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Many Notaries complain that they don’t get paid on time. The problem is complicated. Many signing companies are also not getting paid because they are also not careful of what clients they do business with and their contracts are often not air-tight. The problem of getting paid is several fold. You have to do good work, otherwise you will be the last to get paid. You have to background screen companies, otherwise you will work for the worst. You also have to be aggressive in billing. Below are my formal suggestions:
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1. Be the best at what you do
If signing companies value you because you are the nicest and most dependable notary in the business, they still might not pay fast, but they will feel motivated to pay you – otherwise they will lose you. And nobody wants to lose their best Notary.
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2. Ask for References
If a company doesn’t want to give you references they are probably not worth working for.
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3. Screen companies first — Read about them on the forums
Notary Rotary and 123notary keep information on what Notaries say about companies on our forums. You can look up hundreds of companies. We also have a list of signing companies with reviews on our site you can reference from a mobile phone!
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4. Keep good records.
If you keep stats on how long it takes companies to pay you, and do the math to create averages for how many days it takes, you can avoid the companies that pay slowly.
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5. Have a credit limit for each company.
If a company has proven to pay quickly and on time, you can offer more credit. But, for newer companies or slow pays, I would not offer them more than $200 in credit.
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6. Bill weekly
If you keep after companies that owe you money by emailing them bills and calling about the late ones, they are not going to enjoy being harrassed. They will be more likely to pay you.
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7. The letter from hell
If you still can’t get paid, use the demand letter we entitle “The letter from hell” in our resources page.
http://www.123notary.com/howto-get-paid-signing-agent.htm
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8. Protect yourself with a contract
If you have a contract that goes over how much you get paid for last minute cancellations, printing, and if the loan doesn’t get signed, you will have legal grounds to get paid. There are many situations you can protect yourself from with a contract. Getting others to sign your contract will only happen if you are one of the best Notaries, so don’t get your hopes too far up.
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=2593
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9. Physically show up at the signing company
If you are within driving distance, you can have a personal appearance at a signing company and camp out until you get paid.
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10. Sent a letter from an Attorney
Many Attorneys send letters for a low price if you shop around. Nobody wants to get sued, so have a letter written and get paid fast.
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Bounced Checks, Collection Agencies, FBI reports: Learn which companies are involved!
Bounced Checks, Collection Agencies, FBI reports…
For some of you, this is old information that you have already been following. However, many notaries do not have time to read everything that goes on on the forum, and this news about signing companies will be of interest and a convenience to them! It is hard for me to keep up with what is going on on the forums on a daily basis, but I have noticed that a lot of bad things happened in September 2011. There were a few loan signing companies that had a reasonable reputation that suddenly stopped paying notaries. One or more companies was reported to be out of business. I am going to summarize the more important events of the last month or two here. I will only mention the more noteworthy signing companies here.
All Service Notary & Signings
Sept 16 – A notary gives up on trying to collect their bill and hands it over to a collection agency. Additionally, this notary reports the signing company to a credit bureau! Another notary reports trouble getting paid from this company. A third notary says, that after a long time, they finally received their check — but, that was in early August. The situation looks like it has deteriorated since then.
CRES Closers
One notary says that they are the BEST to work for! Another says they met his fee and that they were great to work for. A third notary claims that they sent payment super fast! Wow, it is nice to hear good things about a signing company these days!
Equifax Settlement Services
One notary got paid, but says the company says that they will take THREE MONTHS to pay for jobs in the future because they have to wait until the loans fund. Another notary discusses the letter they sent to the BBB about this company. A third notary discusses the difference in what this company offers different notaries for the same work. One gets $85, while another is offered $125!
FASS – First American Signature Services
Notaries are complaining, but not about payment issues. One notary was taken off the list because FASS found a less expensive notary. Back in 2010, FASS took over service for a big Title company and dropped the notary who had been servicing the signings for that Title company. Another notary feels that they were treated rudely after some sort of argument about “quality issues”. Although there is a lot of complaining going on here, I don’t see any wrongdoing on the part of FASS. They are just shopping around to find the best notaries for them — and trying to get high quality service as well. America is a free country and nobody is obligated to keep the same notary for life.
Final Link
Three notaries have complained that this company doesn’t do a good job of getting back to people. Not returning calls, etc.
First Preference Signing
Four notaries all claim in unison that this is the best company that they have ever worked for.
Harvard Abstract
Three notaries are claiming that this company is easy to work for and that they pay quickly.
HVR Notaries
Two notaries claim that this is a good company to work for. One says, “They met my fee”, which is a very good sign these days with all the low balling.
Insured Closings
Notaries claim that there have been several reports of BOUNCED CHECKS from this company. Watch out!
National Loan Closers
This company is reported to be asking for $25 to keep notaries on their list. This is causing a lot of disturbance in the notary world. Notaries feel that companies should be paying them, and not vice versa.
Nations Direct
We have gotten many complaints about low-balling and micromanagement. One notary’s signing was interrupted by a phone call, where she was asked if she was using a blue pen. On the other hand, it is prudent for a signing company who uses many newer notaries to call and check up on people. Obviously, many of the notaries they hired screwed up and ruined many loans which is the reason for all of the babysitting. Please try to look at things from the signing company’s perspective. They are trying to get the job done. Also see: Nations Direct has been around for more than a decade!
Nowclosings.com
Many notaries are claiming that this is one of the BEST signing companies they have ever worked for.
N3 Notary
A few notaries are complaining that company has badgered them too much during their signings.
Pacific Document Services
Checks that they sent out have allegedly gotten LOST in the mail. One notary has filed an official complaint with the FBI to try to get this company shut down. Another notary received a check that BOUNCED. This is one of the most serious cases I have seen all year! The opinions expressed here are the opinions of particular notaries and not of 123notary.com.
Safir Signing Agents
Multiple notaries are complaining about no-pay and SLOW-PAY.
Service Link
This company has lowered their fees, and we have had many complaints from notaries about LOW-BALLING from this company.
Superior Closings
The people that run this company have been functioning under four different business names over the course of time. They are reported to be out of business now.
The Notary Biz
Many notaries are discussing whether or not this company is still in business. One notary had a discussion with the owner who claimed that they were no longer in business.
The R&R Group
Several notaries are complaining about non-payment, and one is owed $375 by this company
Trans State Services
Many notaries are really happy with this company. Good working conditions and timely pay!
Vital Signings
This company has a good payment record, but many notaries are complaining that there are too many steps involved in the signing process and a lot of babysitting.
Tweets:
(1) Here is a list of companies that bounced checks, had FBI reports, or were notorious late payers to notaries!