Posted by Hmac on 10/13/11 9:46am
Msg #400349
Insured Closings- Ohio
Accepted a job in early summer even after reading the negative comments on Notary Rotary regarding payment.
It took me almost 3 months to get paid, I was told for a solid month the check had been mailed. Eventually I received the check but not without being persistent.
Recently called wanted me to accept another job. I declined, then almost had a change of heart before they told me that everyone writes negative comments on the blog boards anyway. I'm a positive blogger when it comes to companies that have hired me, especially if I have had a really good experience. Needless to say, I declined the job for a 2nd time within the same conversation and am very glad I did. For the last few months they've been stiffing their notaries as well as bouncing checks.
Beware of Insured Closings. I thought it wouldn't happen to me and it almost did.
| Reply by NJDiva on 10/13/11 10:08am
Msg #400359
Exactly my case in point...
"Accepted a job in early summer even after reading the negative comments..." (HUH?, UGH) "...on Notary Rotary regarding payment...I thought it wouldn't happen to me and it almost did."
I know the point is that you didn't take it the second time, but the first sentence is exactly what I was referring to below about WHY do people do this???
I'm sorry you had to learn the hard way. We all want to think we're different. Hopefully someone else won't have to eat crow and admit a similar circumstance. I admire you for sharing your experience, maybe knowing or maybe not knowing, that you may be slammed for doing it after reading the reviews.
I hope that newbies, or those on the fence, or desperate or whatever will take your experience as a warning and not think themselves different.
Thank you for sharing Hmac! 
| Reply by Linda_H/FL on 10/13/11 10:17am
Msg #400361
If I've said it once I've said it a hundred times
If people are going to read these forums, and truly mean it when they say they "value" what others have to say, then for Pete's sake pay attention!!! Trust those who have gone before and taken the time to warn everyone....listen, take heed.
Not directed at the OP personally, but those who don't listen get what they deserve.
| Reply by Hmac on 10/13/11 10:35am
Msg #400365
Re: If I've said it once I've said it a hundred times
"Value" does not mean you have to accept it and get on their band wagon. In my case, I took into account what the others had said and weighted the positive and negative experiences then decided that this is my profession, the pay was right on track and in this economy I need every dollar I can earn and if my some chance my gamble did not work out .. then the worst I was out was a couple hours and 200 sheets of paper.
| Reply by desktopfull on 10/13/11 10:55am
Msg #400372
You chose to take knowledgeable risk, now complaining about
the company not paying you timely? No, you don't "value" others that have experienced being ripped off by these companies. Your line of thought and actions are exactly why companies like SOX, Pacific Documents (Paul Gambs), and the like stay in business. But you don't hesitate to come on the forum and complain even though you knowingly took the job. Sheeeeish.
| Reply by NJDiva on 10/13/11 11:02am
Msg #400376
You chose to take knowledgeable risk
and pray tell, did you turn down paying jobs with the thought of I'll only be out time and 200 sheets of paper? (waaay under valuating, there is much more than just time and 200 sheets of paper involved in a closing...of course if your time means nothing then I suppose your self worth may be something to consider. My time is MONEY baby!)
| Reply by Hmac on 10/13/11 12:37pm
Msg #400410
Re: You chose to take knowledgeable risk
I guess I'm not a hard up notary as others seem to be. It sucks to make a bad decision about accepting a job, but really ask yourself.. how many other siginings did I have that day and did taking that job really cause me to lose anything. Paper? Time? Ok so I'm out a couple bucks, had it worked out in my favor then I would have made more then enough to justify the paper and time and it did. It did work out, I just had to put a lot of extra effort in getting it worked out... hindsight was it worth it... eh maybe not. I might have lost out on the $$ either way and they weren't low balling me. So I'm missing the big deal in chancing it? I'm missing the big deal in gambling with paper and time? I did not turn down other jobs that day, I wasn't so over whelmingly busy that I couldnt MAKE the time for the closing and it completely fit into my schedule, my time frame and was very convenient. Now had they offered me LESS money and had BAD payment history and was a real inconvenient closing .. I would have said forget it. Did I get paid? Yes. Did I have a hard time getting paid? Yes. Have I learned a lesson? Yes. Will I be a hard ass from now on? No. People don't want to work with notaries who are difficult to deal with. Will I accept a future job with a company that has a bad payment history? Possibly. If the newer comments are good and the previous comments are bad, yes I would. If all the comments are bad, no I wouldn't. I do not think that because I was not hard up on time or paper cost ... that it would say something about self worth ... I suppose I'm not wound that tight to really stress myself over it.
| Reply by bagger on 10/13/11 2:22pm
Msg #400418
Re: You chose to take knowledgeable risk
Well, this is my "retirement" job, and I have better things to do (golf, fish) than to call deadbeat SS's trying to collect the money they OWE me.
