Posted by Gary Boehm on 7/24/09 11:22am
Msg #297246

VERY disturbing trend...

I am starting to see a VERY disturbing development that continues to grow...

I am receiving more and more emails saying "...we have a signing available at x:xxpm. The first notary that contacts us gets it...".

At first it was from no-name signing services so it didn't bother me so much. But today it was from a Title Company that I have not only completed several signings for, but I have one with them today at 1:00!!! The email they sent was very brief and said to contact the Real Estate agent (where it was to take place at 6:00pm). I sent a reply back to the Title Co and then started making some phone calls.

Then I needed to call the Title company about the 1:00 signing and after that conversation I brought up the new one from the email. He suddenly got real casual and said "Oh well, it was 7:30 this morning and we needed to fill it in a hurry (for 6:00pm?) and we filled it two minutes later blah blah blah." I mentioned that I do many signings for them and had made several calls to work on it, and I would appreciate a phone call rather than a general email. He just said "That's the way we do it" and hung up the phone!

So not only are we seeing Whoever Works the Cheapest but now it is an Oklahoma Land Rush of Whoever Checks Their Email and Calls Back First??? Is that what we are becoming?

Reply by Sandra Clark on 7/24/09 11:48am
Msg #297254

Have had a couple of these lately also....my choice is to delete them and not respond. Haven't had any from companies I regularly work for.........usually ss.

Reply by Ali/IL on 7/24/09 11:57am
Msg #297257

I had one asking me how much I would charge to do edocs. Didn't really disclose who they were. I figured maybe it was a new agent wanting to get familiarized with fees. Never got a response from them.

Reply by Lee/AR on 7/24/09 12:27pm
Msg #297271

Any co. that does this e-mail query ought to re-think

what they're doing.
Say it's sent out to 6 people--usually with not enough info for an experienced notary to be able to accurately quote. Seems that the least experienced notary would be around the computer as they have no other business to take care of & would be the most likely to jump on this. This seems to me to be completely self-defeating for all involved.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 7/24/09 2:17pm
Msg #297294

Couldn't agree more.

They're also saying is that they don't care who does it, just how much it costs. They are not concerned with experience, knowledge, professionalism, quality or any other characteristic that makes someone a good loan signer, just that they have a stamp. And by inference, that means that they will have little or no respect for the person who ends up doing the work. We can all probably think of a long list of headaches that can result from that kind of attitude.

Personally, I'd rather not work for at outfit like that. I hope they get what they deserve.

Reply by CH2inCA on 7/24/09 4:54pm
Msg #297320

Re: Any co. that does this e-mail query ought to re-think

I wonder if that is the case. I wonder if they ARE emailing only their more experienced notaries?

I'm just saying because I consider myself to be one of the 'less experienced' (even though I'm fairly busy), and have not yet received such an email.

I'd hate to think they're starting a bidding war amongst the top ranked notaries.

It IS easy enough to get the cheapies, they just look to see who's signed on to the notary listings most recent. The newbies, (of which I was on last week) WILL accept the low ball jobs easy enough and there is no shortage of newbies.

Reply by CH2inCA on 7/24/09 4:56pm
Msg #297321

Re: Any co. that does this e-mail query ought to re-think

I meant to say (of which I was ONE last week).

Geez, I really really need an edit button.

Reply by jba/fl on 7/24/09 11:57pm
Msg #297362

so, this week you are and old hand at this? n/m

Reply by CH2inCA on 7/25/09 1:36am
Msg #297369

Re: so, this week you are and old hand at this?

;0)
Well old anyway.....

Reply by jba/fl on 7/24/09 11:56pm
Msg #297361

Re: Any co. that does this e-mail query ought to re-think

They are emailing everyone, offering less and just can't face that by offering less they will lose the better notaries, or just can't come out and admit that they are skimming more from the top hence lower fees.
Again - JMO

Reply by Gary Boehm on 7/24/09 6:10pm
Msg #297327

LOL follow up...

Got a phone call at 6:10 "Where are you?", I'm sorry who is this? "This is nnnnnnn you were supposed to be here at 6:00!". OMG I'm thinking I have NEVER forgotten an appointment. I quickly scan my scheduling worksheet, NO 6:00 appointment. What is the borrowers name? (I open up my email file). "His name is yyyyyyy. You were supposed to be here." Hmmm, NO documents received by that borrowers name. In the backround I hear "Oh". Then "Never mind, someone else is here." By then I realized this was the appointment I "missed" in the morning because someone else got to it first.

So whoever "got" the email first and got the signing showed up 10 - 15 minutes late!

Reply by Susan Fischer on 7/25/09 12:16am
Msg #297364

Re: LOL follow up...and, how'd they get ~your~ number,

anyway?

Gawd, it's like notary bingo.

Reply by MW/VA on 7/24/09 9:56pm
Msg #297347

There are a couple of companies trying to save themselves some phone calls. I don't have the time for that game. A couple of my regulars having started sending an email, instead of calling, to ask if I have availablity. Fortunately, I have my blackberry now & get the email even if I'm running appts.

Reply by MW/VA on 7/24/09 9:58pm
Msg #297348

BTW, Scott tried to set up NotaryBay that way--messages by SMS, etc.--it didn't work out very well. Things are changing quickly, and I'm sure someone will start texting me soon (I don't text).

Reply by sue_pa on 7/25/09 8:52am
Msg #297381

I don't text either and have no plans to start doing so ... who can read that teeny little screen anyway?

My thoughts about the Blackberry and being on the road (got a new phone last spring and nixed the Blackberry and the costs for this reason) ... I am with people so opening, reading and responding to an e-mail at the table will take considerable more time than a quick phone call from a client; I'm driving so the same thing ... I cannot pull over every time I get an e-mail ding.

Reply by Gladys Hamlett on 7/25/09 1:25am
Msg #297368

I have my email being sent to my blackberry also. I have received one email as mention from a copy I have never worked with. The email included the fee which was lower than my standard fee so I didn't respond for the signing. However, I did send out a reply email later stating my fee's. I have never received an email since then.

Reply by Les_CO on 7/24/09 10:55pm
Msg #297358

I for one really don't care. 20 new SS’s can email 2000 newbies seeing who will be the cheapest, and fastest to email back scrambling for work. That’s not the way I run my business. However I did recently get an email from I believe Ocean Pacific (from what I hear an okay company) asking if any Notaries would take a signing in Bailey Co for $ xx. I didn’t reply. At least they put in the location and the fee they were offering…not a bidding thing

Reply by MW/VA on 7/25/09 9:56am
Msg #297392

It's still about who gets back to them the fastest.