Posted by Pro Mobile Notary on 9/5/12 4:37pm
Msg #433245

I had some fun with a signing agent today

I call this supremely qualified notary signing agent in Michigan a short while ago. I give him the parameters of what we need done and when it needs to be accomplished by. So we run down everything, verify his information (we had to go outside our network to cover this one) and then we finally get to the fee portion.

The gentleman tells me his fee for this service is $85.00. I told him we could not pay him that. Well, he asked why and I told him. I said, “We are a network of professional signing agents. We do not pay people that little.”

It would have been very easy for us to pocket the difference between what he asked for and what we normally pay, but that is not our style.

Needless to say he was more than a bit pleased to take our assignment for more than he asked for.

Reply by CentralNY on 9/5/12 4:52pm
Msg #433252

HUH?..... n/m

Reply by Pro Mobile Notary on 9/5/12 5:14pm
Msg #433257

Re: HUH?.....

I guess the concept is too difficult for some people to grasp that a signing service might actually be willing to pay a NSA more money than they ask for.

Reply by BrendaTx on 9/5/12 5:17pm
Msg #433258

No...Tony Negrete will also do that. n/m

Reply by Teresa/FL on 9/5/12 5:19pm
Msg #433259

I have been paid more than I initially quoted

It's not common, but it does happen.

I have also been paid more than I invoiced. When I called the TC the EO said it was a bonus for outstanding service!

Some companies do actually appreciate our role in the process.

Reply by Priscilla Witman on 9/5/12 5:22pm
Msg #433260

Where's the LIKE button? :-) n/m

Reply by sigtogo/OR on 9/5/12 5:13pm
Msg #433256

careful Howard--might hurt your shoulder patting your back:) n/m

Reply by Pro Mobile Notary on 9/5/12 5:29pm
Msg #433261

Re: careful Howard--might hurt your shoulder patting your back:)

I have many, many things to be thankful for and to pat myself on the back for. Building a signing service that is recognized for the quality of signing agents we put out there by the escrow community is one. Developing strong relationships with people in and out of the industry is another.

A steady stream of unsolicited requests by 50 to 100 signing agents week in to get into our network and week out is another. No this is not a request for people to send us emails to get into our network, thank you.

I have a great wife, a wonderful business (and reputation) from coast-to-coast and remain young at heart if not in body. Yes, I will take credit for the years of effort I put into creating what is one of the better and most respected companies this business.

Reply by Barb25 on 9/5/12 6:10pm
Msg #433271

I hope I don't regret getting involved in this post but

Howard, lighten up. I am sure you have a great family and run a great business but you are going to have a heart attack. Get off of the defensive. You have to remember that most of the people on here are being beat up every day with fees. You did an honorable thing. Somebody hit you on the head because you tought you were a hero. Two sides to everything.

Perhaps if you had said Hey, I hired a guy who only wanted 85.00 but I know what you guys go through and I couldn't in good conscience take advantage of that. Whatever. Maybe even then someone would have blasted you. You never know.

But Howard, take your business seriously, definitely your wife and family, but yourself. Learn to laugh a little. We are all just folks. You did a nice thing. You should handled your response differently.

Reply by GOLDGIRL/CA on 9/5/12 6:08pm
Msg #433270

Ante up

This is a prime example of why you should never quote a fee - either verbally or in writing on your profile. This poor MI notary has probably been undercutting himself for years with his ridiculously low fee. Wait until the SS or whoever asks what your fee is - then say something like .... how much can you pay me? Or how high can you go? My experience is that about 95% of the time they come in at my fee or a bit higher- occasionally (but rarely) a lot higher! To which I reply, "Sure that's sounds good."

The bottom feeders usually give you their fee at the beginning, as in: "We have a signing in so and so that pays the lowest fee we can conceive of. Can you help us out here?"

