I used to work for one of these companies, all I can say is that the people you're speaking to about payment usually have very little to do with the actual payment.  My assistant and I did eveything possible to make sure our vendors (abstractors) were paid, we were left in the dark until we got a call saying "Yeah, we never got the check"...My suggestion would be to CUT THEM OFF.  TXU wouldn't tolerate me saying "Yeah, I'm sending a check out next week," Why should anyone else?