About 3 months ago I completed a signing and scanned and mailed back documents. I Had no issues with the signing everything was fully filled out and all notary docs correct. Comminuted throughout the process with the signing service since they make agent sign an NDA for all title/escrow companies they work with. Invoice sent and now just wait for the check to show up (have worked with this service before generally pretty quick). After 90 days my accounting software sent out an invoice payment reminder as I still hadn’t received a payment. It was followed up from the signing service with an email that said “file was canceled, :(“ that’s it nothing else from them. I wrote them back saying I understand issues arise with title/escrow, funding, etc. and that I would still need to be paid a printing fee at minimum as I had completed the signing and file was only cancelled further down the line. Next email from signing service says “we don’t get paid, you don’t get paid that’s how the business works”. I explained I understand they didn’t get paid but that my products and services were still provided and am due a fee either cancelled fee or printing. They refuse as if what I am asking is unheard of and unfair to them.
Am I in the wrong?
I have been a loan signing agent for over a year and notary for almost 9 years But this is a first especially the lack of communication when filed was cancelled and service knew they weren’t going pay. A simple call would work.
Any opinions I’m open to all feedback thanks
Questions first:
- Where are you located?
- Was this an application signing or a final signing?
I’m located in Southern California and it was a buyers loan package about 200 pages in the package 2 copies printed 1 to sign 1 for signer to keep.
Check your property records where the property is located - see if the security instrument has been recorded. If so, and it’s the one YOU closed, then the SS is lying and you need to pursue payment
Good Luck
If possible, reach out directly to the title company on that file. You may be able to find out if they paid the signing service. If they did, they owe you the full amount.
I feel your pain. I have been waiting on payment from one of my signings since November 10. They also are low balling payments for the work to be done. I hope you come out on the positive side of this situation.
These non-payment situations are becoming more common. One thing I’ve done is to have the signer(s) fill out their information and sign my journal. This way I have the date, location of the signing, and the signer information and signature, in their hand writing, indicating that signing was completed. This prevents the SS or Title from claiming you didn’t close the deal.
Maybe I’m just uninformed, but, how can a signing service or title company “claim” a notary didn’t close a deal? Doesn’t the disbursement of funds and the recording of the deed evidence such closing? They couldn’t claim it didn’t happen if it did.
I’d either look up the address online, veryfying that it did in fact sell or reach out to title. Unfortunately, there is a LOT of people going out of business right now, leaving you high and dry for payment.
As non-payment events have become more frequent I started keeping scanned copies of the document packages until I get paid. Having signatures on paper is usually any proof the signing took place is that’s needed.
I also keep copies of jobs I’ve done until I get paid. Here’s a tip: drop those files onto a flash drive and delete them from your computer. In this way, you’ll prevent a hacker from accessing those files. When you’re finally paid, just delete the corresponding file from the flash drive. 
I follow a similar process.
I admit this happened to me before covid, where i went to a job and it did not sign , not my fault.
I demanded and got full fee
we dont get paid …no title pays
and YOU GOT paid …happened twice same company…they paid me my full fee
I always make sure journal is complete, signed, and fingerprinted. I’ve made that clear to signing service and said ss said since file was canceled once returned to title still no payment. Appreciate it though
Thanks that is good advice I will start keeping scanned copies longer.
Bobby much appreciated. Going to start saving on drive until payment. Doesn’t seem like all my prior work or journal entry is enough to get payment. Plus NDA prevents reaching out to title directly.
Email or call the Title or escrow officers office right away! I’ve always had perfect feedback with my non payments, including the date they sent full payment!! Make sure you write it say it with understanding they are not responsible for payment but the awareness is important!! I even wait till 61 days to go this route just so I know I’m completely in the clear!!
Jody
Not to pile on, @ericvnotary, but I just saw this comment
NEVER NEVER NEVER sign an NDA - those things used to come in “Agreements” required by many SS a long time ago - I always crossed out that language and initialed it. One company gave me pushback on it - I replied “okay, if you want me to sign that then you need to provide me with the names of all the title companies you contract with since I’m contacted directly and have no idea who to refuse and who not to” - that stopped that argument.
I’m an independent contractor and I won’t let a signing service tell me who I can and cannot work with. And any company that states I cannot contact title (their contractor) tells me they have a fear of being reported to that company. Sorry…that’s a no go.
Never sign a NDA