Reply by bfnotary on 9/5/12 6:45pm
Msg #433281

Thumbs up!! Too bad more SS or TC didn't do that. My motto is, you get what you pay for. Pay for professionals, chances are you get professionally done work!! Constantly correcting work in my area, because people try to shop around for the cheap ones.

Reply by Lee/AR on 9/5/12 7:03pm
Msg #433284

Pro Mobile Notary...

It's good to know that you're one of the few who will do that. Some will. Many won't. Thank you
for your honesty and ethics. It is appreciated.

Reply by Gregory/CA on 9/5/12 7:38pm
Msg #433289

That's awesome! I wish there were more out there like you. I am sure you made his day much better.

Reply by Moneyman/TX on 9/5/12 8:17pm
Msg #433292

Thumbs up :-)

Since there is no "like" button.

A very honest and respectful reply from you. It would have been easy for you to accept his offer. We need more SS/TC to have your level of integrity and appreciation for what we bring to the table. Thank you.

Reply by MW/VA on 9/5/12 9:04pm
Msg #433299

IMO this is another sneaky way to ADVERTISE & PROMOTE

your ss on this forum.

Reply by Pro Mobile Notary on 9/5/12 11:20pm
Msg #433309

Re: IMO this is another sneaky way to ADVERTISE & PROMOTE

Dear MW, your terminal stupidity reeks from your post.

I do not use this medium for promoting our service. I do not have to. I discourage people from contacting us and we still get between 50 and 100 unsolicited requests for entry into our network.

Part of the reason I visit this toxic cesspool of mostly negativity is to figure out which people NOT TO CALL when we need to go outside our network for coverage.

Reply by Clem/CA on 9/5/12 11:45pm
Msg #433311

Re: IMO this is another sneaky way to ADVERTISE & PROMOTE

ROTFLMAO Bwaaaa Ha ha.... Can I get added now?

Reply by CentralNY on 9/6/12 3:17am
Msg #433314

My, my, my.... he is willing to pay the peeps from the

toxic cesspool higher fees. Who knew!! Gotta love it and keep the bs coming.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 9/6/12 5:46am
Msg #433315

Wow Howard...


"your terminal stupidity.."

"this toxic cesspool"

Nice - coming from a self-proclaimed "professional business owner" - real nice. If this is such a "cesspool" as you call it, why do you have your feet in it up to your knees? If this is the type of dialogue you're going to resort to here (as I've seen you do elsewhere), perhaps it's time to get out of the "cesspool", dry your feet and move on. We here certainly don't need you insulting everyone here....including the ones who have so vigorously defended and praised you.

JMHO

Reply by BrendaTx on 9/6/12 6:27am
Msg #433316

Re: IMO this is another sneaky way to ADVERTISE & PROMOTE

It should be noted that it is Howard Blum, owner of Pro Mobile Notary, who has made the stupidity remark about MV, not another notary. (Title companies also read this board for insight on who to use.)

Reply by Lee/AR on 9/6/12 7:23am
Msg #433318

!!!!

Should have quit while you were ahead and not a contributor to the 'cesspool of negativity', Pro Mobile Notary. That was tacky. Guess it just goes to show that nobody is perfect.

Reply by Donna McDaniel on 9/6/12 8:31am
Msg #433326

True Colors

Thank you, Howard!

You've finally shown me what I’ve always suspected. You are the epitome of ego, arrogance, and a true narcissist.

I think you need to lurk in the background from your pedestal and decide from there who you want to privilege with a phone call from the great Howard Blum.


Really, dude, you’re making a spectacle here.

Reply by MW/VA on 9/6/12 11:01am
Msg #433360

Sooner or later everyone shows you who they really are.

I guess I struck a nerve, or he wouldn't have needed to respond like that.
Pathetic, IMO.

Reply by MW/VA on 9/6/12 11:09am
Msg #433362

BTW, I've never worked with Howard, but am aware of

him. I don't like the fact that any ss try to use this forum for their own agenda.