Sitting here waiting…This is only my 4th assignment. The other 3 were just partials so it wasn’t that big of deal that they came so late.
Why do they wait until the last minute? This one has been scheduled for 4 days, not like it wasn’t expected. I have to leave in an hour and I have nothing. Yes, I’ve emailed them.
I’m about to call this quits! I spent 23 years in a very high stress job as an Air Traffic Controller, I’m retired now. Thought this would be a good gig for a little extra spending $. I’m discovering my mental health is not worth this.
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This is pretty normal and it’s very frustrating.
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Very frustrating. On top of it all, it was an SC purchase, I’m in MI. We don’t do witnesses and attorneys. All very new to me. Add to it, it was suppose to be a POA signing but the borrowers were there, I had to make so many corrections on signature lines and notary certs. I’m still contemplating if it’s worth it.
If I was in your position I would cancel it, use your time on something else instead of this mess.
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What I do is this… example. I have a 9:00 am appointment scheduled for Monday. Last night (Thursday) I sent friendly E-mail reminder to the company that I need the documents no later than Friday evening in order for me to provide an “error free” closing… yes I use those words. I got my docs at 9:00am this morning.
For last min assignments or same day I tell them upfront what is the latest time I need to have the documents to me to again ensure an “error free” closing.
I don’t have any issues getting my documents when I need them (knock on wood)
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I do need to be more assertive about this aspect. And I will be for now on.
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I am so sorry this happened to you. No that’s not the norm if you’re working with efficient and professional company. Most companies have this 2-4 hours time frame but that doesn’t work for busy notaries. If you only have that one signing for the day it is ok to give them 2-4 hours time frame.
I would cancel if that was assigned to me due to docs not arrive on time and move on to the next one.
Fortunately thus far I’ve been able to get my docs in by midnight before closing and as early as two weeks before. 
This is a good lesson to learn which company you want to keep and which one to drop.
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Thank you, yes it is a very good lesson. I was hoping with this assignment, being assigned 4 days prior, would have the docs ready at least the night before, or very first thing in the morning. Appt was at 12, but I and the signers live in a rural area so the drive was almost an hour and a half. I did tell the signing company about the distance when they noted that the scan backs had to be within 75 minutes, so they were aware. It was a job I really shouldn’t have took with that distance, but I need experience. Thankfully my husband chauffeured me so I was able to review everything. All said, it ended up ok. I ended up scanning from my car and uploaded via my hotspot, they reviewed and gave me the ok to drop the docs. I feel better now that it’s all over and after today I did gain a lot of confidence that I was lacking.
My husband said - hey you need a van with a little office in it! I like that idea! lol.
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Not an unrealistic concept, hence the title “mobile” notary. They make “mobile” printers/scanners for this purpose. I use it for incidental missing/corrected docs while on site if I cant get the signer to print for me first (out of the back of my SUV). If they don’t have a printer, I ask permission for their WiFi. No WiFi, I hit the hotspot from my data on the ole’ cell phone. No/poor service, no luck! I’m fortunate to be in a 4/5G area so since the launch of 5G, I have gotten better results. And yes, they pay extra for that service if no fault of my own (although some old schoolers out there expect you to have this capability anyway). From time to time you will get instructions wanting scans of certain docs from the table (no photos allowed) but that request seems to be fading away. After all, how much can one ask for with the lower fees they are offering? Offer it then sell it! They go low on the front end, get it back on the back end is my motto!
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I do have a mobile scanner and printer. My phone has hotspot as well (also like you if I have service, I am in a rural area). My car has 2 110 plugs which in 5 years I have never used until yesterday. I was shocked I was able to scan with it. My car is a ford escape so not much room, a conversion van would be pretty awesome, with a desk…and a bathroom!
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Sounds more like you need a mobile RV solution… lol. I too am setting up a mobile office. I have an Acura MDX with a lot of room I am looking for a back cover to hide my equipment. I am a bit nervous about leaving my printer/ Scanner in the back as the temperature can get up to 120 degrees in the summer here in AZ. I just purchased a Samsung S7 FE tablet for Hybrid / E-signature closings and got an unlimited data plan with it through T-Mobile for $20.00 ( this is a limited offer ending soon).
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What is that? Is he inside an RV, or a commercial van or something?
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I think it’s a van that someone customized. There was a picture of a fancy Mercedes’ Benz one, this one was more my budget though. I’d take it!
Yes, the built in 110 outlets come in handy. I would imagine when the electric vehicles start becoming dominant we will see more make and models with this feature. This is crazy (see video below). $40k may seem cheap to some, but if this thing can power a house for 3 days, I don’t see maintenance and repairs coming in cheap!
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I have a mini office in my SUV. I have a desk on the passengers front seat which helps with computer / scan back work. My husband installed a converter and I have a two drawer printer in my car in the backseat passengers side so I can reach from the front seat. This helps with printing copies of Id’s to include in the return packet. Also if I am at a signing an a document is wrong, title can email me the corrected document before the end of our appointment and I can print the new docs and then there is no delay for the borrowers or reschedules. When notary work was booming, (it has slowed down a lot) I would print on the go. Or if I am out on an assignment and a last minute order comes in I can pullover into a parking lot and print and go to the next appointment with out having to drive all the way back to my home office. This area is very rural and any way I can save on driving time is a help. 
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Wow that sounds amazing! I would love to do something like that.
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