Posted by DD/OR on 2/6/12 1:22pm
Msg #411019

Pro Mobile Notary

I don't know how he rates a 5 star. Howard is very rude. I called last week to ask if I could work for him. I had never talked to him before. He acted like I was bothering him. He said to fax him my information, which I did. I called this morning to ask if he received my fax. I couldn't get through. His phone would ring once then stop. He emailed me and said my phone number has been blocked and I should email him instead. I am not going to work for him. I'm glad he showed his colors now, instead of later. I don't want to work for a company that I can't call. Maybe he is requiring all notaries to email him, instead of calling.

Reply by Lee/AR on 2/6/12 1:40pm
Msg #411021

Don't know him; never worked for them, but, I, too, prefer e-mail over the 'phone. (Tho' I won't block numbers--many of us do just that.) Seems to me that we work for many companies with many preferences in 'the way things are done' and I'd simply go with the flow if I wanted their 5 star business.

Reply by JAM/CA on 2/6/12 1:54pm
Msg #411022

You got me curious DD/OR, so I went to his website and signed up. Don't know how he is to talk to on the phone, but many are way too busy to talk to each notary that calls and wants to work WITH them. I personally don't work FOR anyone, I run my own business.

You may have caught him on an off day, we all have them. He makes it real easy to sign up on his website. The reviews are good.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 2/6/12 2:18pm
Msg #411025

JAM/CA, I think you hit it on the head with your second sentence. I have done a little work for Howard and found him easy to work with and respectful. It seems he has a specific process he uses to screen people and appears to be very selective with whom he hires. I get the impression that it doesn't involve spending time on the phone with all the folks that would like to get work from him.

Reply by DD/OR on 2/6/12 2:28pm
Msg #411026

Not all reviews are good. Check the orange button.

Reply by HisHughness on 2/6/12 2:13pm
Msg #411023

In 10 years as a signing agent, I can't recall a single time I have ever cold-called a title company or signing service to ask to be added to their databank. I've always done it by e-mail, which seems to me to offer obvious advantages over a cold sales call. A followup call, certainly; an icebreaker, no.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 2/6/12 2:18pm
Msg #411024

I've called a few - but just to find out who their

contact person number or address was for signing up. One thing I never did was call at end of month...for obvious reasons.

Reply by MW/VA on 2/6/12 2:44pm
Msg #411028

I agree. I never call cos. at EOM, including about

collection matters. First week of the month is a good time. :-)

Reply by DD/OR on 2/6/12 2:31pm
Msg #411027

I only called him to see if he got my fax. I think it was uncalled for that he blocked my number. I wouldn't work for him if he had 10 stars. I did a search using the orange button and someone mentioned that he has more than one business going. So that may explain why he was rude. Maybe he gives his other businesses top priority.

Reply by HisHughness on 2/6/12 3:05pm
Msg #411029

Sorry, DD, that's not what you said

***I only called him to see if he got my fax.***

The first time around, you said you called him to see if you could work for him, you were told to fax your information, and he was rude when you called again to make sure he got the fax.

You probably should accept this as a learning experience, one that carries two messages: 1) When soliciting business, it probably is best to do it through web sites and email; and 2) Don't drive off future business by complaining openly about people who reacted negatively to your solicitation. Both title company and SS representatives read this board. Guess how either is going to feel about hiring you after reading this thread.

Reply by DD/OR on 2/6/12 3:16pm
Msg #411031

Re: Sorry, DD, that's not what you said

Hugh, you just love to nit-pic. I never asked for your advice or anyones. I just made a statement. This is just an example of why some notaries don't care to post, me included. Now don't forget to slam me, anyone. Signing off.

Reply by rengel/CA on 2/6/12 3:58pm
Msg #411033

Sigh..................... n/m

Reply by janCA on 2/6/12 3:07pm
Msg #411030

Howard is on LinkedIn quite often. You can observe and scrutinize him and his posts to kind of get an idea to see if you would want to receive assignments from his SS.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 2/6/12 4:10pm
Msg #411034

Unbelievable. You might want to add to your resume:

* Refuses to follow established procedures.

* Takes constructive criticism personally.

* Pitches fit when confronted with differing views.

* Willing to work on my terms only.

Best of luck, there, kiddo.

Reply by Buddy Young on 2/6/12 4:14pm
Msg #411035

Re: DD, you actually have some good advice here

So you did it wrong, suck it up and move on.

Learn from your experience.

Read Susan's post.

If you did not want a response, then why did you post in the first place?

Reply by pat/WA on 2/6/12 5:16pm
Msg #411041

Re: DD, you actually have some good advice here

I enjoy working with Howard. He is very professional.

Reply by Pro Mobile Notary on 2/6/12 8:53pm
Msg #411058

This is Howard Blum, owner of Pro Mobile Notary. Dixie Drake from Springfield, OR. She is out of control and should be avoided like the bubonic plague i you own a signing service.

She sent me her notary profile form. I acknowledged our receipt of it. She then proceeded to call me six (6) times in less than 24 hours. I had no choice but to place a total block on her inbound phone calls. I told her her incessant calling was abusive and objectionable and told her I placed a total block on her phone number because of her "over the top" behavior. I also told her that she would have to contact us by email moving forward as I had no intention of unblocking the phone number of someone that does not have enough common sense to understand that some people are busy and cannot deal with an endless barrage of unnecessary phone calls.

If I am a monster for wanting to work my business and not be in undated by an out-of-control and apparently desperate individual, so be it.

It is no accident that every signing agent that works with us loves what we do, how we do it and how I deal with sentient beings in our network.

Do yourself a favor and avoid this toxic individual on any and every level. You will be much etter off for it.

Reply by Pro Mobile Notary on 2/6/12 9:37pm
Msg #411061

My final comment on this subject.

We get between 50 and 100 unsolicited requests to join our network every month. I am both humbled and honored by the mobile notary signing community gravitating to our service.

At the same time can you imagine what my life would be like if every unsolicited notary wanting to work with us called me me just once a week? Yes I give out my direct dial number so all our signing agents have direct access to me when they need me I'd have to change my phone number.

As a housing market economist for more than 20 years I will tell you all to save all the money you will be making from signings iin 2012. Leaner times are coming our way, like it or not. You're good through all of 2012.

Reply by Donna McDaniel on 2/7/12 4:06pm
Msg #411099

'As a housing market economist for more than 20 years I will tell you all to save all the money you will be making from signings iin 2012. Leaner times are coming our way, like it or not. You're good through all of 2012.'

That's a broad statement, would you please elaborate?

Reply by Pro Mobile Notary on 2/8/12 9:25am
Msg #411118

In spite of the Federal Reserve's statements that they will keep their rates near zero through mid-2014 does not mean home loan rates will not rise.

To date more than 80% of all mobile notary orders are for refinance activity. As refinance activity winds down historically purchase transactions fill the void, but that is not likely to happen in the current economic cycle. Home purchases will not rebound to fill that void until sometime in 2014.

Now factor into the equation the flood of new entrants into the ranks of the signing agents and the reality that most purchase transactions are closed in the escrow or settlement officer's office rather than using a mobile notary. With fewer transactions that need to be signed and more signers available spells our one possible scenario ahead and one that I think will come to pass.

Reply by Riley/FL on 2/8/12 11:42am
Msg #411135

Oh.

I thought you were going to tell us something we didn't already know.

As to the influx of NSA's, I've seen them come and go in my area time and again. They have little to no effect on my business because they don't last very long.