Kurt (lol),

Sites like this one cause mixed emotions within me.  As one who relies on hundreds of professional settlement agents throughout the country, having the opportunity to review their "report cards" is a form of leverage that could potentially protect my company, my client and most importantly, the borrower from unscrupulous settlement agents.

The problem of course, is not so much the agent themselves, but rather, the individual or organization "grading" them.  Our industry is filled with so many individuals who take pleasure in defaming their competition on websites, fliers, and other forms of advertising that reach tens of thousands of individuals every day! 

Case in point:  When we determined our relocation date into our new office complex, we sent a total of four (4) email notifications to our client base and vendors (service providers).  Each notification was strategically timed and read receipts were requested. 

Our office was to suspend operations at 12:00 noon on Friday, December 2, 2005.  This would allow our IT and other technical service providers to "power down" or network, dismantle, package and ship the related parts to our new facility.  Once reinstalled, we would be operational no later than 6:00 p.m. the same day, however, informed our clients and vendors of our intention to begin normal operations Monday, December 5, 2005 at 8:00 a.m.

Saturday, I was notified on SOT that a few unsettling reviews were made about our company on Notary Rotary.  After frantic research, we found that one of our long time settlement agents posted the message that '...something must be wrong with Statewide Settlement because they owe me for a search from a couple months ago and now they are not answering their phones...' 

This brought out individuals across the U.S. who were making claims against Statewide Settlement.  The problem; there are about five company's with that name, not including us, across the country that are not very well liked within this industry.  You can imagine what the name Statewide Settlement brought out on Notary Rotary after this claim was made.  (Note:  the unpaid closing in question was never invoiced by the agent until six weeks later.  At that point, our accounting department added it to our normal remittance cycle which took another 1.5 weeks).

After speaking with the agent, she verbally acknowledged, and subsequently posted a new message on Notary Rotary accepting responsibility for her error.  Furthermore, she verbalized the fact that she did not bother to read our emails, thinking, instead, that they were solicitations.

My position regarding sites like the one Kevin refers to is again, great in fantasy land.  One disgruntled agent, one upset vendor, one jealous ex-employee or any number of other threats and your name is mud.

My focus...."Mind Your Own Business".  Do the very best job you can.  Pay your debts.  Provide an honest days service for an honest days pay and for pete sake, make sure of the following:

1.  You read your emails
2.  You don't confuse Statewide Settlement, Inc. - Avon, NY with about
     five other like named company's throughout the country
3.  Align yourself with settlement agents, abstractors and other service 
     professionals who are known within the industry to be sound, solid
     performers and finally
4.  Believe 1/2 of what you see and nothing of what you read (that is of
     course unless I write it)...lol

PS - To verify my "case in point", visit www.notaryrotary.com.  Click on Notary Talk, then search, then type in Statewide Settlement.  Beware though, some of what you read DOES NOT pertain to the good folks in Avon, NY!

JT