Has anyone else had 2 additional signers added to a package after accepting a closing that stated 2 signers? What do you do in a situation like this? I should have enough time between signings. I have another one an hour and a half later, but I feel taken advantage of and disrespected for my time.
You should be able to ask for more money if the number of signers jumps from 2 to 4. However, I had one last week where the 3rd and 4th signer only signed the Grant Deed. So, it helps if you have all of the details before you ask for more money. As far as disrespect for your time, you have to remember that the lender DOES NOT care about your time. They care about the borrowers and their needs. The signing agent is interchangeable to them, and it does not matter to them if it inconveniences you or not. They will be happy to switch you out for another notary, as long as they have adequate notice. (don’t back out an hour before the signing).
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Thanks for the reply. No, I don’t plan to back out. I just got the documents, and they are signing as joint tenants and all 4 are signing almost all of the documents. I realize the lender doesn’t care, but the signing service is who I’m upset with, however, I suppose the lender didn’t let them know there would be 4.
Yes, people tend to blame the signing service for these things, but they really have no control over it. The only difference is that it’s not they who are having to do more work and are inconvenienced by it. It’s not inappropriate to ask the signing service for more money for last-minute additions like that, to help share the extra burden. All they can say is no. It’s worth a shot.
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I had one last week. But I canceled because the hiring party refused to entertain paying an additional fee for that. Didn’t ask for much more but wasn’t doing it for the same as the order went out with bad details.
Yeah, well after going through the documents, they’re not signing all of them, but it is going to take more time. Will see if they’ll add an additonal fee.
I don’t know on this one. Typically, the signing orders that I get indicate the names of the signers on the deal; most often it’s two people. So I know going in what I have to do. When extra signers show up, I do my job and advise the SS after I return to my office what happened and what additional consideration I think would be fair. I’m always pleasant and courteous and never cranky or demanding. I almost always get what I want and everyone’s happy in the end.
Of course it doesn’t always work out, so I make a note of it and move on. Not gonna die on that hill.
As I re-read my post, it occurred to me that adding signers after the fact or in the middle of a job that shows only two signers doesn’t really happen or make sense on the face of it. I’m not even sure I’ve had that happen. So, whilst I generally stand by my opinion in the above paragraph, I must admit that it refers to other types of unanticipated changes I’ve encountered in the midst of the signing ceremony. While I think about how adding signers to a transaction might work, I’m now curious how y’all have handled that happenstance when it occurred to you.
If it’s just a change in the overall paperwork and it’s appropriate and authorized, asking for more $$ is fair enough. If it comes as a surprise, I think title/escrow/lender has to get involved and provide a satisfactory means of resolving the problem and certainly increase your fee accordingly.
This is a stream of consciousness post from me 
Sorry
Sometimes they voluntarily offer an additional fee, even if I don’t ask for it. That goes a long way toward goodwill between the signing service and the notary.
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Well, this is the first time this has happened. The scheduler apologized, stated they did not know how the signers are pulled in, and would ask for an additional fee. I actually also noticed one additional signer making it 5 total signers. The 5th only signs the grant deed. I have had 4 signers before, but I knew in advance.
Hopefully, they agree to the fee increase. It’s only right.
Think of it this way … Lender was probably intending a split signing where 2 of the signers would sign at one location and the other 2 or 3 at another. Given that scenario, they would’ve had to pay 2 full notary fees. You’re probably just asking for a small increase (compared to another full fee).
Change an extra $25 per signer
Well, they did provide an additional fee. Not $25 per signer, but it helped.