems with a company paying me for work I've performed. To have a company not pay me is another entire matter.

I was attempting to point out that there are two Blue Sky companies and wanted to alert everyone to that fact. This may not be the same company that is being complained about.

It seems to me like you are trying to argue a point, and I'm not really sure what point you are trying to make. If not, then please accept my apology.

Reply by notaryinmo on 10/31/08 1:05pm
Msg #268761

Did you get paid for this?

Reply by T/IA on 10/31/08 2:52pm
Msg #268769

Re: Black listed

Same thing happened to me with Hardcore Solutions. As soon as I posted to see if anyone was experiencing late payments, I was immediately removed from their list.

I did receive my payment and the situation was one where they mailed check to incorrect address. I then posted that I had received payment.

Reply by Meridith Closings on 10/31/08 3:10pm
Msg #268772

Re: Black listed

Let's set the record straight. I am the owner of Blue Sky Closings, LLC. NOT Blue Sky Settlement; not anything other than Blue Sky Closings, LLC out of Tampa, FL. I will start by saying I am always available for your questions. My office number is 727.742.9117, my cell number is 813.325.8300, my email is [e-mail address], my website is www.blueskyclosings.com and lastly my efax is 813.433.5295. I will address every comment necessary-the false as well as the true. We all need to realize that there are 2 sides to every story & even some of you enjoy the negative more than the positive, that is your choice. I will simply state the facts.

Reply by Meridith Closings on 10/31/08 3:16pm
Msg #268773

Marie Methner was NOT removed from my list because she posted on this forum. I encourage all of you to keep posting. But post the truth. Marie was removed from my list due to her lack of professionalism. She was indeed paid & the check has cleared our bank account. She has yet to mention that she was indeed paid as agreed, but again it's her choice to focus on the negative. Our contract (that Marie signed) with all closers states that you will be paid in 30-45 days and she most certainly was. I understand that 30-45 days might be too long for some of you. If that is the case please don't accept a closing from us. We sometimes don't get paid in 45 days, but that is the way this crazy business goes.

Reply by notaryinmo on 10/31/08 4:47pm
Msg #268781

I'm a bit confused Marie. If you inquired at the beginning of September about this company, why are you just now letting everyone know about the "blacklist" issue? If that were me, I would have acted on it as soon as I knew about it - not almost two months after the fact.

Reply by Marie Methner on 11/1/08 10:11pm
Msg #268850

Re: Blue Sky Closings

I decided to let you know because I was notified in private e-mail recently that someone else was removed as well. I didn't do enough work for this company to worry about it back then. I don't know why they would tell me they had been removed, if it wasn't true. What would be the point. I was paid for the closing, and I am sorry I didn't say that in the forum. The reason I was concerned was that the phone was not answered, business line or cell.

Reply by Meridith Closings on 11/3/08 9:32am
Msg #268904

Re: Blue Sky Closings

The phone wasn't answered because you called after our 7PM business hours. You called 3 times. All calls within an hour of each other. Our phones go to voicemail usually just after 7PM. You neglected to mention that I did call you the next morning to let you know your check had already been mailed. You also neglected to mention that you called after business hours, woke up posted your comments THEN spoke to me. You didn't give us a chance to call you back. And most importantly you neglected to let others know that you were paid as agreed in the contract that you signed with Blue Sky Closings. You jumped to conclusions. I know that a lot of you are getting "burned" out there, so I do see why you jumped to such conclusions. But what I don't understand is that I asked you to clear up in forum that your call was returned on the next business day & I asked you to confirm that you had been paid. Both of which you refused to do. So in saying that I wish you the best of luck. I have spent more than ample time clearing this up.

Reply by LindaD/NJ on 11/4/08 11:40am
Msg #268982

Re: Blue Sky Closings

Just read all about Blue Sky Closings. In defense of Blue Sky, Meridith, I have been working for her for over two years. I have never had a payment or contact issue. She pays in 4 to 5 weeks like clock work as according to the contract I signed when I started working for her. If I contact her, she would at the latest get back to me the next business day. Blue Sky is one of the signing agencies that will pay a fare price for a closing, never anything else. I also consider her to be a business friend. Meridith stands behind you and would never ask you to do anything out of the ordinary. Blue Sky is fine in my book!

Reply by Suzanne Bower on 11/27/09 2:46pm
Msg #312343

Excellent experience with them. Very professional, paid within 5 weeks. Will work with them any time.