I don’t know if i am doing ok but ive refused to do 2 signings because docs were sent an hr late after my appointment and today the docs were sent 50 minutes prior my appointment, will that affect my profile refusing signings because docs being sent in a not reasonable time for printing, reviewing and drive to the appointment??
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Isreal we are all supposed to have helicopters fully equipped with a full office and supplies. 
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Someone in this forum said it better” A failure to plan on their part is NOT an emergency on YOUR part”. If they want signings done properly without mistakes and errors and in a timely manner then THEY have to follow your requirements. If they don’t comply, then move on. You run a business, you’re NOT their employee. So think BUSINESS OWNER.
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@igsnotary the honest answer is: Possibly but here’s the other thing I need you to consider when moving forward.
Israel, you absolutely have the right refuse a signing.
Unfortunately, signing agencies also have the right not to offer signing to you.
In the case where you accept a signing from a signing agency, you put yourself on hold/reserve a certain amount of time in your schedule for the signing. If while waiting, you become frustrated or peeved to the point in which you want to be removed from the signing or feel the documents haven’t been provided in a timely manner you:
- Don’t get that time back, that you set aside for the signing.
- You possibly have passed on other signing opportunities because of the signing which you were committed to completing.
- Because you are asking to be removed/refusing a signing you are now losing a opportunity to be paid.
- Yes they may not use you again (but you’re great at what you do so their lost)
Here’s my point, TIME, EXPERIENCE and KNOWLEDGE are the most valuable tools you have as a notary signing agent. Before you walk away from a signing, attempt to re-set the expectation of when the signing will take place otherwise you have cost yourself money. Money lost from the signing you’re walking away from, and money you lost possibly passing on other signing opportunities.
That’s just my two cents.
Wishing you many more successful signing Israel.
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igsnotary,
You also have the option to contact the borrower to reschedule the appointment at a later time. I cancelled once because the documents were late and the borrower was already upset that another notary was dropped. Once the SS missed the rescheduled time, I asked them to remove me from the assignment.
Continued success
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I’m sorry but money isn’t everything! All money is not good money and it’s not worth the stress and headaches and the Notary being blamed for the SS or Lender’s failure to give documents in a timely manner.
If the TC/Lender do not want to miss a rate-lock then they need to get documents in time to the notaries. Point Blank. Those TC/Lenders know they have that same day to get those docs signed by the borrower before the day closes or the borrower will miss out on their rate. So they wait until the last minute so that a Notary can “Jump to the beat of their drum” and expect them to drive on 2 wheels to a signing. This has to STOP.
I refuse to have any company make me look bad. I HATE being late and I don’t like excuses and having to call borrowers. So…if it happens to me, I won’t give it a second thought, I’m cancelling the assignment if I don’t have documents right on the tick of the clock.
Be Blessed.
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OMG, You are so right, I had to turn down three signings because I did not get the documents. They wanted to send one hour before closing. I do like the idea of putting it in the profile as well. So that’s a good question and I would like to know what everyone’s thoughts are on this as well.
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@lrdb42 , I’m not really following you on this one.
My response to Israel was more so about the Time lost after he decides to be removed or refuse to complete a signing ( or at lease that’s what I was attempting to convey ). In my opinion you simply can’t stress over things which you have no or little control over. For instance signing, if you ask 10 NSA how long it takes to complete a signing your answers will vary as much as the process in which NSA go about completing a signing.
If you’re working with a signing agency, ( in most cases ) they have no control over the documents arrival time. Documents come from the Lender or Title company, who passes them to the signing agency, who pass them to the signing agent. My point is, if the documents come late to the signing agent, they ( the signing agency ) are aware of the late arriving docs. ( so there’s no blame to be passed and there’s no finger pointing ). And IF there is, you simply inform them the time in which the documents arrived to you and the issue is resolved.
The industry standard is receiving the complete package of documents a minimum of 2 hours prior to the scheduled signing time. If documents haven’t been provided 2 hours prior to the signing but within 1-2 hours of the signing, the signing is considered a Rush, and you should ask to be reasonably compensated for the Rush. If the documents haven’t been received within 1 hour of the scheduled signing it is considered an Absolute or Urgent Rush, and you should be reasonably compensated for the Absolute or Urgent Rush.
Arriving to a signing promptly is important, but that’s also not always in your control.
- A signing could go over due to excessive questions or concerns about figures on docs.
- You can have printer issues, paper jams, out of ink, need toner or have to replace the drum, ect.
- You can get stuck in traffic, trapped behind an accident, in an accident, have a flat tire or get pulled over.
No one is trying to make the NSA look bad, doing so doesn’t benefit anyone ( in my opinion ).
Calling the signers to keep them informed of what’s going on if needed is a part of the job. Cancelling because you feel you will look bad is your right, but it is also a dis-service to the signer who’s waiting on the arrival of the NSA.
I’m not against you and I’m not a foe, but consider being flexible and not so ridged in your thinking.
Wishing you many successful signing
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I have had documents arrive in my inbox 30 mins before/after a scheduled appointment a few times - I just contact the borrower and explain to them I just received their loan package and give them the time I will arrive at the latest.
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@rockinghamnp You’re right, I’ve had that happen to me before also.
