Posted by NC_Closer on 2/10/11 9:23am
Msg #372130

Finding signing agents

I was searching for a signing agent to assist with a closing. The area is somewhat remote and the notary who would normally help out in that area was not available. I performed a search on NotaryRotary. Of the 10 profiles that came up in a 30 mile search, this is what I encountered:

1. - The notary has a message that her cell phone is broken. She cannot call out but can receive calls. She requests that if I've reached this message to please call back until she answers.

2. - The next 4 I call do not answer their phones. And I called in order based solely on my impression of their profiles.

3 - Of the 5 remaining, 4 of the profiles are completely blank. No mention of experience, coverage area, nothing.

Luckily I did receive a call back from the one I called second and after a conversation I felt assured she was indeed competent and offered her the closing.

Reply by Daniel Romanello on 2/10/11 9:27am
Msg #372131

You need someone in NY or CT?

Reply by C. Rivera Chicago Notary Services on 2/10/11 9:35am
Msg #372133

I think this is a good example of WHY members need

to update their profiles...can miss out on potential work!

BTW, if you're listed on Signing Central, what is your company's name? Curious, because based on your unlinked profile, it appears you are posting as a member instead of under a company or Signing Service profile??

Reply by NC_Closer on 2/10/11 9:54am
Msg #372140

Re: I think this is a good example of WHY members need



I'm not advertising a company in my profile.

Reply by C. Rivera Chicago Notary Services on 2/10/11 10:03am
Msg #372143

Re: I think this is a good example of WHY members need

sorry, assumed you were a SS...glad it worked out...

Reply by James Dawson on 2/10/11 9:42am
Msg #372135

Seems to me got what you wanted, a Signing Agent. If it is a remote area why would you expect someone to be waiting to do a "maybe sometime this year" loan signing?

That same scenario could very easily happen in my area easily, things change on a daily basis, just like SS. IMO

Reply by NC_Closer on 2/10/11 9:51am
Msg #372138

"Maybe sometime this year loan signing"?? Sorry, I'm not following. The signing is tomorrow afternoon.

Reply by James Dawson on 2/10/11 10:15am
Msg #372147

Explanation ---

OKAY, A Remote area, where not to many loan signings are generated in the first place. Signing agents my concentrate on a more lucrative area or maybe business wasn't so good and they got another job in another field and frankly could care less about updating their profile (of course you can still go back and check that). Illnesses, even death all come into play.

What I'm trying to say is we are not all that bad, there must be a reason for your experience. That's it.

Reply by NC_Closer on 2/10/11 10:53am
Msg #372153

Re: Explanation ---

All plausible, HOWEVER, I thought NR would routinely delete profiles that were not updated regularly.

I am a full time signing agent, and offer subcontracting to my clients when needed. I was sharing my experience just to demonstrate the lack of committment and professionalism that can be found in this business. No I don't take calls during closings and wouldn't expect anyone else to but I do return calls. I can't imagine who would want to hire someone with a blank profile and an email address along the lines of [e-mail address]. (Okay, maybe NationsDirect, FASS and SOX). It's just a poor representation of the field in general.

Reply by HisHughness on 2/10/11 11:23am
Msg #372160

Re: Explanation ---

***I can't imagine who would want to hire someone with a blank profile and an email address along the lines of [e-mail address].***

Hey, I'm single. I see an email address like "Hot 2 Trot," you got my attention.

Except at my age, the "trot" may be a little bit excessive. "Hot 2 Stroll" is probably more my speed.

Reply by James Dawson on 2/10/11 11:33am
Msg #372164

Re: Explanation ---Well I do agree with your assessment

of who hires people with blink profiles. LOL

Reply by James Dawson on 2/10/11 11:34am
Msg #372165

Ooops meant to say "blank" profiles n/m

Reply by CopperheadVA on 2/10/11 9:47am
Msg #372137

Hmm, very interesting! I keep my phone with me all the time and there are only a few reasons why I don't answer it. One is if I don't hear it ring for some reason or sometimes it doesn't ring but a voice message will suddenly pop up. I also don't answer my phone during a closing appointment, but if they leave a message I will call back as soon as I'm in my car. Lastly, I do not answer if a no-no company pops up on my caller ID. It happened just about 30 minutes ago.

