Posted by droman_IL on 9/26/10 4:17pm
Msg #354143

Nations Signature Closers - they crack me up!

So they scheduled an 8:30am appt for EOM. I accept it and then send them a follow up email the night before since I hadn't received docs (unusual not to have docs the night before when the appointment is that early.) So I ask for an ETA and if they aren't sending them that night, I need by 6:30am in order to have time to download, print, troubleshoot if necessary and drive to the appointment. So they get an attitude that I'm asking for docs and say they don't know when they are getting them and ask can I still do it? I'm like, seriously? You schedule an appointment with me and the borrower and you don't even know when you are getting docs? I ask if they want to reschedule to 4pm since they don't know when they are getting docs. Hello??? It's EOM- there is no pushing back appointments when I'm booked most of the day. They reply that I'm giving THEM an attitude - they tell me they go through this with the TC every EOM and they can't give me an ETA on docs. I remain professional and enlighten them to that fact, and politely decline to accept the appointment because I refuse to be rushed because I know they will send the docs an hour before the closing, and I'm certainly not going to be late for my other clients' appointments, as they managed to get THEIR documents to me on time without any issues. Wouldn't you know it, at 7:53am the next morning, I receive an email in my inbox that they sent me docs for my 8:30am closing!!! I couldn't stop laughing as I replied back that I had canceled the appointment the night before. I love it when I'm right!!!

Reply by kathy/ca on 9/26/10 4:23pm
Msg #354147

I have started giving a deadline of 4 hours prior to appt

time. I tell them upfront if the docs arent to me within that time period, I will not be able to do the signing. So often meanwhile, other signings come up and if I dont have time to fit it all in, I become frustrted. Since I have stuck to that provision, I dont have the stress I used to feel.

Reply by JulieD/KS on 9/26/10 4:55pm
Msg #354151

Re: I have started giving a deadline of 4 hours prior to appt

I've been giving a 3-hour deadline for receipt of docs for the last couple of years. I was hired by a signing service last week...a company I've never worked for but they agreed to my fee. Feedback on NotRot was mostly positive, so I responded to their email with my acceptance and lining out my terms (receipt of the complete package by [3 hours before signing] and doc package of 120 pages or less.) I also have my payment terms in that email stating that I will be paid regardless of funding outcome.
The company canceled my services after receiving that email. They said they had no idea when docs would arrive & and they would hire someone more flexible than me.

In signing service lingo, FLEXIBLE means 'can be dangled ad nauseum when a title company can't get their act together'. I guess I should add a blurb to my email that I can be very flexible....for $35 an hour.

Reply by Julie/MI on 9/26/10 5:13pm
Msg #354158

Re: I have started giving a deadline of 4 hours prior to appt

It's the nature of the business.

No sense in getting into an argument with anyone over late docs, especially month end. It is what it is. No sense burning bridges.

If you are not a juggler or have a business partner or someone that can sometimes help you out (Bless you, Dorothy ) just give polite notice that you are unable to close the loan and please reschedule with someone else. I realize you did cancel and they send docs anyway, but it's month end for them too and sometimes things slip on their end too. JMHO

Reply by LKT/CA on 9/26/10 5:44pm
Msg #354163

Re: I have started giving a deadline of 4 hours prior to appt

<<<It's the nature of the business....No sense in getting into an argument with anyone over late docs, especially month end. It is what it is. No sense burning bridges.>>>

I agree, and to add: Set your deadline and if the company doesn't meet it, give them the option of taking the job back and re-assigning it to another notary, OR you will complete their job AFTER your other appointments. No point in getting frustrated, upset, unwound, frazzled, etc. Just move on. Fill your schedule with other solid appointments instead of turning down other jobs waiting around for the *unknown*.

Reply by droman_IL on 9/26/10 5:45pm
Msg #354164

Agree that late docs can happen, but not that it's

the nature of the business. It should be the exception, not the rule. And where NCS is concerned, IMO, it's the rule. In the event docs cannot be ready within a sufficient amount of time before the scheduled appointment, reschedule the closing. Do not send the documents to me 37 minutes before the scheduled appointment time and think it will 1) actually get closed at the scheduled time, or 2) not negatively impact any subsequent appointments for the remainder of the day. It's unprofessional and disrespectful of my time and the time of my other clients who worked diligently to get their documents to me on time.

I've many years of working with NCS and so I knew what to expect, that's why I inquired about the documents and returned the assignment back to them when they couldn't provide an ETA. I know that I'm a "higher priced" notary than they usually hire, so I don't get too many calls from them except last minute ones that other notaries probably returned to them because of their lateness with getting the docs out. In those cases, if I'm available, I accept the appointment because at that point, they have the docs! No love lost, but was extremely happy to know I diverted having a disastrous EOM, as I would've started out late for my FIRST appointment of the day!

Reply by Virginia/PA on 9/26/10 5:55pm
Msg #354170

Re: Agree that late docs can happen, but not that it's

It's often the rule with a lot of companies, and especially EOM. It is the nature of the beast. I had 4 last Friday. The docs for my 10 am purchase came at 9 am and I had to drive 25 miles.

