We have had issues, as many of you are, getting fooled by these phony and/or dead beat companies that we do good faith work for and then do not get paid for it. We have found the following has helped:

-Keep checking recordings for the property after your work was completed. If anything is found, contact the lender of the recording and advise them you may have performed work on that property for "insert company name here" and have not been paid. Advise them of the seriousness of this. (You may not get paid, but at least the lender may reconsider before using them again).  This works for both property searches and Judgment searches. Keep checking for filings/recordings. We did this and the lender contacted the company and we were paid within 1 week.

-Keep DETAILED records, etc. Phone logs, emails, you name it. If worse comes to worse, threaten to place a mechanics lien on the property and advise them you will be including all of the documentation of record in the filing, including any recordings/filings that were made after you performed the work.

-If it is a new client, make sure you use the phone no. they provide and call them before completing the work to make sure it is valid. Request verification of their street address. Get references and above all else, require pre-payment of the work. We now advise our clients that the first search must be pre-paid. If they tell you it is a RUSH and they will send out a check today, but please send the search, tell them NO THANK YOU!

We hope this helps. If you have any recommendations, please share. Thanks!