Posted by svazquez on 3/15/13 3:37pm
Msg #461389

Freebie First Signing?

I met with a local title company today and they said its their policy to have the NSA perform the first signing at their branch for free to make sure you know what your doing. Anyone have this happen? It has many offices and is a large company so the potential is good and pay weekly but I just thought that was unusual

Reply by NVLSlady/VA on 3/15/13 3:50pm
Msg #461393

Why would it have to be for Free - "to make sure you know what you're doing?"
Could they let you set a fee and pay you once you prove your skill?

Or after the "free" on, how many can they guarantee you at your set fee?

Reply by NVLSlady/VA on 3/15/13 3:53pm
Msg #461395

meant after the free one n/m

Reply by Lee/AR on 3/15/13 3:59pm
Msg #461399

I'd have a lot of questions... a LOT.
Personally, when I read your post, I envisioned a couple of TC employees giggling in the breakroom
over "We've got another one in the closing room now. Anyone got next week's lined up?"

Reply by NVLSlady/VA on 3/15/13 4:04pm
Msg #461402

Yep. One "test" closing a week with a free notary could save the TC $25k or more a year!!

Reply by svazquez on 3/15/13 4:50pm
Msg #461411

The thing is I've been to a few of their branches, they're very professional. Also they have over 30 branches in my state. I'm just not sure how to handle this.

Reply by Moneyman/TX on 3/15/13 5:12pm
Msg #461416

It might be the new stream of income evolution of the TC's - "SS company" (which was "Cindy" sitting at a new table at the back of the office using a different phone line. While she was at that desk she worked for "SS" but when she walked 10 feet away to her regular desk, "Mary" worked for the TC)

Reply by Moneyman/TX on 3/15/13 5:07pm
Msg #461414

Agree with Lee and the others. Make a counter offer

Why not counter that offer with
Closing at their office and once everything completed, without any issues, they accept your invoice

That way, if there were any issues or if any price reductions were warranted it could be resolved.

If they don't like that offer -- The only way I would do "first one free" is after they signed a statement guaranteeing me 10 additional signings (or the full contracted amount) within 45 days with a full fee of $200 each and all must be located in my local coverage. That way, if they are just trying to get work done for free I would at least have something to take to court with me, if it came to that, to receive $2K for their deceit.

Reply by BrendaTx on 3/15/13 8:09pm
Msg #461439

They need to check with their lawyer on this one. What brain trust at that title company came up with this one?

I would think that from their perspective there needs a payment exchanging hands to validate that there was an arrangement with a notary.

Real businesses don't want to have a trial run with a contractor. No pay means that they were trying out someone that they did not have confidence in to begin with. That weakens them their business liability in future dealings. Something goes wrong in the future with a closing and it's like a Plaintiff's lawyer can say to their lawyer, "Oh, by the way, your client is the title company that tries out people who may or may not have skills to sign up loans....yeah, your client is a proven idiot."

[the ugly buzzer sound goes here]

You can do whatever you want to with this one. But, I like the idea of telling them that if it went well, you'll provide them an invoice to pay.

Reply by kathy/ca on 3/15/13 8:27pm
Msg #461441

I have never heard of such a thing, beyond ridiculous! n/m

Reply by Susan Fischer on 3/15/13 8:33pm
Msg #461446

If the training, or testing, is on my dime? Then I posit

the local title company provide its Ideal Signing by example - what they expect and why - so's to assure its expectations are met. Not vise versa.

Win - Win. I benefit from their training, and they then benefit by meeting goals and objectives by counting on my adherence to their protocol. Yes?

The development of one's own rhythm and nuance comes with study and practice. If they want your Stamp, I say, they should jump at the chance to provide the model for efficient, well-trained production vendors, just like you. No?

Jmho.

Reply by MW/VA on 3/15/13 8:39pm
Msg #461450

OMG, now I've heard it all. It may be a large acct., but

IMO no one reputable would ask you to do it for free. The way it usually works is they give you a couple of signings & then decide if they like your work enough to make you their "preferred notary". I hope you didn't do it. The whole thing smells to me.

Reply by Smitty/MI on 6/13/13 10:06am
Msg #473159

Re: OMG, now I've heard it all. It may be a large acct., but

OMG is right, nothing is ever free, you should have learned that early in life. Once you notarize a document YOU are tied to it for the rest of your life. If there are legal repercussions, do you expect a Lawyer to work pro bono since you did it for......free?

Reply by Notarysigner on 3/15/13 9:11pm
Msg #461456

You have this linked to????? n/m

Reply by Scriba/NM on 3/15/13 9:45pm
Msg #461463

Here's Another One ..... OMG! Really? Really? n/m

Reply by loandocs on 6/13/13 12:03pm
Msg #473171

This is not a sound business practice. If they want to assure themselves you know what you are doing, they can TEST you with a practice signing.

You should not agree to this. Keep going, tell them goodbye and have a good day.