I guess just being located in Oklahoma might expose a surveyor to more Native American tribal business than average. After all, Oklahoma has more tribal nations here than any other state. One thing I've never seen discussed here is the little known fact that a good deal of these nations maintain their own title companies. These folks are always great to work with, but procedurally a bit different than their "yellowed-eyed" counterparts.
I received a work order (purchase order) from one of the tribal lenders for a survey to create several parcels from a 40 acre allotment. One of the parcels is getting a new residence built on it, financed by the tribe. Part of their new requirements is an "as-built" survey of record upon completion. Although payment of my fees is not contingent on closing, the invoices are paid at closing.
I received a call concerning the recent invoice and the fact that the "as-built" wasn't mentioned on the invoice. Well, the house isn't built yet. I explained I wouldn't invoice for work not yet completed. I guess that threw a wrench in their bookkeeping...the purchase order number will only be good until the closing.
So I asked why a new p.o. couldn't be issued upon completion. I guess their lending practice is to conventionally finance mortgages prior to completion. Sounds bass-ackwards to me.
Last Thursday I received a "let me get back to you on that."
As far as title companies go they're about par. They do have an inside on the BLM/BIA offices records. This is great because there are a number of counties that never kept track of native owned (trust and sovereign) lands until about 1933 when the land offices (Muskogee, for one) closed and boxed up their records and dispersed them to the counties.
This is the first time I've had a hiccup with them. Looks like I might have to invoice for work I haven't done...I just don't like to do that. Oh well, live and learn.