Posted by Notary/ME on 6/25/09 5:24pm
Msg #293607

no docs..how long do you wait?

7pm appt and 1.5 hour travel....it's appt time and I have no docs. I always have waited, but I have another Signing for great client, after this. Have you ever just said "I can't wait for docs". I hate to do it, but? Any advice?

Thanks!

Reply by Barbara___IL on 6/25/09 5:26pm
Msg #293608

You can call them and tell them you have to turn it back to them. If you can't wait, you can't. It's not your fault.

Reply by Notary/ME on 6/25/09 5:32pm
Msg #293610

I've never been so hard pressed for my next appt, that I've had to seriously consider turning it away. I'm wondering if they will take me out of their Best Notary list if I do that....ugh, decisions.

Reply by Barbara___IL on 6/25/09 5:35pm
Msg #293611

You can try and move up your next one to give yourself a little more time. Good luck.

Reply by Notary/ME on 6/25/09 5:36pm
Msg #293612

Good idea, I already did that and they are early risers....and really don't want to go any later. I can't blame them. I've had their docs for 2 hours..of course. Well, I'm calling now ...thanks

Reply by SharonMN on 6/25/09 5:36pm
Msg #293613

I would just politely explain that you have another appointment and would pleased to schedule them in when the docs (and the borrower) are ready. Think about it - if you were a air conditioner repair man, and you showed up for your appointment on time but the homeowner wasn't home to let you in, would you wait in the driveway all day hoping they would come home, or leave a message go to your next appointment?

Reply by Notary/ME on 6/25/09 5:42pm
Msg #293614

I totally hear you,,,,and of course, if we were air conditioner repair folks we would probably be making more money..hahhaha and NO ONE would let the ac repair man wait!!!! lol

I've a call into them now to tell them I have to head to my next appt. I was curious how people handled this. I had a busy day and had hoped that this wouldn't happen and end up messing up my last appt of the day.
Thanks for your response.

Reply by Notary/ME on 6/25/09 5:44pm
Msg #293615

Oh re read of the last post, I feel better. I was here for the appt on time but the docs weren't, I can't wait and end up getting a "sorry it's not going tonight"....and no pay either way. thanks!

Reply by CopperheadVA on 6/25/09 7:21pm
Msg #293620

If docs are late and you have other appointments, then either turn the job back or put them at the end of the line and complete that one after your others are finished.

With an hour and a half of travel and another appointment before that for a great client, I would just turn it back because I don't like to work that late. Others may like working late evening hours and have no problem with doing it afterward.

Reply by notaryinmo on 6/25/09 7:39pm
Msg #293624

Do you have a mobile office? Does that make a difference in trying to keep the assignment for tonite?

I had an appointment that I never got docs - turns out, BO had cancelled but no one notified me.

Reply by CopperheadVA on 6/25/09 7:44pm
Msg #293625

I don't have a mobile office and don't want one. I had an aircard for two years and I would take a printer with me sometimes (what a pain!). I only used the set-up twice and I ended up losing money on the aircard investment - I canceled that puppy as soon as the two-year contract was up.

Reply by notaryinmo on 6/25/09 7:52pm
Msg #293627

I hear you there. I don't want a mobile office either - it's already hard enough keeping my car clean without all of that...lol

Since you'd have to go back home for printing out docs, I'd really think about turning it back to them or telling them that when the docs do come down the pipeline to you, you can then call the BO's and setting up an appointment.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 6/25/09 8:56pm
Msg #293630

This just happened to me tonight

Had two - got docs for first one (6:30) - told company for second one I'd be leaving my house by 5:30 - and needed docs prior to leaving as I wasn't coming back home in between..... comes 5:00, no docs for second so I turned it back.....on the road at 6:15 - docs for second are ready....again said I can't do it, I'm on the road...good thing too - just got home from the 6:30 at 9:15...no way do I want to print and travel 45 minutes at this time of night...

The name of the game.

Reply by Liz/OR on 6/25/09 11:30pm
Msg #293652

Re: This just happened to me tonight

Almost same here. Got docs for first signing and told 2nd I needed theirs by 11:30am. 11:25 I called them and said I had to leave and I will tell borrower what was going on and let her know I'd be a little late. Turns out I was only 15 min late because I had to go home and print instead of just going there. I'm getting better at scheduling it seems, I am more realistic now than when I first started and thought I'd magically be able to control time (and people), LOL.

