Anybody who is a loan signing Notary knows that they need to drop documents. We have written articles on this topic before, but it is a loaded topic.
You can claim that you dropped the documents. But, some Notaries are liars, and how can title know that you aren’t? Should they just take your word for it?
If you drop documents in a drop box, there is a small chance that it will get picked up late, or not at all. The courier assigned to pick up from that box might quit and a new person might take the job not knowing that they are to pick up from that box. People do screw up in real life. Your package could be sitting in that drop box for a week while FedEx figures it out although that is rare. But, it happened to me once! Once contents of a drop box got stolen according to a story from one of our Notaries. I only heard of that once. There is a 1 in 1000 chance that your drop box might not get picked up. If you do a lot of signings, that could cost you a client or get you in big trouble. Additionally there is no proof that you dropped it in a particular box and you might not even remember what box you dropped it in.
If you drop at a manned station, that is a better idea. The box in their office will always get picked up, and often at a slightly later time than the drop boxes on the road.
I highly recommend you get paperwork from FedEx stating that you dropped the package at a particular time and place. You might need that evidence if you get in trouble.
The bottom line is be prepared, think ahead, and have as much evidence for what you did correctly. It is just like keeping your journal correctly. It is rare that your journal will be checked, but when it happens (roughly 1 in 2000 jobs gets checked, so it will happen eventually to you.) you need to be prepared or you get in a lot of trouble. You could even get arrested.
Had a Fedex mishap.. my first direct signing with a title company valuable relationship! Completed the signing on Thursday evening dropped docs on friday. To my dismay they call me on Tuesday stating they received only 21 pages of 178??!!! Absolutely baffled I called the fedex location I had dropped off 3 signings rubber-banded that same day. The other 2 signings made it safely to their destination, however this package something happened! In tracking the package there was a glitch. We believe the package was damaged at fedex they are known to discard loose papers and ship whatever is left in the package! Scary! needless to say it caused a lot of stress and heartache for the title company and myself. Lesson learned I created a fedex account and ordered my own packing supplies and now I package my documents in fedex paks not envelopes.
Comment by Tracy Stoudt — June 18, 2020 @ 11:08 am
I ALWAYS drop the docs at a FedEx/UPS store and get a receipt no matter where I am. Saved me more than once.
Comment by James Morgan — June 18, 2020 @ 1:44 pm
I aleays get a receipt its call cover your ass. CYA
Comment by Ritchie Godsey — August 16, 2020 @ 12:58 pm
All. The time i give the package to the person for scanning infront of me.
I also asked him to put a extra tape on the package.
Comment by Chander Nayyar — August 16, 2020 @ 2:38 pm
I experienced UPS not picking-up a box from a rather busy location in front of a law office for a week! Now I go to a U{S distribution center. though it’s 12 miles away.
Comment by Robert Ruston — August 17, 2020 @ 7:22 pm
I always pack my own docs but drop them physically at a location and get a receipt. I used to have the counter do the packing but I thought about it and would rather them not know what is being shipped.
Comment by Charles Steinmetz — January 25, 2021 @ 9:14 pm
I pack my own documents, use the poly pack, fold and seal the packet then place the label pouch over the seal so the pouch provides a ‘double seal’ also record tracing number is my book, I always get a receipt but if there is a question about shipment I can use the ‘track my package’ service to show when the packet shipped and where it is at any point in the process. saves having to look through shipping receipts and sending copies on them,
Comment by Cindi Garcia — February 6, 2021 @ 4:00 pm