Posted by Moneyman/TX on 12/20/11 4:29pm
Msg #407139
Just curious what others think ...
If a TC uses a SS company that one of its employees (and/or their spouse owns) and after going thru the SS for the assignment, the TC wants you (the NSA) to deal with them directly, as in confirming the apt, receipt of docs, printing of docs, confirming the closing, & shipping of docs, do others feel as I do that all of those things are the responsibility of the SS that they hired instead of hiring the NSA directly?
I have two TC's that I have previously preformed signings for (at full $150-$175 rate) that are now using SS companies that are associated in one way or another with either the TC itself or one of its employees. Now that they have added the middle-man (the SS) to the mix, after I have accepted the assignment (at a lower rate of course) these same TC's want to continue to email me and send me instructions to call them after the signing to confirm as well as keep them in the loop prior to the appointment.
I feel that I will answer the questions of SS and keep them in the loop and they can earn the money they are charging by confirming with the TC. Especially since these specific TC's decided to add the SS companies when they used to deal with me directly. IMO, some of the benefits of the TC's hiring the NSA directly is the direct communication, less lag time should there be any issues, immediate confirmations, & a better level of customer service (between the NSA and the TC directly).
In these cases it is not a matter of keeping, or starting, a good relationship with a TC in case the SS goes under for possible future business.
| Reply by Julie Dailey on 12/20/11 6:04pm
Msg #407147
If the TC pulls an SS in and uses the SS to hire me, I will not deal directly with the TC. They may want me to...but if they choose to hire me via a signing service, then all correspondence can go through the SS. Furthermore, directions I get from the SS (even if wrong) supercede directions from the TC (or ...so says the SS!)
| Reply by jba/fl on 12/20/11 6:24pm
Msg #407149
The two Julies agree. The TC knows me - but - they dropped the ball into another court and now my game is over there. They want to play with me directly, they need to initiate contact directly. Now, if I call the TC with a question as the SS does not answer their phones after giving me all their numbers and people to call, then the TC is free to ask me why I don't deal directly with them so that I can explain. They probably won't, but if I have a good rapport with someone, then it probably will shine through.
But, again, if the SS doesn't keep control of the ball and I have to call TC, then the SS probably will be getting another 'look-see' by the tc as to why the NP is always calling.
BTW: I have one SS who gives me about 6 numbers, some cells # as well, but no one ever answers. I call them, but then call TC and get someone on the phone all the time. Yes, I court them...because the SS is just taking my money and wasting my time and not placing any value on it. JMO
| Reply by Moneyman/TX on 12/21/11 1:15pm
Msg #407233
I agree with you that if the SS they hire drops the ball it can open an opportunity to work directly with the TC.
| Reply by Moneyman/TX on 12/21/11 1:11pm
Msg #407232
Thanks for your input.
When the TC adds layers to the process, imo, they always run the risks that go along with the old game of 'telephone'.
| Reply by C. Rivera Chicago Notary Services on 12/20/11 7:10pm
Msg #407152
If a TC sends me an email regarding their client, I always reply with a "CC" to the SS that hired me, and I do try to not deal directly with the TC.
IM, its fair game, especially if I have to email the SS to ask a question, and they then forward my email directly to the rep at the TC, who then replies directly to me, to keep direct contact with that TC for future work. Its all about business.
| Reply by Les_CO on 12/20/11 8:17pm
Msg #407154
You are hired by who you are hired….work for them or not…under their/your conditions.
Yesterday is yesterday.
| Reply by CJ on 12/20/11 9:51pm
Msg #407158
One time I did a ton of jobs for a particular SS. They had their one client TC. Then the SS just vanished. I dug up a work order, called the TC and ask what SS they were using. I called the new SS and told them I did a lot of work for that TC. The SS hired me and gave me the jobs. 
| Reply by C. Rivera Chicago Notary Services on 12/21/11 5:27am
Msg #407173
That's great CJ...see proves that if you're serious in this
biz, or any biz you created & work hard at to make a name for yourself, you'll do what it takes to stay open, and in the red.
| Reply by jba/fl on 12/21/11 7:31am
Msg #407178
Re: That's great CJ...see proves that if you're serious in this
"and in the red."
