I will say that in the state of Florida being an independent abstractor is almost as foreign as being a native (I am both).  I was wondering how many abstractors down here have had this problem.  I for one have to pull every canceled file fee out of a customer by my teeth.  They just refuse to pay them.  They say "the underwriter doesn't charge a cancellation fee"  so they feel that there isn't one.   If the file closes I get paid because it is included on the HUD.  But if it canceled no payment at all.  "I really like it when one to three months later they order an update to a cancelled file with a new buyer."