Taking the job
I dont like to do a job and then have to threaten folks to get paid. It goes against my general fiber and overall nature. I excel at what I do and expect to paid accordingly. I took a job toward the end of the month (May). It was a settlement company. You know the ones that broker the rich and famous insurance polices that are worth 4 or 5 million and they pay out a fraction of what they are worth, and then wait for them to die so they can collect the full value of the policy. This is similar to JG Wentworth’s policies.
Agreeing on a fee
Well, we agree on a handsome fee of 150.00. I successfully complete the assignment. Nothing eventful and everything went well. I was even early..:) After the completion of the assignment, I completed a W-9 and submitted an invoice and patiently waited. After about 2 weeks I emailed my contact on a Monday and was told that I would have payment toward the end of the following week. My eyebrows cautiously started to rise, but, I understand company billing policies, so I let it go. By the following week on Thursday there was no check. I emailed once again, and the reply I got was that they had missed the cut off and I would receive a check at least by the next Friday.
Contacting the signing company’s client for payment?
Now, I am becoming VERY angry. So I wrote back that this sounds very much like the run around to me and it is unacceptable . I also let them know that if forced I will have to take matters into my own hands meaning that if I don’t receive payment ASAP I will be contacting their client for payment. With correspondence sent I waited. The following afternoon I receive a brief response. and I quote “Carmen, accounting pushed your check and it’s in the mail” And I thought to myself. Great BUT why did I have to be strung along and lied to in the first place. Why didn’t you just cut the check and be done with it. It has been a month already. Why did I have to threaten you and worse yet now our relationship has been strained and severed. I am confident they will never call me again Nor do I want them to. I don’t want to have to put up a fight to get paid. If I perform a job without incident and give it 100% with no error on my part I except to get paid. PERIOD. I have every right to expect this. We have every right to expect this!!!
It is a shame that we have to resort to all sorts of threats, trickery, letters/emails phone calls, etc just to get our money. This is a job in itself and It is very time consuming to keep up with these slow or no pay companies.
In closing, I know the task itself is hard but you have got to stay on top of it. As one of our notaries expressed to me…the longer you wait to try an collect the more likely you never will see a dime…..and this is the sad truth. PLEASE Check out these companies when you can BEFOREHAND. It is not entirely foolproof but it can help weed out some of the bad ones before it costs you in time and money! Be on top of your billing, comply with all their billing request, such as W-9’s and start the collection process early.
Until next time….(now lets play the waiting game and see if the check actually shows up…lol)
Tweets:
(1) Their excuse was that they missed the cut-off and would pay up next Friday!
(2) She threatened to go to the client if they didn’t pay ASAP & then they paid promptly!
You might also like:
Notary Marketing 102 – A guide to getting paid
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=19794
Does having reviews make it easier to get paid?
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=3227
I’ve learned to use a self-designed NCR (multi-copy) form which becomes the invoice. On it reads, MUST BE PAID WITHIN SEVEN DAYS. At the time I leave I circle around to a USPS post box and post a second invoice directly to accounting. THEN I ring them in a week to nurse it along. Seems to lubricate the gears a bit better.
Comment by Lee — July 24, 2011 @ 4:38 am
With respect to submitting to a request to fill out a W-9, what if you are an individual practicing as a Mobile Notary? Wouldn’t some display of a form of identification suffice?
Comment by MNotary — July 26, 2011 @ 1:17 am
Only had non-payment issues twice. Both times I went to the registry of deeds and filed a lien. Half the lawers I speak to say I do not have a leg to stand on, but I get phone calls IMMEDIATELY and I got paid both times REAL quick.
Comment by Jacob Kurtz — July 26, 2011 @ 1:45 am
I put the slow pays on credit hold. I have a set credit limit of $500.00 or less depending on my experience with the company. I have done business with one company that as soon as they reach 65 days late on one closing they go on credit hold. I think they are playing games with the notaries in the St. Louis, MO and surrounding areas but can’t prove it.
Comment by Barbara J Sartori — August 1, 2011 @ 6:49 pm
I only use the web to get payment letting them know if no payment by will let all Notaries know not to use! It works too!
Comment by Connie Kuest — August 21, 2011 @ 9:08 pm
I require payment “up front” via credit card on my site – the first time – for new clients. Sure, I lose some – but I prefer that to playing “collection agent”. Many are quite willing to agree as my site is designed to instill confidence that they will get exactly what is agreed. Think about it – When you order on the internet – do you pay AFTER the item is delivered – not a chance. Notaries somehow have accepted the do now, get paid (sometimes / partial) later – not for me.
Comment by kenneth edelstein — September 27, 2011 @ 1:39 am
I’ve found having a highly rated blog helps speed up payment a bit. If you develop your own blog you can write articles about the deadbeats that appear at the top of Google. It’s a good tool to have. Also claiming you’ll report them to the BBB is helpful.
Comment by CM — November 27, 2011 @ 5:29 pm
I have what I think is a brilliant idea if EVERY single notary will do it (which I know is not likely), but if even the majority of us insists on it it could work:
GET PAID UP FRONT FOR THE JOB!!!!!!!!! LET’S MOBILIZE!!! Use PayPal. The signing agencies and title companies will HAVE to accommodate us if they have no option.
I’m sick of long lists of companies I won’t do business with again and then try to remember who they are when I’m on the road and get a signing request. Even when I’m where I can get to the list I don’t want to have to keep track of all that. And collecting the payments can be a job in itself, and when added to the total expense of signing, in terms of time, gas, office supplies, etc. we’re working for pennies on the dollar!!!
What do you all think of this idea?
Joy V in California
Comment by Joy — November 28, 2011 @ 3:08 am
I think this is a great idea. Do you have suggestions on how to get the schedulers to agree?
Comment by PolishGal — December 8, 2011 @ 5:25 am
Yes, this is a great idea. I, for one, am going to open a Pay Pal account and only do work for those signing companies who put money in the till before I print out the docs. I also wish we had some kind of force behind us in numbers of notaries doing the same thing. That would change the entire picture in a hurry.
Comment by D Bozick — December 14, 2011 @ 8:49 am
Rather than threaten them I just simply use my LegalShield membership and have my provider law firm send them a debt collection letter, which doesn’t cost me any extra over my small monthly membership. Every time they get a debt collection letter they pay me immediately. That way we don’t have any strain on the relationship and I don’t have to get upset about it, and it works very well. It is worth every penny. I loved the service so much that I became an associate so if you’re interested in the service I can help you out with that. Jocelyn Waters 435-256-5954
Comment by Jocelyn Waters — January 27, 2016 @ 1:59 pm