Good morning!
Notaries everywhere should be cautious about working with The Signature Stop, LLC and its owner, Myesha Ray. If you want to avoid the inconvenience of depositing a check that bounces due to insufficient funds and a $10 returned check fee, be reprimanded for contacting Title alerting them to the situation at hand, and be gaslight along the way, steer clear of this company!
I had an unfortunate experience with them when I was assigned a closing on November 7, 2024. When I finally received payment on January 23, 2025, the check bounced, and I was hesitant to deposit a replacement check from them on January 29, 2025. Rather than taking it to my bank, I decided to visit the bank listed on the check, which resulted in an $8 fee for not being a customer there. Not only was my payment overdue, but I ended up losing $18 since the $10 returned fee was not included in the replacement check!
As you will see in the below final email exchange, this is a summary of what transpired. We are professionals, not beggars, and we deserve to be treated with respect while seeking payment for services rendered. Additionally, Myesha Ray attempted to suggest that the insufficient funds issue was merely “due to a processing error between banks.” No! It’s called writing hot checks, which is a crime!!
Enjoy the read (this was cc’d to the TC):
Myesha,
I wanted to inform you that the e-check (redacted) sent by Deluxe for The Signature Stop, LLC was returned by my bank today due to INSUFFICIENT FUNDS.
I confirmed this with my bank regarding the returned check for $[redacted] posted to my account. I am copying [redacted TC] on this email (as you cannot tell me whom I can or cannot contact per your email of Jan. 13th) to notify them that, although they paid you for this assignment, I have yet to receive my payment from The Signature Stop, LLC. I do not understand why it has been so difficult to receive payment from your company for the notary services I performed for the above assignment on November 7, 2024. I was informed of your payment policy, indicating that I would be paid at the end of the following month, December 31, 2024. I even faced your admonishment when I inquired too early about the payment and was told to wait until December 31, 2024. Furthermore, when I followed up on January 2, 2025, you responded tersely, stating, “Our payment terms are clear. Therefore, payment was mailed as indicated in the last email I sent you. Please allow 7-10 business days for receipt. We are not in the business of advising every notary when payment is issued. We indicated our pay terms at the beginning of the closing process.”
When the purported check did not arrive within the specified 7-10 days (considering the MLK holiday), I inquired again on January 16, 2025, and was informed: “Unfortunately, our company is not responsible for USPS, and we do not pay for express mail. However, accounting will issue a stop payment and reissue the check via e-check. Allow 24 hours for the stop payment to process. If the original is received, do not cash it.”
I sent a final payment status inquiry on January 22, 2025, but received no response. However, on January 23, I received the (now bounced) e-check, which I promptly deposited, only to be notified today that my bank could not process the check and had withdrawn the amount from my account. This situation is completely unacceptable. I have been more than patient with your company regarding my payment. The financial burden your company has placed on me is not only unprofessional but also unethical. No checks should be issued if there is no reasonable assurance that sufficient funds will be available.
I am now compelled to consider legal action for non-payment of services. My bank will be sending me a formal letter confirming that no funds were available when the check was deposited on January 23, 2025.
I am requesting a new check with immediate funds available within the next three business days."
Outcome: I received the replacement check today (January 29, 2025) without the $10 returned check fee. I took it to the issuer’s bank and was able to cash it, minus the $8 charge for being a non-customer.
Just glad to be done, so not worth my time and energy!
Y’all enjoy the day!
for taking the time to share it.
