Twice this week, I’ve been assigned to an appt. and when I call the signer to confirm, I’ve been told that another notary has already called/confirmed. I’m so frustrated with it. Both times, I had already printed the docs (tonight’s was over 300 and it was about the same for the other one). I’m curious if this happens to many others or am I just lucky that way.
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While rare, It happens–but twice in one week is way over the norm. One thing, tho’, why are you printing BEFORE you confirm with the signers? As hiring party double-booked, I’d request a print fee, but you might get some push-back for printing prior to confirming.
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I print after I’ve confirmed with signers and clients, and they usually upload documents after you speak to signers.
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You can get docs anytime from a week early to ‘after the scheduled Appt. time’, depends on many variables. However, if you PRINT them any earlier than 12 hours before the Appt., you most likely will not get paid for this if the situation goes south for many and varied reasons.
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The original notary may have accepted and confirmed, then backed out of the assignment for some reason: They got a better offer, family emergency, or simply did not like the size of the package for the fee. The borrower would not know any of this. If you have questions regarding an assignment, call your actual client - the company who is paying you.
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I did. I called everyone and emailed twice. It was last night around 730. I guess everyone was done with their week and decided not to answer their phone/messages.
My question was if this happens to other notaries? Or if I’m just lucky that way…?
It happens a lot right now, when there are a great many competing offers and companies will try to bribe a reliable notary off an assignment in order to get theirs completed. When there are fewer offers out there… not much.
they were very last minute signings. They were both scheduled for 5pm and I got the offer around 7:15. I started printing one while reaching out to the signer who said another notary just called him to confirm. so I started calling all the numbers I had plus sending out emails to everyone. No answer. I called the borrower back and asked if he had been able to reach anyone and he said he was actually in the middle of it at that moment. STILL haven’t heard from anyone at the SS. Another offer came through for last night shortly after speaking to the first borrower. So, I accepted this one. I called to confirm with borrower whose appt was also scheduled for 5pm and by the time I spoke to him- he was hot. His house was a good 30 minutes from me and I still needed to print docs and make myself presentable. Then I get a message from SS that this one was cancelled as well. It was a very frustrating evening for sure
It is possible that the original notary that called them cancelled and you are the new notary.
When this happens I call the other notary if they can give me a name to clarify. Many times they have had to cancel or there may be a 2nd property ( investment ) signing involved.
I never print until day of after my day before or morning of appointment where I review
- funds or proceeds due to/from borrower
- spelling of names on docs to ID and ID are not expired
- people attending / location / time / flexibility if I am running early or late
- there will be a table and chairs for us to sit
They will go fast in the conversation and save you time and money. Remember this call after you receive the documents.
If I don’t have documents night before the signing I call to find out their flexibility.
Hope this helps.
I flipped the script. I will double book a slot and the first company that produces the documents wins my time. If someone else is going out there then get a time slot to close the job.
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Yikes, what lender? You should get a print fee.
Yes it happens. The title company will send it to several SS to see who can fill it. I’ve gotten a closing from a SS and then the title company will reach out to me directly and ask do I have availability. It’s also happened vice versa. I would definitely request a print fee.
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A similar situation just happened to me. The only difference is that I called the signer 24 hours in advance and also 2 hours before the appointment time before printing docs. Borrowers told me know that another notary had called him early that morning to confirm the appointment. I immediately got on the phone with the Signing company before I printed docs and told them what the borrower had told me. They reassured me that I was the only notary assigned to the assignment so I went ahead and printed the docs. Then I get the call from the Signing company about an hour before the appointment notifying me that the borrower hired his own notary to come do the signing so I was removed from the assignment. (I got screwed no matter what for printing docs.) Signing company only wants to pay me $20 for the print fee which is a joke and a slap in the face. I told them my print fee is $0.20 per page and I printed 338 pages in total which comes out to $67.60. The singing company said they would try and get an approval for that amount. I sent them an invoice for $67.60 and hope I get my printing fee.
Another screwy thing happened the same evening with the same signing company is they sent me an assignment which I had bid for hours before and it was released to me but the signing time had already passed. I’m not sure what’s going on with his company because I’ve heard good things about it but I am starting to second-guess what I heard. Good luck in receiving your printing fee.
It has never happened to me.
I’ve done that a couple times myself.