Posted by Matham on 4/28/11 12:38pm
Msg #381610

Follow Up

When all is said and done, when the T's are crossed, the I's are dotted, the seals are where they should be stamped and the docs are shipped next day, what is the next protocol?

I mean, I've had two signings this week, my first ones, and the docs were shipped immeadiately and promptly, and I'm wondering, do I expect a call from both companies to follow up with, hey, you did a great job, thank you so much, or, hey, you did a piss poor job and we're not going to use you again?

Is the silence golden or deafening? Do I follow up with them?

Is there a protocol in this area or do I just submit an invoice and await the check (and next assignment)?

Reply by SharonMN on 4/28/11 12:42pm
Msg #381611

Nobody ever calls you unless you screwed up. And only sometimes then.

When I work for a company new to me, I ask them their completion/invoicing process. Some want an invoice, some want you to fill out a web completion, some just want the tracking # phoned in or emailed. Following the desired procedure increases your chances of getting paid timely.

Reply by jba/fl on 4/28/11 1:15pm
Msg #381621

Silence is golden. Sharon got the rest right so no comment. n/m

Reply by Matham on 4/28/11 1:17pm
Msg #381622

Re: Silence is golden. Sharon got the rest right so no comment.

Not that I doubt I did a good job, especially yesterday's, but typically, if something was done incorrectly, what would be the timeframe to hear back from them concerning the matter?

Reply by RickG/CA on 4/28/11 1:47pm
Msg #381625

Re: Timeframe???? hahahaha.........

Sorry, just got a good chuckle. It could be anywhere from a couple hours after receipt of the doc package to days even weeks. There have been people who were contacted months after the signing. I would check off as completed and move on to getting more signings/work/marketing/gardening/etc. Of course, keep an eye out for payment.

Nice job by the way.

Reply by MW/VA on 4/28/11 3:42pm
Msg #381644

All you really need to be concerned with is when will you

get your check. Otherwise, we really get any feedback. That used to worry me a bit as a newbie, because I wanted to know if I messed up or not. I do on rare occasions get a complement passed on to me, but again it's rare. Try to remember that there are tens of thosands of transactions that take place every day, and we aren't even a visible part of the process. Keep up the good work.

Reply by Les_CO on 4/28/11 2:11pm
Msg #381630

I know it’s slow now but I doubt if it’s in the job description of schedulers (especially in India) to send out “thank you” cards?...You will be lucky (assuming you did a perfect job) to ever hear from them again and that includes getting paid. I expect to see a post from you in a month or so actually naming the SS that you worked for, asking how to get paid from them. (I truly hope not, I hope you get your check next week) However if It’s a good SS they may be too busy to call and say thanks, but you could call them and ask? They usually don’t get any feedback from Title unless there’s a problem. If you don’t hear from them about problems…that’s good. If they don’t pay you….that’s bad…..JMO
Good luck

Reply by Lavergne Manuel on 4/28/11 2:36pm
Msg #381637

I did one a few years ago and almost a year later they discovered that I had left the county off of the venue and they asked me to go back and paid my full fee again just to go and redo one acknowledgment. Those were the days when you were almost always paid what you asked for.

Reply by GraysBooks on 4/28/11 3:41pm
Msg #381643

If you hear from a title company in the future after having completed a job for them, then that's the real "thank you" because they're expressing continued confidence in your work. I've not heard from a single title company just to say, "thanks, you did a good job", but I did hear from one man who handled closings who walked me through my first closing over the phone before I went to the appointment, then contacted me after when he got the paperwork back to tell me how I did - that he thought I'd do well and he appreciated my hard work. Nothing from any of the major title co's. If they contact you for more work, consider it a "thank you".

Reply by Kay/IL on 4/28/11 7:48pm
Msg #381671

Congratulations on your first signing!

The best way to gauge as to whether you did well is whether you receive calls for more assignments from your companies. Signing services, title companies, etc., seldom will call you directly to let you know whether you did a good job. If anything, they will only contact you if made any errors. So, in this sense, unless otherwise you are getting calls for more signings, no news is good news.

As for invoices, they are usually automatically generated unless a SS or TC asks for one.

Good luck.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 4/28/11 8:52pm
Msg #381683

I agree, for the most part. I wouldn't assume, however, that an invoice is automatically generated. That may be true for most ss, but it will vary. If you're working directly for a tc, then I'd assume that you DO need to send an invoice.

And one more thing... Lots of people mistakenly assume that just because they never hear anything back that they did everything perfectly with no errors. Most companies will probably only contact you about errors that are difficult to fix. Many of us have heard lots of tales about what goes on in the "back rooms" at title companies to take care of little mistakes or omissions - plus they may have a POA for corrections. Or it could be a page that doesn't need the notary and they deal directly with the borrowers for a correction.

Others here may have more input on this, but I recommend not getting too complacent or confident just because no one ever complains to you about a mistake... Instead, we just need to be constantly working to improve our game and stay in learning mode. I'm sure we all wish it wasn't that way, but no one has the time to do that kind of follow-up.

Reply by MikeC/NY on 4/28/11 9:05pm
Msg #381685

You don't want to get a follow-up phone call...

It would mean you screwed something up. No news is definitely good news in this case...

What you do now is sit and wait for the check. Set up a tickler file (either manual or automated) so you know when the check is due, and be prepared to start making inquiries when payment is past due. That is a real possibility, depending on who your client is - you may soon be introduced to the really ugly side of this business, which is getting paid for the work you've done.

Good luck...

Reply by ReneeK_MI on 4/29/11 6:19am
Msg #381709

About invoices

I echo everyone's comments on silence being (assumed as) golden. I would only add that IMO, a professional invoice should be sent to the hiring party upon completion of every assignment, and I suspect that many of the issues some have with non-payment could be curtailed by this standard business protocol.

Some clients will say "no need to invoice" ...but that is THEIR protocol, not MY protocol. They are free to throw the invoice away, but I will send one regardless.

Sending an invoice (I just attach to my confirmation of closing e-mail) establishes a record of payment due, lets the client know they're working with a professional who invoices, who is likely to stay on track w/payment, who keeps plenty of records and information, etc. When/if it comes time to pick and choose who gets paid ...who would YOU choose?

The only time I do not invoice for each closing is with certain clients who want weekly or monthly invoices, but those for me are all established clients. I'd be very hesitant to do that with new-to-me clients right out of the box.