I think a company that orders services and then refuses to pay for them is liable for payment under "theft of services".  You may have to sue them in civil court, but if they owe you $1000's of dollars it is worth the $295 (or your local fee) to do it.

More and more I am seeing my title clients start charging up front for the searches.  I say BRAVO!

Why not?  The borrower/buyer has to pay for the appraisal and surveys up front these days - why not the searches?