Posted by Pierces Notary Services on 9/29/09 9:53am
Msg #305549

What to do?

I did a closing for a TC on 8/17 that pays at funding. Emailed about 30 days later to see where payment is. Payment was returned by my post office to them so they say. Will overnight a check to you tonight (9/24). Give them my overnight address and as of today no check and avoiding my emails.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 9/29/09 10:00am
Msg #305550

Call them and try to get a warm body on the phone, tell them you haven't received their overnight shipment as yet and get the tracking number.

Depending on how far you want to push this, you may consider contacting their state regulatory agency, via telephone and in writing, and filing a complaint with them - I know that's worked for me in the past but you have to be willing to kiss this TC's business goodbye (maybe not such a bad thing under these circumstances)...

Care to share the name here? Think the rest of us need to know so we don't fall into the same trap.

MHO

Reply by Pierces Notary Services on 9/29/09 10:25am
Msg #305561

I did call and talk to my contact and she said so and so has been out sick, etc. I asked her to email me the tracking # and when the payment is going out and as of yesterday morning nothing. I emailed her again and nothing (granted she might not be there).

Reply by CopperheadVA on 9/29/09 10:05am
Msg #305553

One thing I've noticed is when you contact TC to ask about your payment, they tell you check was cut or sent on XX date. Well, sometimes the check may have been cut, but then it sits on the owner's desk until he comes in once a week to sign checks and take care of other business. Then it actually gets mailed approximately a week after the original date I was told. Meanwhile, I'm checking my mailbox every day thinking it's going to be there!

Reply by Les_CO on 9/29/09 10:21am
Msg #305559

We all know “overnight” isn’t always overnight. I’d give then another day.
That said, in this business there are no guarantees, except that if you stay in it long enough, you will get burned sometime.

Reply by ReneeK_MI on 9/29/09 10:24am
Msg #305560

Wait just a couple more days

EOM is not a good time to be pushing this. You may feel ignored, when you're possibly just not even in line right now. =)

Reply by Pierces Notary Services on 9/29/09 10:26am
Msg #305562

Re: Wait just a couple more days

very true - would rather not divulge who it is as I have worked for them before and never had a problem. Just frustrating sometimes but I have been lucky so I can't gripe about that. I have two right now that are telling me the check is in the mail and that was 9/15 and haven't seen the check yet.

Reply by TRG_wy on 9/29/09 11:01am
Msg #305568

Re: Wait just a couple more days

I agree to an extent, but ---

Not divulging "dead-beat" companies only allows them to keep perpatraiting their bad business parctices on other unsuspecting notaries. If they all knew that their bad practices and lies were not a secret, they might fly right and do what they are supposed to be doing.

I dislike non payers or very slow payers because it is ME that upfronts all the expense to get the loan signed, sealed and delivered. It is my time, my paper, toner, vehicle wear and tear and fuel and phone expenses that I am so nice to "front" for them until I get paid. I chase them to the ends of the earth when they defraud me and my services.

Reply by ReneeK_MI on 9/29/09 11:24am
Msg #305571

don't know if it helps, but ...

I did just have this happen with a very good client, someone I KNOW was not handing out a line, mailed a bunch of checks that were taking forever to be delivered. Mine took about 12 days to make it through USPS.

When it's abnormal behavior, there haven't been any red flags, and it's a good client you don't want to offend ...patience sometimes is the ticket. Sometimes, *stuff* really DOES happen. =)

Reply by Pierces Notary Services on 9/29/09 12:10pm
Msg #305575

Re: don't know if it helps, but ...

I know but with all that is going on lately makes me nervous because like most of you you count on this money coming in and then it doesn't. I know, I know its the business....things happen. I've been very lucky only losing $50 in 5-1/2 years. Right now with my husband on disability I need all I can get if that makes sense.

Reply by Pierces Notary Services on 9/29/09 3:23pm
Msg #305604

Re: don't know if it helps, but ...

This check was supposedly mailed around 8/24 so I should have had it by now.

Reply by jba/fl on 9/29/09 3:50pm
Msg #305605

Re: don't know if it helps, but ...

You said they told you that your post office returned it to them, at which point they should have called or emailed you for correct address. But that wasn't done either. You also stated that you felt they were ignoring you. It is EOM, but IMO they should be asnwering the phone giving you the opportunity to inquire.

It is time to put on your business hat and start collection proceedings, unless you are a charity, which you have stated you are not. A demand letter will suffice for today. Also resend by email your invoice, with a snynopsis of events, stating demand letter on its way., that behind it is small claims court and then send them a copy of forms you will be filing. Play your game - not theirs.

Reply by MW/VA on 9/29/09 4:40pm
Msg #305608

Re: don't know if it helps, but ...

It never fails. When we are really pressed for money it doesn't come in when we are expecting it to.

Reply by Kerry Webster on 9/29/09 5:40pm
Msg #305617

Re: don't know if it helps, but ...

Good advice from JBA/fl... we have to take charge of our business and let these companies know we are not willing to work for free. This is your business - run it like one because you know they would do the same in your situation. Good luck!

Reply by JanetK_CA on 9/30/09 1:12am
Msg #305658

Re: don't know if it helps, but ...

I tend to agree with Renee - if it's a good client. First of all, I try to avoid any collection work at end of month. Secondly, it's just possible that this person IS out sick. I think we need to be prepared (mentally, at the very least) to be impacted by the flu, of whatever stripe. Because of the H1N1, it seems people are being more cautious about going to work sick and when it hits, it can have a big impact - especially with staff levels so lean already. However, after a day or two, you might be able to find someone else who could check on it for you. If you continue to feel you're getting the run-around, then it's a client not worth keeping, as others have said.

Reply by Pierces Notary Services on 9/30/09 7:42am
Msg #305664

Re: don't know if it helps, but ...

Well I finally got a call from the owner last night apologizing. I had received a not very nice email from the scheduler that said they were too busy to deal with this because it was EOM and she would take care of it next week. I emailed her back and said that I did the closing for them w/o incident and expected to be paid in a timely manner. The owner saw that email and said regardless of it being EOM it should have been taken care of. They should have forwarded the email to her to take care of. The check was cut 8/24 and never cleared the bank so obviously I never got it. She said she'd fed ex it to me tonight which was last night.