Posted by BrendaTx on 3/25/06 2:10pm
Msg #108521

Toxic Festival, Service Link and more

Beginning last week, I started feeling like a toxic waste dump. I have belabored the point on the fax backs which kicked off the Toxic Festival. That was Episode #1.

#2 was ServiceLink. I hope I never, ever hear from them again. Long ago I had them take me out of their database. ARE THEY TRAINING PEOPLE TO DO THIS? Has the new way to get notaries to do the job as if they are your employee to bully and harrass?

Girlie A called me on Wednesday for a Thursday 3 pm signing. It said "Unknown Caller" on the ID. I answered it anyhow. It was to be edocs and a CW/FS. I quoted them $125 and thought it was a very fair amount. Girlie says, "No way. You are in our database for $75." I realize this is just another lowball on a CW where the fees are being paid well to hire the notary. I am not interested in negotiating every single time and covering the same ground with these people. My time is as valuable as theirs.

I figure at the end of the conversation it will all be the same...she wants to check around and find another notary who is cheaper but they'll go ahead and tie up my schedule until that happens. So, I said, "$ 125 is my fee and I don't see any reason in us going over why your database even has me in it in the first place...that's an error. Would you like me to do this for $125?"

Girlie A: No, we won't pay that much.

Me: Okay, I understand. You should go ahead and go down the list to look for a cheaper notary. I just don't want to argue with you about it. Thanks, though. Bye. (I hung up.)

Another call comes in: Unknown Caller on the ID - Oh goody goody gum drops.

Girlie B: Hello. This is Girlie B from SL. I want to give you some advice. [Very aggressive tone.]
Me: Oh?

Girlie B: Yes. The best thing for you to do is to remove yourself from the eDoc calls...we will never, ever pay a notary $125 for a local edoc signing. You are in our database for $75. We can pay that, but $125 is just too high and it will never be paid for a signing like this.

Me: Why did you call? I told the other caller that I would take it for $125. I also told her I did not want to spend time arguing with you.

Girlie B: Well...I am Girlie A's management...you know...I am higher up than she is. I have more authority and that's why I am calling you.

Me: Are you calling to ask me to take a lower fee and to tell me that my fees are too high?
Do we need to argue over fees? My fee is what I quoted. You should call someone else.

Girlie B: We will never pay you a fee that high at this company so you need to make sure we don't by removing your name from the eDoc list.
Me: So, you called me back just to argue with me about my fee and to tell me you would not take it, again...is that correct?

Girlie B: Listen *Honey* [being very condescending]... (I hung up.)

-> SSs: Here's a note to the wise. Sweetie and Honey are two things that most people HATE to be called by strangers.

The phone rang two more times - Unknown Caller.

One call left a message. Girlie B again reiterated she had authority (???) and did not appreciate my unprofessional behavior for hanging up on her blah blah blah. It went on for a little more of her dressing down.

-> SERVICELINK - IF YOU ARE READING - If Girlie B had called back again, I would have considered five calls to be harrassment. Contact me via my profile if you have questions regarding this post. I will gladly discuss it with you here or personally. I can give you names of the people who called me.
------------
I have one more toxic episode from yesterday which I will post later...maybe...it was more of the same, but it has some educational value.

Reply by lulu on 3/25/06 2:29pm
Msg #108525

On the subject of SL, One time I took an apptmt from another company who apparently was hired by SL. That company wanted me to go 1-1/2 hrs away for a 10:00 pm signing out in the middle of nowhere. I should back up when I took the appointment it was earlier in the evening. Anyway, when I refused to go that late the guy was quite upset. I said, think about it. I'm a female going at 10 at night in the middle of nowhere by myself. If you can't give me a good reason why this single guy wants this aptmt so late, I will have to decline. I think SL must have called me direct later to check status. I told the lady that the guy was really rude. She took all my info and said, we will just work directly with you in the future which will get you a better fee. Once they contacted me to set up a fee schedule going forward it turned out that the only want to pay $65 including the edocs. I agreed to this on the basis of lots of work coming my way. I haven't heard from them in about 6 months. I took one the other day for their fee, but now hearing your tale I think I'll just opt out from now on. Thanks.

Reply by CaliNotary on 3/25/06 5:33pm
Msg #108557

Lulu, shame on you!

