Posted by Donna LaBelle on 11/23/10 7:26pm
Msg #362600

after sitting here waiting for docs

I finally receive them 15 minutes after the appointment time and they are scanned some right side up and some sideways- all mixed together in the attachment. Where do they find these people?

Reply by Donna LaBelle on 11/23/10 7:34pm
Msg #362602

and of course no one is there to answer the phone or return my calls

Reply by Scott/NJ on 11/23/10 9:20pm
Msg #362617

I wonder what would happen if you told the SS/TC that you must receive docs by X:XXhrs or late docs fees will apply. You would charge an extra $25 and require them to pay via paypal BEFORE you do the signing or you will not be able to keep it in your schedule (in order to keep the rest of your schedule on time).

I wonder what they would say or do? Sure, their knee jerk reaction is to say "fine, we'll get a different NSA". But since they're late already, the other notary isn't going to get there on time either. So their choice is to pay the late fee and deposit the money and their signing gets done when it was originally planned, or they take the cheapskate route and find someone else that will drop what their doing and bend over backwards for them.

Here's my ranting/venting part:
It's really whether they care about the customer or not. If the SS/TC ditches you and hires someone else, call the borrower (since you have probably already confirmed with them earlier), apologize to them that you won't be able to make the prearranged time because their lender didn't see fit to send the necessary documentation in time and are obviously not respectful of your time, Mr Borrower. As a matter of fact, they are getting some other, probably less qualified person to come out to your house. Good luck with that Sir. Oh, and by the way- if you shop around with their quote, you might be able to find a better deal. And certainly someone who is more respectful towards you as well Mr Borrower. Have a nice day sir.
end rant.


...I hate getting docs late

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 11/23/10 9:34pm
Msg #362621

I hate getting docs late too

I have a "drop dead" time and I stick to it - and have turned assignments back if I don't have docs by the time I specify - I don't set the time randomly and for giggles - it's there for a reason (e.g. docs by 7:00 for a signing 45 miles away means I won't start that signing until 9:15 or 9:30 - I don't start signings that late - my personal practice)

I do call the borrower and apologize and let him know the signing is being reassigned to another notary as I can no longer accommodate the assignment - however, I do disagree with telling the borrower " As a matter of fact, they are getting some other, probably less qualified person to come out to your house. Good luck with that Sir. Oh, and by the way- if you shop around with their quote, you might be able to find a better deal. And certainly someone who is more respectful towards you as well Mr Borrower." I'd never tell a borrower that...

MHO

Reply by Scott/NJ on 11/23/10 9:38pm
Msg #362622

Re: I hate getting docs late too

Nah, me neither...but I surely want to sometimes...thanks for your reply Linda.

Reply by JulieD/KS on 11/24/10 7:01am
Msg #362634

Re: I hate getting docs late too

After years of being jerked around by companies that don't respect my time...or the borrowers' time, I finally started implementing a 3=hour drop dead time. I can and do turn the assignment back unless they will add a $25 late fee to my fee...and send a new confirmation. I tell them this UP FRONT when I'm hired so that I'm not accused of bad business practices.

The problem with our industry is, there are so many people who will bend over backwards and do anything...and at very low cost...that title companies and lenders have come to view us with no respect. Until and unless people realize that our time is worth money and the job we are doing is an important one, then nothing will change.

I really get some condescending remarks from schedulers when I tell them my drop-dead time...as though I must be out of my mind expecting docs 3 hours in advance.

I know some people are cut out for the 'excitement' of a job where you wait and wait..and then rush like crazy, but I'm not. That's why I'm opting for general notary work these days.

Reply by rolomia on 11/24/10 12:23pm
Msg #362667

Re: I hate getting docs late too

Many of the notary signing orders that I accept are to resign docs not properly handled by the cheapskate newbies who usually accept these two-bit assignments in the first place. Of course, the signing service is in a panic to keep their account with the incompetent title company. As a result, they are eager to find a dependable notary they can trust to handle the assignment properly. That is when my fee seems like a bargain to them.

Of course, I first conduct an online search for details regarding the payment history of said SS's/TC's. In those instances, I am grateful for NotRot. Don't forget: the SS won't pay the notary if the TC doesn't pay the SS, first. Most of the time, the docs are ready on time. But, when they aren't, I do charge and have always received a $25 late fee.

A few companies I've worked for have offered to double my fee when issues like this, occur. However, I'm not greedy, and won't accept more than $25 for said issues. This practice emphasizes my high ethics and has resulted in more work than I can handle by myself.

There aren't enough hours in the day to accept all the signing orders I'm offered. Still, I'm in Arkansas. For those of you who aren't aware, Arkansas has the highest concentration of notaries (on a per capita basis) in the U.S.A. As a result, most signing orders are offered to the lowest bidder. "Welcome to Ahkinsaw, Y'all..."