Posted by Dennis D Broadbooks on 10/10/12 8:56am
Msg #437868

Insured Closings...

...as promised I'm giving the final outcome of my returned check situation with this company. The returned check was made good the 2nd time it was submitted & I suffered no fee penalty from my financial institution. As per my request Insured Closings has removed my name from their database & the only remaining item I have to deal with them on is a single remaining payment from a signing back in September. We'll see how that goes.

Reply by PegiT_MN on 10/10/12 9:32am
Msg #437872

I will never sign for these folks again. I'm done with this company. I'm so sick and tired of having to beg for my money. I'm so sick and tired of "Your check was mailed on Monday". "Checks were sent out on Thursday". "Please give it another week and call me if you don't have it by next Friday". They owe me from a signing done in early August and you have to start calling for your money at 30-45 days in order to get it by 90-100 days. I'm not doing it anymore.

I was new to the signing business three years ago and was so happy for any business that was coming my way. I didn't know about low pay.....I didn't know about slow pay.....I didn't know about no pay......and I certainly didn't know about bounced checks. I can't believe lenders and title companies are still using them. I am guessing they just keep cycling through the newbies until we become seasoned veterans and finally get wise to the fact that we can make a living at this without having to accept business from companies like Insured Closings.

Reply by RockyMO on 10/10/12 9:54am
Msg #437875

Its ridiculous, I have done many closings for them and took the low payment because they were giving me a lot of volume in my area but the last 3 signings it has been crazy, having to hear the same excuses about the check being mailed weeks ago and still never receiving it. I have an outstanding invoice with them right now for a closing i did in July and they said they sent it on the 9/15 and still havent received it and have not gotten a response to any of my inquiries about it. This is a shame that people have to do business this way.

Reply by Larry/IL on 10/10/12 10:04am
Msg #437877

Thoughts and opinions?

Just an idea here;

I was wondering what other veteran NSAs think about taking orders from these deadbeats, then about 10 minutes before the actual appointment time call these deadbeats and cancel. These deadbeats would definitely get quick and negative attention from the title companies, maybe even the lender. I have to believe after a number of times, this would have to dramatic impact on future orders they might otherwise receive. Hopefully they would lose enough business they would have to go and get a real job, in another industry.

Since you should have all loan details via the docs, then call the title company, the lender and the borrower, apologize and explain why you must refuse this order from these vendors with poor reputations.

Follow up with a letter to the highest person you can reach at the lender and title company again apologizing, explaining in detail and using supporting resources.

If we all could come up with ideas and solutions together, there is definitely strength in numbers.

Reply by RockyMO on 10/10/12 10:20am
Msg #437878

Re: Thoughts and opinions?

Im in

Reply by 101livescan on 10/10/12 10:25am
Msg #437882

Re: Thoughts and opinions?

HOW ABOUT THIS? Better I think. You get the docs and contact the escrow officer and tell them you'd like to do the signing by Insured Signings has a reputation for not paying their NSAs. Can they reassign to you directly.

Cut out the monkey, I really do mean monkey, in the middle.

If enough of us do this, then they'll start losing accounts.

I think they'll be out of business soon enough with "strength in numbers" taking this approach.

Reply by Cherylann on 10/10/12 1:20pm
Msg #437924

Re: Thoughts and opinions?

Sorry, Larry, I can't agree with you. The only ones you're hurting by cancelling out at the last minute is the borrowers ... they should not be caught in the middle of it.

I've been out of the field for a couple years, just getting back to handling signings, but names like Insured are still familiar. I would either ignore the call or tell them flat out why I won't take their assignment. And for companies I don't know/recognize, I just say I'm busy, try me again next time ... then I have time to dig into research, etc.

BTW, DENNIS ... a name/blast from my past!!! Great to see you're still around.

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 10/10/12 10:36am
Msg #437889

Good for you Pegi. You are taking the high road.

Moving on is the best thing to do.

Reply by Larry/IL on 10/10/12 11:07am
Msg #437898

I don't want to move on........

I want to put these deadbeats out of business. They take advantage of other unsuspecting NSAs !!!! I want to make our lively hoods better for all NSAs. NSAs are people just like the borrowers! The borrowers will be rescheduled and taken care of, NSAs may not.

Reply by DD/OR on 10/10/12 4:35pm
Msg #437979

Re: I don't want to move on........

I agree with Larry. They owe me for 2 signings and now I'm worried I won't be paid. They keep saying the check is in the mail. They should be put out of business so they can't prey on unsuspecting notaries.

Reply by 101livescan on 10/10/12 9:53am
Msg #437874

Thanks for the update, Dennis. Pretty soon they'll run out of notaries to call.

Another one bites the dust, huh? They are on my DNWF list in my phone.

Have an awesome day!

Reply by Linda Juenger on 10/10/12 10:24am
Msg #437881

I'd be all for that Rocky, except it really really hurts the

borrowers. They are the ones that will suffer. I'd say, just refuse to work for them, that way the borrowers aren't involved.

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 10/10/12 10:34am
Msg #437888

I agree with you Linda.

The borrower doesn't need to be penalized. "Getting back" at someone is very childish. Just release these negative attitudes and move on. Cheryl, you are in this biz long enough to know better. Why do you instigate these stupid ideas? It is physically and emotionally harmful to hold on to this. Just say no. Period!

Reply by bfnotary on 10/10/12 10:40am
Msg #437891

Re: I agree with you Linda.