There is absolutely NO justification for accepting $65 for edoc signings. None. Zero. Zip.

If you need the money that badly you should find another line of work. And if you don't need the money that badly then don't willingly bend over and let them screw you like that. That fee is a slap in the face to our profession, and it's because of notaries like you, who willingly accept it and find some stupid way to justify it, that they have the balls to offer it.

Reply by lulu on 3/25/06 6:52pm
Msg #108573

Re: Lulu, shame on you!

You are totally right in that it is absurd to take an edoc refi signing for $65. Excuse me for having a weak moment. You can check out thread '3-1/2 hr signing dated 3/24' for my opinion on accepting low end signings and how it hurts everyone. That is in reference to excepting those on a normal basis. I do not accept those often. After I have been signing for about 6 months and got my foot in the door with several companies, I said to myself 'hey I can charge more and work less and bring in roughly the same amount of money. Something most of you are too young to have been aware of and/or not be in a rural area to have been aware of. My father was the Regional President of the National Farmers Organization. This organization was all about Collective Bargaining and Holding Actions (Holding out for a better price for all).
I GET SO TIRED of the people who come onto this site to vent their frustrations on everyone else by taking it out on someone who is here for help. I am here for the purposes of networking with and trouble shooting with other sa's and to help those starting out who need advice. NOT TO GET SLAMMED by every person who wants someone to retaliate against for their having a bad day!
So I strongly resent the 'notaries like you' phrase!

Reply by lulu on 3/25/06 7:02pm
Msg #108576

Re: Lulu, shame on you!

Oops. It was in a thread called Fees on 3/25

Reply by BrendaTx on 3/25/06 7:49pm
Msg #108597

Lulu - I want your opinion...

I would be very appreciative to know something - You can post it, or you can write and tell me what goes through your mind to make you feel compelled to take that signing. If you do not want to tell me who you are, set up a anon yahoo.com account. I just want to know why. You are not the only one. I would like to hear from anyone on this.

I talk to lots of notaries in Texas. On the phone they will usually tell me what they are charging and I will tell them. I have one guy friend that got into this in CA when things were going well there. he's done over 3000 loans yet acts timid about getting his amount up over $65/$75. I repeatedly say charge a little more to all of them but then the next time we talk I find out they are charging $65 for a Rev mort. I am incredulous.

Another who is ret'd with a background in mortgage, loan, title work and she's got 2 years experience at signing...and ONLY last week she turned down her first $50 SS loan. I nearly fainted when she told me that and I told her where she is located she should be the first call on anyone's list as there are none there. Yet, she's bought into that old crap of find another notary.

The other side of the coin is the lady who told me to get my fees up. Right now with one company, she's got them with her base of $145. I am having fits to get them to put mine in at $100. She's in a very populated and somewhat saturated area but she's making a good bit from her signings each month.


Feedback would be appreciated on this. Somehow it has to make sense to these folks that you have to charge based on what your business is costing you, not just a trip to the bwr and mileage.

That Service Link crap alone cost me minutes on my cell phone. Where does that cost get absorbed?

You may have already had your home office set up, but NOW it's a business. It's not there for your leisure only. It's an actual expense and if it blows up it has to be replaced immediately if you want to survive...what will you offset that with if you have been considering $50 a good fee for an hour and a few miles.

It's not just about the mileage. Or your time.


Notice that those who hire us are not giving money away...so ask yourself...why are you letting your HOME office machines be used to do a job for them...why are YOU giving away your assets value?

Reply by BrendaTx on 3/25/06 7:54pm
Msg #108601

re Lulu - I want your opinion...this was not directed at yo

***You may have already had your home office set up, but NOW it's a business. It's not there for your leisure only. It's an actual expense and if it blows up it has to be replaced immediately if you want to survive...what will you offset that with if you have been considering $50 a good fee for an hour and a few miles. ***

YOU did not mean Lulu.

Reply by lulu on 3/26/06 3:15pm
Msg #108679

Re: Lulu - I want your opinion...

To Brenda in Texas
I'm not sure if you are actually looking for some continued correspondence. If so I would just as well do it away from this forum. How might I get in touch with you. God knows if I put my email out there, it would be endless retaliation.
Always willing to visit, network and exchange info with a fellow notary.

