I am debating whether to drive to a signing 20 miles away for an assumption. I have reached out to the signer 3 times and no return call. Of course the signing service wants me to drive anyway. Thoughts?
Are they going to pay you if you drive there and the signing doesn’t happen? If yes, then go. If they won’t commit in writting to paying you the full signing fee, or at least an amount that you would be satisfied with, then you go at your own risk.
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They pay $50 which does not make up for the work that I turned down. It is more than I would have charged for notarizing one document at the same address. At the risk of souring my relationship with the SS I would have cancelled, but alas I will make the trip. Just venting.
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In my opinion you should know the no sign agreement of most title companies in signing services.
Then you negotiate by countering the offer with your own terms of no sign fee being the total amount or whatever you choose.
Then they can make that choice whether to hire you or not. And subsequently whether you should travel without having contact.
If you don’t know them up front at least when you get the order confirmation you review their terms so that you can let them know right away what the counteroffer would be on the terms for no sign fee.
I do a lot of rural signing so I have to do this a lot of times and normally it’s accepted with my no sign fee agreed to. And the signing service or title company make sure that they get in contact with the signer if you have not been able to reach them.
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What have learned some people wont answer the phone if they don’t know the person .So I send a text to that phone number and explain I am trying to confirm the appointment it works fairly well.
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I never changed my cell when I moved back to WA state, so this is exactly my experience as well.
Texts almost always get an answer.
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I would not do the work without confirmation. As you know there is a lot to printing, getting ready, driving out for nothing. $50 isn’t enough in my opinion.
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@jwillideb Considering the situation where there’s no confirmation from the signer, it’s typical for the signing service to apply a print and travel fee. Nevertheless, the Loan Signing Agent (LSA) retains the autonomy to refuse the assignment, even with the potential fee. It’s important to be aware that certain companies might negatively impact your status if you decline assignments frequently. On some occasions, I have negotiated to be paid the full payment based on the distance and time.
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I dont know what you are talking about. I was saying if people don’t answer the phone call for conformation of the signing , I text them they wll usually respond.
Read my post below you all are not understanding.
It’s your call. They always want you to go to the appointment regardless. If the signing doesn’t happen you’ll maybe get a print and trip fee, which will usually add up to no more than half of the original signing fee. Most of the time, when a signer never responds to your confirmation calls, it’s because you’ve been given an incorrect phone number. It’s happened to me several times. If there’s an email address in the confirmation, you should try send them an email as well, if your calls aren’t responded to.
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Thanks everyone… the SS was paying $50 trip and print and doing GNW this was more than I would have made to notarize one document so I bit the bullet and went to the appointment. The signer said she never received my three messages although her voice and name was on the voicemail, she had a different phone number…go figure. Nice young lady, $125 fee, all is well in TIPIC world. Adapt, adjust and overcome.
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Glad it worked out for you! 
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Did you try texting signer or did you just call? In this day and age find that people respond to text sooner than calls. When I send text include my contact information and state to proceed must receive confirmation. 90% of time this works.
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Hi Lori ~ I won’t go out the door for $50.
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In Maryland General Notary Work fee is determined by the state:
$5 mobile fee
.725 a mile round trip
$8 for each notary stamp applied
WA has fees per act but there is no rule regarding fees for travel.
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In general, the Signing Service will pay you full fee. Today the signers are sometimes hit by calls of the appointment from Title, Signing Service and now you the Signing Agent. In their minds they have already confirmed. I would confirm that you will get full fee if the signers stand you up.
I know a lot of SAs put thought into jobs lost from blocking out for this assignment. And although our time is money too, they don’t care nor look at it that way.
I will make a phone call, wait about an hr.or two. If I do not get a call back I will send text to them. Usually I will get a response.
I wouldn’t leave my house for $50 much less drive 20 miles.