Posted by BrendaTx on 8/19/06 8:54am
Msg #139499

Oh, we have a nationwide database of notaries...

Got a call yesterday from a group out of Ohio to do a closing. (Not Negrete's.)

The job is 35-50 miles away depending on how close the oil rig is this way or the other way from Franklin...very rural. I gave them a fee. It would have to be done at an oil rig and that's very rural. Edocs, etc. and I quoted them $xxx.xx.

-Let me get it approved.

Sure.

-Call back: We can only pay $75. We'll get him to come to you.

No. You see my base starts at $1xx.xx. Check for a notary in Hearne. I think there's someone over there who will do it for your price.

-Oh, we have a nationwide database of notaries. It won't be a problem for us to find someone.

Uh-huh. Okay, well have a good evening.

-Ring ring.

-Hi, this is the title company for that oil rig assignment you were called about earlier. Can you still do it?

Sure. My price is $xxx.xx to go to Franklin to an oil well.

-No problem. Thank you so much. We'll pay you whether it signs or does not...but it will be a go.

Okay - can you shoot me a confirmation via email tonight?

-No problem.

And, I got the confirmation and it's got the fee and the "you get paid no matter what" on it.

There was no way I would go to the oil rig for double what I was being offered, much less for $75.

Don't quote scared. Know what you need to make on a job and quote it. If you cannot make what you need in this business, it's not a business.

Reply by Ernest Adams on 8/19/06 9:02am
Msg #139501

Laugh at unbelievably low fees, but don't ridicule fees which are simply low. (Think $45 versus $10 lower than your normal fee.) "I'll see if I can get that approved." is NOT "No". Ask for what you think is reasonable. You may get it.

Reply by BrendaTx on 8/19/06 10:21am
Msg #139515

Re: Don't quote scared, et al...

I quote the same price to title companies as I do to signing services. I do not lower my fee for signing services. To do so will perpetuate the erosion of our fees. If FASS can get the fee of $50 for a notary to do the job, and since title companies know this, well...why don't they just do the same?

I have a new (to me) title company calling me for the name of good Texas notaries. It feels really good to see a way around the bad signing service fiasco for signing agents. (There are good signing services who will go back to title for additional closing fees!)

When I give them a name to this title company to call, they know it means I will stake my reputation on it. I do not make a dime on the referral. It's worth it for them to call me, call the other notary, work with me, pay me well, pay the other notary well because they know I want their business for me personally. I would never send them to a notary I was not confident in.

I daresay when it's all said and done, I reap a tremendous amount of satisfaction and do a third of the work for the same amount of income that those who would not brave it alone without signing services.

It took awhile to get here, but it's starting to pay off. I p'd a lot of signing services off at me...something that scared me at first, but it was a risk worth taking now that rev morts and CW loans have starting popping around everywhere. Both of those are able to support a reasonable fee for the notary. Don't believe anything to the contrary.

And, remember each state is different. What works for me on pricing won't work in other states.

Reply by Dorothy_MI on 8/19/06 1:21pm
Msg #139548

Just this past week

I got a call from a signing service to do an e-doc signing in an area that I cover. I say, "yes, I'm available at that time, but I'm not sure you can meet my fee. Well, what is your fee?" I quote my minumum e-doc fee $xx0.00. "Oh, I can only pay $50.00 plus $25.00 for edocs or a total of $75.00". My response, "Sorry, that's the minumum I'll work for because I don't do $50.00 signings. That area I get $70.00 for Over night docs". She, "Well I'm only getting $115.00 for this job so I can't pay you your fee". Me, "Well, shame on you for quoting such a low fee, you'll never get qualified signing agents at that price". Her, "Well they tell me what they'll pay and that's all they will pay". Me, "Again shame on you for selling on price and not on quality". Of course, I say this as I'm also sort of laughing so she doesn't get too upset with me. Little did she know that I meant every word of it!