Reply by BrendaTx on 3/26/06 4:26pm
Msg #108692

Re: Lulu - I want your opinion...

Click my profile and it's there. Thanks. I am interested in your thoughts.

Reply by TitleGalCA on 3/25/06 7:41pm
Msg #108594

Well, ladedah, Lulu

Calinotary is right. Shame on you. There was nothing - nothing - in the post you referenced that changes my opinion.

Guess you better get your Dad to help you out with loan signings, 'cos, left on your own, your messing it up, not only for yourself but for everyone. "Notaries like you" screw it up for all, and reduce the job.

Is that what Dad intended with "collective bargaining"?? Messing it up for everyone?

Reply by AngelinaAZ on 3/25/06 8:28pm
Msg #108604

Dang TG...

You are so right... but I'll beat somebody up if they talk about MY Dad.

The one thing that I think is sad is that you really can't trust anybody to be honest. You ask what the fee is and you think (when you start this job) that they will really tell you the truth. It just isn't like that.

I have started to take pleasure in the fee thing. I like to ask because it tells me alot about the company when you know what they go in at. I say.. "And what is the fee on this?" They say..."Oh we are authorized to pay $65 for E-docs". I say immediately... "Oh no... you better call someone else... my absolute MINIMUM is $165 for that area." (This is even to SS's). When I started being really condescending about it and acting like I didn't have the time of day for them and didn't WANT the job... they started accepting the fee. It's weird. I just don't care to work for less... so I don't.

Reply by BrendaTx on 3/25/06 8:43pm
Msg #108606

Re: Dang TG...Angelina - I think you are right

**I say.. "And what is the fee on this?" They say..."Oh we are authorized to pay $65 for E-docs". I say immediately... "Oh no... you better call someone else... my absolute MINIMUM is $165 for that area." (This is even to SS's). When I started being really condescending about it and acting like I didn't have the time of day for them and didn't WANT the job... they started accepting the fee. It's weird. I just don't care to work for less... so I don't. **


Respect? Professionalism? All out the window - I'll answer the phone now "Yeah, what?"


You are so right. These folks do respond better to briskness. I felt like SL would go ahead and come up a good bit but I had no interest in bickering...I meant that. Why else did they call FOUR TIMES?

The SS and fax back story revisted (yes, again) - similar situation.

Why? Why do they need to think they are dealing with a jerk to get over the attitude. Being a jerk gives me wrinkles.

Reply by AngelinaAZ on 3/25/06 8:50pm
Msg #108608

Are you callin' me names???

What are ya sayin'... that I ain't no professional?

I actually left the best part of it out on accident.

What I say is... "Oh no... you better call someone else, someone less experienced... my absolute MINIMUM is $165 for that area".

It puts them in their little 'girlie' places.

Brenda if you are around... go live for a second... I wanted to tell you something else.

Reply by CaliNotary on 3/25/06 10:23pm
Msg #108623

Re: Lulu, shame on you!

"You are totally right in that it is absurd to take an edoc refi signing for $65. Excuse me for having a weak moment."

A weak moment? You agreed to this fee SIX MONTHS ago and just accepted one at that fee a few days ago. That is not a weak moment, that is twice that you willingly accepted it.


"I am here for the purposes of networking with and trouble shooting with other sa's and to help those starting out who need advice. NOT TO GET SLAMMED by every person who wants someone to retaliate against for their having a bad day! So I strongly resent the 'notaries like you' phrase!"

Then consider my response a bit of troubleshooting on your part. If you just accepted $65 for edocs a few days ago you were obviously in desperate need of some troubleshooting.

As for your resentment of me saying "notaries like you", that's fine. Because I resent what notaries like you have done to the industry. People who have had "weak moments" or accepted ridiculous fees in the hopes of future business (and look how well that worked out for you, it took 6 months for them to call you again). People who consider their first year their "apprenticeship". People who are trying to learn how to do the job while on the job. There are a whole bunch of reasons that notaries like you have for accepting slave wages to do this work. And it's because of notaries like you that so many of us are getting so many calls with such insulting fees.