I don't see anything wrong with contacting the TC, and letting them know, you would be available for their signings if they directly contacted you. I would not have a problem letting them know about the deadbeat companies either. But I will not say yes to the deadbeat and penalize the borrowers either.

Reply by 101livescan on 10/10/12 11:25am
Msg #437904

Re: I agree with you Linda.

Do not chastise me, and call my idea stupid. I do not do stupid things in this business.

If you don't have something constructive to say to me, especially publicly, then leave it alone. You are you and I am me.

So far, everything I do in this business works for me 1000%.

Reply by Larry/IL on 10/10/12 11:03am
Msg #437897

> Linda, Shoshana, & Belinda, A hypothetical question 4 you.

You have accepted a order but are unable to do any due diligence regarding the company when accepting this order. Time goes by and you forget to do your due diligence regarding this hiring company for whatever reason. Then 30 minutes before the appointment time, you remember this and find out this company has a history of not paying at all, maybe even has filed chapter 7.

What would you do? Under these circumstances, do you go do the signing?

Reply by Lee/AR on 10/10/12 1:38pm
Msg #437929

Not Linda, Shoshana or Belinda, but

No, I would turn it back pronto. So it screws up their day....a lot like late docs or not being paid screws up our day. Nature of the beast. But would remember the lesson and check 'em all out ASAP in the future as it's embarassing to be so slow.

Reply by Linda Juenger on 10/10/12 1:41pm
Msg #437931

Re: > Linda, Shoshana, & Belinda, A hypothetical question 4 you.

Larry, To me that is totally different. I've accepted signings from companies while driving and could not look them up. Get home hours later and see that it is from a non paying, low ball company. Yes, I turn it back. The difference here is NOT doing it on purpose, knowing full well that I was not going to do it and waiting till the last minute to turn it back. That is wrong and brings us all down.

Reply by Larry/IL on 10/10/12 1:57pm
Msg #437934

Re: > Linda, Shoshana, & Belinda, A hypothetical question 4 you.

So, in this scenario you don't mind hurting the borrowers?

Please don't feel like I am challenging you, I am just trying to get some ideas and solutions out there to make it difficult for these companies to take advantage of NSAs.

Reply by Linda Juenger on 10/10/12 2:24pm
Msg #437950

I know what you are saying Larry and don't worry about

challenging me. It's all in good conversation and headbanging to come up with a solution. I think if there was a way to get back at the companies and put them out of business, it would have happened a long time ago. We are all tired of non paying, low bal, sleezy companies. We've all been there and done that. However, its going to take a HUGE group of us to do that. I bet there are hundreds, maybe thousands of notaries that don't even know that NR, or the # site even exist to check on companies before taking them. Down the road when they haven't been paid does it sink in. By that time, there is a whole new batch of newbies out there for them to prey on. The cycle never ends. Sad truth. Do your part and I'll do mine by not taking them.

Reply by jba/fl on 10/10/12 3:04pm
Msg #437962

I'm none of the above, but I do feel your frustrations

here. I think it would only harm us in the long run.

Sometimes we just have to be big enough to realize there is little to be gained by stooping to their level and just let it go. We do what we can to warn others; we refuse them and don't take Paypal or other payments in advance knowing that just helps keep them in business longer, and we have to hope that they find no one else to take the job at hand and that another company does find someone to take the slot. Sometimes it really does work that way too.

As Linda J says: there are so many notaries who don't know of these sites - it is the fresh meat that these companies prey upon to stay in business. Short of getting a mailing list and contacting each and every new notary to let them know, we just have to rely on a few forums to get the word out.

Sad, but true.

Reply by garland/CA on 10/10/12 3:08pm
Msg #437963

Re: > Linda, Shoshana, & Belinda, A hypothetical question 4 you.

I once accepted a signing while on the road. As soon as I was able (still over 2 1/2 hours before the signing) I looked up the company and saw there was spotty payment history. I didn't want to take the chance so let them know I could not do it. I fully cooperated by forwarding docs to another notary (had to drive home a second time out of my way to do this). Still the signing company (one man business) wrote me up with a bad review on a site I advertised on. The site posted it and now it is public record. I don't think it has hurt me in the long run and I have another excellent review from another company posted on that site also. However, it is frustrating they can do this and exaggerate the situation (saying I was unreliable, etc), not mentioning I cooperated, was considerate and gave them time to find another notary.

Reply by jba/fl on 10/10/12 3:11pm
Msg #437964

Garland: could you not rebutt the review?

If not, that is bad form. Don't like that aspect.

Reply by garland/CA on 10/10/12 8:33pm
Msg #438004

Actually, yes, I could have

And I wrote a few drafts but got busy and as time went by I let it go. The main reason for giving it back was payment issues, but I think he could have written a rebuttal to that and I didn't want to keep going back and forth. His review was written hastily with emotional language and exclamation points, and as I recall poor grammar. Perhaps that devalued his review somewhat. In any case it didn't seem to harm me as I have been busy as ever and receive calls from that site as well as others.

Reply by Dennis D Broadbooks on 10/10/12 10:26am
Msg #437885

You Just Reminded Me...

...I need to classify Insured Closings on my computer database under "Del Shannon List". For those who may not know, Sylvia Meese coined the term "Del Shannon List" as a result of the singer's 60's hit song "Runaway". I've "stolen" the term for my own use! Thanks, Sylvia!