Posted by FeliseSoCal on 8/26/13 2:47pm
Msg #481986

Unethical Title Companies...

I'm noticing a trend here and wondering if anyone else is having the same experience:

After a closing through a signing service (this has happened with two separate clients), I get these correction notices such as the following:

(Them)The subordination agreement came back unsigned, please have the notary contact the borrowers to get this signed and sent back as soon as possible.

(Me)The subordination agreement was never in the package, there will be an additional trip fee to get this taken care of. Of course I can prove this because I have the original file.

(Them)The tax forms came back from the closing unsigned please have the notary go out and take care of this.

(Me)The tax forms were never in the package, there will be an additional trip fee to get this taken care of. Of course I can prove this because I have the original file.

The title companies seem to think the notary is some sort of free service to cover up their errors. They're telling the signing services that these are the notary's mistakes so they can get a free trip.
And, to add insult to injury, they'll deduct $15.00 from your fee for the 2nd FedEx! I'm blown away by the audacity and lack of ethics from some of these title companies taking advantage of notaries by blaming them for their mistakes.

Is anyone else having the same problem?

Reply by MW/VA on 8/26/13 3:39pm
Msg #481996

The might be unethical or just so busy that they assume

the mistake isn't their's. We know how that goes. You have proof that you never got those docs in the pkg. Tax forms aren't notarized, so they could send those directly to the borrower. The sub. agreement does need to be notarized, so you do need to get paid a 2nd trip fee for that.
Don't let them get away with deducting the shipping fee from your fee, either.
BTW, I got an email from one of the major tc's that I work for today. Seems I missed an initial on the Legal Description a couple of weeks ago. Now, I've never seen the Legal Description initalled before & they recently added it. They didn't say whether they're doing to dock me for it, but I imagine they will. It's all part of doing business. I've always put a "guarantee" on my work, and will stand up to any mistake I've made & will do it on my dime, including shipping.

Reply by Letty Marquez on 8/26/13 4:16pm
Msg #482000

Re: The might be unethical or just so busy that they assume

I am so like you and maybe that's the reason I have repeat business. I had the experience the Felice is talking about and you have to stand for yourself if you know you didn't make the mistake.

Reply by rolomia on 8/27/13 3:38am
Msg #482057

Fortunately, this issue rarely happens to me.

When it does, I do my best to roll with it b/c getting angry doesn't solve said issue. If the TC/SS who hired me has sent loan attachments to my email, I'm required to delete them after the signing. Thus, my proof of their mistake is deleted. Sadly, the TC/SS known for this issue have measures in place to protect themselves against so-called proof that the errors were theirs.

Besides, most TC/SS use online databases where docs. are temporarily stored. Or, they send said docs. directly to the BO. And, most TC/SS wait at least a few days before they bring such matters to the NSA's attention, anyway. That way, they know that, if you followed directions, you shouldn't have such email or other proof, anymore. Then, they can deduct your pay, thereby increasing their profits. If they invested as much time/energy improving their process as they do of finding ways to rip us off, they would be more profitable. But, NOoo! That would require ethics, a word that is foreign to their vocabulary. JMHO