Posted by ME/NJ on 6/13/12 9:20am
Msg #423378

No loyalty in this business at all

I need to attend a funeral of a family member tomorrow morning and got a call for a app signing at 1pm tomorrow. I asked if I could push it till 2pm to insure I would be back in time, nope we need to find someone else. Unreal in the past this would not even be an issue.

This business does suck at times, years ago TC's would leave messages and could call back and get the job. Now we are just a telephone number on speed dial 3 rings and on to the next one.

Reply by Les_CO on 6/13/12 9:36am
Msg #423383

Re: No loyalty in this business at all/ Thanks NNA! n/m

Reply by Barb25 on 6/13/12 9:37am
Msg #423384

I'm probably going out on a limb saying this. Since you really don't know if you would be late, sometimes it is better to take the signing. Call to confirm and ask the borrower if you were to be a little late (by xx minutes, an hour, whatever) would that be a problem? If the answer is yes, turn it back. If no, you are good to go. A few minutes won't matter while you sort it out and then the SS can get someone else if need be.

Just a thought

Reply by Les_CO on 6/13/12 9:47am
Msg #423387

VERY BAD THOUGHT! If you know you can’t be exactly on time…. NEVER accept an assignment! There are some lenders that have the LO call the borrowers within 5 minutes of the scheduled signing, and if the notary isn’t there they raise the roof, and threaten to use a different Title Company/SS in the future.

Reply by Barb25 on 6/13/12 9:54am
Msg #423388

Well like I said it was a thought and I was going out on a limb.... So weak limb and obviously bad thought. Point is taken.

Reply by Les_CO on 6/13/12 10:13am
Msg #423394

Not to say that appointments can’t or should not be changed. I always call the borrower and ask…. “Is this time still convenient for you?” If I have the docs, and they want to make if earlier (or later) I comply if at all possible. (I believe that they are paying us for this service, and it should be at their convenience) if they request later I call the hiring party and let them know, if earlier I just go.JMO

Reply by Barb25 on 6/13/12 10:48am
Msg #423398

Everyone must do what that think is best. In the case mentioned here, the OP didn't even know if they would be late. So why give up the signing. I certainly was not advocating dishonesty. Anyhow. It is a moral dilemma everytime we take back to back signings. People write slowly. Docs are a little late. Whatever... Sometimes (especially if the latter signing is in a bank or attorneys office - out of the home) it can be a real problem to be late. Sometimes someone will tell you they have a plane to catch. Me, personaly when I know I have a real tight schedule, I ask during confirmation if their time is somewhat flexible (I also tell them I don't anticipate being late but) So I know. Obviously there is a little more conversation than I am stating here. Not so abrupt.

Again, I have found this works for ME. And helps me plan better. Sometimes Not. lol. And I play it by ear and in the appropriate circumstanstances. One size does not fit all. You get the picture. My disclaimer. I never presume to tell another person how to handle the gray area.

I must say this has gone far from the orignal comment. Sorry

Reply by Linda Juenger on 6/13/12 10:29am
Msg #423397

I respectfully disagree Les. There are many times for all

of us, especially at EOM that we are all pushed for our time. If I have another one scheduled either before or after the time they want, I always tell them that it could be up to a 1/2 hr earlier or later and if that is acceptable, I will work it out with the borrowers. 95% of the time they tell me to just work it out. I'm always upfront when this happens. When confirming with the borrowers I always ask if they are flexible and most times they are. In the rare occasion that they aren't, then I turn back the assignment. I never book 2 for the exact same time but if its within my reach of a few minutes either way, yes I take it.
SS and TC's want these loans closed and most are willing to juggle it a bit to get it done. Like I said, I am always upfront with everyone involved and if works that's great, if not I understand.

Reply by Les_CO on 6/14/12 9:06am
Msg #423516

Re: I respectfully disagree Les. There are many times for all

There is a difference between having a ‘full’ schedule, and having a signing run over your allotted time, or having a traffic problem, than to knowingly accepting an assignment that you cannot make.JMO

Reply by MW/VA on 6/13/12 11:45am
Msg #423403

No, there is no loyalty in this biz. It's also a typical

double standard that has been discussed many times. The schedulers seem to have no flexibility, but we're supposed to be flexible for delays in docs, etc.
There's also been a shift in the supply/demand factor in the biz.
We all need to set our priorities, and missing an appt. isn't the end of the world. IMO it's far more important that you attend the funeral.

Reply by jba/fl on 6/13/12 12:44pm
Msg #423409

I just had the 3 rings and they were gone - that fast. I'm saying hello to the air space. Unbelievable the amount of patience people have. (NOT)

Reply by SheilaSJCA on 6/13/12 12:56pm
Msg #423413

ME I know you felt put out that they were not willing to work with you and be flexible. Have you considered that for this particular assignment, the signers may not have had any flexibility in their schedule to get it done? They may have said to lender/escrow/SS, I can do it today, but only at 1pm.
I would be nice if they went the extra step to tell you more details, but if yesterdayin NJ, was like anything here, the phones were ringing off the hook. When time crunches, details are ommitted for sake of expediency.

Reply by ikando on 6/13/12 1:42pm
Msg #423419

It's been my experience when a time is given, it's been conveyed to the borrower (by LO or who, I don't know) that that is the ONLY time a notary can be available. I've had more than one signer who was surprised when I ask them if the set time was the best for them.

Under those circumstances, I also find that the signing company is checking with me within minutes of the scheduled signing time, both before and after, to see what the status is.

Reply by MW/VA on 6/13/12 1:58pm
Msg #423423

Funny, isn't it. Seems they think we're on their clock. :-( n/m

Reply by CJ on 6/13/12 4:02pm
Msg #423433

The SS needs to take care of their client and you need . . .

The SS needs to take care of their client and you need to take care of you. The signer needs someone at 1:00. They picked that time for a reason. They might not be able to push it back, or else they would have said, "Sometime in the afternoon".

A funeral is a BIG deal. If it were me, I would not accpet any jobs for that day. All kinds of things could happen. One time I accpeted a job for the morning of my daughter's graduation. The borrowers turned out to be readers, and even thoughI said I had to go a my daughter's graduation, and I could not sit there for two hours, they didn't care - they just took their sweet time reading. I almost missed it. After that, I vowed then NEVER to take ANY jobs on a day when I have something IMPORTANT scheduled. What if they had to reschedule for later and I had to miss the graduation altogether? I don't need that possibility looming.

For you, the job is AFTER the funeral. But still, what if you meet distant relatives that you want to visit with? What if many people get up to speak and it goes overtime? What if your phone rings in the middle of the funeral, and the docs you have printed and are are waiting in the back seat of the car are no good because now they are sending revised docs? What if you go to the signing and you are all blubblering? You don't need the signing in the back of your mind stressing you out. You need to be 100% at the funeral.

In my eyes: they need someone at 1:00, but you are busy. Just tell them you can't because of a funeral, and please call you again in the future.

Reply by mwm143 on 6/13/12 6:44pm
Msg #423464

I agree. Little loyalty. I still have a few that give me 5

minutes to return a call.