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Lisa T.
California
391 Posts |
 Posted - 12/30/2009 : 1:50:07 PM
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I agree that it would certainly be an annoyance to not be able to contact the borrower before the appointment. After thinking about it a bit, I've concluded that I would probably treat this like a no-show...if the borrowers were not ready or not home, I'd expect a trip and print fee. I've also found that even though I leave messages to call me back, some people just won't return calls, yet, they are ready and waiting for me when I arrive. If after two messages they do not return my call, on the third message I will let them know what I need at the appt. (i.e. copies of ID's and a cashier's check for X dollars, hey, if they didn't bother to call me back after the first two message, they obviously don't care that private info is left on their answering machine). Like Linda, I bring along a lightweight copier to make copies of ID's.
If I cannot reach the borrower, I will still show up at the appointment so the hiring party knows I've done all I could to follow through for the job. |
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vince
Kansas
324 Posts |
Posted - 05/13/2009 : 5:37:19 PM
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| I agree with Linda on this point as well. If the borrower does not return my voicemail(s), then I call or e-mail the hiring entity and let them know the borrower has not acknowledged. Do they have another number (or is one available on web search sites)? If not, I give them a choice - I'll go to the borrowers place with payment expected regardless of outcome or ask them if they wish for me to free up the time slot and accept other assignments. It is best to do this well in advance so that both the hiring entity and I may make best use of the remaining time. |
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LindaH
Florida
1754 Posts |
Posted - 05/13/2009 : 4:37:48 PM
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I see what you're saying Les...but IMO if I leave a message like that for borrowers I expect to hear from them - if I don't I call again until I get a response - no response and I'm on the phone with SS/TC letting them know we have a potential problem - like I said, I'm really rural so to "just go" is out of the question for me...for exactly the type of problems the OP ran into.
Linda
www.notarydepot.com/notary/lindah
http://www.notary.net/websites/LindaHubbell
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Lee-AR
Arkansas
678 Posts |
Posted - 05/13/2009 : 05:04:19 AM
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Wait a minute...she said to 'call if there was an issue with a 6pm closing'. No call from B would (supposedly) mean that 6pm is OK with them.
Nevertheless, I do agree that I want to talk to them first, if only to prevent ID copy problems or any of the other goofy things that come up...like 'yes, 6pm is just fine & we have to be somewhere else at 6:30, but it's just a couple of pages and will only take 5 minutes, right?' 
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LindaH
Florida
1754 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2009 : 5:41:35 PM
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I'm in agreement with everyone - I'm so rural in my area I can't play that "don't contact the borrower" game - I would have gotten a written guarantee of payment if not allowed to contact them in advance. Can't blame the guy for being upset if he was unaware..
That being said, I think you brought on some of the problems yourself - you said " got home, called and left a VM to call me if there was an issue with making a 6pm closing. No call back. I get there and find out that the wife has just landed at an airport more than an hour away ..."....if they never called you back, why did you even go? I'd have contacted the hiring party and told them it's a no-go until I hear from them. And then to have to do the loan twice?? Are you getting paid extra for a split signing? In my book this would have been rescheduled for a time when they're both present and all ducks are in a row - INCLUDING speaking with the borrowers in advance.
Copies of ID are why I carry a portable copier...saves a lot of headaches.
Curious as to the name of the company too - sure would like to know - as they say - forwarned is forearmed...:)
Linda
www.notarydepot.com/notary/lindah
http://www.notary.net/websites/LindaHubbell
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Lee-AR
Arkansas
678 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2009 : 1:24:38 PM
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Absolutely---"If a company insisted that I not contact borrower, I would insist that they send me written confirmation that I am to be paid full fee for my trip to meet with the borrower, whatever happens."
Altho' some insist that this is their 'policy', I have done a few where the address is a "Hired Carrier" route--that nobody knows where it is & it could be nearly anywhere in a county or even several counties. I have no way of knowing where it is unless I get directions from the B---and pffft goes the policy. Conversely, on those few where I am instructed to 'just show up', the Bs seem to be far more ill at ease than those with whom I've spoken prior to appt.
As to 'not calling until you have docs'...in my experience, that's normally just a disaster waiting to happen.
Mystery to me as to why they want it done this way.
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vince
Kansas
324 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2009 : 07:59:05 AM
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The borrower should typically be called upon receipt of the confirmation. If the TC/SS says not to contact until docs are in, I’d do as Copperhead suggested and ask about payment policy for a reserved time slot for this closing before deciding whether to accept the assignment or not. In my initial call to the borrower, I make certain they are aware of the need for the ID copies - but carry a camera in case they have not or cannot do. If a check is due, I also call before printing documents to make sure borrower is aware and discuss alternatives with TC if they have not been advised and cannot have (several have said payment to me in full regardless - but check must arrive by disbursement date). One person told me that he absolutely could not get out to make ID copy and was irritated when I asked for the license to identify him and snapped a picture of it. He wasn’t proud that it had “registered offender” in dark red bold print on the license. I told him that it would help me as his license has the same signature that is on the documents.
Regarding document size, large packages and any other service requests (and payment policy) should be discussed up front and priced accordingly. Some companies that are notorious abusers may be willing to pay for the excess - then it’s your decision. |
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CopperheadVA
Virginia
420 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2009 : 06:53:05 AM
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I typically don't like to even print docs until I confirm with the borrower. Too many times I printed docs only to find out borrower was unavailable at that time.
If a company insisted that I not contact borrower, I would insist that they send me written confirmation that I am to be paid full fee for my trip to meet with the borrower, whatever happens.
Lastly, there are a few companies out there that I feel are just too much hassle to deal with. Be it being disorganized, huge packages, uninformed borrowers, or what have you. Some companies are just not worth the aggravation to work with. It's your call.
CopperheadVA
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kcg
Indiana
33 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2009 : 06:14:38 AM
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I have done several of these and am just about fed up with the process. It's for a company that will not give you BO's phone number until the docs are in which is several hours before signing. You must collect copies of ID's and a copy of a mortgage payment stub. The BO's know nothing about this until you tell them. 
Yesterday I was unable to call BO at 3pm (when docs came in) for a 6pm signing. The ss called him and called to give me a "heads up" that he was terribly non-committal. She mentioned that his wife was flying in.
I got home, called and left a VM to call me if there was an issue with making a 6pm closing. No call back. I get there and find out that the wife has just landed at an airport more than an hour away (and throw in rush hour traffic which made her later). He was ticked that he had to run out to copy his D/L and stub, didn't understand why he was having to give me a check and said his wife didn't have a copy because NO ONE TOLD HIM UNTIL 3PM THAT AFTERNOON.
This was a VA loan - huge. I signed with him and by the time we finished wife got home, had to send him out to copy her ID and went thru loan with her for her signatures. Needless to say it was way too long and frustrating for all. Had I been able to talk directly with them earlier, we could have avoided this.
I'm doing one more with this company on Wednesday - if there is a problem it'll be the last one I do under these circumstances.
What is your opinion? Why does the lender prohibit you from contacting the BO until the docs are in? Do you operate under these circumstances? Sorry this was so long.
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Opinions on Not being able to pre-confirm with BO
