I did my part and signed the file back in early December with Signing Solutions Group. No payment terms listed on their order so I reached out to inquire about payment and was told by Jessica McLeod that this file has not yet closed. Gave it another week-and-a-half and reached out again to inquire about payment and was told the same. Told her I did my job and therefore should be paid. She said that these things sometimes happen and it basically sounds like I won’t be paid if the file doesn’t close. I’ve closed hundreds of files and this is the first time I’ve encountered this from Signing Service. Seems wrong to me and my husband said I can file for theft of service.
IME yes - unless you have expressed your terms in advance, most companies don’t pay if loan doesn’t close; some will offer a 50% fee (when I quoted my fee it included that little caveat) but many will only give you a print and trip fee.
My suggestion: Check the property records for the property location and see if the mortgage you notarized did or did not record. If the one you notarized was recorded, then that loan closed and funded and you’re being snookered.
Good luck
P.S. You may also want to do a search here (magnifying glass, top right corner) for other info and posts about this company.
@lcoker1119 I appreciate this topic being brought up for discussion, as it highlights a crucial aspect of working as a signing agent. It underscores the absolute necessity of thoroughly reviewing any signing agent agreement provided by each company, if one is presented. However, if such an agreement is absent, it is our responsibility as signing agents to proactively obtain a written confirmation outlining each company’s specific compensation policy for our services. To further protect ourselves, if we have the capability to record phone calls, I strongly suggest documenting your discussions and explicitly stating your expectations regarding payment for the services we provide. I’ve personally experienced this situation countless times, receiving phone calls requesting my services only to find that the details of payment are not disclosed until I inquire. It’s very difficult to have such conversation after the fact, unfortunately it leads to such outcomes as you had conveyed. In conclusion, and to reiterate my stance on this matter, I will absolutely ensure that I have a clear understanding, to a reasonable degree of certainty, regarding the payment terms for my services before I commit to any associated expenses or undertake the provision of any signing agent services.
It is not typical for signing companies to do this or not compensate trip and print fees. Being the industry has “slowed” down a bit from the interest rate bubble, signing companies are finding more “creative” excuses not to pay the notary. Ive been at this for over 5 years, many signings under my belt. This has happened now 3 times in the last month. I’ve relentlessly pushed to be compensated for my fees and have found that some will (I have exposed the one Notaries247 that didn’t) then yes pay, but out of retaliation on the back end have blocked or flaged my account to prohibit other companies utilizing my services.
In addition to this topic, I’ve noticed and have always suspected signing companies for doing this… Sharing my raw experiences with these shady singing companies and informing my fellow notaries of their trash practices on this forum platform results in back end retaliation as mentioned previously. Not sure how we as notaries can combat this. There’s all kinds of reviews that can be left on these back end portals such as signing order that we as notaries cannot respond to or even know about, unless some kind signing company owner actually takes the time to have the conversation. After 6 years, I am finally experimentally speaking out.
