Posted by Robyn Sisti, Attorney At Law on 11/19/10 1:06pm
Msg #361979

RE The Notary Biz IMPORTANT!

Hi all

I just wanted to give some feed back on the Notary Biz and a sitauation I had with them. I did a closing in MA back in September and had yet to be paid. I tried to contact the company by phone, and just got a recording. I emailed Andy and it came back saying to email Liz as he was "out". I emailed Liz and she assured me that my check would go out as soon as she was paid by Option 1 title (they are in VA..you can look up their website)
I told her initially that I could wait a bit longer to be paid as she was giving me a sob story about how much money she was owed and how companies were going out of business and she had to lay off all her staff, yada yada yada...

then as I thought about it I just got a bad vibe. So I searched through my emails and found the doc pacakage for the closing and when I looked at the HUD, seems Ms Liz of the Notary Biz was paid right from the HUD. So I contacted the settlement company listed on the HUD, Maverick National out of Fl. I spoke to a supervisor who said that yes, Ms Liz of the notary biz had indeed been paid on this closing back in early OCTOBER! he was kind enough to send me a copy of the check.

in the meantime, I had email Liz that her story sounded suspect and i wanted my check asap. She continued to lie and say she was never paid by Option 1 Title in VA. (Prior to finding the old HUD, I tried to call and email Option 1 in VA and got no replies!) However, once I got the check copy via email, I forwarded that to her and told her to send my check immediately or my next calls were to the FBI internet fraud division and to the CAlif ag's office and the state police! I was going to throw in Gov Arnold but thought that would be too much.

Anyhow, her last email to me was to stop emailing her and my check is in the mail. The supervisor at Maverick also called her, at my request, and she told him the check would go out asap!

Now, whether I ever get a check or whether it is a good check, who knows.

My point is that through this site, we can and should continue to keep each other updated on such goings on. I find the rating system to be phenomenal and the comments even better.

The problem is that the lenders are using these signing companies who then farm out the work to us and its a crapshoot if we ever get paid or not. Sadly, the lenders and the title insurance companies are absolved of liability since we are not listed on the hud to be paid.

so that is my story. I will keep you all posted as to when and if the check arrives and if it bounces or not.

Robyn A Sisti Esq

Reply by James Dawson on 11/19/10 1:34pm
Msg #361980

You just answered a question I've been having about payment.

I work for three different companies who pay in one week, I am listed on the HUD1. I would hope that means, if you're listed on the HUD1, you're paid directly by the TC. If you're not listed on the HUD1.....THANKS!

Reply by Notary/ME on 11/19/10 1:54pm
Msg #361984

I've had an open invoice for over a year from Notary Biz that I had written off in my mind. Twits! liars and thieves I say.

Reply by Scott/NJ on 11/19/10 2:05pm
Msg #361988

To the OP- why didn't you directly contact the Secretary of State first? That is her governing authority, isn't it? Simply tell them she has committed a crime of dishonesty and you would like an investigation or other action.

Or contact your own SoS- most have a number you can call for the purpose of answering any Notarial questions. A call from one SoS to another on your behalf regarding an issue with a Notary would be effective IMO. Especially in the current climate of robo notaries, etc. You might get some very fast action.

Please post when/if you get the check and if it clears. I have heard horror stories of NSAs getting a check, but it was not signed, insufficient funds, etc.

Reply by C. Rivera Chicago Notary Services on 11/19/10 2:43pm
Msg #361991

I think that this is a great post! And it only further proves asking to be listed on Hud is the BEST way of assuring one gets paid! Please let us know when you get that check and if it clears.

Reply by Stamper_WI on 11/19/10 5:17pm
Msg #362010

I think that what helped Robyn was that she is an attorney. People tend to sit up and take notice. But excellent work Robyn!

Reply by Robyn Sisti, Attorney At Law on 11/19/10 9:56pm
Msg #362052

honestly, had it not been for this site, I would have taken her lies at face value. But when i looked Notary biz up on here, i saw the stories and that is why i dug up the HUD and made the calls.

again, who knows if a check was sent or if it will even be a good check.

but atleast we can put these companies out of business. No one deserves to go unpaid for a job.

I will keep you posted.

Reply by Robyn Sisti, Attorney At Law on 11/30/10 12:34pm
Msg #363206

UPDATE: still no check. I sent good ol Liz another email yesterday to which she replied "i mailed the check on Nov 18!"

okay then....

Reply by Robyn Sisti, Attorney At Law on 12/16/10 9:33am
Msg #365163

update:

I did finally receive a check from Liz at the Notary Biz. all I can say is that if they still owe you money, and you have the old hud, contact all the parties listed on it ie the lender, title company, title insurance company, etc, and see if they will help you put pressure on this company to pay you.

Don't just walk away from money that you worked for! Also, I send them email after email so they knew I was not going to go away until paid.

I hope this helps and lets keep each other updated on the companies out there who do and do not pay! We are are own best source of defense to this nonsense!
If anyone has any questions, feel free to email me directly.

happy holidays to you all

RAS, Esq

Reply by macdeux on 12/21/10 10:35pm
Msg #365675

Robyn, thanks for sharing your experience. I have tried countless times via email and phone to get paid for a signing conducted for them in February of 2010 -- all with the equal amount of excuses. I am surprised they didn't try to pull "you violated the contract by contacting the lender/title, yadda, yadda, so you will not be paid".

Your mention of the FBI Internet Fraud Division and California Attorney General's office is something I hadn't tried so I've sent them one last email to try to get paid.