Posted by JanetLA on 4/21/09 10:31am
Msg #285788

Closing Masters- Disguisting

Before I realized the error in my acceptance, I took a signing from this company in March. Of course, I checked them out and regreted it after the fact. They called me for a second one, which I turned down.... They hung up on me when I gave the reason for the decline of the second order. However, of course now it has been over 30 days and they will not pay.(predictable, right?) When I sent an email to request payment, they replied with a rude and threatening message. (which I will forward to anyone that wants to read it.) They told me that notaries had been contacting them telling them that I posted that they did not pay me (which is not true until now) and further, they threatened me that if I post negative information here that they would report me to Notary Rotary and that it was illegal for me to slander them... Of course, it would only be slander if it were untruths that were spoken([e-mail address] (not written) about them. It would be libel for posting something untrue, and it is not libel because this is TRUE information. In any event, for all you folks that post the positive information about this company, I am not sure if they chose to selectively pay you for some reason, or if you really even ever worked for them. I don't report untrue information EVER and I am not scared of their threats. Don't work for this company. They are dishonest and won't pay as promised. PS-To Closing Masters: My phone number is listed if your attorney would like to contact me.

Reply by JanetLA on 4/21/09 11:35am
Msg #285791

So to update: Closing Master called the police on me today

for trying to collect from them.... I told the officer that called me about the situation. She laughed when I told her that I would have to be arrested because I will continue to try to collect from them... I am still free, so evidently it is not a high priority of the BRPD... The people that hire Closing Masters called and were very interested. Closing Masters LIED to them and told them that I have been paid. Wow... But the good news is that I told her that they are very interested in the fact that Closing Masters does not pay on time. They further told me that if I am not paid, they will deduct it from Closing Masters pay and send it to me. Good to hear....

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 4/21/09 11:37am
Msg #285792

Are you kidding me? They called the police on you?

That's absolutely absurd!!! That must have been one heck of a demand letter you sent there, Missy!!...LOL

Reply by JanetLA on 4/21/09 11:42am
Msg #285793

Funny right?

I sent them an email telling them that the police called but that I would continue to try to collect from them. They lied to the cops too, telling the cops that I kept calling them. NOT true. I have only called them one time. I have however, called and emailed and faxed notes to the Title Company, etc to report this non-payment... They are unbelievable... But I will have to admit, it was entertaining that they thought it was OK to report me to the police, when they are the dishonest ones.

Reply by Dennis D Broadbooks on 4/21/09 11:54am
Msg #285797

There's a Saying...

..."the best defense is a good offense". If everything you're stating here is true in my opinion the "offense" is being committed by Closing Masters. I'd think the police would be interested in following up with someone filing a false complaint. As an aside, how is this company still able to maintain a 4 star rating in Signing Central?

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 4/21/09 12:28pm
Msg #285803

Re: There's a Saying...

I may be mistaken, but isn't this the company that is requiring notaries to come here and post a positive review as a condition for payment?

Msg #280944 indicates he was asked to "share his experience".


You'll notice an onslaught of positive postings about them starting about 2 months ago from a lot of people who have never posted here before. I mean... it's way more than the average number of positive posts that even the best services get. That alone makes me curious.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 4/21/09 8:09pm
Msg #285841

And it skews their ratings - hence their request? Sneaky! n/m

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 4/21/09 11:51am
Msg #285794

The Police??

They called the police over a CIVIL business matter?

You are allowed to pursue all legal collection efforts in order to get the money you are owed. Of course, if they think you are harassing them, they can complain, but harassment is a relative term to many.

As for calling the police over libel/slander? Seriously? Those are torts... civil wrongs. You can be sued, but nobody is going to arrest you.

Frankly, calling the police about a libel/slander complaint is an abuse of the system. Harassment? No... but a lot of people don't understand what true harassment is.

Reply by JanetLA on 4/21/09 12:05pm
Msg #285799

Yep. The police.

But the funny thing is that the police officer that took their call didn't come to my house. She called me on the phone and sounded amused about his call. They lied to the police saying that I keep calling them, which is NOT true. I have only called them one time. As far as harrasment, I have better things to do. However, I did fax and email the title company regarding the non-payment. I would do that again, and will likely do it again if I am not paid what I am due. What a dramatic effort by them to try to make me stop collection...