I'm sure you mean "in the black".
| Reply by C. Rivera Chicago Notary Services on 12/21/11 10:44am
Msg #407194
boy is my face 'red'... n/m
| Reply by jba/fl on 12/21/11 11:54am
Msg #407208
It was early, before coffee kicked in. n/m
| Reply by Moneyman/TX on 12/21/11 1:19pm
Msg #407237
Great business instincts. n/m
| Reply by Moneyman/TX on 12/21/11 1:17pm
Msg #407235
I always do n/m
| Reply by ReneeK_MI on 12/21/11 5:32am
Msg #407174
Odd man out, here ...
Personally, I LOVE what few SS's I work for that ask me to communicate directly with the T/C. I certainly can't read anyone's mind, but it seems to me that the issue is more one of having the fee cut - that makes it a work-for-them-or-not issue, IMO.
Since you can't control their business structuring or their protocols, I can't see anything good coming from trying to, with this idea of forcing the SS to "earn the money".
| Reply by Dorothy_MI on 12/21/11 11:10am
Msg #407196
Re: Odd man out, here ...
I'm with Renee on this one. What difference does it make to you if you correspond with TC or SS? Same amount of time. Personally I prefer to deal with TC vs asking SS for an answer and hope it doesn't play the telephone game on the way to me.
You accepted the job at an acceptable fee, didn't you? Then why are you worrying about what someone else is making? It's really NONYA. I'm only concerned with my bottom line not someone else's. And unless the SS is listed on the HUD you have no idea whether they're making a broker's commission (typically 5 - 10%) or having a banquet. Again if the fee is agreeable NONYA.
| Reply by Moneyman/TX on 12/21/11 2:08pm
Msg #407246
Re: Odd man out, here ...
Thanks Dorthy.
IMO, especially since I used to work directly with these two TC's and they don't have any issue with me preforming work for them, I see no value in my continuing to give the same level of direct professional customer service when they hire a SS. In my mind, all that does is give them the added incentive to send all their business thru the employee owned or affiliated SS instead of calling me directly. It's just business and why would I want to encourage them to keep adding unnecessary layers to the process to receive the same level of service for less money for me?
I have always said that what the SS makes is not my concern. In these specific cases, basically the SS is stepping into the mix of an existing business/customer relationship of mine and doing so only because of it being an employee owned or affiliated business of the TC.
When I accept the job, I am hired by the SS, not the TC, by their choice and not due to anything I have done. I do prefer to receive the docs directly from the TC, and do so without issue. My issue is not with that type of contact but the other "updating" type of contacts that they ask for. To me, that is what the SS signed up for, not me if I am not hired directly by the TC. So far, I've not had any issue with not complying with their (TC's) updating requests on the signings I have completed for them while being hired by theses two SS companies over the last 6-8 months or so (several a month from both SS companies and TC's).
Just thought I would see what others would do if they had the same situation. FWIW, both of the SS companies are listed on the HUD each time on all the signings I have completed for them.
| Reply by Moneyman/TX on 12/21/11 1:45pm
Msg #407242
Re: Odd man out, here ...
Thank you for the different viewpoint, Renee.
Totally agree with the work-for-them-or-not viewpoint. The only thing is that the vast majority of SS either do not know or will not tell you who the TC is prior to you accepting the job so that part of the equation is not available prior to accepting. As with every request, it is always my choice to either work for them or not.
IMO, especially since I used to work directly with these two TC's and they don't have any issue with me preforming work for them, I see no value in my continuing to give the same level of direct professional customer service when they hire a SS. In my mind, all that does is give them the added incentive to send all their business thru the employee owned or affiliated SS instead of calling me directly. It's just business and why would I want to encourage them to keep adding unnecessary layers to the process to receive the same level of service for less money for me?
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