Posted by Venita Peyton on 5/24/12 10:15am
Msg #421700

Call from a Signing Company?

I received a call from someone purporting to be a signing company asking me to do an afternoon signing. The more I asked, the less I trusted the conversation.

First, I asked which bank? She didn't know.
I said I'd need to know because some have very time-consuming requests.
Then I asked the number of pages. She didn't know that either.
Then I asked: any faxbacks? She didn't know, but would call me back to say.

Are title companies now hiring a signing company, knowing that the job may be subcontracted out?

Reply by NJW/FL on 5/24/12 10:18am
Msg #421703

Title companies have been doing this for quite some time now n/m

Reply by Les_CO on 5/24/12 10:44am
Msg #421718

Normally the Title Company submits/posts a request for a signing time/and place to the Signing Service. The SS scheduler has never seen the docs. The docs may not come in for hours. There is no way they could answer your questions. And at EOM unless you are the only notary within 100 miles are they not going to bother and check to see if they can find your answers. They will just call someone that has a better idea of how this business is done. I suggest you try and learn.

Reply by Venita Peyton on 5/24/12 10:47am
Msg #421719

Interesting response. I've been a Notary Signing Agent for 6 years. My question was that I hadn't been approached by a signing company for a major refinance. Ordinarily directly from title companies.

Reply by HisHughness on 5/24/12 10:55am
Msg #421721

Venita, you may have been an NSA for six years, but you apparently haven't been very active in the business as a whole. At least, that's what your question would indicate. I don't know this for certain, but my guess is that the large majority of remote refinance closings today are scheduled through signing companies. Who do you think, if not title companies, hires the signing services?

Reply by Venita Peyton on 5/24/12 11:08am
Msg #421726

No, my work has come from settlement companies who CAN answer my questions before I take the assignment. This includes Equifax, Servicelink, NationsDirect. So, the vast majority, as you put it, are scheduled TO a signing company FROM a settlement company. Not from ONE signing company to ANOTHER signing company.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 5/24/12 11:14am
Msg #421730

I am absolutely amazed that in 6 years as a

signing agent you've never been contacted by, or worked for, an SS..that has to be a record.

I thought Nations Direct WAS an SS (and I don't mean Nations Direct Title) ...as was ServiceLink (a/k/a National Link)...I could be wrong as I don't work for either of them..

As was said...lucky you!!

Reply by Les_CO on 5/24/12 11:19am
Msg #421734

Re: I am absolutely amazed that in 6 years as a

She just names three companies that I won't work for. I'm sure glad they can answer her questions

Reply by janCA on 5/24/12 1:00pm
Msg #421748

Linda, ServiceLink is a title company. n/m

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 5/24/12 1:09pm
Msg #421752

Thanks Jan...:) n/m

Reply by Les_CO on 5/24/12 11:16am
Msg #421731

Please describe what a “Settlement Company” is/does in your opinion?

Reply by Les_CO on 5/24/12 11:11am
Msg #421727

Lucky you…been a NSA for 6 years had never had a call from a SS?

The title company gets a request from the lender….and perhaps some of the docs/info… title works on the preparation some of their docs. In the mean time someone at title (usually the Escrow Officer assigned to the customer) calls/emails/posts on the SS site a ‘request’ for a signing at a certain time and place. They give the SS the borrower’s name/address/and time. The scheduler then calls you. The scheduler has VERY limited information at that time. Often it could be a first and second, or a really big package (NY state) or with an appraisal, or in a trust, or with a POA….Lots of different things that could/should affect your fee. That you work out with the SS when you actually get the docs. Any good SS will adjust you fee depending on circumstance.