Posted by GOLDGIRL/CA on 10/31/11 6:15pm
Msg #402307

Boo! What to do???

Despite my somewhat grumpy demeanor on NR (think His Hughness), I am the most pleasant, affable person possible when I go to loan signings (think Susan Fisher). So, imagine my shock when a SS I have worked with for years called to say the a Realtor had complained about my conduct at a loan signing ("rushed" borrowers, flubbed docs). After an investigation by the escrow company and the SS, they told me they determined that the Realtor made this stuff up to get his clients out of paying the notary fee. Anyway, they paid me but waived the fee to the borrowers. Still, I'm ticked because while I probably have plenty to apologize about over the years, this signing went perfectly fine (IMO) the buyers were very nice and the Realtor and LO sat there like two lumps of coal and never said a word to me or interrupted or sent out any signals that things weren't going the way they wanted. Since it's Halloween, I'd love to drive stakes through the hearts of these two scumbags, but I can't see it would do any good. That's their opinion, and they can say anything they want for any reason. Still, I'm tempted to send the borrowers a short 'n' sweet e-mail, saying it was never my intention to do anything to make them unhappy and that I'm certainly sorry if they felt that was the case.

Do you see any big downside to this? Should I just keep my mouth? How have you dealt with stuff like this?

Reply by Notarysigner on 10/31/11 6:25pm
Msg #402308

>>>>>>>How have you dealt with stuff like this?<<<<<<<<

I don't have any enemies....alive.

Besides an occasional thank you email from borrowers I KNOW I DO A GREAT JOB so I don't even think about it once I leave. Well only once, an elderly couple told me they had no family and asked me to check on them...which I do.

Don't worry about it. IMO

Reply by GOLDGIRL/CA on 10/31/11 6:33pm
Msg #402311

<<Don't worry about it. IMO>>

I'm worrying about it. After all, I'm a Scorpio, the stinger is primed and wagging, and the full moon is in the seventh house of revenge right now.

BTW, your vineyard picture is beautiful!

(Over the years, I also have picked up two LOLs who were my signers. Their adult children live thousands of miles away, so I occasionally check in with them. They're sweet people.)

Reply by ct on 10/31/11 6:47pm
Msg #402313

A few years back I had a borrower say that I collected my fee at the table to avoid paying the signing service..I of course had not and was equally offended that someone would lie at my expense to save a few bucks..I had no defense except my word and they had no canceled check..thankfully the SS and escrow believed me and like you I wanted to send them a letter. I did not. I moved on and prayed that karma has a way of working it's magic. If your really having a hard time letting go you may want to invest in those little dolls that you can stick pins in...LOL

Reply by Notarysigner on 10/31/11 6:53pm
Msg #402314

Listen closely my sister, you either get better or you get worse....nothing stays the same!

Reply by Pat/IL on 10/31/11 7:57pm
Msg #402324

Both the escrow company and the ss have determined that the realtor lied. You are vindicated, so put a cap on the stinger.

Hugh bites. Who knew? I knew. That's why I only poke him late at night, when his teeth are in the jar.

Have a fun, revenge-free Halloween.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 10/31/11 8:01pm
Msg #402325

ROFL!! Too funny Pat!!

"Hugh bites. Who knew? I knew. That's why I only poke him late at night, when his teeth are in the jar."

Reply by Susan Fischer on 10/31/11 8:32pm
Msg #402333

As to your second sentence, Pat, Boo Hiss. Uncalled for. n/m

Reply by Stephanie Santiago on 11/1/11 3:46pm
Msg #402410

That is so sweet of you James n/m

Reply by HisHughness on 10/31/11 6:47pm
Msg #402312

I bite.

Because I bite, I also require of myself that I apoligize when I have offended, and try to repair things when I have screwed up.

But I do bite.

It is generally not possible to bite with either cheek turned.

Reply by MW/VA on 10/31/11 7:19pm
Msg #402319

Whether we like it or not, this is a dirty business. Realtors cut each others throats all the time for the commission. I've had a few who want to look more professional by acting like they are accustomed to dealing with attorney closings, and don't acknowledge our skill to do the job. If you are to survive this it takes a thick skin. Whoever coined that phase "all's fair in love, war & business" should be shot.
It's like anything else--they will throw you under the bus to make themselves look good. Haha--he saved the borrowers your fee (smallest piece of change in the transaction), but I'm sure he didn't cut them a break on his commission. LOL

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 10/31/11 7:52pm
Msg #402322

I remember clients once complaining to my boss

at the law firm about the settlement fee (his fee) for the closing - he kindly and politely and patiently went over the HUD with them again - pointing out the $XX,XXX.XX the realtors were getting, suggesting their complaints MAY be aimed in the wrong direction...

Reply by MW/VA on 10/31/11 8:11pm
Msg #402326

Re: I remember clients once complaining to my boss

Exactly, Linda. Guilty people always point the finger at someone else. It's called distraction! LOL

Reply by jba/fl on 10/31/11 8:21pm
Msg #402330

It is all water under the bridge. Now you want to run down stream, jump in and recapture the moment?

