Posted by NotaryMot/CA on 8/11/11 8:53pm
Msg #393396

Late Doc Arrivals

If an agency promises you the documents will arrive in a certain time frame and they do not. Does anyone out there ever place a surcharge on their fee or refuse to perform the job? If one refuses to attend the signing they could use the oral contract laws to state they were promised the documents delivered to them at a certain time upon accepting the assignment.

I believe SA's would be within their legal rights without fear of legal consequences, to refuse to perform a signing without a surcharge fee under these circumstances. The only problem would be they might not be used again by the agency. If so then the agency is looking for fools who put up with whatever they dish out.

Reply by Hart - Marilyn on 8/11/11 9:07pm
Msg #393399

If docs are real late...I ask them to reschedule. Some of these companies think we only have their closing in one day......I always tell them I have more than one...

Reply by LKT/CA on 8/11/11 10:27pm
Msg #393406

<<<Does anyone out there ever place a surcharge on their fee or refuse to perform the job?>>>

Yes, some here do add a surcharge or return the job to the hiring party - these are their terms for which they inform the hiring party IN ADVANCE.....in other words, when the Notary replies to the email confirmation, they reply with THEIR terms spelled out (in writing) to the hiring party. Some Notaries let the hiring party know that if docs are not on time, the signing will go to the back of the line, after all other appointments the Notary has scheduled.

<<<The only problem would be they might not be used again by the agency.>>>

True, but would you rather have no signing at all or a signing that a PITA (pain in the a**)? Personally, I'd opt for no signing at all, which leaves my schedule open for GNW (general notary work) or a signing with ready docs.

Reply by Hart - Marilyn on 8/12/11 6:55am
Msg #393417

Yes, I have added a fee.however that does not mean they will pay you.
Generally they don't.
Yes, I have told them I cannot do it after such and such a time. I have other closings to do and I already have their docs!

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 8/11/11 10:54pm
Msg #393409

If I don't have the docs within 4 hours of the signing, I reserve the right to reschedule or cancel. I've never turned a signing back, and likely would never do so.... I'd try to do whatever I could to get the job done -- but I'm going to be compensated for the trouble.

As posted on my website, and in my confirmations:

"Note about Document Readiness: Documents must be ready and sent to me (or be ready for pickup if local) at least 4 hours prior to the signing appointment, no exceptions. If your documents are not ready, the appointment may be rescheduled or canceled at my discretion. Documents that arrive late are subject to a $50.00 additional fee."

Late docs are almost never an issue for me... I simply refuse to work for companies who pull those stunts. If it does happen, the companies know it's an unusual situation and they have always paid me for the trouble.

Reply by SharonMN on 8/12/11 11:38am
Msg #393442

I've never charged a surcharge for late docs. I do ask that the docs be ready by a certain time. If they aren't, I try to accomodate the hiring company and reschedule the signing. But if I can't, I have no problem telling them that I blocked out a particular time for their appointment and am not available later, so they will need to reassign the signing to another notary.