When I started, I did accept jobs from suspect agencies - Speedy for one - and decided that I will rely on Signing Central from now on.
I don't work a ton of closings, but the people I do work for always pay on time and pay fair.
I have not made a collections call in the past year.
(And my golf handicap has dropped by 2 strokes!)
| Reply by Hmac on 10/13/11 12:25pm
Msg #400409
Re: You chose to take knowledgeable risk, now complaining about
I'm sure there are lots of companies on this site that have bad reps but have started redeeming themselves. The day I took the job, I said yes. I did not say, hold on while I investigate your payment history on Notary Rotary. After agreeing and then realizing what I may possibly be getting myself into.. I had second thoughts but not enough to call them back and say no, I addressed the complaints with Insured and was satisified at that time with the answer and went ahead with the closing. I accepted another job over the summer with another company that had previously had negative comments but in the past few weeks the comments seemed promising and I agreed and had no trouble what so ever. SO had I listened to prior notaries, I might have missed out a good job- which in that case it turned out to be. It's been 4 months since I accepted the job with Insured and after the ordeal I assumed they wouldn't call me again especially since I had to bug to get paid. WHEN they called me again and seemed to act as though every other notary is delusional and out to post bad comments about them, that is when I decided to post on the message board. It occured to me that obviously they didn't see it as a problem that people were not getting paid and if they did, they were trying to pretend it had nothing to do with them.
There is a 2nd company that I've worked with and people had complained them as well and again, I had no problems with them what so ever.
I "value" the opinions of others but not to the point where I let them make my decision. How I do know that was a reputable notary leaving the negative comment. Each to their own opinions and decisions.
Now if I had seen a message, such as mine, at the time I took the job ... I might very well have said no. However, I didn't.
| Reply by NJDiva on 10/13/11 1:15pm
Msg #400412
You are absolutely right...
about knowing whether or not it "was a reputable notary leaving the negative comment". However, usually when a company has a bad rep, its from numerous notaries across the nation.
I want to apologize if I came across questioning YOUR self worth. I didn't mean to direct that at you personally. Like I said, I admire you for coming on sharing your experience and repeating that which has been expressed here about heeding the negative ratings of companies. I really appreciate it.
I've had numerous companies tell me they have a bad rap and that it's not true, or that they're cleaning up their issues, only to see shortly thereafter that they've not changed their ways. They're still in business suckering notaries. WE'RE STILL KEEPING THEM IN BUSINESS to sucker fellow notaries by continuing to "give them the benefit of a doubt", fulfilling their contracts, thereby they're getting paid and we're left begging for our pay.
Again, I will say, Case in Point. We have to stop keeping these companies in business by giving them the service that they will get paid for.
I truly believe that you shared your experience from a lesson learned.
"There is a 2nd company that I've worked with and people had complained them as well and again, I had no problems with them what so ever." Again, I will reiterate, please come back and tell us WHEN it happens.
| Reply by Hmac on 10/13/11 2:13pm
Msg #400416
Re: You are absolutely right...
No don't apologize. I enjoy a good debate LOL.
I agree completely... we have to stop keeping these companies in business. It sucks to turn a job away, but in the long run, they will keep going as long as they have someone to take the job. Unfortunately, someone in my area took the job from Insured that was offered to me today. Considering there aren't but a handful of notaries in my area... it's a shame. Makes me want to figure out who it was and warn them. lol However, it really isn't my business.
I shared my expierence cause I "saw the light"
| Reply by NJDiva on 10/13/11 2:47pm
Msg #400425
"I shared my expierence cause I "saw the light""
Which is why YOU ARE MY HERO! Thank you!!  xo
| Reply by Hmac on 10/13/11 10:33am
Msg #400364
Re: Exactly my case in point...
I feel bad for saying no sometimes, almost like I'm going to jinx myself. I also think that maybe the notaries that had payment trouble did not put forth their best effort during the closing or with the docs. I have done this 3x this year and 2x I've had and am having currently a hard time collecting.
Dynamic Field Solutions (in CA) I accepted a job from them and supposedly they are closed and have not paid a lot of the notaries. I had worked for them before and had no problems at all. I have learned the hard way that it really does pay to check the companies out on Notary Rotary.