I resent what you've contributed to the destruction of MY livelihood and you absolutely deserve to be slammed for it. And if you've seen the light now, great. But it'll take a hell of a lot more time than a few days since your last $65 edoc signing for me to be convinced that you're actually concerned about the same thing your father was concerned about. Talk is meaningless, it's your actions that show how you really feel. And your actions were a slap in the face to every Signing agent on this board.

Reply by careful on 3/25/06 10:32pm
Msg #108625

MSG to CaliNotary: Time for a gut check

"Because I resent what notaries like you have done to the industry."


Maybe it's time for you to consider another career, CaliNotary. Maybe you have too much anger towards this profession.

Reply by CaliNotary on 3/25/06 10:43pm
Msg #108627

Re: MSG to CaliNotary: Time for a gut check

Maybe it's time for you to call 1-800-ABCDEFG and order Hooked on Phonics. You seem to have a serious reading comprension problem.

First of all, my "anger" isn't toward the profession, but towards the people in the profession who are doing their damndest to turn it into a joke. And second, a strong opinion on a subject matter isn't necessarily anger. It's a strong opinion. Learn the difference.

Reply by BrendaTx on 3/25/06 11:16pm
Msg #108630

Re: MSG to CaliNotary: truth be told...

I guess I am reluctant to get back on the bad meanie wagon because I really don't like having enemies I cannot put a face on. It's not my nature to be crossways with a lot of people and I cannot keep it up for long.

Too stressful, but it's also stressful not to say that while I would not word things like Cali does, he's never wrong about important points on the industry. I have to say that I do agree with him about 90% of topics he addresses here.

My approach is to tiptoe around and to find out what the thinking is and try to re-educate, or answer the fears people have when they are accepting too low -- especially where I am. However, you have to admit that Cali's approach gets more notice. His point may be hated, but it is read and remembered long after mine is.

Reply by CaliNotary on 3/25/06 11:20pm
Msg #108631

Re: MSG to CaliNotary: truth be told...

Only 90%? I HATE YOU!

Reply by lulu on 3/26/06 3:07pm
Msg #108677

Re: Lulu, shame on you!

Interesting. And so easy to fall into the retaliatory response. You know, you seem to be well known on this site. That must mean you spend a lot of time here. Seems to me that must mean you are not a full time signing agent.

Not that I feel a need to explain to the likes of you but for any level headed person on this site.
My husband recently lost his job so I am trying to expand my customer base to continue a good income with both of us working as signing agents. Initially Service Link told me they have corporate signings as well as consumer and could offer a lot of work. Apparently you have never worked in sales where it is found that if you find a customer who is willing to give you lots of business they want something in return. Somewhat of a quantity discount.
Now I don't expect a positive or supporting response from many on this site. However, no one knows the others life situation and shouldn't judge so harshly. I am in a very rural area, I would love to get $165 from a local signing but it just isn't going to happen here. I do charge $125 on a normal basis. As I said earlier, with what I heard about SL I wouldn't be bothering to do any more business with them for any fee. But that's ok. Slamm away anyway. I have broad shoulders, a customer base of over 100 which sustains two signing agents quite well without expansion. At this point we only work about 20 hours a week each. What do you earn? Seems to me I hear a lot of complaining about all the notaries who give the industry a bad name. I think the horrible cu-throat attitudes I see on this site aren't helping matters either. We are supposed to be public servants. God help us if the majority have even half of the chip on their shoulder that you are portraying on this site.

Reply by lulu on 3/26/06 3:51pm
Msg #108683

Re: Lulu, shame on you!

Oops. Guys. I was referring to the base fee before the edoc fee. I took that one for $90.
Funny how easily feathers are ruffled.

Reply by Anonymous on 3/26/06 8:01pm
Msg #108709

Re: Lulu, shame on you!


Why are you so hard on Lulu? She said that she lives in a small town (rural area) maybe, just maybe they aren't willing to pay the CA fee. You don't know her situation - if she needs $65.00 so be it - is she your comp? No.

Instead of everyone looking down on her offer your help, advise her on the amount of money that she could be getting from the signings. We've all had our day(s) of taking the $50.00 signing. You can't tell me that you started out making $125.00 doing signings - if you did, that is even more of a reason why she could use your help!

I feel that you guys were harsh and it was a bunch of BS for you to talk about her dad. Offer good advice and get off her back - move on please. You’re not perfect why should you expect the newbie’s to be. Networking? You say you are on here to nework that'ss a joke!