Let it go - everyone else has by now.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 10/31/11 8:28pm
Msg #402332

Write the email. Save in Drafts. Read Wednesday. Delete. n/m

Reply by Alz on 10/31/11 9:39pm
Msg #402336

Great suggestion, Susan. It really helps to do this. n/m

Reply by Susan Fischer on 10/31/11 10:22pm
Msg #402341

Three hard lessons: 1. This too, shall pass. 2. An ounce

of 'keep your mouth shut' is worth a pound of "I wish I hadn't said that." 3. Lord, please keep your arm around my shoulder, and your hand over my mouth. <feeble grin>

Reply by bagger on 11/1/11 8:23am
Msg #402363

Lesson 4

Don't sweat the small stuff, and it's all small stuff.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 10/31/11 9:29pm
Msg #402334

The chances are that you'll never see those borrowers again. So what possible benefit could come out of contacting them again, aside from just getting something off your chest? Best case, you might change their attitude towards you, which will probably have zero impact on your life - or theirs. Worst case, they somehow again interpret your communication in a way that is not what you intend and you've just made a not-so-good situation even worse.

Just by sheer probability, the greater the numbers of people we come in contact with, the greater are the chances that something is going to get misconstrued or messed up in some way - whether or not you have anything to do with it. Even the most "perfect" notaries are eventually going to encounter someone who will have an issue with them - fabricated or otherwise.

So my vote is to do your best to let it go, search for any lessons the experience might offer and move on. Your client is another story, but I see no upside to contacting the borrowers. And, BTW, be very thankful that the ss and escrow company were able to determine that the whole thing was a sham!

Reply by GOLDGIRL/CA on 11/1/11 12:11am
Msg #402352

Thank you all ....

for your wise advice. We should package it into a how-to-be-an-NSA-and -keep-your-sanity book. And make a million $$$. We could title it: "What the NNA Won't Tell You."

Reply by 101livescan on 11/1/11 8:29am
Msg #402364

Re: Thank you all ....

I've had this happen several times, and I'm the biggest one for positive attitude, no drama, great technician. last week one of the borrowers said I was &$#^@ and unfriendly. When the EO called me to say the borrower called to complain to his broker, I immediately knew it was the husband, who was arrogant and negative.

There are several reasons this could be happening:

The clients don't want to pay the notary fees;
The clients or the broker have a relative they'd like to be making our fee instead of us;
The broker is trying to make themselves look good to client; or
They are just plain mean and nasty.

The loan/purchase process just brings out the very worst in people, I think. I had a killer week last week with plenty of rude people, including this situation. Well guess what, I had to return to this client who claimed I was #$&*! to accomodate an additional document to close, and he had hi tail between his legs, I acted like I didn't hear his feedback and it was very difficult. I did mention I spent Saturday spending $5500 on new roofing material at his competitors store when I could have been spending it at his! He would have received a commission on it. Touche! Forte! JERK!

Reply by jba/fl on 11/1/11 9:16am
Msg #402367

Re: Thank you all ....

Sometimes we have to wait, but revenge is sweet when it comes. It all comes back sooner or later.

Good going on the mention so he knows. heeheehee!

Reply by GOLDGIRL/CA on 11/1/11 2:21pm
Msg #402405

You, UNFRIENDLY?!?

Right off, we all would know this complaint was a bunch of hooey fooey.
Your list of reasons this could be happening cover my 8 years of experience as a loan signer.
We all learn this the hard way - when we're gobsmacked out of thin air with a complaint that couldn't possibly be true. It's always some SOB's way of screwing somebody else because they're disgusting/insecure/stupid/and-or unethical liars. I don't think they understand the effects their cheatin' lies can have on us. They may think their complaints are confined to their own little world - but I think word gets around among SSs, Realtors, EOs, LOs, etc. All it takes is one complaint to a SS and you never hear from them again. Nothing travels faster than negative comments.

The owner of a SS told me once that the louder a Realtor or LO screams at him over something or another, it means the less they did their job.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 11/1/11 6:35pm
Msg #402434

LOL!!! Touche, indeed!!! :>)

Love that response!

I can think of one more possible reason and that's poor customer service by others the borrower has dealt with up to the point we meet with them. I may be about to leave to one of those right now... I got the call for the assignment about 12:20 this afternoon. Called the borrower right away and he was upset because he was expecting someone at noon.

Well, I still needed to print docs, hadn't had breakfast, let alone lunch, because of a signing (didn't tell him that - or that my car is on fumes and I need to stop for gas.) He was expecting me to get there in less than 15 minutes (travel time is more than that), so we rescheduled until this afternoon. He also didn't let me finish a sentence, so this may be an interesting evening. I have another one right after this one, so I hope I can calm him down and get this done quickly! (It's also possible that he just fits into the last category on Cheryl's list...)