Posted by CopperheadVA on 7/1/09 6:00pm
Msg #294239

Spectra Signings - Very effective collection technique

This can also work for a title company that is owned by an attorney.

Spectra Signings secured many notaries to get an attorney-client fee agreement signed for attorney Kelly Christensen, for loan modification negotiation services. He owns Financial Solutions Law Group in San Diego and Rancho Santa Margarita, CA. The employees at Financial Solutions in Rancho Santa Margarita also all work for Echo Loans and Spectra Signings – they are all intertwined.

Anyhow, Spectra Signings failed to pay possibly every notary they contracted to get these fee agreements signed. Then Financial Solutions in RSM began paying the notaries that made the most noise. I received payment, but the check bounced. I received a replacement check for the original amount, but now I had bounced check fees. Financial Solutions promised to pay the bounced check fees, but wouldn’t you know, the check never arrived! I e-mailed my contact twice, with absolutely no response. In my second e-mail to her, I stated that I would be taking the next step and contacting the authorities if I did not receive payment.

So, since I’m a notary of my word, I did just that. On Tuesday I crafted a letter to the State Bar of CA, which detailed a complaint about attorney Kelly Christensen for bouncing the check and failing to pay the bank fees that his office had promised to pay. As a courtesy and also as a last attempt at collecting the fees owed, I faxed the letter to Financial Solutions, along with a list of notaries still owed (I’ve been networking and compiling a list), a copy of the bounced check that also showed my bank fees, and a copy of the e-mail from Financial Solutions which stated that they would pay for the bank fees. I put a note on the cover page that said I intended to file the complaint the next day.

Approximately five minutes after the fax went through; I received an e-mail from Financial Solutions promising to FedEx a check to me for the bank fees, with a request that I retract my complaint once received. I told them I would be happy to do that once I had received payment in full and it had cleared my bank.

Later that day they e-mailed me a copy of the check and the FedEx tracking number. The package arrived today.

Very effective. Sue_PA also listed an effective technique in an earlier post today – the one about completing the small claims paperwork and faxing it to all parties involved. When filing a complaint with the State Bar, the CA info line said that the complaint must be about a specific attorney, not a law group.

Reply by BrendaTx on 7/1/09 6:08pm
Msg #294240

Most Impressive.

I'm doing the bunny hop in elation for you, girlfriend.

Way to go.

Reply by CopperheadVA on 7/1/09 6:22pm
Msg #294250

Re: Most Impressive.

Thanks! Many people would have just let it go, because it was not a lot of money. I'm not one who can do that, though.... it just keeps gnawing at me. The collection was sure a lot of work for the small fee involved (it was only a few pages to get signed!) and all the extra effort to get the bank fees. But it's very satisfying to have found the right button to push!

Reply by MW/VA on 7/1/09 6:12pm
Msg #294246

Great work!

Reply by Cari on 7/1/09 6:14pm
Msg #294247

YOU ARE GOOD! n/m

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 7/1/09 6:33pm
Msg #294251

Very nice! It's amazing how fast people will act once you start mentioning things like the State Bar... lawyers do NOT want that kind of trouble.

Reply by John Schenk on 7/1/09 7:20pm
Msg #294255

Nice Job! Squeeky wheels can get oiled! :-) n/m

Reply by mwm143 on 7/1/09 7:27pm
Msg #294256

Another effective collection tool....

If a company owes you for past closings, take another when they call and send the loan package back COD for the total amount due.

Reply by John Schenk on 7/1/09 7:34pm
Msg #294257

LMAO That is a unique thought. n/m

Reply by BrendaTx on 7/1/09 7:42pm
Msg #294258

Wow. Now, I need to think that one over.

I don't know that I'd recommend that but I do like the way you think.

Reply by John Schenk on 7/1/09 8:03pm
Msg #294259

Re: Wow. Now, I need to think that one over.

LOL It sent some thoughts through my mind, but don't know that I'd recommend that either as it "might" impose some personal liability on the notary if they refused it, resulting in an adverse effect upon the borrower. It would take some big brass to run that gamut. LOL

JJ

Reply by aanotary on 7/1/09 9:37pm
Msg #294279

I did something similair

over a month ago. I sent a letter to the Ca. State Real Estate board, complaining about non payment- They must have sent a copy to these jokers. (I also faxed a copy of my letter before I sent it) long story short-I got my fee and the additional $25.00 late fee overnighted to me- couldn't get it to me fast enough. That gal Nikki blamed other employees for the "MIX UP?!!?" yeah right!

Reply by Lee/AR on 7/1/09 10:04pm
Msg #294287

I checked this out with FedUps and

IF they refuse it, you'll be charged for the docs round trip. And I dunno what other things could happen if those docs don't show up, but I don't think I want to find out either. Just stay on them...weekly, daily, hourly, if necessary. I've never used it but rather like running an Invoice in a loop and faxing it...over & over & over... maybe even with a BIG header saying "You want this to stop? E-mail me a copy of the check and the Tracking #".

Reply by ReneeK_MI on 7/2/09 6:54am
Msg #294326

IMO that's playing with fire ...

I would never do anything that involves the loan documents, or that could have any 'unintended consequences' to the borrower OR myself.

Use of FedEx or UPS for loan docs places your actions under the Federal laws for Mail Fraud. Is this action fraudulent? I dunno, but I sure wouldn't want to volunteer to find out.

Reply by mwm143 on 7/2/09 7:44am
Msg #294335

Re: IMO that's playing with fire ...

Actually I've never tried it but have thought about it. Have actually considered sending a COD "mock" package to the signing company, advising them in advance that the loan package will be coming back to them COD and sending the real package direct to the lender/title company. I would never want to compromise a borrower.