blog
entries are strictly the opinion of Carolyn Bodley and may not reflect the opinion of others
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This past weekend I did something that I rarely do--and that was to read
and respond to posts on a couple of Internet forums.
Apparently, one Notary Signing Agentbecause of greed, bit
off more than she could chew Friday. It sounds like she booked back-to-back signings and then complained because signings
ran over her "allotted" time that she set aside. She had to "burn rubber" to make the next signing.
Because the rest of the city was driving cautiously for the rainy conditions, in her own mind, she felt that she was the only
one that knew how to drive. At 5:00 p.m., while sitting in traffic that wasn't moving, she had had enough and called the
Title Company to inform them that she just wasn't going to perform the signing that was scheduled for 7:00 p.m.. W-H-A-T
??? You don't accept a signing and then at the last minute (and at the EOM, two hours is last minute) say you aren't
going to do it because you are five hours away.
Another pounding on my forehead here - with gasoline getting
closer and closer to $4.00/gallon, why is any sane person performing signings 3,4, or 5 hours away -- and this individual
does not think any of her actions are wrong !!! Totally amazing.
The second "you've got to be kidding"
mentality is a self-proclaimed professional that performs the signing and in her own words "calls title company and holds
the documents hostage" until they agree to pay a higher fee for the signing. She goes into this speech about professionalism
and the "bottom line" costs of operating a business, and that it is perfectly okay for her to demand more money.
The time to negotiate/renegotiate fees is BEFORE a signing is performed. She became very defensive when I asked
if she calls to renegotiate a LOWER signing fee when the signing goes perfectly and takes far less time than anticipated.
I'm a little ticked off -- okay, well, plenty ticked off with an organization
that I have belonged to for a number of years. I pay good money to belong to this organization--an organization where
at one time, the money for membership more than paid for itself. The organization and the mortgage market have changed
though.
In this organization you can choose to be a non-paying member, as well. I brought a situation regarding
a non-paying member to the organization's attention--and after several weeks, I just got a response that nothing can be
done until they communicate with the non-paying member as to what her wishes are.
I'm sorry, but how in the
#$#%# do the rights of a non-paying member trump the rights of a paying member? Come July, I'm going to drop my paying
membership so I will have rights, too! [end of blog]
With a typing speed of 120 wpm, Carolyn Bodley began
offering independent contractor/secretarial and transcription services to the Denver metro legal community in 1992.
I am not a court reporter or medical transcriptionist and I don't
videotape depositions -- I'm strictly a legal transcriptionist which means putting spoken words on paper. All my
transcripts contain a certification stating that to the best of my knowledge, belief and ability, the audio/video I received
has not been altered in any way, and the transcript is true, accurate and complete. I have never been
advised that a court rejected one of my audio or video transcripts. If my transcript is rejected by the court,
you will be reimbursed in full for my services. Because I certify that the transcript is true and complete, the
entire audio/video must be transcribed--I am unable to transcribe "just a portion" that you need.
I guarantee that your transcripts will be typed confidentially, accurately and with attention
to detail at a fair price.
Discovery
is often turned over in a format other than hard copy. This discovery includes, but is not limited to, recorded telephone
conversations, police interviews, depositions, investigations, witness statements, and more. The
audio and video "words" need to be put to paper, and your already overworked legal staff often don't have
the skills, equipment, the inclination or the time.
Discovery
is often the deciding factor of whether a case goes to trial. Most of us hear, but do we listen? Recently I transcribed a
video that had been viewed and listened to several times and by several people before I transcribed it. There was
a one sentence statement that not one person caught -- this one sentence was not the only reason the case was dismissed
one day before trial--however, it carried quite a bit of weight -- and I'm the only one
that "heard" it. Had the video never been transcribed, how many other words would never have been
heard?
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reproduction or distribution of this website, or any portion of it, without first obtaining the express WRITTEN permission
of CAROLYN BODLEY, may result in severe civil and criminal penalties, and will be prosecuted to the maximum extent under the
law.