Posted by JDGATO on 7/30/11 3:07pm
Msg #392079

Nations Direct

So after getting called by them to take care of a problem with another notaries closing they have been calling me repeatedly for more work. Problem is they are only offering $60 for a 130pg. closing, 30 fax backs nothing extra for mileage... I live in a rural county and have no problem getting paid between $100-$125 for other companies. The closest signing agent is 40+ miles away from our city center. They paid me $40 for the first job of notarizing a signature affadavit!! Is anyone else experiencing this and if so are you accepting the lowball amount?

Reply by Pam/TN on 7/30/11 3:26pm
Msg #392081

Nations is the worst! They used to call me all the time, $60 is what they offered, I always turned them down. They call from time to time now, but after me finally just laughing at them or not answering their calls, they have for the most part quit calling. I live in a rural county too, and it is not uncommon for a closing to be 30 - 40 miles away but yet be in the same county, but they didn't seem to grasp that concept. Unfortunately there are a couple other notaries that live in this area, and it would seem they are accepting these lowball fees.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 7/30/11 3:26pm
Msg #392082

Some things never change

Nations Direct was offering me $50-$60 for full package refinance signings 5 years ago when I first started in Florida. I didn't accept that fee then and I won't accept it now - but apparently a lot of people DO accept it because they're still in business.

Reply by Jack/AL on 7/30/11 3:38pm
Msg #392084

Yes, we are! There have been many postings about that company. I quit working for ND about four months ago, because of low fees, fax-backs, and multiple communications involved with every signing. In case you haven't noticed, they use an automatic system, which often gets absurd. That's how you might call and email that a signing is complete, yet still get one or more calls and numerous emails, reminding you that you have not yet logged on to confirm completion, and your pay might be deducted, all within about a half hour. My most absurd one was 30 minuted from home. I called from the property at the end of signing, and reported it complete and that I had another to do and could not get on-line until an hour later. When I got to my computer, I had three threatening emails reminding me to report or my pay might be reduced. And yes, I still got a call, asking about completion. Even if you call to report arriving for the signing, and say that you will call when complete, they're good about calling 30 minutes later, asking whether you've finished. At another signing, I called to report that I had arrived at the borrowers' house for the signing. Half way through the docs, I reached a page that said to "STOP immediately and call ND." I did and the ND person said "but you've already called us, and please remember to call upon leaving!" I've received as many as three of the automatic emails within 30 mintues, all while traveling from the signing to my office, and all after calling in to report completion. It seems there are a lot of employees all trying t do their jobs, but there is a lot of needless repetition and wasting of their time and ours. Everyone I've spoken to there was pleasant and stated that they were just doing as told........

Reply by Jack/AL on 7/30/11 3:42pm
Msg #392085

PS...... The final straw was the faxback of 149 pages, about which the scheduler did not tell me. The faxing took an hour and a half!

Reply by JDGATO on 7/30/11 4:56pm
Msg #392089

Upon them hiring me to do the first job they called at 2:30 and needed me to be there at 3:30...then asked me to log onto their system and go through those steps to show I was 'on the job'...I told the rep. that I did not have time to go through the password prompts,etc. if she wanted me to be able to print the 3pg. doc, get ready and drive to the location. She called back and told me they'd work it out on their end...so I travel to the location the rep. gave me but no one there...called to let them know...mutiple holds/wait time...phone low on charge...talked to different ppl letting them know I was at the B/O location no one there...30 mins. later they call to say it was wrong address...actual address was just down the street...went there and found locked gate...couldn't reach anyone so had to call on neighbor who luckily was a relative. Then found out B/O had told them the gate code to enter but it hadn't been passed to me! I called them before leaving and also explained due to the addtl. problems and mileage I would ask for a fee increase. Got home and they'd already left msgs. asking if I'd completed the job? I called and put in for a fee increase and surprisingly got it! Crazy company with low ball amts. Can't believe someone is accepting that pay!

Reply by doglover/CA on 8/1/11 1:06am
Msg #392167

I haven't done any closings for ND in the past 2 years. From what you have described, it seems like the harassment of notaries on the job for them has gotten worse. And now there is the stress of checking in with them in a timely manner or else your meager pay is reduced even further. One time a borrower told me she didn't like how they would constantly call to check up on me while we were doing the signing.

Reply by HisHughness on 8/1/11 1:44am
Msg #392168

Doglover, are you and snoopdog close? n/m

Reply by dutchcloser on 8/1/11 7:19am
Msg #392170

I agree I completed a closing for them about a week ago. I would not accept there $60 fee and they called back accepting my fee. I was called twice during the closing asking me the most ridiculous questions which I think is completly unprofessional. Then I was called 3 more time after the closing. I will never do another closing for them EVER. Way to much hand holding...not worth it.

