Posted by Dawn Patterson on 7/3/09 11:19am
Msg #294549

Beware of Fox Signing Services!

I was recently stiffed on a closing that I conducted for them in April 2009. I sent several emails, left numerous voicemail messages to no avail. I finally became fed-up with the constant run-around, and non-response and sent Jill Fox, a stern email. Her response was "you sound like a fool, and have your attorney contact me, I will block your email messages going forward". This is the owner of the company!

Please DO NOT accept signings from them, unless you wish to conduct the closing for free!

Trust me, and countless other notaires across the country who have also suffered a similar fate.

Reply by Sandra Clark on 7/3/09 11:32am
Msg #294552

Really old news. You should have used the orange search button - it is your friend.

Reply by njcloseit on 7/3/09 12:28pm
Msg #294558

Thanks for the current heads up!

Even though there is information in Signing Central.

It helps to keep the information fresh on our minds.

Reply by aatatusko on 7/3/09 6:49pm
Msg #294586

I totally agree, some of this may be old news

but every day some new notary, maybe even a brand new certified notary might be coming on this
website and not be aware of the non payment issues of some of these SS. Anyone who is bothered
by this type of post is just...well...just...you fill in the blank.

Reply by Dawn Patterson on 7/7/09 10:50am
Msg #294863

Hi Sandra,

I've been doing closings now for a couple of years. I may not be a "veteran" like yourself or some of the other notaries on this forum, but I am earnestly working diligently to act in a professional manner and make some additional income while doing so.

You come across a bit condescending in several forums regarding "newer" notaries being burned by this signing company. What may be "old news" for you, is "new - news" to others. If you feel this way maybe don't comment and allow others to express their concerns in this open forum. This may be the only support someone has. It is discouraging to newer notaries to be spoken to in such a demeaning, and sarcastic manner.

Please be mindful of your tone among "peers", we are here to support one another.

Thank you,

Reply by ML/PA on 7/3/09 3:10pm
Msg #294572

If it were me I would forward a copy of the email to the title company. They need to know what kind of company they are paying to handle thier business.

Reply by LKT/CA on 7/3/09 6:25pm
Msg #294581

<<<If it were me I would forward a copy of the email to the title company. They need to know what kind of company they are paying to handle thier business.>>>

I completely agree. Additionally, if the TC wants to use the "We paid the SS already so it's not our problem" I would forward of copy of all the correspondance to the state Insurance Commissioner - the state for which the TC is located - as they should be aware that the TC is turning a blind eye to what is ultimately THEIR responsibility. They own the docs, they generate and process the docs, the docs are sent to them when signed and notarized, therefore the TC is ultimately responsible for payment to the Notary. The Insurance Commissioner SHOULD know that the TC CHOOSES to turn a blind eye to their responsibility and continue to "sleep with the devil".........the devil being the deadbeat SS. When you sleep with the devil, expect to pay the price.

When a TC gets tired of paying twice for a signing (i.e. first to the SS, then to the Notary because SS didn't pay the Notary, thus the Notary goes after the TC for payment), they will cease to do business with SS's that don't pay their Notaries as they don't want the Notary coming after them via complaints to the state Insurance Commissioner.

Reply by Stamper_WI on 7/3/09 7:42pm
Msg #294590

The problem with talking to the TC is that Fox accuses you of trying to bypass them and work directly with the TC or for opening your own SS. Then use that as an implied reason for not paying you. They owe me from several years ago. I called the TC to see if it funded and got into a conversation about forming a network with other WI notary's for peer exchanges and fee free referals when we weren't available to our regular clients. A network is not a ss. Had I had good relations with FOX and wasn't available to do a signing for them, they would have gotten names of experienced signing agents for free as well.
Also, Almost every time they are discussed here, they email one of the parties and want to knwo know just what you problem with them is. Then turn around and make the above referenced type of accusations. They have done this to me twice

Reply by MikeC/NY on 7/3/09 9:26pm
Msg #294592

"The problem with talking to the TC is that Fox accuses you of trying to bypass them and work directly with the TC or for opening your own SS."

There's an easy way for Fox to avoid that problem - just pay the notaries...

