Recording deed: "it is too late to get on record today" (a lame title company story from Fairfax County, Virginia)

Recording deed: "it is too late to get on record today" (a lame title company story from Fairfax County, Virginia)

I sold a house today. After both parties signed in the morning, the title company was waiting for the lender to fund the transaction. At 12:59pm I received a message from the title company that they had the funds but "it is too late to get on record today. Sorry!"

When I asked why it was too late to record the deed today, the title company said the courier only guarantees delivery within 2 hours and the title company won't even have an examiner at the courthouse anyway. The line shuts down at 3:15pm.

Both parties to the transaction worked hard to get to the closing table this morning. The title company had everything they needed to record the deed before 1pm, but they can't get the job completed. We paid the title company to do their job, but they can't preform. Another excuse they mentioned is that there could be a lot of traffic! (Tysons Corner to the Fairfax County courthouse.) Unbelievable.

I do a lot of transactions and have found a title company I will never recommend. I only want to work with title companies that can do what I pay them to do and not come up with excuses for being lazy or unable to preform.