Reply by LawrenceOK on 8/19/06 2:25pm
Msg #139554

Re: Don't quote scared, et al... You & me both Brenda

I know I have p**ed off a few SS's and you know me, I really don't give a blank if they get mad. It's the lowballers anyway. Yes, there are still good SS's out there and I'll work for them anytime. Had a Nationwide TC call Thursday for a signing and actually asked how much experience I had. They wanted a minimum of 2 years. Tell you anything? I see lights at the end of the tunnel. (hope it ain't a train)

Reply by BrendaTx on 8/19/06 7:10pm
Msg #139587

Re: Don't quote scared, et al... You & me both Brenda

**They wanted a minimum of 2 years. **

I am crossing my fingers, Lawrence.

Many of the new ones do not have the stomach for these many rural roads you, me, and Lee/AR travel...you guys have been doing it lots longer than I. Are you braver? Or are we all addicted to it?

I have finally realized it takes a fool, or a gutsy notary, or a foolish gutsy notary, to jump in the car and head up a jet black road in the middle of a storm...or to navigate county roads which are not paved or marked...nearly dark from overgrowth at high noon, not to mention to go to a signing nonplussed after you have just seen a high speed car chase in a very bad part of town...then was told by the borrower not to be on their streets much later than 3 pm in the afternoon...when the bad people start coming out and taking advantage of people who might get lost in their neighborhoods.

Guts or stupidity is what it takes to do this long term...I have worked at this until it almost scares me to look back at what I did to keep on signing no matter what the circumstance...you just keep doing it until you have a growing client base against all odds, and then you can kinda relax, and you promise yourself you'll ignore those dangerous ones next time...but you don't.

Reply by Victoria Woodhead on 8/19/06 10:27am
Msg #139516

This is my 3rd month in business and this board has been extremely helpful. Thank you Brenda and all. I started out desperate to learn and get experience so accepted those embarrassingly low fees because I knew someone was going to have to hold my hand to get me threw those first few jobs. And I needed the experience, still do.

Ok here is my point, when we work for $40, $50, $75 and sometimes even $100, depending on the job, we work for free, "duh". So last Friday I had a horrible time consuming job and worked for free. Saturday I woke up and made a solid business plan. So I decided to stick to profitable set fees or not work. No budging. This week I did 4 jobs, lost 2 and it was my first profitable week.

I am doing the happy dance today. I encourage all to set profitable fees and don't waiver.

This board has been the best source of help and encouragement, thanks.

Reply by BrendaTx on 8/19/06 6:53pm
Msg #139586

Way to go, Victoria Woodhead. n/m

Reply by Joe_PA on 8/19/06 10:31am
Msg #139519

Nations Direct is one that low balls everything. They call and offer, usually $50.00 and I say no, my fee is much higher.
First thing they say is we have a list of notaries if we can't get one of them we will call you back. My response is if and when you call back my fee will be $xx.xx higher. I will not play their shopping game.

Reply by Jason on 8/19/06 10:39am
Msg #139522

Joe

I'm going to start doing that w/ Nreis, Nasco + FAT.

Reply by Victoria Woodhead on 8/19/06 10:41am
Msg #139524

Nations called me yesterday, I did a few for them in the beginning but I had them take me off their list. I didn't even talk fee with them I just told them I couldn't do the job. Why waste my time. She said, " could you please do it just for me as a favor?" I wanted to laugh and tell her this is not charity work. But I kindly said that I could not fit it in to my schedule.

Reply by MelissaCT on 8/19/06 1:00pm
Msg #139544

I did a "favor" for them once upon a time. Complete loss for me -- sticks fresh in my memory EVERY time they call. Since "favors" are supposed to be returned at some point, I'm wondering when they will return the "favor".

Did a single doc signing the other night for them. They said a fee, which I agreed to (OK for single doc). Then they call back & say they made mistake & could I do for $10 less. He** no. we agreed on blank & that's what it will be or no deal. Got call back from "supervisor" asking for a "favor" just this once. Well that got my panties in a bunch & I firmly informed him that costs being what they are & the distance involved that my fee is firm. I AM NOT here to do favors & I will not work for free. Well, they backed down.

Get the confirmation & it's at the lower fee. I call back & say if the confirmation does not come in correctly, the job will not be done.

