I had a dosey mortgage modification signing this past weekend. There were so many “red flags”, starting with the confirmation phone call. The borrower wouldn’t agree to scheduling the appointment, saying another LSA had been scheduled to come out. Once that was cleared up, got the appointment scheduled. Upon my arrival, as I was walking up to the home. The borrower’s dog ran out of the garage. The borrower was yelling at the little dog, following right behind the animal. The borrower chased the dog around the cul-de-sac, eventually the dog came back to the house. The borrower yelled at me to grab the dog, but I didn’t. I don’t grab any strange dogs, that is a good way to get bit. Once we sat at the “closing table”, the first individual was the property owner. Come to find out the primary signer was an elderly individual, who wasn’t aware that a mortgage modification was being performed. Needless to say, the elderly individual wasn’t to happy and didn’t believe I was sent by the lender. The elderly individual refused to sign any documents and was going to hire an attorney to fight the lender. What made things so bad, the elderly individual wasn’t aware the mortgage payments had been missed. I felt so horrible having to experienced this event. As the LSA, I called the signing service, the lender, it seem like every phone number I dialed, no one was answering. I finally reached the lender’s resolution department and they decided to put halt to the signing. I was relieved, because I would’ve had to refuse to notarize the mortgage modification documents, due the elderly homeowners was in such a mental state of confusion about the transaction, observing the lack of willingness, and the potential possibility of financial elder abuse. I could not believe that I was in such a predicament. My heart goes out to the elderly individual!
Oh my!! What an experience!
Thanks for sharing.
cfletcher and all LSA brothers and sisters, do NOT have your time wasted. It would be wise to have an agreement with the signing agencies to compensate you for the work DONE getting to the signing. I’ve had my day in the sun with a couple of agencies that though I printed loan documents for free along with the gas I used to get to the borrower’s homes. If it is a signing for $175 in compensation and the borrower acts up and decides to cancel demanding I leave a copy of the loan as well as the signing agency requesting I submit the unused loan, there better be at least $90 in my account beforehand.
I refuse to be USED and so should you!
Update: Company agreed to pay me the full fee. After I asked and provided details of phone calls being made. That’s why it’s so important to document every phone call and individuals’ names. Fact, we are to stay impartial in the signing process. Our duties have been met, once we meet with the borrower, verified their I.Ds, and reviewed the documents. If a signer refused to sign any documents, we should not ask any questions other than do they wish to talk with their lender or title company. Immediately, report to the hiring company the outcome and stay professional.
Many counties also have phone numbers where you can report Elder Abuse which includes scams. I have reported one signing to the number in our county when I walked out of a signing because something felt very off. Not sure what transpired from there but at least there was a paper trail in the event this continues to happen in the future.
Mobile notaries, those that advertise general mobile services, are the strangers most likely to be called into an elder abuse situation. The fact that you’re there at the verbal request of the abuser is bad enough. Fulfilling the request makes you an accomplice. That’s why it’s important to extract as much information as possible before agreeing to a meeting.
I did a reverse application with a couple and the 96 year old wife had no idea what was going on, stopping to say “what are we signing why can’t I read it, are we losing our house?” It was really sad.
Then the call came to do the loan documents and I called the lender - same person I called after the application and said no way would I notarize that lady’s signature there needed to be a power of attorney in place. I don’t know what they did but I didn’t do it.
I’ve done signings with 99 year olds who knew exactly what they were doing. But elderly people who have no idea, I don’t do them, and I don’t ask for permission to end an appointment. I just won’t continue.
Congratulations on your decision to not complete that assignment. As Public Officials it’s in the scope of our duties to prevent fraudulent activities. We can not notarize or participate in potential elder abuse against senior citizens. Unfortunately most times it’s a family member or even a spouse that can be the potential perpetrator in these cases. I applaud you for your diligence!
no problem at all, right ?
yeah I’m not grabbing anyone’s dog either. Even if the dog started attacking the signers I’d run out and call 911.
I am also a home health care nurse and I can’t count the number of times I have come to an expected appointment time with a patient and they are on the phone with some scam artist! It is sickening what these senior citizens are being put through. But on those days the sassiness came out in me and eventually they realized they picked the wrong senior to abuse on that day! Thank you for being aware of that individuals situation and advocating for him!