Posted by Blueink_TN on 8/21/10 4:06pm
Msg #349917

How to make sure you get paid.

I notice three catagories:
Those that pay when loan closes.
Those that pay when they get paid.
Those that really never intend on paying us in the first place.
Always, always, always!!!!
When you receive the docs write down:
loan #
lender name & phone #
escrow#
Title co name & phone #
When you figure out that you probably just donated your notary services, email SS and ask them " does XYZ title company know you don't pay your notaries?" or " I wonder what Best Mortgage Co would think if they knew you didn't pay your notaries." Kind of a left handed
threat but you will get your message across. The SS will not want to lose the hand that feeds them. You will either get paid or the SS will go out of business. Either way, notaries win.

Reply by Les_CO on 8/21/10 5:09pm
Msg #349924

The thieves in this business are just that, thieves. They do not care what you think, do, write, who you contact. They just laugh. They are in the business to NOT pay you or anyone. They do their deal, and move on. Another name, another location (maybe the same location). The only thing that may cause then a little problem, is if you take them to court (usually small claims) and then they don’t really care, as most are ‘judgment proof’(no assets).
The ONLY answer is to NOT work for them!
‘The way things are’ by working for a SS or a Title Company you are doing so on credit. Would you loan money (cash) to a complete stranger? You by accepting an assignment are virtually ‘loaning’ them the amount of your compensation. If you don’t know them, or trust them, or trust others that have worked for them, just say NO! It’s easy enough to check here and other places, there’s only a handful of good companies out there. The rest are iffy. I don’t loan my hard earned money to anyone iffy. JMO

Reply by 101livescan on 8/21/10 8:09pm
Msg #349933

THE SECRET TO GETTING PAID IN THIS BIZ is to promote yourself to the title/escrow/settlement agents and lv out the monkey in the middle who has no intention of ever paying you. Simple as that. AND to only work for SS's who have integrity and reputation for treating notaries like decent folk.

Reply by Virginia Notary Services Statewide Service on 8/21/10 10:21pm
Msg #349941

I Agree...

Reply by CopperheadVA on 8/22/10 4:58am
Msg #349957

I recently did this with a SS that previously had had a good reputation; however several days after I did my first job for them, the late/no-pay reports started to come in. At 30 days, I sent a polite but firm email, stating that I would not hesitate to contact XX title company, XX loan officer, and XX lender to ask for assistance with collecting the fee that is owed to me. I asked them not to force me to resort to those tactics. I received my payment.

Reply by BestFlCloser on 8/22/10 8:41am
Msg #349962

I recently had a problem with a SS that did not pay, wouldn't answer the phone, emails and so on. Called title a lawyer in the Boston area, they said they paid the SS and it was no longer their problem. I disagreed, made contact with MetLife Home Loans, and asked if they wanted their reputation tarnished by working with people who unjustly enrich themselves on the backs of others. It took 2 days for title to called and ask where should they send a check. I always keep all the doc files until I'm paid for just that purpose. I recommend that you all do the same. If we all do the same thing maybe we can put a stop to these shenanigans by really bad SS's.

Reply by 101livescan on 8/22/10 8:56am
Msg #349963

Maybe NR should have signing central in two groups, A and B, the Good Guys and the Bad Guys. And keep the bad guys on a list in our brief cases so we don't take any work from the Bad Guys on the fly. I work for about a dozen or so companies that pay well and on time, once you have to start chasing your money, this becomes a less than minimum wage gig. Why bother. I just don't have the time or the temperment to be Hector the Collector and start chasing my money or putting the energy into having to make these kinds of threats to collect. I'd rather not.

Cheers to all of you for your excellent posts about this biz. I'm taking my first vacation in seven years to the Grand Cayman Islands in about 10 days with my sweetie I've been working my butt off for the last couple of months. I can't wait to get off the treadmill and have some fun. The cruise is with the Zac Brown Band and other entertainers, and there is a precruise party in Tampa FL the night before at the Gaspar Grotto in Ybor City. If any of you notaries in Tampa FL would like to meet and have a toast , come on down. Would love to meet you!

Reply by MW/VA on 8/22/10 12:35pm
Msg #349983

Have a great vacation, Cheryl. A romantic cruise to Grand

Cayman. I'm envious.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 8/22/10 1:52pm
Msg #349990

Bon Voyage, Cheryl. You sure deserve the time of your life.

Say, I think you need a Notary to accompany you - you just never know when you might need me, er, I mean one.

Toasting you and Mr. Sweetie! Have a fantastic time, you two.

Reply by 101livescan on 8/22/10 2:48pm
Msg #349995

Re: Bon Voyage, Cheryl. You sure deserve the time of your life.

Thank you, Susan. I can't wait, we're so excited. We took a trip to San Francisco to see the Zac Brown Band for a leukemia fundraiser. We had a wonderful time and met up with my cousins from Sioux Falls in San Francisco, then they came back here for a couple of years. It was a great time, but not long enuf or far away enuf.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 8/22/10 4:30pm
Msg #350018

Re: Bon Voyage, Cheryl. You sure deserve the time of your life.

What a fun reunion, Cheryl.

And this cruise is going to be so bloomin' cool. The music, the food, the saltsea air, shuffleboard, the dancing, the hanky, and the panky...

Sail on, Cheryl and Mr. Sweetie, sail on!

Reply by Linda Juenger on 8/22/10 5:09pm
Msg #350020

Re: Bon Voyage, Cheryl. You sure deserve the time of your life.

We went to the Cayman's on a cruise. Just loved it. There is a turtle farm there and the Hell Post Office. It is a very very clean Island. The snorkeling is just fabulous. Have a great time.

Reply by LKT/CA on 8/22/10 9:30am
Msg #349968

<<<I disagreed, made contact with MetLife Home Loans, and asked if they wanted their reputation tarnished by working with people who unjustly enrich themselves on the backs of others.>>>

Well done! Notaries have a duty to hold the TC/Escrow Co./Lender accountable for the middlemen they contract with. The "We paid them so it's not our problem" attitude won't fly, especially since the middlemen are acting ON BEHALF of the TC/Escrow Co./Lender and the true (and main) benefactor of our work IS the TC/Escrow Co./Lender.

Your statement is perfect (and true): "working with people who unjustly enrich themselves on the backs of others"

Reply by sheltn on 8/22/10 10:35am
Msg #349972

I wish that when I posted about this
I got heck ,instead of sticking together.
we have a voice! lenders title co. and ss
depend on us