Posted by Kay/IL on 10/21/09 11:21am
Msg #308098

Nations Direct and I Parted Ways

I was lurking and noticed discussions (past and recent) on borrowers' names incorrect throughout the refiance package, and where there was only one borrower (married or single) the borrower signs the top of the loan application. I then had to share why it's best that ND and I parted company for good.

About 3 months ago, I had a signing where the borrowers informed me that the wife's name was misprinted throughtout the entire loan package and title documents. The borrower had already told their lender about this problem previously so my coming out there was a 2nd sigining. We (the borrowers and I) per closing instructions, spoke with the title company during the closing in length and detail about this. The title company informed us to line and correct the spelling. So we did just that. I also let ND know about the misprints before I left the closing. I later faxed the paperwork over to Nations Direct. The next day, they called me complaining about the line outs. I told them that the title company informed the borrowers and I PER INSTRUCTION to do the line outs/initials and their controlling micromanagers were also informed. They then called back later said it was OK to drop the documents

Last month, I had another closing in which a married couple was signing but only one of the spouses was taking out the loan. The borrower taking out the loan signed the loan application (1003) on top and initialed the bottom of the page. I faxed the package to them. The next day, I received a call from a person they had just hired asking about the borrowers. I told them they were a married couple, and that only the husband was taking out the loan and per Illinois law, the wife was only signing off on certain documents. About an hour later, another rep from ND called saying that he should not have signed the top of the 1003 and to go back with a reprinted first page of the 1003, have him just initial and return to them. I asked them in all the years I've been a NSA since when does the borrower NOT sign the top of the 1003. Plus, I told them I had another closing from them that same day, identical lenders, same situation in which only one spouse was taking out the loan and the borrowing spouse signed the top of the 1003 which was okay to drop. I told them I could not go back out that evening since I had a prior engagement but that I will call the borrower. I left messages for the borrower but he never returned my calls. Nations Direct called me to get a status. I told them the borrower never returned my calls. Then they told me they would not be sending any more closings to me unless I went back over there. I said if the borrower is not returning my calls, what am I suppose to do. Then I thought, if that was the case, then so be it. So I told them to be my guest and that I would not be going out there again or doing any more closings for them. Another one of ND's reps later called and informed me that they got the matter resolved (hmph). No apology offered.

It's bad enough that Nations Direct is a lowballers, but they want heaven, earth, the moon, stars and your first born too.

What would we notaries do with message boards like this? But I would like thank everyone on this board for all your input and advice

Reply by pan/nd on 10/21/09 11:31am
Msg #308099

Kay,

No they don't want your firstborn...that's the Bank of Rumpelstillskin.

And, I too have a lot of issues with Nations Direct.

But, if they get in a bind...they don't lowball and they do pay...so I haven't totally written them off.

Ironically, the most $$ I've ever gotten for a signing was from them.

Reply by Kay/IL on 10/21/09 11:46am
Msg #308104

Pan, I've done closings for ND for almost 6 years. I've done last minute closings, re-signs, weird hours and this is the appreciation they show me. Even if they are in a bind, they will still lowball you. The one thing I'll give them is that they pay as scheduled.

There are too many other companies out there who provide steady work, pay more and quickly (ND pays only once a month), don't haggle you and appreciate your labor. I've lost confidence in ND.

Reply by Cari on 10/21/09 12:01pm
Msg #308105

which Nations Direct is it? n/m

Reply by Kay/IL on 10/21/09 12:06pm
Msg #308108

The one in CA n/m

Reply by AK/PA on 10/22/09 8:28am
Msg #308211

You must be one of the lucky ones! The most I have ever been able to get out them to commit to was $75.

I will grant that they do pay...but their fees are insulting, not to mention the handholding and constant calling (did you get there? are you done?). I appreciate that they want to make sure that things are done correctly but I do think that they take it a bit too far. If they have so little trust or confidence in the notaries they hire, maybe they should just do the darn signings themselves. Obviously, we notaries are all imbeciles who cannot follow simple directions, much less manage to get a 120+ page package correctly signed and notarized.

The last signing I did for them, they called my cell phone TWICE while I was with the borrowers to ask if I was finished, even though my instructions clearly stated that I was to call ND upon completion. (The BO's were elderly, and it took some time for them to get all the paperwork signed.)

I've decided that it just isn't worth it for me for the low fees they offer...by the time I am finished with one of ND's appointments, I'm not only making next to nothing, I'm halfway to losing my sanity, too.

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 10/21/09 1:16pm
Msg #308117

I've refused to even work with them from the start. Once I read on their application materials that their "base" notary fee was $40.00, I promptly chucked it.

They did call me once, though, and tried to get me to take a job. It was "in the same zip code" so they assumed it was right next door or something. Not the case. My zip code, 93535, encompasses about 250 square miles and covers a good chunk of the entire northeastern corner of Los ANgeles county. I happen to live on the western edge of that zip code, along with the vast majority of the population. However, there are a few communities way out east and for general notary work, I charge $45.00 to go out there for travel. This is a big area land-wise...and vehicle expenses cannot be ignored... nor can the driving time. A lot of my appointments can take about an hour to get to... it's that spread out.

