Posted by aliciaCA on 12/9/04 3:30am
Msg #13089

Loan Signing Advice Please

I received the following email:

"We have a HELOC loan that requires a notary for 3 pages of signature for my wife and me. We have the documents at hand. how much would you charge to come to our place on Friday at 2:30 pm."

I'm kind of new at this, so please help. I'm assuming they need all the loan docs signed. Our sigt's here in CA are $10 each, so that's $60 plus cost of other signings, right? It's close by, so no need for travel expense.

Does it seem kind of weird that the signers would contact me direct for this job instead of the lender? Can the signers pay me or do I need to talk to the lender first?

I would appreciate your input before I answer them.

Thanks,
Alicia

Reply by Anonymous on 12/9/04 3:34am
Msg #13090

I think that if you talk to the lender directly you can invoice them and you can charge more since you are traveling. I would call the lender directly and send an invoice with the packet back.

Reply by PAW Notary Services on 12/9/04 7:15am
Msg #13092

From your statement: "We have a HELOC loan that requires a notary for 3 pages of signature for my wife and me. We have the documents at hand. how much would you charge to come to our place on Friday at 2:30 pm." It sounds as though the borrowers are only asking for mobile notary service, not signing agent service. Therefore you can only charge the allowable notary fee plus travel (agreed to in advance). You may wish to explain to them that you explain the purpose of each of the documents they may have, as a signing agent, and show them where they would need to sign, as well as notarize the documents that need notarization. Then tell them the fee for this service as well. In other words, sell your signing agent skill. You may get a "signing" with payment on the barrel head, or simply the notary fee and travel.

This type of request isn't as unusual as it may seem. A couple of lenders, Wells Fargo comes to mind, provides the refinancing packages and HELOCs to the borrower with instructions to "find their own notary". Also, some lenders simply provide loan modification agreements to current borrowers, where the modification needs to be notarized.

I personally would talk with the borrowers first as they approached you, to determine exactly what it is they have and what they really need. Then, if the borrowers agree, you can contact the lender for instructions. (Depending on what the borrowers request or agree to with you.)

Reply by DarleneAZ on 12/9/04 8:02am
Msg #13094

Most of the email requests that I've ever received were strictly for mobile notary work. While I don't do mobile notary work in Arizona as the fee is $2.00 per signature and 34.5 cents a mile, I used to do quite a few in California. If fact, I had a request yesterday for mobile notary services for December 31. A couple is coming from CA to sign paper to adopt a child and only will be here for that day. Since I think it's wonderful that they are adopting, I emailed and said if they come to me, there is no charge for anything and we are set for the 31st.

Reply by Mortgage Closers of San Antonio - Kenneth C Whitton Jr on 12/9/04 10:48am
Msg #13104

I personally do not charge for standard notarizations, i.e. jurat or acknowledgement... I feel that since I am a public official, read public servant, that it is my duty. I am also so thankful to have a source of income after many years without, I figure that I can help out my fellow man.

I also do not charge a travel fee when I go to notarize a document. Travel means nothing to me anymore since I traveled 100 miles one way for a year to go to school. Maybe I am just different in this respect. I am just not that petty.

Reply by Dennis D Broadbooks on 12/9/04 11:25am
Msg #13105

Are You a 501(c)3?

Since when does becoming a Notary turn into a vow of poverty? To call it "petty" for any of us to charge a fee for a notarization and/or travel is absolutely nonsensical & does indeed make you "different" in many respects. In the State of Missouri I'm limited to a whopping $2.00 fee for each signature I notarize & by no stretch of the imagination would I consider that a “gouge” of anyone. I believe you need to rethink your purpose for being a Notary. Meditate on it the next time you're donating the four hours of your time, gas, wear & tear on your car getting to the 200 mile round trip notarization you're performing for your "fellow man".

Reply by George on 12/9/04 11:33am
Msg #13108

Public Official

Since you say: Your a "Public Official" and shouldn't take any money....
would you please go and explain this to our Congressmen / women, Senators,
State Legislatures and anyone in Washington D.C.
I would really appreciate it if you would. We all need a bunch of Tax relief!

Reply by Stephanie/CA on 12/9/04 1:05pm
Msg #13111

Re: Loan Signing Advice Please...Mr. Whitton, Jr.

As Public Servants, it is our duty to notarize a document that is requested for notarization.; however it must be a lawful request.

I ask you, if we are not to charge, why is it that in the CA notary Law a maximum of $10.00 per signature is noted, and that it is against Notary Law to charge more than $10.00 per signature?

Like you, I have other sources of income, but that does not justify my notarizing documents at no charge.

Naturally you will do as you please; however, there is no official document that prohibits us from charging for our services.

Reply by PAW Notary Services on 12/9/04 3:11pm
Msg #13128

Re: Loan Signing Advice Please...Mr. Whitton, Jr.

