Hey Wanda,

Excellent post... you should post more often.

You are exactly correct - VMC's and abstractors should be "business partners."  We should have a very symbiotic relationship, but unfortunately abstractors are not often treated in a professional manner.  Lowering costs is necessary, but it is just wrong to demand another company to lower their fees so you can make a profit. 

Too many of the VMC's bid out their jobs at lower prices to get more work, and then they "demand' that their abstractors take the loss.  If they can't pay their abstractors what they charge, then they should be raising their prices.

I don't solicit orders by marking down my prices and then call the phone company and demand a lower rate... or my E&O insurer, or health care provider, etc.  I can't call them up and say, "I had to lower my prices so you can't charge me this much anymore."  What is it that makes the VMC's think that they can do that with us?

Best,
Robert A. Franco
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