This lady got all irate with me. She said, "But it's the same zip code! This tells me you're less than 5 miles from them! How can you charge that much in the same zip code?" I had to patiently explain to her that zip code searches are not very accurate because they measure a straight line from the geographic center, and not actual distance. She didn't get it. I finally told her, "Look, I don't have an agreement with you guys. You're calling me for help less than two hours before an appointment. I'm happy to go, but I am charging my full, posted rates. That will be $125 base fee, $25 for printing, $25 for the short notice... but I'm willing to waive that if I get the docs in the next 5 minutes, and I won't charge you that extra $0.85 a mile over 25 miles for the trip. So, I'll do it for $150 even."


She was like, "Are you crazy? $150. Nobody gets $150 anymore. It's $75 and that's more than we usually pay."

Me, "If you want me to take 120 page purchase loan out to Lake LA at 8 o'clock tonight, with less than 2 hours notice... that's my rate. It will take an hour just to drive out there! This is my business and livelihood, and I'm not Mother Teresa. Your $75 offer would be okay if it were just a few documents to notarize and no extra fluff, but you want me to handle an entire purchase package as a signing agent. That's an entirely different fee structure...and I'm already dropping it from my posted rates for you."

She hung up. I wasn't surprised. I didn't want to do it anyway.

I do have a standard "rate sheet" that I use.... but I do negotiate lower rates from companies all the time. My husband calls it my "rack rate" sheet. And, for this job... the "rack rate" would have actually been $185... but we all know that's pretty much never going to happen, so I always discount it. But one off jobs from companies that are known low-ballers and extreme hand holders? I'm not discounting that much.

I don't care if anyone else accepts the $40 base rate ... people do what they do. But, I know for a fact that the ones who stick around are the ones who run themselves like a business and not a hobby. That's the problem, I think. This isn't a hobby... but some people treat it that way, notaries and companies alike. (That's likely not the case here... I'm just talking in general)


Also... driving those long empty roads at the time of night assures that my trip home will involve an area I hate driving --- it's feeding time for a bunch of mice... and snakes. But the mice.... they're all over the road! Inevitably, you end up running over hundreds of them. I really hate driving through that area.... and if I have to wash mice guts off my car, I'm getting paid for it.

Reply by MW/VA on 10/21/09 1:36pm
Msg #308118

It never fails that the companies that pay the lowest fees can pay lots of babysitters who try to control our work from their desks. They are always the companies who demand the most, too. It's always a red flag & I don't deal with that kind of thing. Good for you for making a decision for you & your business.

Reply by CH2inCA on 10/21/09 1:42pm
Msg #308119

When I accepted a job that was 'Attorney Retainer" and got this....
When they wanted me to do it for $30, because there was nothing to notarize, but finally agreed to 60.
When it was an appointment for 4:00 and got the documents at 4:10
When I read the documents and instructions and called to decline the job, and they didn't seem to believe me when I said it might be illegal, and argued with me. Finally I said it didn't matter I WOULD NOT DO THE JOB.....
"Ok, but please fax us whatever it is you read that makes this illegal...."

"Please print the following attachments (print only once) out on LETTER SIZE paper. Also please email me back with confirmation that you have received and printed all documents. Please have the borrower sign the ATTORNEY CLIENT RETAINER CONTRACT AND THE AUTHORIZATION FORM. All other docs please leave with them to fill out on their own. Their lender will contact them to get the rest of the docs. Also due is a check in the amount of $2000 made payable to xxxx.
BORROWER MAY ALSO HAVE STIPS THERE FOR YOU TO COLLECT THAT THEIR LENDER NEEDS FOR THE MODIFICATION. PLEASE TAKE ALL DOCS ALONG WITH THE SIGNED DOCS AND RETURN THEM WITH THE CHECK. ALSO PLEASE DO NOT FAX THESE DOCS YOU ARE OKAY TO JUST DROP FOR TODAYS PICKUP. THIS MUST GO OUT TODAY IN FEDEX."

OH yeah, did I mention that the nearest FED EX would mean a return trip 45 miles away? So, 45mile trip there say 3/4 hour, maybe 20min with client, 45mile trip back say another 3/4 hour.
I don't think they are going to call me back...
I'm losing sleep over it and I'm kinda off my feed...

:0)

Reply by David Kruss on 10/21/09 1:55pm
Msg #308122

Quick, call them back and offer to do it for free, and you will even pay the FedEx charge yourself. That way they will call you more often (on your cell so you can incur more expenses) with these "special opportunities". Do enough of them, and if you stay out of jail, you have gained a brand new reputation as a stupid fool. Not everyone gets such a title.

JMHO

Reply by MW/VA on 10/21/09 2:49pm
Msg #308128

ROFLMAO!