Posted by Pat/CA on 12/6/10 4:30pm
Msg #364149

SS & Title Companies: Just be honest and upfront!

Most of us in this business are business-like people and conduct ourselves as such. That said, please note that in order to keep a great and knowledgeable notary, we only ask a few things:

1) Don't be vague and force us to extract pertinent information out of you when you make your original call. That's number one for a reason: our time is valuable and when you throw in a lot of last minute hoops for us to jump through, or throw us loan docs shortly before the signing that have a lot of additional instructions and demands, you may very well be jeopardizing our next appointment and that next appointment may also be for YOUR company! It makes us look bad, not to mention it's not how we want to conduct our business.

Perhaps others would like to chime in here with #2, and 3 and 4 and...

Mostly, I hope this will be read and an agreed upon understanding be accomplished. We work very hard not only to make this living in these uncertain times, but to represent you in the best professional manner we have to offer.

Reply by Lee/AR on 12/6/10 6:01pm
Msg #364154

No undisclosed faxbacks. Hate finding that out w/the doc pkg

And provide both a fax # and e-mail address--scanning & e-mailing is better, I think.

Reply by GAMMYx3/MA on 12/6/10 7:47pm
Msg #364164

Re: No undisclosed faxbacks. Hate finding that out w/the doc pkg

Just took one on about an hour ago and the confirmation that I got 20 minutes ago states faxbacks (not disclosed) MUST get a receipt from FEDEX not to use a drop box (12 miles round trip to do that) and no request for DL (required by the attorney that I work for to be retained on record) Asked for more $$ and am holding off calling the signers till I get a response or callback. Got most of the docs and with the exception of the escrow docs is a relativly small package (under 60 pages so far) Wonder how long it will take them to respond as I sent it about 20 min ago.

Reply by JulieD/KS on 12/6/10 8:28pm
Msg #364169

Re: No undisclosed faxbacks. Hate finding that out w/the doc pkg

SS companies often don't know the particulars because they haven't seen the docs.
I make it a habit to ask quite a few questions when they call to hire so I know how to price my services. Questions like: Refi or purchase or RM or HELOC? Faxbacks? Piggyback? Are docs ready right now?
And then when I get the confirmation, I respond back with my acceptance terms - - something like....."This agreement is for a refinance to take place at 3pm on Friday Dec. 10th and our agreed-upon fee is $150. That fee is for a single refi package of 100 pages or less that is received in full no later than noon CST on Dec. 10th. Packages in excess of 100 pages or that aren't received by noon will be subject to extra fees. Please respond to this email to accept these terms."
I am in my 8th year as a signing agent and I have learned a lot about dealing with these companies. I know they aren't lookin' out for me...so I have to.

Reply by James Dawson on 12/7/10 2:37pm
Msg #364236

Give the BWR a valid reach # for lender & TC, NOT call tree# n/m

Reply by doglover/CA on 12/7/10 3:24pm
Msg #364242

Sometimes I have not known until the docs have been received, at the last minute, that the borrower(s) will be signing for both a 1st and 2nd mortgage or that there is a non-borrower that needs to be present and I find out at the table that the non-borrower cannot be there at the scheduled appointment time.

Reply by ikando on 12/9/10 3:51pm
Msg #364497

It's been my experience that some signing services don't ask enough questions when they take the order--even to know who the lender is. It seems sometimes that they are so glad to get work, that they bid it without considering all the things we will want to know to give them a good bid.