I love it when we can get what is due us without resulting to collection actions or a courtroom.
It seems that one of our notaries was owed a considerable amount of cash. Approximately $500.00 or so. He had done several signings in a short period of time for a deadbeat signing company and was having no luck in collecting from them. They had given him the run around, and he was fed up.
He, of course, was not going to work for them again until he had been paid in full. However, in his haste upon receiving a phone call he accepted a job from this company and when he became aware of his mistake he was of course very upset with himself, and was so inclined to give it back. But, it was at that defining moment that he had an idea. He decided that he would do the job. But he had what I consider a brillant idea! A ingenious way to collect for the new signing plus all of the other outstanding money that was owed to him.
So, he did the signing as requested but instead of using the return company’s UPS number, he filled out the UPS label asking for over $600.00 plus dollars COD. Yes folks, CASH ON DELIVERY. So, when the UPS driver came knocking on their door the company was faced with a serious dilema. Either they pay the requested amount and get their documents or lose them. They would of course be returned to the shipper. Well….they paid the fee in full and the notary received every penny that was owed to him.
Now, I don’t know if this is considered doc highjacking… and truthfully I don’t care. Due to the notaries quick wit he got what was due to him and that is WONDERFUL in my book!!
Until next time
Be safe
You might also like:
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http://blog.123notary.com/?p=588
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http://blog.123notary.com/?p=745
Protecting yourself with a contract
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=2593
This is awesome I hope the two deadbeat companies that owe me call me!!!
Comment by robin may — April 12, 2013 @ 8:55 pm
Great tip! Thanks
Comment by Rula — April 14, 2013 @ 7:02 pm
Gives a new meaning to “We will pay you as soon as we get the docs”……
Comment by Kenneth A Edelstein — May 4, 2013 @ 7:39 pm
Maybe they will think twice about paying their notaries from now on! So glad he found a way to get what was owed him.
Comment by Staci — September 10, 2014 @ 2:51 am
I would never utilize an idea such as this. There are better methods for collecting from a signing service than sending a doc package COD. What if they hadn’t paid and the package was returned to you? What if this caused the borrowers to lose out on a rate lock? Never use a loan doc package as a pawn against a signing company. It is not your doc package to use in that way.
It’s a bad bad idea. I hope people who are new to the business will not try this.
Instead, never do more than one or two signings for a company that is new to you. Remember, by taking signings, you are extending credit. Don’t extend too much credit until you know if they pay. Also, be aware of accepting jobs that require significant driving or other expense if you don’t know if the company is credit-worthy.
Manage your receivables correctly and bad ideas like the one in this blog will not seem like a viable option.
Comment by Julie Dailey — September 10, 2014 @ 6:27 pm
I think it is a great idea. Julie sometimes you have to think outside the dox.
Comment by David — May 1, 2015 @ 9:01 pm
This is ingenious, although I have not been faces with this, I will use the idea to make it happen. So far I have been paid early rather than later.
Comment by Cheryl — May 6, 2015 @ 12:20 pm
I love that he had the guts to do this but I’m with Julie. I don’t think that it’s right to use original docs as a pawn. I would have just called the company back and told them that I would only do the signing if they immediately paid for the previous work and pay the new signing in advance via Paypal. If they refuse, then decline the new signing and proceed with collections. Having said that, kudos to this notary for figuring out a creative solution to an all too common problem. Sometimes it only takes a few rebels to make a difference!
Comment by Deanna Petersen — May 6, 2015 @ 3:43 pm
Hilarious and awesome!
Comment by Monica A — May 6, 2015 @ 4:17 pm
I had a signing co. pay me up front. He knew he had a terrible reputation so he agreed. He paid via Paypal. I had to bill him, though, which cost me about $4.00. I’ll pad my fee a little to cover that next time.
Comment by Terry — May 7, 2015 @ 9:44 pm
Love that story!
Comment by Rick Ware — July 24, 2015 @ 2:37 am