Posted by Notary Newbee on 6/16/04 9:11pm
Msg #3135

Does this seem unusual?

I was contacted today by a signing company in my area to do a 1st and 2nd. They wanted me to pick up the docs at the escrow co. do the signing and then deliver them to the escrow co. all for $65. I'm new at this and want to start working but this seems unusually low doesn't it?

Reply by PAW Notary Services on 6/16/04 10:03pm
Msg #3136

Unusual? Extremely so. Low balling? You bet.

Base fee of $65 for each loan. Add to that, the travel fees for going to pick up the docs, travel to the borrowers, return to the deliver the docs, then back home or office. So, with all that traveling, probably at least 100 miles at $0.50/mi that would come to:

$65 for 1st
$65 for 2nd
$50 for travel
-------
$180 minimum

Reply by Tammy Perkins on 6/17/04 12:31am
Msg #3139

Hi, For this I would have charged $65.00 for the 1st set and $35.00 for the 2nd set and .40 per mile, I do this to stay competative in my area, really I have found that getting work from a signing Company you generally have to charge less, typically when I get work on my own I charge $75-$100 for the 1st set and $45.00 for the second set.

Reply by Notary Newbee on 6/17/04 12:53am
Msg #3141

That's what I thought as well. I'm in So. Cal and I have found that many signing companies pay about $50 per signing. I just wasn't sure about them wanting me to do a 1st and 2nd for only $65. I appreciate the info. I want to make sure that I'm not one of those new notaries who is willing to take just any amount to get the business.

Reply by CA_Notary on 6/17/04 3:27am
Msg #3144

Was this company called Notary on Demand by any chance?

Reply by Notary Newbee on 6/17/04 4:31pm
Msg #3155

No, it's called Notaries on the move.

Reply by CA_Notary on 6/17/04 4:45pm
Msg #3156

Thanks. It sounded a lot like the standard procedure of Notary on Demand, but they pay $75 for the first and second, plus expect you do pick up and drop off docs.

Either way it's a ridiculously low rate for all of the work involved. I've picked up and dropped off docs a couple of times, but the title companies were very very close to my house. I'll do it as a loss leader once or twice to see if I can get the company to start using me, but there's no way I'd do it regularly for any company without additional compensation!

Reply by CA_Notary on 6/18/04 1:45pm
Msg #3199

BTW, I started a thread on 6/2 titled "10 Bucks?!?" that details my recent bad experiences with Notaries on the Move. If the ridiculously low fee they quoted you isn't enough to scare you away from them, that thread might do it. They're also a company who doesn't pay the notary if the loan doesn't go through.

Reply by Notary Newbee on 6/20/04 9:31pm
Msg #3251

Thank you so much for the information. I really appreciate it. They actually called me again on Friday wanting me to pick up docs about 25 miles from my home and then drive about 15 miles more to do a signing. All of this for $75! I declined.