Reply by John Schenk on 6/25/09 8:10pm
Msg #293628

If I'm traveling an hour and a half, they better have those docs to me EARLY or I would have already made the call. Just the trip and signing alone is about a 4 1/2 job. Nobody can expect you to screw around and wait for them to get you the docs. I sure hope you busted them hard on the mileage, whenever you get to do that one. That would be a minimum of $500 for me.

I have one in 17 minutes that I could walk to from my office. It's hotter'n hell, so I think I'll drive. LOL Last closing tonight begins at 11:30...$300 for a 97 page refi ain't bad, even though it's after my bed time. LOL

My borrower was 20 minutes late getting home on my 6:00 closing. 1 minute later and I would have been gone. It was a Quicken loan, so didn't take but 18 minutes to close, so worked out okay.

Do what you gotta do, especially on one that far way. Just let them know that you waited as long as you could and if it's got to be rescheduled, it has to be, through no fault of your own.

Best of luck!

JJ

Reply by Notary/ME on 6/25/09 8:34pm
Msg #293629

I did call in and turn it away. I waited right up to the actual closing time so I would have been close to 1.5 hours late getting started even if they sent the docs right then. The title company wasn't surprised that I cancelled. I did call the borrower since he and I had spoken earlier to confirm the appt. I didn't want him waiting for me and wasn't sure if they would find another Notary to do it tonight. Hopefully I'll get the call to do it tomorrow!

Reply by Maureen_nh on 6/25/09 9:32pm
Msg #293636

I am taking someone's advice that I respect and not taking long distance the EOM.
Much less stress, not getting rich, but doing well enough.
Three months ago I would have taken just about anything and waited as long as it took.
I turned down a LOT of last minute, hour plus drives tonight--probably from folks that didn't get their docs on time.
I am getting too old for this stuff.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 6/25/09 9:36pm
Msg #293638

Re: no docs..how long do you wait?...Maureen

That's how I feel...I could have kept that second one - meaning I'd have gotten home about 9:15 - start printing...leave by 10:00 - arrive 10:45 and start signing...

No more...no price is enough to make me do that - the youngsters can have them..

Reply by notaryinmo on 6/25/09 9:45pm
Msg #293640

Re: no docs..how long do you wait?...Maureen

About half the signings I've done in the last three months have been in a very rural area with no street lights and sometimes not even a house to be seen for miles in between. I've almost gotten hit by a deer twice and have almost run over either a groundhog or some equally large creature in the middle of nowhere. I've never had a problem with going just about anywhere for a signing, except when it's dark and my cell loses signal. Hubby insists I take only signings that are in broad daylight when "normal" people work...lol I'm starting to agree with him.

Reply by janCA on 6/25/09 10:04pm
Msg #293642

Driving 1.5 hrs. for a signing is nuts! n/m

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 6/26/09 2:48am
Msg #293660

Re: Driving 1.5 hrs. for a signing is nuts!

Depends on what they are willing to pay. I do it a couple of time a month. It's the nature of my area. But the pay has to be worth it.

Reply by Lee/AR on 6/26/09 6:10am
Msg #293664

Driving 1.5 hrs. SOP around here!

Actually 1.5 hrs. is my 'average' RT. Sometimes that's even 1 way. And, yes, I DO have to have my fee met--along with a written commitment of full fee for no signs/shows or rescissions. Period. Which is why I say 'one size does NOT fit all'.

Reply by Notary/ME on 6/26/09 7:11am
Msg #293666

Re: Driving 1.5 hrs. SOP around here!

an hour in a rural area like where I am is normal. My clients know this and still continue to call and pay me-thankfully!. IN 7 years I've turned back one Signing-last night. I can only hope that they will continue to call me despite me turning an appt back so late. I think they will-they know I'm good! LOL

Thanks for everyone's responses. Good to know that many of us have had to do what I did, makes me a feel a bit better for doing it.

Reply by MistarellaFL on 6/26/09 1:51pm
Msg #293720

Re: Driving 1.5 hrs. SOP around here!

Ditto that. I am in such a rural area myself that the nearest "big city" is a 45 minute drive, and there is much more work for me there. I also travel to the next big city which is 1-1.5 h. one way.
If I didn't take these appointments, I wouldn't work at all.