Posted by Buddy Young on 10/7/12 1:28am
Msg #437478

A story of a bad notary

I was called to do some clean up work a while back and was paid well for easy work. The borrower told me that the original notary just handed them the stack to sign and then text on their phone the whole time, it's no wonder they missed stuff.

I thought I would be in and out quickly but the husband followed me outside and wouldn't shut up, he just kept talking, keeping me there. I finally said I have to go and got in my pickup and left.

Reply by CJ on 10/7/12 2:10am
Msg #437481

I can't imagine doing that.

I point, explain, check, double-check, and I still miss stuff.

Reply by bfnotary on 10/7/12 4:38am
Msg #437487

Re: I can't imagine doing that.

I do the same thing, I briefly explain doc, Point where they sign initial and date. They flip the doc over in front of them. Then at the end of the signing I always make sure nothing is missed. Quite frequently they miss a date or initial, even signatures from time to time. I have always found the missed stuff prior to leaving the appt tho. (so far anyways). I have been told, "wow you have an eagle eye." those were the exact words. I just tell them, I have my eyes trained to catch it. That way I don't have to disturb them and come back out to have it fixed. They all seem to appreciate it. lol.

Reply by Alz on 10/7/12 10:38am
Msg #437505

I hear that this is the norm for some.

In fact, I conducted a signing recently where the BWR's spouse was a notary, turned real estate agent. She laughed at how I pointed, explained, checked and double-checked. Stating that she would have handed the stack to the BWR and had him sign, as this was her common practice. Maybe I should have kept my comments to myself, but I told her that this was not appropriate and left it at that. Didn't want to get into a debate.

Reply by 101livescan on 10/7/12 8:35am
Msg #437498

Buddy, I hope the borrower informed the scheduler of this notary's laziness and unprofessionalism.

One by one, the competition goes by the wayside! I make it a practice to not take calls when I'm with a client, let alone texting the entire time and allowing the borrower to "CONDUCT THE SIGNING"! Good Grief. How could this be a successful signing, NOT!

Reply by PegiT_MN on 10/7/12 11:25am
Msg #437511

"Buddy, I hope the borrower informed the scheduler of this notary's laziness and unprofessionalism."

Even if they did know who the "scheduler" was......most people are not going to take the time to pick up the telephone to contact someone and let them know that the notary was lazy, unprofessional, texted during the closing, dressed unprofessionally, all the horrible things we hear out there.

The only time they are going to pick up the telephone is if their interest rate isn't what they were promised or if their closing costs aren't what they were promised, or if they're bringing money to the table and didn't know about it......other than that......they just want to get the closing done and go on with their lives.

By the time we get to the borrowers' homes to conduct the closing, they have been going through this process for up to three months, they have spoken to so many people (i.e., a loan originator, a processor, a closer, a scheduler, me) they can't keep it all straight. They have no idea who the scheduler was. They are just so relieved to be getting their loan papers signed.

I agree with you in the fact that someone needs to be notified in regard to the laziness and unprofessionalism of this particular notary.......but I just don't think most borrowers really care enough to do so.

So the lazy, unprofessional, poorly dressed notary continues to exist among us because the lender, the title company, the signing company, and the borrower all continue to tolerate it. In the meantime we continue to receive 10 pages of instructions from the title company in regard to dressing professional at a closing, not answering your cell phone, not cutting off any pages while printing, getting the package back in a timely manner, and the list goes on. I can't wait for the day "black or blue ink only, no crayons please" gets added to the instructions.

Reply by 101livescan on 10/7/12 2:07pm
Msg #437543

Don't be so sure the scheduler won't hear feedback from borrower. In my travels, even if my notary work as stellar as it is, borrower will call his loan officer and say "I can't believe I had to pay the notary. I think you should pay the notary, not me, and find some flimsy criticism as to why the notary wasn't worth $xxx... I hear it a lot.

Escrow officers I deal with daily will call their client up (LO and borrower alike) to ask how the closing went, and I hear about it too. I expect them to tell me what the client had to say.

BTW, I have LOs I work with who will only use me because they know I'll do the best job, and they will not hear any ragging from their clients about the bad notary.

Reply by PegiT_MN on 10/7/12 3:52pm
Msg #437568

Keep in mind that although we may all be doing the same type of work....there are many different scenarios. Your statement about "don't be so sure the scheduler won't hear feedback from borrower" does not apply to all types of signings. In your travels....maybe.....but that might not be in someone elses travels. And yes we all know your notary work is stellar.....you've told us that many times.....LOL.....sorry.....I couldn't resist!

I too work with LOs that will only use me because they know I will do the best job. I too work with title companies that will call the borrower and ask how the closing went. I work with Lenders that will call during the closing to see how it is going. You are forgetting though that there are lenders out there, title companies out there, and signing companies out there that are only concerned with having a warm body with a notary stamp show up to the closing. So while those may not be any of the types of companies you are working with......they do exist.