H*LL NO!  This is just another way for them to put the screws to you.  I bet if we all got paid upfront like the appraiser and home inspectors we would not get so many "crap" orders.  You know the ones that never close and finally after 6-8 months of sitting on my desk they get "officially" cancelled after multiple phone calls to the lender. 

The funny part about these lenders and in your cases the title companies asking us/you to reduce fees is that they are the one charging the outrageous fees.  Whenever I get a question asking to reduce my fees, I always respond with:  "What fees will  you be cutting to help your client."

Imagine my shock and horror when they claim they can't cut their fees because they are (insert excuse here - common ones are: set by the company, pays me or my processor, pays direct to that paticular servicer, etc, etc.). 

Then I say, well, this fee and that fee goes to pay all of us including the examiner and processors and closers that sit with your people and resell your crappy deal.   Ok, so maybe I don't go so far as to call it crappy but you know i want too!!!!