The docs for my 4 pm luckily were sent the nite before.

The docs for my 6 pm were sent at 5:45 pm. I printed two sets only to find out my cartridge was going bad. You could read the docs but they had superimposed double printing on them. Took them with me though since I had no time for reprinting.

The docs for my 8 pm came at 7:30 and I had to drive 45 minutes.

Then came home and reprinted the 6 pm docs. Went back later with a fresh set. Borrowers were accommodating.

Three out of four doc sets came just in the nick of time.

Reply by droman_IL on 9/26/10 6:06pm
Msg #354180

OMG Virginia! I would never put up w/that, even at EOM! n/m

Reply by MW/VA on 9/26/10 6:12pm
Msg #354182

"It should be the exception, not the rule". We would all

agree with that, but it doesn't make it fact. TC's are backed up at EOM--that's a fact.
They have to wait for the lender to give them final nos.--that's a fact. When docs are running late, you have a choice to try to adjust your schedule or turn the signing back. I agree that there isn't any point in getting into an argument over it.
I often think of the phrase "let me drop everything & work on your problem".
It's the same issues with times. I turned away at least four calls for signings at 5 pm on Friday.
This is a crazy business at EOM.

Reply by Donna McDaniel on 9/26/10 6:22pm
Msg #354185

Re: "It should be the exception, not the rule". We would all

So true! I only accept assignments during EOM from clients that I know realize that I am as busy as they are, and are willing to work with me.

Reply by droman_IL on 9/26/10 6:23pm
Msg #354186

Wow! I'm amazed at the lack of respect these TCs have

for your time. I certainly know the craziness at EOM, but to work with a TC that has a total disregard for your time and disrespects the fact that they've SCHEDULED APPOINTMENTS for you to provide a service for someone else is appalling. I must be really blessed that my main TC companies I work for do a bang-up job at getting me my docs within a reasonable amount of time before my appointments, EVEN DURING EOM. It's not to say it NEVER happens, but again, the exception, not the rule. If it won't be ready in time, reschedule to another time, period. But send me docs 45 minutes before the scheduled appointment, and I still go do it? It will never happen!

Reply by MW/VA on 9/26/10 6:31pm
Msg #354189

Re: Wow! I'm amazed at the lack of respect these TCs have

IMO it has nothing to do with a lack of respect. They're in the same boat at their end.
Many of us know to prepare for changes in "scheduled appts.". I had a 4 pm Friday & docs weren't ready. The borrower had classes Friday evening. We ended up signing at 10:30. It's about flexibility. I don't say I like it, but this is how I make my money. It's been discussed many, many times. Try that at a drs. office & you'd get billed for missing the appt.

Reply by droman_IL on 9/26/10 6:36pm
Msg #354190

Flexible? You have to be!

Reschedule the appointment? Absolutely! Expect me to go do a closing when you send me the docs 45 minutes before the scheduled appointment time? Not happening!!

Reply by desktopfull on 9/27/10 1:13am
Msg #354243

Most of the time I get docs late it isn't the TC's fault,

They submit their HUD for final approval to the underwriter or FHA/VA and they have to nag them to get it approved. On one closing they didn't approve the HUD for 2 days and then complained because the closing date was changed.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 9/26/10 6:18pm
Msg #354184

They did the same thing to me..

told them I needed docs by 7:15 at the absolute latest (had to print and then travel for an hour)....7:45 no docs - I turned back assignment via e-mail AND on the phone - 8:05 docs show up....

I don't think I've heard from NSC since..and for me it's no great loss - don't miss the late docs, huge packages, confusion..

Reply by Donna McDaniel on 9/26/10 6:27pm
Msg #354188

I wonder how long NSC sits on the docs...

before sending them on to the NSA. IME, that's the problem, not the TC.

Reply by Cari on 9/26/10 8:33pm
Msg #354210

I can't believe you accepted their low ball fees.... n/m

Reply by Claudine Osborne on 9/26/10 9:22pm
Msg #354215

Re: I can't believe you accepted their low ball fees....

I was waiting for docs for a 4 and no docs from the signing service. I called BO explained and told them I would be in touch. I went to another appointment. Finished that one and the TC calls me asking why Im not at the 4 appointment. Tell them I did not receivc docs..She gets real quiet and tells me she sent them to SS at 3..So she sends the docs to me. AT 5:30 SS calls..Your docs are here! I was already on route to the bos..

The TC said they would not use this SS again and will be calling me directly. They have been having issues with this SS..Too bad for SS good for me! I will not be taking anymore work from this
SS as they are always late..Won't deal with that at EOM..

Reply by CopperheadVA on 9/27/10 8:52am
Msg #354270

Re: I can't believe you accepted their low ball fees....

Glad that worked out well for you Claudine! But you said the TC sent docs to SS at 3 PM for a 4 PM appt? They still cut it kind of close. NO excuse for SS not to have forwarded docs immediately, though.