Posted by upnorth/AK on 11/5/13 9:47pm
Msg #491481

How far do you go?

I received a signing order last week from a very well known SS. The mother is signing as POA for her daughter. I have left five phone calls on the POA's cell phone with no response. I then tried calling the daughter and her voice mail says you can't leave a message but email her. I emailed her and no response. The order says the POA wants to sign at her place of business and gives an address only for that business. It is an office building and I can't locate any information on her via the internet as to which company she may work for. I just want to give this back but as the signing is at 9:30 tomorrow morning I hate to do that on such short notice. The SS has been absolutely no help and the lender wants me to go anyway even without any confirmation. I refuse to go door to door to find this POA so I finally told them tonight that unless they get me a suite number or I hear from the POA I won't be going. What would you do?

Reply by walthtz on 11/5/13 9:55pm
Msg #491483

The exact same as you.
No return calls , no do.

Reply by ikando on 11/5/13 9:56pm
Msg #491484

I would indicate to them that my detective fees are much more than my Notary fees. If they can't provide the information, they will need to find someone else. You've already done more than I would have.

If the person really wanted to sign tomorrow morning, I would hazard to guess that she would have tried to contact you after you'd left all those messages.

Reply by JimAZ on 11/5/13 9:58pm
Msg #491485

I would go with an agreement in writing of full fee from SS and/or lender. No matter if you hooked up with POA or not. Probably too late for that advice now (9:30 AM signing), but next time. Good Luck.

Reply by HSH/WA on 11/5/13 10:19pm
Msg #491488

Re: Above all good answers

When they said they wanted you to go anyway, that was the time to ask for a full fee guarantee.

Reply by CJ on 11/5/13 10:50pm
Msg #491493

I'd go.

I have had this sort of thing happen before. I let the ss know that I have not heard back, but I am going anyway. They are usually grateful. Usually, everyone is there and ready to sign. Especially at 9:30 am at their work.

Reply by JimAZ on 11/5/13 10:52pm
Msg #491495

Re: Above all good answers

Yep, Yep, Yep. Great advice that comes with experience.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 11/5/13 11:01pm
Msg #491496

In the interest of sounding informed...

Please forgive me if I put on my teacher hat for a minute. (Just for the record, in the interest of helping my fellow notaries sound well informed and knowledgeable when talking about this - even though many others aren't...)

A "POA" refers to the document itself, or to the authority that a "principal" grants to another person via a document they sign - always in front of a notary. The person to whom the "principal" grants that authority is called their "agent", or "Attorney-in-Fact", or "AIF". So a person can't be a POA.

One other tidbit of info that needs to be clarified when an AIF is signing for someone else, is how the document recipient (frequently a lender) wants the AIF to sign the principal's name next to their own. There are various formats for this and different preferences. It's always a good idea to ask, unless you're sure of that lender's preferences.

BTW, did you try sending your client an email? This might be something they can find out first thing in the morning and get you a response before you have to leave - especially if you're really in Alaska and the signing co is in a different time zone. Is it possible that the office building all belongs to the same company and that when you get there you'll find a receptionist who can call your party, or a building directory that will have her listed?

I hope it works out for you.

Reply by upnorth/AK on 11/6/13 1:12am
Msg #491501

Re: In the interest of sounding informed...

The building has multiple companies. I sent an email to the borrower with no response and no other information was available from the SS or the lender.

Reply by Karla/OR on 11/6/13 4:27am
Msg #491503

Re: In the interest of sounding informed...

Leave them another voice mail and e-mail saying,

"I WILL track you down and WILL NOT be happy when I find you"!!!!!!!!

LOL!!!

Reply by jba/fl on 11/6/13 4:29am
Msg #491504

Love it, Karla. n/m

Reply by Darlin_AL on 11/6/13 11:05am
Msg #491567

OK, aside from the POA scenario (which if it's a well-known TC or not) it's 2 issues: 1 you aren't able to confirm and 2 can't determine location. The location situation happens to me, & the TC or SS has had to contact their hiring party or LO to contact the signers and let them know that the notary definitely needs specific door # to knock-on! Keep in mind that for all the hassle, you may not realize covering your overhead of printing & getting there, with the partial fees offered for no-shows. I imagine some hiring parties that say "go anyway" don't realize, what are you supposed to do, park somewhere for 30 min., report they weren't there & signers complain you weren't at their location...under the 3rd rock from the left on main st.?

Reply by Esther Korn on 11/6/13 3:33pm
Msg #491612

So... What happened?

Reply by upnorth/AK on 11/6/13 7:30pm
Msg #491665

I did tell the SS that if I went I would require full payment whether the signing occurred or not which surprisingly they agreed to. Anyway, the lender finally comes through with another phone number this morning and I was finally able to reach the POA who said, "Oh yes, that is scheduled for this morning, right?" This is a professional woman, you think she would have the courtesy to return one of the five phone messages I left for her. So it all turned out fine but it sure is irritating to have to go through all that when all it takes is a return phone call. Thanks everyone for your input.