Florida statutes even state that in addition to many situations and circumstances as described in the Governor's Manual, a notary may refuse to perform a notarization when the signer cannot pay the notary’s fee for services.

Reply by Paul_IL on 12/9/04 2:09pm
Msg #13117

Not petty?
What you are is an idiot!
Let's see you had to pay the State for the privilege of becoming a public servant.
You said you traveled 100 miles one way to school...Your major was obviously not Business if it was you should seek a tuition refund.
FYI.. with your attitude you may soon be back to the no income problem you had before.

Reply by CarolynCO on 12/9/04 2:39pm
Msg #13123

Mr. Whitton for some unknown reason wrote "I also do not charge a travel fee when I go to notarize a document. Travel means nothing to me anymore since I traveled 100 miles one way for a year to go to school. Maybe I am just different in this respect. I am just not that petty"

Earning a living, whether we have income sources other than notary/signing or not, is certainly not petty. Maybe you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth, but the majority of the rest of us were not. My pettiness pays for my gasoline, auto upkeep/maintenance, auto insurance, E&O Insurance, cell phone, advertising/marketing expenses, office equipment/supplies ...

Reply by HisHughness on 12/9/04 2:46pm
Msg #13125

My judgment is not that Mr. Whiz was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. I think he was born with a wooden head up his ass.

Reply by BarbaraL_CA on 12/9/04 3:47pm
Msg #13136

Hugh - I usually enjoy your posts but I think this was just a little out of line.

Reply by HisHughness on 12/9/04 5:45pm
Msg #13144

I tend to call therm like I see them, Barbara -- which I at least can still do, since my head is north of my butt.

Mr. Whitton came on the board and immediately began making offensive personal posts about other participants. That should not pass unremarked, and indeed it did not.

The shame is that he probably could contribute to the rather extensive bank of talent here. However, his ego -- I do know something about ego -- and his unnecessarily caustic comments -- caustic comments are something else I know something about -- are shortly going to render him persona non grata. At which point, I suspect, he will move on to another Internet wheat field and begin trying to convert it to a manure pile.

Reply by BarbaraL_CA on 12/10/04 12:52am
Msg #13200

That was truly said like the Hugh I've become to know.
Thank you for "rephrasing" it.
:-)

Reply by CaliNotary on 12/9/04 5:53pm
Msg #13145

I love you Hugh.

Reply by HisHughness on 12/9/04 6:55pm
Msg #13151

CaliNotary exclaims:

***I love you Hugh.***

Okay, Cal. Exactly where is this headed?

Reply by CaliNotary on 12/10/04 11:41am
Msg #13243

Well <batting my eyelashes>, now that you're almost single again................

Reply by HisHughness on 12/10/04 11:48am
Msg #13247

CaliNotary casually suggests:

***Well <batting my eyelashes>, now that you're almost single again................***

It's a thought. Haven't done so well on my side of the aisle.

Reply by BrendaTX on 12/9/04 3:36pm
Msg #13134

Responding to: "I personally do not charge for standard notarizations, i.e. jurat or acknowledgement... I feel that since I am a public official, read public servant, that it is my duty. I am also so thankful to have a source of income after many years without, I figure that I can help out my fellow man.

I also do not charge a travel fee when I go to notarize a document. Travel means nothing to me anymore since I traveled 100 miles one way for a year to go to school. Maybe I am just different in this respect. I am just not that petty."

Trying to understand...

If you are called by an Individual, it is your policy to charge nothing?

If you are called by a company, then you do charge --for instance, a medical record affidavit?

Thanks.

Reply by BarbaraL_CA on 12/9/04 12:44pm
Msg #13109

I've done several loan signings/notarizations for the borrowers only. They contacted me. I asked them if they want me to review the entire package with them to ensure that they sign all the docs correctly, or just notarize the documents that need notarized. I've done both. My base fee for a 'package" is $65 + travel (usually $15-$25) and the borrowers have not problem with that and pay me at the signing. For the borrowers that just want the notarized docs notarized it usually comes out to about the same price... considering there are usually 2 signers and at least 2 or 3 docs that need notarized that's $40-$60 (California) for the notary fees, then + the travel fee.

Reply by aliciaCA on 12/9/04 3:12pm
Msg #13129

Thank you for all your responses. I see I started some heavy discussion. I am definitely charging for my services. Alicia

Reply by George on 12/9/04 5:05pm
Msg #13137

This Guy must be the one taking the $35 - $40

We wondered who was doing the $35 - $40 signings.
Now we know!

Reply by Ethel on 12/10/04 10:30pm
Msg #13300

I have had several signings where the borrower contacted me directly. They are advised by the lender to search for a notary. It's okay. They usually have the loan docs. Small package. I charge between 50-65 dollars. They are painless.