Reply by Becca_FL on 4/21/09 8:39pm
Msg #285847

Now I've heard it all...A deadbeat SS calling the PoPo?

Give me a break! Keep calling the company that is using this deadbeat SS and informing them of this SSs reputation. IMO, Harry should make "Closing Masters" one of those error message phrases such as 321notary because it is more than obvious that this crappy SS is trying to use NotRot posts to not only increase their rating here, but also their SEO rankings. I swear, some of these SS owners think we are ALL idiots.

Fight on, JanetLA, we have your back!

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 4/21/09 12:11pm
Msg #285800

Re: Closing Masters- Disgusting

Omigosh!

Hmm if they had arrested you, you could have sued Closing Masters for false arrest - and probably got punitive damages.

I am sure Harry is aware that notaries post negative information about companies that do not pay and is shaking in his boots at the thought of Closing Masters calling him to let him know. LOL!

Reply by JanetLA on 4/21/09 12:26pm
Msg #285802

What? Overnighting a check today? Really?

That is amazing. Now that they know I am not going away... They are overnighting it and "stopping payment on the check that they already sent out".... Weird that when the title company gets involved the pay up.

Reply by ME/NJ on 4/21/09 12:33pm
Msg #285804

Theft of Services Option in NJ

You need to do a few things before you file in NJ.

Show proof of invoice's and you did the signing.
Send Certified letter with drop dead date (7-10days)

Save all of the above and go to police deparment. In NJ this is a big offense and a warrant will be issued for the arrest of the owner. If you go this way you cannot go after the money anymore.

Reply by MW/VA on 4/21/09 2:25pm
Msg #285813

I've known people who use police as a "scare tactic". It is, as Marion pointed out, and abuse of the system. We've had a few companies make threats here on the Board, too. You're correct--slander is about making false statements to ruin a person's reputation. It's not about reporting companies that don't pay & show disrespect to those in this profession.
Many companies don't like that we use this Board to compare notes, and use Signing Central to "rate" companies. Since we're independent contractors, this collaborative effort helps us all. Thanks for posting the tactics of this company.

Reply by Calnotary on 4/21/09 2:42pm
Msg #285816

I should put a disclaimer on every signing that I do in the future that if the signing is not paid on or before the 30 days a comment will be post it on NOT ROT

Reply by Jenny Basantes1 on 4/21/09 6:22pm
Msg #285834

get in the habit of asking when they pay

I love to get paid right away, only a few companies do this. I am okay with 2 weeks, but do not want to get paid 4-6 weeks on a job, time spent, printing etc that I do TODAY and as a rush! I have learned to calmly listen and then before I almost accept ask the big question, "when do you pay?" and repeat to them "4-6 weeks???" and tell them, they can call me back when they can pay within 2 weeks, and gently decline. If I want to earn my money, I want to get paid right away. Waiting 4-6 weeks to me, is almost like not getting paid. And most likely will not get paid. just my humble opinion...

Reply by JanetLA on 4/21/09 6:28pm
Msg #285835

I don't mind 30 days and there are a handful

of companies that I will wait 45 days for. The title companies that I work for on a regular basis will often write me one check for several closings, rather than write one for each closing. I am good with all of this, and 30 days is no problem. However, I did ask Closing Masters and they assured me that it was net 30 days...

Reply by Todd/OH on 4/21/09 8:08pm
Msg #285840

The police?

The police have much higher priority items to look after - never mind that this wouldn't involve them anyway. It shows to me that Closing Masters doesn't know how to handle things.

Reply by Carmen/123 on 4/21/09 9:42pm
Msg #285854

Janet...are you sure it was the police that called you or was it someone pretending that they were the police? I ask because awhile ago SOX use to call us here at the office and pretend to be make believe attorneys, from the SOS etc.

Reply by JanetLA on 4/22/09 7:22am
Msg #285878

Carmen: Yes, I verified the numbers. Genuine coppers n/m

Reply by 101livescan on 4/21/09 11:42pm
Msg #285864

What a riot! Ha, ha, ha!

Thank you for sharing with all of us how out of control this became, and not your fault, just seeking payment. Good to hear the TC will pay you directly.

Another company makes the %hit list.