The fact that you talk to a TC after not being paid by an SS doesn't give the SS the right to refuse to pay you - they hired you for a job, you agreed to terms, you performed the required job, you earned your fee - period, end of story. If you went around them to solicit business directly from one of their clients, I could understand why they might be upset. But if all you're trying to do is get paid for work you've completed, they don't have a leg to stand on.

I was called once by Fox for a signing a couple of years. I declined, citing their bad reputation on NotRot, and was told "oh, those are just vicious rumors!" Vicious rumors? One anonymous post about non-payment might be a rumor; multiple attributed comments about non-payment tend to indicate a real problem.

Unfortunately, companies like this are able to survive because they always seem to be able to find fresh meat...

Reply by Stamper_WI on 7/4/09 8:15am
Msg #294600

"There's an easy way for Fox to avoid that problem - just pay the notaries..."

You and I know that but they don't seem to. So it will keep popping up

Reply by CaliNotary on 7/3/09 3:33pm
Msg #294575

In other breaking news, water is wet. n/m

Reply by ReneeK_MI on 7/5/09 7:43am
Msg #294635

I'd heard this but wanted to give it a chance ...

I like to make up my own mind, so I tried not to be negatively impacted by so many others having experienced this 'wet' effect. Perhaps it was due to how they applied the water, or maybe they should've simply worn a wet-suit and everything would've been fine.

Well ... I can now attest from my OWN experience that water is indeed wet, in MY reality as well. I am now waiting for it to dry up, and while waiting I am having a hissy fit about being we because I don't LIKE being wet, plus sometimes having a hissy fit works. It seemed to when I was younger, anyway ...

Reply by Notary/Guy on 7/3/09 6:40pm
Msg #294582

7/3/2009 This company is awful! They do not pay their contracted notaries at all! NC
6/25/2009 Never received payments TX
6/19/2009 Didn't pay invoice, won't return phone calls. Have given them 5 months. TX
6/18/2009 Completed (2) closings in Feb 2009. After many promises, still NO PAY!! PA
6/15/2009 Never paid. I did the signing in March 09. Sent Invoices and Called, no return. SC
6/2/2009 Does not pay! FL
5/14/2009 They don't pay MD
5/6/2009 This company does not pay and will not return phone calls AL
5/6/2009 Does not pay notary NC
5/6/2009 I did a signing for this company in 2/2009 - no payment as of 5/2009 PA
4/26/2009 10 months ago I did four closings for this company and have not been paid PA
4/14/2009 slow paying, it has been 60 days and still no pay PA
4/14/2009 Takes to long to pay and have to contact them several times to get paid. VA
4/13/2009 Pd after 4 mo.of calls, emails and faxes. Not worth time involved in collection MN
4/8/2009 Non payment for services. Tries to intimidate you when trying to get paid. WI
4/6/2009 no pay, fax disconected, phone disconected, email responses include empty promis FL
4/5/2009 Money problems-slow pay-poor attitude about it-long standing problem. TN
4/5/2009 Did closing for them in Feb, still no pay. FL
3/6/2009 slow to pay.....never return calls....have 2 unpaid signings from previous year PA
2/19/2009 At first, they seemed okay, but they don't pay in a timely manner, and are rude PA
2/18/2009 C H E A P. haven't and won't accept any assignments from them. rude too TX
1/28/2009 slow to pay but lines of communication remained open. Paid after 2 months NC
1/21/2009 They do not pay the notary. Have many excuses. FL
1/8/2009 Low pay, slow pay, lots of excuses PA
1/8/2009 Do notpay. Hard to contact. LA
1/6/2009 Didn't pay,left mess 12/30, called 1/6/09 phones not in service IN
12/10/2008 they do not pay! Have invoices 3 months old and they will not return my calls! FL
11/20/2008 Website down, no response to calls did work 9/23/08 no contact yet 11/20/08 mult TX
10/17/2008 It's like pulling teeth to get them to pay you AR
9/27/2008 They used to pay right on time, now I have been waiting over 90 days OH

Reply by Joseph Scamardi on 7/5/09 9:28am
Msg #294642

The best way to get back at these individuals is to let them know they will be black-balled in the notary talk forums to protect others from the same kind of fate! WHo will want to work for them then??

Reply by jba/fl on 7/5/09 9:32am
Msg #294643

"WHo will want to work for them then?? "

People who are new and don't read any forums - there is an org. that pumps them out every month or so and various others who also do the same.