Posted by Dee_Fla on 4/2/06 11:39pm
Msg #110479

obligated to accept SS's fee's or ..... ?!

I had a good talk with Notary Pro the other day. It actually started several weeks ago when I recvd a call for a signing and they refused to take my fee ($85 not including edocs)...and she told me she was going to take me off their data base cuz in the past I took it for $75 but that was my first year and I had told all the SS via invoice that effect 1/1/06 I will not be giving any more "discounts" and to please respect my fees. Well Notary Pro didn't like this, so she said she was gonna take me off their data base. I didn't cry over that as Notary Pro has a history of NOT respecting anyones fees but their own. (ok to me that is greed).

Well that was no big deal to me. I knew I had to stand up to my fee's otherwise I will never get ahead, right? (or was I wrong?) Anyhow, before I knew it, I was still getting calls from them like no tommarrow. I still had to stand up to my fee's...well this last weekend, I simply told her that there were complaints from notaries of them not respecting our fee's and we know that they get paid above $125 and for them to cut our fees was wrong. She apologized to me and told me she was going to get my fee aproved and call me back. Of course she never called back. No sweat off my back. however, I feel that when SS's doesnt' respect your fee's after you tell them several times, that you feel that is this really about disrespect or greed?

The other thing is...if a SS /TC does not discuss fees at the time they call and you accept, does this really obligate you to accept their fees or are you not in the right to bill with your own fees? There had been several SS that never ever discussed the fees with me and expected me to accept their fee...which I thought was a joke. I billed it with my fee since they fail to tell me their fee. I'm not sure what part of this they don't get. Where I live, is a rural area,so the cost of gas is quite high, this means the cost of supplies including food is quite high. Its not lik those "big" cities that have fuel at a lower cost with everything else.

To me..its an insult that they can't respect your fees and stick to it. I'm not sure if anyone else feels this way. At times I do feel like giving up as no one listens to me. But lately I've just been standin up to my fees and of course I've got less work. But my fees are NOT high at all comparing to the many I hear from here and other Notary Forums. I'm assuming their fees are high due to their experience (number of years and number of closings they have done) and I respect them for that. However, I read someplace and I think it is here it is due to the fact that many have lacked professionalism, so furthermore SS think that we all need to cut our fees. Sorry...but I think that is wrong. If you are going to cut fees, cut the fees on those who lack the professionalism.

Hope that made sense...but please advise.

Dee, CNSA

Reply by CaliNotary on 4/3/06 12:37am
Msg #110482

"The other thing is...if a SS /TC does not discuss fees at the time they call and you accept, does this really obligate you to accept their fees or are you not in the right to bill with your own fees?"

This should never be an issue. It's our responsibility to make sure that the fee is clearly established before we accept any job. Otherwise we're pretty much at their mercy and rightfully so.

Reply by Alex Yvonnou on 4/3/06 12:58am
Msg #110486

It's your responsibility to discuss fees before you accept the job.

Reply by eXpedN_TX on 4/3/06 10:29am
Msg #110537

Dee, good for you!!!

Stand by YOUR fees!!! I lose business sometimes because I stick to my fees, but I would rather spend my working time making money than giving it out. I volunteer for enough things that I choose not to be a volunteer notary. As for discussing your fees, I agree with others. Be sure to discuss this up front as well as what you get paid if the loan gets cancelled and such. These things are important and should be in writing prior to the appointment. Good luck!!!

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 4/3/06 12:08pm
Msg #110588

You own your busniess and you set your fees. Not a day goes by where someone doesn't try to make me feel guilty for my "high fees"

The first few seconds of the phone call, I ask what kind of loan, who's the lender and fax back requirements. The fee is set before we go any further.

I do have several companies that I have an ongoing relationship and the fees are understood and they just send me the assignment without any discussion. But that is only after a few signings whith that particular company.

Reply by Kathryn Fisher on 4/7/06 7:24pm
Msg #112019

I do agree you have to set your fees also at the time of calling. I don't really see how there could be another way since you and only you have to look out for yourself.

I actually just had my first call from Notary Pro and ended up asking them not to call me back. First they did not like my fee, then they relented. I told them I could not do the signing for them until Monday which they said was fine. Then they phoned back and said it must be done today and had two or three people calling me back in tandem telling me to call the borrower. I politely explained once more I could not do it now and had been very clear about that when accepting the assignment. I finally told them to find someone else as I it seemed absolutely no one at their office seemed to understand or be able to control the situation and when the signing might be able to occur. I was very clear and polite in my declnation of the job. Five minutes later yet another warm body from Notary Pro called and informed me that since they were unable to find another notary to do the job, I must do it. I could wait until Monday that was fine with them.

I hate to sound snobby but I told them no, again. I simply imagined the scenario of trying to get paid by an office full of people who seemed to exist in a start of utter chaos and confusion. Furthermore they told me that when I sent back my "quality control faxback" to see if my printer met their specifications, it did not. And to send it again. I did not mind doing that in theory but wanted to know what was wrong with the first fax sent. Since the refused to tell me, that was the proverbial straw. They were just a little to vague for me.

Has anyone else had these experiences? It's a rare day indeed when I tell a signing service I think they would be better off with another signing agent, but this time I felt it was absolutely indicated.

Kate