I wish Notary Rotary would let you elaborate a little more then 80 characters.
| Reply by Linda_H/FL on 10/13/11 10:39am
Msg #400366
Re: Exactly my case in point...
"I also think that maybe the notaries that had payment trouble did not put forth their best effort during the closing or with the docs."
I'm not talking about the occasional post by a single notary complaining about nonpayment - as Renee always says - there's always 3 sides..
But when you have multiple years' worth of notary postings about the same issues over and over again - no pay, slow pay, bounced checks, throwing the notary under the bus - it becomes more than just "sour grapes" - it's a pattern of behavior and something that shouldn't be ignored. And far too many people do ignore it - then are here crying 6 months later when they've not been paid.
IMO you don't need more than the 80 characters - that's sufficient to get your basic point across - if you want to elaborate, well that's what this forum is for - post it here and link your post to the company...it WILL be found - at least by those who have a mind to do their own research.
| Reply by NJDiva on 10/13/11 10:51am
Msg #400369
DFS? There's been problems for YEARS with them!
You were absolutely living on borrowed time with them. You're better off playing chicken with a train. See, that's the thing with these companies. They may do good for a while. They've probably burned so many bridges they NEED you.
But there will come a time, I've seen it over and over, that you WILL eventually get...ok, BURNED.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again...when people that work for these deadbeat (and KNOWN deadbeat) companies, end up getting...(it's not a matter of IF they get...it's a matter of WHEN, imo), to please come on and let us know.
I get much satisfaction out of validation (it's so hard not to say "I told you so.") I promise, I will feel your pain, and will have compassion for your experience, but it's kinda hard not to revel in it.
I especially understand the feeling of not wanting to turn down a closing because you've put it out there and been "asking" for it. But keep in mind, when we put things out knowing we're going to get it, we have to be specific. "Please send me closings from PROMPT PAYING, FAIR and HONEST sources"...lol
I'm a firm believer in the power of prayer... Ask and it is given. Not necessarily the way we expect it though sometimes.
| Reply by Notarysigner on 10/13/11 10:58am
Msg #400374
Re: Exactly my case in point...
In five years I have experienced one no pay, from a supposedly good company, U.S.CertifiedSigners and that's it.
I use NR almost exclusively and have NOT experienced a low-pay, Slow pay since.
My business plan doesn't have a "feel sorry for....." in it, if the Star rating is less than four I don't take it and I Don't have any problems anymore.
| Reply by Jessc098 on 10/13/11 11:28am
Msg #400388
Did the check clear?
I used to work for Insured closings regularly without a problem, but then payment started getting slow--after that, checks started bouncing. I'm still trying to collect payment for a January closing,they keep trying to pay me with rubber checks. I haven't worked for them since that closing in January.
Once a company is in my active clients, I don't often check-back in on them to make sure nothing is going sideways--especially when they are only a small part of my client list. I've learned that as soon as a check gets to 45 days I check signing Central.
| Reply by Hmac on 10/13/11 12:03pm
Msg #400401
Re: Did the check clear?
The check cleared. First they told me that my check was set up on Credit Card Pay..... hmm I don't accept credit cards... then they "switched it" and tried to convince me it was mailed the day they switched it over to paper check and I didn't get it for another 30 days. When it finally arrived, I immediately took it to the bank and asked if they'd verify funds BUT they were unable to get a hold of the bank the check was drawn on. I deposited it and it did not bounce. At the time, I don't believe I noticed the complaints of bounced checks but realized that they were getting slower and the none payment. After checking yesterday, I realized they have lots of bounced checks. I hounded them. I left a message on the main voicemail that told them I would have to pursue further action if I did not recieve the check (what further action, I didn't know at the time). I left a message on Susan's voicemail weekly. I emailed Kim a few times and then must have talked to an office manager- not sure of the name. Finally almost 90 days after closing I was paid. I would be persistent, bugging them regularly is a good idea, the worst that would happen is they wouldn't call you again... lol no love loss there. Although IF you ended up getting paid, something tells me they would contact you again in the future since they don't owe you money. I would definitely say no.
| Reply by GOLDGIRL/CA on 10/13/11 2:32pm
Msg #400423
"worst that would happen is they wouldn't call you again"
No, that's the BEST that would happen...
| Reply by Jessica Ward on 10/13/11 11:14pm
Msg #400483
I'll have to remind them (again) that I DO take credit cards
I'd love to get paid for that January appointment.
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