Generally I don’t try to make excuses for Signing Agencies, but we can’t be one sided in our points of view. Take the example of getting a signing less than an hour from the expected signing.
Our thinking, this is a Absolute Rush…why did they wait so late to get this out to me. What you haven’t considered is:
- Maybe it was previously assigned to another signing agent and they decided to be removed from the signing.
- Maybe the signing agent is unable to cover the signing because another signing is running over and he or she knows they can’t make it on time.
- Maybe the signing agent decided to take a better offer from another signing agency ( don’t act like you haven’t thought of ditching a lower paying signing for one that paid more, or was closer ect. )
Heck there are several reasons why you can get a short notice signing or get late docs.
Again, I’m not covering for any Signing Agencies, but things happen which are ( sometimes) out of their control also.
Wishing you many successful signings
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I reserve the right to decline any signing.
Title companies often have no idea what the docs look like until the lender sends them, then are far too busy doing their own jobs to bother contacting the notary with any unusual circumstances. So if I’ve agreed to do a single refi with no scans, and end up receiving a piggyback package including 4 signers with a trust involved, there will be an issue. If I am able to do so I will reschedule for a different time in the same day (after, of course, negotiating a much higher fee). If I am fully booked, I will cancel. I make every effort to avoid doing so, because down time is dead time. However, I will not allow myself to be put into a position of making every following appointment late.
I deal with late documents in the same way. If I am able to delay the signing, I will do so. If I am not, then I will not.
My calendar is precious - it is the heart of my business. I learned long ago that controlling my calendar is the key to success. No one messes with my calendar!
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Hmmm, you Do stick up a lot for SS, you must either run one or thinking about starting one or in the process of running one🤔.
I will Neither Confirm nor Deny that I run or I’m considering opening a Signing Agency
I will say to you, that my thoughts and opinions, tend to be more tolerable than others. Nevertheless, I do not defend the business actions or decisions of any Signing Agency.
Please also know Our forum is not a place to Bash each other nor is it a place to Bash the organizations with whom you have done business with, wish to do business with or no longer do business with ( In my opinion )
I’m not your Foe @lrdb42 I simply don’t share the same opinions and points of view as you have on certain topics.
Wishing you many successful signing ( David )
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I’m not a foe to you either, I also don’t agree and share the same topics and your points of view. This forum is to help and encourage one another and to agree and disagree respectfully. Everyone’s opinion and incites are great and I like reading them. Be Blessed
I’m not turning down a signing because the documents came in late - things happen. As long as I am being financially compensated for my services ($$) and the borrower confirms the new time - I close it.
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You’re right - it’s not a place to bash each other - however it IS the place for people to post negative experiences with companies and to keep their colleagues informed about bad, low pay/slow pay/no pay companies. If that’s bashing…well…if the information is true, then they deserve it, don’t they?
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Thanks Linda, ( You know I value your opinion ) and the Truth is always the Truth.
My point was, Yes we should identify Signing Agencies which either do a Poor job with Paying signing agents and or identify agencies which Consistently make it Difficult for signing agents to do their job.
Some times our forum ( too Me ) appears to get less helpful and more of a sounding board ( too Me ).
I’ve got to to take in account that everyone’s experiences Good, Bad or Indifferent are Valid even when I don’t necessarily share their points of view or opinions. Our forum is not a debate stage where we’re trying to convince each other that My view point is right and Yours is wrong.
If that’s how my post read to anyone especially @lrdb42 I publicly APOLOGIZE for how my post read and the content which I typed. ( That’s why I often say, I’m not your Foe )
I was truly trying to help Israel, and address his concerns. I know I’m VERY FORTUNATE to be in an area which has constant growth, which has Title companies whom I’ve consistently worked with for years. I’d like all of us to shine and reap the fruits of our labor.
Thanks for listening.
Wishing you many successful signing
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They don’t pay enough for us to get that type of set up. I have turned down a few too. In fact I tell them I need the documents 24-48hrs in advance. They want good work or great work? Great work takes prep time. I like to set/plan my day and I don’t have any real intentions on getting a mobile/car set up. The field need standards because they pay us pennies to chase our tails and do miracles.
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Agreed. The selling point to being an NSA make $$$. When you don’t plan and prep it is diminishing returns.
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I just found out last month that I’m a perfectionist and I been in this world for 50 something years and did not know that. My mom said “you’re a perfectionist”. I even took a test and got 3 out of 10 that said I was a perfectionist. 
I would cry when I made a mistake or missed a signature due to rushing. I would beat myself up. Be up all night worry about that one missed signature and if the TC gonna call me back to do more business. I just like things done in a timely manner so everything will go smooth.
I got late docs one time and my nerves got real bad😂 Everything you name went wrong. I was driving 80 to 85 miles an hour to get to the next Signing which was a very bad divorce that was happening and the wife had a restraining order and did not want to be there with him so she had a different time. Well needless to say it didn’t go well cause I was late because I got late documents from the EO.
For me that’s why Docs have to be on time. If I don’t get Docs right at the 2 hour mark prior to the signing time, then I’m going to cancel. Too old for the stress. This is suppose to be smooth and easy for me not difficult 
. This is the most easiest job anyone could have but yet so difficult. God bless you in the business and be safe.
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