I thought this board was to help our fellow Notaries when they need our help/advice.

By the way "Slave Wages" how dare you! I better stop while I'm ahead


Peace

Reply by TitleGalCA on 3/26/06 9:49pm
Msg #108718

Anon...

Peace to you too. But you're not helping Lulu at all.

The advice WAS given. I don't care if she is my competition.

And you are wrong. I did start out making $125 signings.

Harsh, and a bunch of BS? There was good advice...Lulu has to read and see it, harsh or not, it was good advice.

Networking? Are you serious? there is a load of networking here. I have already received several signings as a result of being involved here, and I only do this part time.

The help is here...those that want to see it ARE helped.

But, I'm the first one to admit we notaries can get a bit emotional...in our responses. Take the emotion out, anon, and you'll see it's great advice.

Reply by Kassis on 3/27/06 12:37am
Msg #108732

Re: Anon...

If any of you knew Lulu you might reconsider all this BS. her normal fees are $105.00 She doesn't normally do low signings but (OH WELL) she did do a couple. Has she learned????? Well who knows. Does bashing her like you are doing do any good????? Doubtfull.
Wise advise about keeping her DAD out of this conversation The man Passed away a couple years ago. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO TitleGalCA does continuing on this conversation help her bring up her prices???????????? I doubt it. Will she strive for higher prices ???????? She always has. She started 1.5 years ago not knowing what to Charge and charged $50. then moved to $65. then 80 now $105. Point being This place is meant to be for help so I was told. But Go figure I guess this is like a bar. Pounce on the first stranger that walks in the door. Sooooo to all Chears

Reply by MistarellaFL on 3/26/06 1:39pm
Msg #108666

I can only speak for myself

But I decided a year ago not to argue with or take assignments from those companies that will not meet my fees or cause me grief. I am stringent about those guidelines. My benefit is that I work for some great companies and make better money taking less assignments.
It really is as simple as it sounds.

Reply by BetsyMI on 3/25/06 2:29pm
Msg #108526

Hi Brenda,

I had a similar call from another vendor, not Servicelink, who argued with me that the fee in their database for me was $75 for overnighted docs to the customer. That's normally fine with me.

However for this appointment I had quoted $100 because it was for a late appointment on a Saturday, which I was only going to take if I charged extra since it was going to interfere with some plans I had already made. The fellow first exclaimed "WOW" when I quoted the fee, and then continued to argue with me and finally he said "okay I'm going to tell THEM (whoever them is) that you charge extra for Saturday". I told him that was my fee for a Saturday and he was welcome to try someone else. We both hung up and I assumed they got someone else.

Lo and behold a few hours later I get a call from the same company asking me to do a different closing even later than the first one on Saturday. I didn't feel like arguing so I just said I was booked.

I think this company pays all their schedulers to nit pick away until they beat you down to accept a lower fee, but I just wasn't buying. The last time I did a closing for this company, I went through the same ritual, then finally accepted the $75, and then had to wait 6 weeks for payment.

I just don't need the money that bad, and I have plenty of regular customers who pay more and in a much shorter time frame.

Reply by Delta_CA on 3/25/06 3:14pm
Msg #108532

I know just what you mean..................... n/m

Reply by Delta_CA on 3/25/06 3:19pm
Msg #108534

Re: I know just what you mean.....................

I'm so tired of these ss's that are so !^&#@*))#*! cheap, condescending and, worst of all, take forever to send your money. There are others that I would just as soon wait to call me that are great to work with, don't hold your hand and treat you with respect and pay fairly and in a reasonable amount of time. If the good ones don't call, then I'll stay home with a cold one.

Reply by carlosnyc on 3/25/06 3:45pm
Msg #108537

Re: I know just what you mean.....................

Can somebody please answer a question for me though ??? Why is CountryWide calling notaries directly and then telling us that Service Link is going to pay us? Isn't CountryWide a title co, or mortage co.? Shouldn't it be the other way around? I am in the same fight with CW now trying to collect for 2 closings from January of this year.

Reply by Teddog_CO on 3/25/06 4:02pm
Msg #108540

Re: Countrywide Calling Direct-No No!!

