From talking with other abstractors in SC, I have been advised of an attorney who is also ordering searches "on spec."  Fortunately, it is an attorney, who can lose his license to practice if he does not pay.  One abstractor, rather stupidly, is allowing this attorney to pay a very nominal sum per month, which will take over 80 months to fully pay.  I don't know about this abstractor, but I run a business.  If the attorney cannot pay, I WILL report him, and see how fast he comes up with the money then.  My invoices state:  "Due upon Receipt".  In addition, they state that a late fee will be charged if I do not RECEIVE payment within 30 days of the date of the invoice.  I have enforced those provisions.    It will not bother me in the least to:  (1) report the offending attorney to the Bar and (2) sue.  Fortunately, I have only two attorney clients at the moment (am semi-retired), and have had no problems from either of them for the 12 years I have worked with them.  The same goes for any structured settlement company, etc. for whom I provide services.  Due to the fact that SC is an attorney state, I do not work as a Signing Agent, unless it is short and sweet and the property is not in SC.

Donna