Alix:     I don't know about all your abstractors ( have we heard from
any of them here), but if they did not have another order and just
drove 60 miles and then found a "no find" I'm not sure they
would agree with you.  Of course if your'e not paying them
for the "no find", I see you no different than the company
Carol was talking about, because you are doing the same thing
to your abstractors.
As far as "not charging a fee is worth a whole lot in good will", that
sounds ok for your company, but what about your abstractors, that's
food off their table or worse yet, gas out of their tank.
Of course from what I was offered to do searches for your firm,
(and what I am sure you pay others I know) they are on the "low
end" of the pecking order.
George