Reply by Alan Murray on 2/10/11 9:58am
Msg #372141

I put my phone on vibrate at night especially if I did a late night closing & I'm leaving the clients home after 10:30pm. I get crazy caller just wanting information at 2 or 3 in the morning. Would you call someone at 2 in the morning?

Reply by CopperheadVA on 2/10/11 10:07am
Msg #372145

I leave my phone downstairs at night when I go to bed. I agree - the calls you would get at that hour are ones that you don't want to answer! I try not to put my phone on vibrate because I always forget to turn the sound back on! Which of course ends up in missed calls!

Reply by Scott/NJ on 2/10/11 10:16am
Msg #372148

My phone rarely rings at night. I would immediately think it was an emergency.
At 2AM- someone must've died.

I had a TC call me around 9:30PM once for a signing THAT NIGHT! I told them if they immediately emailed me the docs, I could make it before midnight. And I did. Funny thing was, some of the docs had the next day's date on them (non legal ones, no notarizations). But we actually finished around 12:30AM so I figured it didn't really matter since they were at the end of the package anyways.

And the TC gave me a big fee without even negotiating.

I try to be available whenever possible.

Reply by James Dawson on 2/10/11 10:19am
Msg #372150

I always have my phone one, because I advertise 7/24 service. In 3 1/2 years I've gotten maybe five calls after 2 AM and I was able to help them all the following day during normal business hours.

Reply by Jodith/WA on 2/10/11 12:47pm
Msg #372177

I had a signing agency call me at 6 a.m. Needless to say, I'll probably never get business from them again because I was a because I was a bit testy at being called at 6 a.m. for a signing 10 days in the future. And they didn't even apologize when I pointed out the time.

Seriously, signing agency folks. Just because I say I'm available 24/7 doesn't mean you can't show some common courtesy. If you're on the East Coast, think about the time differences before you dial, please.

Reply by GWest on 2/10/11 1:07pm
Msg #372183

Had an east coast company call me one morning at 6AM for a future signing. I do not advertise as a 24/7 notary, but I was nice to her and did not yell at her for calling me that early in the morning. She thanked me for not yelling as everyone else in this area she called were very rude, yelled at her for calling so early and hung up on her. She explained that the lender was pushing for an appointment to be set immediately and she also doubled my fee.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 2/10/11 1:09pm
Msg #372184

Yeah...double my fee would make me real nice too..:) n/m

Reply by Jodith/WA on 2/10/11 1:21pm
Msg #372187

*giggles* Yeah, for double my fee, I'd be nice too. This one wanted me to do it for $75 including e-docs. I did the job for them (for my fee), but I'm not the nicest person at 6 a.m. My belief that people calling before 8 a.m. should be bearing some kind of catostrophic news or they need something signed in the next 2 hours.

Honestly, if the lender wanted an appointment immediately for a west coast assignment, it should be up to the agency to explain that it's 6 a.m. there and they'll call notaries starting at 8. It's called managing the client.

I didn't yell at the guy (I'm not a yeller), but I was also not my usual sweet self. I think my comment was along the lines of "Do you realize what time it is here?" "Ummmm....no." "It's 6 a.m." "Oh, well...can you do the signing or not?"

grumble, grumble, grumble

If he'd just apologized for not thinking about the time, I probably would have been a lot nicer, but so many of these agencies think notaries are expendable and just don't care how they treat us. I've got one that regularly calls me at 7:30, but they give me a lot of work, so I don't grumble...much.

Reply by SheilaSJCA on 2/10/11 12:59pm
Msg #372181

JB would call you at 2 in the morning !! n/m

Reply by Jodith/WA on 2/10/11 1:23pm
Msg #372188

Re: JB would call you at 2 in the morning !!

I just wish he'd stop calling me with his robo calls telling me how to get the most out of my listing, since I've already done everything they suggested.