Posted by JulieD/KS on 7/13/10 11:54pm
Msg #344850

Just because they say...

When I sent my confirmation email yesterday to the company that hired me for a reverse mortgage (the one that I posted about earlier...late docs and all), well part of what I have in my email is that docs need to arrive in full by x.xxam/pm and that if they don't arrive, I take the signing off my schedule. If at such time the docs arrive, they can call and if I have time to do the job, i will charge an additional $25 for the late docs.

This company responded to my email and said "we don't pay for late docs".

Well...I'm here to tell you, THEY DO!

Drop dead deadline that I gave them: Noon
Signing appt time: 3pm
Docs arrived: 2:16

I was gone to another appt. When I got home, I emailed them to let them know the docs had arrived but now it's 3pm...what do they want me to do? I get two emails, both frantic. I guess the lender is SUPER UPSET and this pkg needs to be signed today. And...Can I Still Do It?

I emailed and said, yes, I can. Send me a revised confirmation adding a $25 late-edoc fee to my original fee and I will call to reschedule. Because of their assertion yesterday that they don't pay late fees, I expected them to tell me to eat dirt.

I was wrong. No hesitation whatsoever. They accepted, sent a new confirmation and I did the job. Apparently this reverse mortgage has been headache all along for the borrower. He gave me quite an earful.

So, don't believe them if they say they won't pay a late fee. They will. I state my company terms clearly and completely these days so that they know up front. Because, like someone else said today: IGTOFTS! (or something like that)

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 7/14/10 12:27am
Msg #344852

Bravo!!!

I fully support the idea of drop-dead times and enforcing a late fee for going past it if they still want the job done.


When enough of us start demanding respect for our time, the "way things are" in the industry will get better. No excuse for lazy, late docs... and if they're late, we shouldn't be the ones paying for it.

Reply by James Dawson on 7/14/10 12:51am
Msg #344854

great news! n/m

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 7/14/10 2:14am
Msg #344856

Thats the way to do it!!

Let us know if they actually pay the late fee, though.

Reply by James Dawson on 7/14/10 2:18am
Msg #344857

Good point Glenn n/m

Reply by C. Wayne Moore on 7/14/10 12:30pm
Msg #344919

You are correct Glen. Did a last minute for a SS they agreed to fee plus extra fee for large print package. I received a check but not for the agreed fee. Short by 1/3 but it's not over yet.

Reply by Moneyman/TX on 7/14/10 3:04am
Msg #344859

Good job! n/m

Reply by CopperheadVA on 7/14/10 6:11am
Msg #344862

Good job, Julie! n/m

Reply by aurelio/FL on 7/14/10 6:18am
Msg #344863

Let this be a lesson to everyone...

Stick to your guns!

Reply by C. Rivera Chicago Notary Services on 7/14/10 7:55am
Msg #344865

Excellent example of sticking to ones fees!

Good for you Julie, this good news made my day!

Reply by Michelle/AL on 7/14/10 7:58am
Msg #344867

Good Post, Julie. Thanks for sharing. n/m

Reply by Bob_Chicago on 7/14/10 9:06am
Msg #344871

A contrary view. Not intended to be critical of anyone's..

method of running their biz, but it appears that this co obviously needed to get this
signed, and get it signed yesterday. They agreed to your $25 surcharge because it was
cheaper than losing client.
Just curious how often you will be called in the future by these folks.
Just wondering if there is a correleation between those with a whole list of rules that they
insist upon before accepting a signing and those who post that their phone doesn't seem to be ringing much lately.
If dox are late, as often occurs, I attempt to adjust my schedule to accomadate the people, with preference of course to previously schedules signings where I have dox.
I do not believe that holding up the signing co for more money is a good, long term stategy,
but as I said, we each have to run our own biz.

Reply by James Dawson on 7/14/10 9:23am
Msg #344875

Re: A contrary view. Not intended to be critical of anyone's..

Hey Bob, while what you are saying does provide for some interesting thoughts concerning double standards, some of us do have to draw the line. I personally do it because from my experience I don't want to rush and I do need to have ample time to review the Docs. I do not charge a late Doc fee, I just don't accept the assignment.

As far as the phone not ringing? I wonder if advertising that you will accept late Docs will increase your ( those who complain their phones aren't ringing) revenue stream. That ought to create some multi-tasking marvels. LOL

Thanks for bring up the contrary view, good point.

Reply by C. Rivera Chicago Notary Services on 7/14/10 9:36am
Msg #344878

sort of agree with you Bob, but the bottom line here is

this strategy worked for her, and by her sharing her great story, it MAY work for others that are in the same constant situation. We all make adjustments to our schedules, but where do WE draw the line?

IMO, if some SS can threaten to nickle and dime us, why can't we do the same? Especially for late dox?

Seems like this should be a new trend for nsa's IMO.

Reply by JulieD/KS on 7/14/10 9:37am
Msg #344879

Re: A contrary view. Not intended to be critical of anyone's..

I used to 'run' my business in the way that you describe, Bob, but what wound up happening is that my time was controlled by companies that could care less about what else I have on my plate. I'd prefer to be in charge of my own schedule. I have plenty going on and working that signing in yesterday with the docs being late was a challenge.

I decided years ago I'd run my business and have my own company terms...just like other companies do. I let them know my terms up front, so it's not like I'm doing anything underhanded. They are FREE to go find someone else right away if they want. My terms are my terms.

I'm sure they'll call you before they call me, Bob, but that's okay with me. I've come to this place because of what I've been through in this business. I know that if you allow them to dangle you, they will. It took a few years, but I decided to charge a Dangle Fee.

Reply by C. Rivera Chicago Notary Services on 7/14/10 9:43am
Msg #344883

dangle fee....love it! :) n/m

Reply by JulieD/KS on 7/14/10 9:49am
Msg #344887

Re: Easy to avoid my Late Fee

Yes, it's easy to avoid my Late Fee! Get the docs out 3 hours in advance. I just don't understand companies that send docs 30 minutes before a signing.

If my late fee runs off companies that can't get their act together in time to get docs out a few hours in advance, that's fine.

In my personal life, I prefer not to pay late fees, so I make my house payment on time, my car payment on time, my utilities, etc. Guess what? I never pay late fees!

Even the LIBRARY charges late fees. For some reason, you think I'm implementing a bad-for-business policy because I value my time? I think if we ALL did it, they might actually begin to respect us instead of just seeing us as shills who don't really matter in the scheme of things.

Reply by Ernest__CT on 7/14/10 10:59pm
Msg #344982

If we would ALL set a late fee policy ...

... and stick to it, then we'd all win.

There will always be a bottom-feeder who will undercut our prices and not complain.