Yes, sometimes you have to stand firm or you become a door mat for others. This is a business, not a hobby.

Reply by Victoria Woodhead on 8/19/06 1:48pm
Msg #139551

It's insulting when

they want to give us grief over $10. I had SS tell me they had 3 people trying to find a notary to do a job for $80. They had one on stand by that would do the job for $85 but they could not go over $80. I said "You are kidding me, 3 of you are trying to find a notary that will save you $5?" Don't they loose money in payroll keeping 3 people on the phones to save $5. This makes no sense to me and I won't work for a company like that. The guy on the phone agreed with me and he thought it was ridiculous too but he was just doing his job.

Yep stick your fees no matter what...

Reply by ReneeK_MI on 8/21/06 4:39am
Msg #139696

Tell them the truth

I think it's important to be honest when turning down a job - better that they hear day in & day out "I'm sorry but I can't make a profit at that fee" than to hear "sorry, busy, can't squeeze it in."

I would hate to paint the illusion that if only I weren't booked solid, I'd have taken it at their fee. NO, I want them to KNOW beyond any doubt - the fee IS the issue. I want them to know that the fee is the issue with everyone who takes issue with it. I do NOT want them getting the impression that it's just because everyone's too busy, and the fee was NOT the issue.

I have no problem letting them know, whatever the truth is. Sometimes, the truth might be "Due to your company's notorious reputation for non-payment ..."

Unless you're honest with them - you really have no justification to take issue with them saying "Let me get that approved and call you back." They're just doing the same thing you're doing, with different words.

Reply by Becca_FL on 8/19/06 11:25am
Msg #139531

Joe, a Notary in my area does that and...

I'm thinking of doing the same. Tell me, do you get the additional fee if they call back? How's that work'in for you? I'm curious.

Reply by Joe_PA on 8/19/06 2:41pm
Msg #139555

Becca a Notary in my area does that and...

They usually do not call back, but then I don't want them anyhow.

I am not on their list anymore, I hope

Reply by RickinVA on 8/19/06 3:01pm
Msg #139557

Re: Becca a Notary in my area does that and...

I got a call from a famous 3 letter SS who, when I gave my fee, said I'll
call back when I get that approved. Called back 5 days later to see if I'd
go to an address and get a DOT signed and Notarized. I said sure, but if
you had hired me at my fee to do it 5 days ago, y6ou wiould have saved
a lot of money. I remembered the call because I know the borrower. They
said the Notary came on Saturday, we signed, then she came back on Sunday
because she missed something, then again on Monday. And she still missed
Notarizing the DOT! Unfortunately, the buck seems to drive some of these SSs,
instead of quality work.

Rick

Reply by JM_NY on 8/19/06 6:08pm
Msg #139581

I did that when they called back

I didn't really want to do the signing. I had a long day. I increased it by $25.00 and she said I will never get that approved and that was the last I heard from her.

Reply by Jason on 8/19/06 10:35am
Msg #139520

Brenda is right.

Set a profitable fee sched + stick to it.

Reply by Joe_PA on 8/19/06 10:46am
Msg #139525

Re: Brenda is right.

>>Set a profitable fee sched + stick to it.<<


AMEN Brenda

Reply by Barbara O on 8/19/06 2:41pm
Msg #139556

Too right!

Just today I had a company call on my cell phone and I quoted them my fee ($xxx.xx). She said she would have to "get it approved" and call me back. Two hours later I recieve a call on my office line. THe same person asking if would be available to do [the same signing]. She says "It is an H&R Block signing so we give you $50. THere will be 8 pages of fax backs and (and this is odd to me but maybe I've never done this type before) the representative will be on the phone throughout the entire signing." I gave her a chuckle and said "You called me earlier asking if I could do this signing. I can, and still will - but my fee is $xxx.xx." She says "Well can you be there at noon?" I told her I could and she says "Thank you so much!". So yeah, don't be afraid to stick to your guns. I lose a signing here and there, but to take $50 on a signing that I would normally make over 100 for is ludicrous.