Reply by AnnMarie/NJ on 10/20/11 10:14am
Msg #401084

I agree. They send email to drop docs, then you get 1-2 phone calls that you can drop the docs. I confirm the appt on line but employees say they don't have access to "my account" so they can' see that I have confirmed the appt. Also, when I send reply email confirming appt from booking appt -- I still get a call - -did you confirm with borrower. I politely say yes, realizing that these employees have no clue or access to the email monitoring system. I would think that this co would improve on their customer relations and stop annoying us notary signing agents with these minutia calls. I do appreciate the safety of calling in at the beginning of the appt and closing it out. I feel it's a safety net that someone knows where I am, especially going to various neighborhoods. They do pay as indicated in their agreement. I do not appreciate the low-ball fees and when I ask for an increased fee, I sometimes get very 'snippy' answers. Almost like you take it or not. However, I have gotten increased fees with no problem. I have no other problems with this company. Would appreciate being paid accordingly to the service and time and effort that I am providing.

Reply by Kay/IL on 7/30/11 10:23pm
Msg #392113

The NR community hipped me to ND. Before learning about NR, I had been working for ND's for nearly 6 years. Wasted so much time and money. They pay low, slow and want to micromanage you to death. The only good things I can think of is that they do pay timely (but on their schedule, which is 30-45 days from closing), and are usually available if a problem arises during the closing. ND is a good starting company for newbies in this profession.


If you live in a rural area with just a handful of notary signing agents, tell ND your fee (including a separate one for faxbacks....most companies will pay you extra for fax backs if required) and stick with it. If they have to "get it approved" tell them cool and just accept the next one company that will pay you $xxx. You don't need their aggravation.

Reply by JDGATO on 7/31/11 6:50am
Msg #392129

Thanks Kay. So far I must have turned down 4 more jobs they have called me on and all of them have been no higher than $60...makes me wonder who can possibly take this for them and earn any money given the overhead costs.

Reply by Susan/CA on 7/31/11 11:30am
Msg #392134

I told them to take me off out of their database. It has been so peaceful ever since! In fact I had forgotten all about them until I saw this post. They would call me at 6:00 am from different numbers with an "I will see if I can get that approved." Of course they would never call back. I told them to put my fee in their database and not to call unless it was already approved. They could not do that so I asked to be taken out. What a nightmare company!!!!

Reply by Missy82 on 7/31/11 2:15pm
Msg #392145

I think the only reason someone would accept their offer is if they're a new signing agent and they need the experience. That was the case for me. I thought $60 sounded good, until I saw the size of the package and the work involved. That first signing took me over 4 hours, had 11 notarizations, and they must have called me about 20 times before, during, and after the signing. The whole thing really made me regret becoming an agent. Since then, I've had other lowball offers, but none as low as that for the amount of work involved. I usually accept any work I can get, because I live in a small town and there's not much other work, but I will not accept another job from them. I have been able to negotiate for a higher fee because I tell agencies that call me, I'm only one of 3-4 agents locally and I've never had a package rejected for errors. That seems to work well in an area where the nearest agents (that will answer their phones) are over 100 miles away and want more money for travel. I don't disagree with fee increases for mileage as I ask for it myself, but that fact usually gets me a higher payment in this area.

Reply by jnew on 7/31/11 4:27pm
Msg #392151

I asked them straight out how much they charge the lender. The story I got was that it was 90.00 plus 20.00 document handing fee. So they are offering their services for 110.00 and paying out 60.00 for a 50.00 margin. Every dollar they allow above the base is taken away from their fee. It's a ridiculous proposition which rewards the greed of the title company since they make a bigger margin by hiring ND than placing the business directly with a notary for what used to be a standard price of 150.00 This is the way things are moving and I don't know how to counter it other than a flat refusal.

Reply by JDGATO on 8/1/11 4:46pm
Msg #392212

Sad trend and even sadder that there are notaries willing to do the work for that which will enable them to keep their fees that low!

Reply by Eugenia M Samuels on 8/17/11 12:29pm
Msg #393940

I've done a few signings with Nations Direct but most of the them having been like 20 to 25 page docs. Nations Direct however, tries to low ball notaries still. I was asked to do a signing 45 miles from my location and they only wanted to pay me $45 because there were only 25 docs. I declined the signing. Now when they call, I let them quote me and then I quote them what I'm willing to do the signing for. They either take it or they don't. Most of the time, they will go with my request. They will say " I will get back with you", and they normally will. Just let them know what you are willing to do the job for and stay firm to it. They will bend and settle with your quote. They go low from the jump hoping that you will bite. That's more money in their pocket.

Reply by jba/fl on 8/17/11 1:24pm
Msg #393956

Eugenia, are you an attorney? GA iis an attorney only state for loan signingis. Of course they will pay you more if you are no an attorney - they are saving a bundle. If you are not an attorney, you are in violation of the law - and may not be getting enough to bond out of jail if need be. I think I would check into that.

Reply by Rebecca Brockway on 10/17/11 8:55pm
Msg #400789

I have done some work for these clowns. Their pay schedule is ridiculous and like mentioned here they lowball and expect many pages faxed to them. I always quote them higher fees and don't take the signing if they don't accept my quote. They are a nuisance also. Several different numbers calling while I am trying to conduct signings. They need to stop babysitting and let us get the job done. If an agent makes a mistake, let them correct it and don't call them again. Leave us experienced folks to do our jobs without interruption.