DO NOT! Accept any signings from them directly!!!! I finally turned them over to a collection agency. The signing was 11/05. It's not so much the money as it is the fact it was an after hour appointment with a zillion pages. Thank God it was only one signing.

I remember thinking it was strange that they were calling direct, should of gone with my "gut" feeling. Suggest you Not any jobs from them directly.

Reply by Teddog_CO on 3/25/06 4:04pm
Msg #108541

Oops! should be "Not take any jobs" n/m

Reply by carlosnyc on 3/25/06 4:19pm
Msg #108544

Re: Oops! should be "Not take any jobs"

Thank you very much for your reply Ted. I thought the exact same thing that you were thinking. They called me direct at 6:30pm for a 11:00pm closing in my home county less than 4 miles from where I live. My gut was telling me "no no no don't take it", but I took it anyway. Never again.
Now I have to fight for my fee iI guess.....wonderful.

Reply by LauriecPA on 3/25/06 4:33pm
Msg #108546

Re: Oops! should be "Not take any jobs"

Over a year ago I got a call from CW, same scenario as what was just mentioned...late night, last minute. I had only taken one job from them directly a long time before and had a heck of a time getting paid. I told the person calling about my trouble getting paid previously and she replied by "upping the ante". I said the fee sounded great, but how great can it be if I never receive it? Then, the offer went up another $50 and my name would be on the HUD. (Which I knew meant I would get the check when the funds were dispursed, so I agreed!) Lo and behold, I get every doc printed at around 10PM and guess what? There was no HUD! lol I called and was told to proceed with what I had and they would fax the HUD to the borrower later, since it didn't need to be notarized. (I was more worried about seeing my name on it! haha) I was concerned, but I did receive the check in less than 10 days. So, I guess the moral of the story is to take the job if your name is listed on the HUD!

Reply by pan/nd on 3/25/06 5:54pm
Msg #108561

Re: Oops! should be "Not take any jobs"

Laurie,

I had a similar call one Saturday afternoon from Ameriquest directly.

The wanted me to go to a town 70 miles from here.

He'd pay $500.

He said $300 would be on the HUD and I'd get paid the other $200 directly from Ameriquest.


He was stupefied when I turned him down cold.

With their reputation and his pushiness and urgency..I smelled a rat. You can promise the world if you hve no intention to pay.


I might be out $500.

But I probably saved $1000 in hassle trying to collect.

Reply by Teddog_CO on 3/25/06 6:51pm
Msg #108572

Smart move on your part Pan/nd! Ameriquest! Holy Molee n/m

Reply by BrendaTx on 3/25/06 6:02pm
Msg #108563

Thanks for the replies.

In a chat once an ss once remarked to me that there were not agents in a certain area and he could not get the one agent there to take signings any longer for $75...greedy agent was setting his fee at $100 and that's what he meant. The complaint from the SS: They were getting $125 per closing. If they paid the notary $100 that would only leave $25 for them.

Holy $50 bills and wait just a minute, Batman! This same service had said before that it was better to make a little bit than to make nothing!

Where did that theory go when it had to be applied to the SS Business?

============
I have had my eyes opened a great deal in this job. I have seen people change in this business...I have changed and become tougher than I ever was before. I have seen people who I thought actually liked me turn out to be people who had no respect for me whatsoever and were using me and pumping me for information. I learn slow.

People forget how to tell the truth more in this business than in any place I have ever been beore. Unfortunately, so many we hear from each day think if you just say it enough times it is true. Or if you tweak the story just a bit so people will side with you when you tell it to them it sounds better and becomes the truth.

Some are just big, fat, greedy, backstabbing, bs-ing liars.

Betsy said "I just don't need the money that bad..."
I want to revisit that. No matter who we are, or what our finances are, we have choices NOT to accept stupid fees. If you do accept a stupid fee, 99% of you did NOT have to. You could find so many other ways to earn. There is nothing wrong with having a real job, you know?

Why allow the low fee be made on you like you are a common prostitute? Yield a higher fee by asking for it.

We are better than that. And, if we are not, will someone please get that through my thick skull so I can get off the street?

Reply by Teddog_CO on 3/25/06 7:09pm
Msg #108579

Sad! But true!

Looks like we all have to start posting the "dirty birdies" again that are no pay and like Countrywide just playing "dirty pool." "Service Link will pay you" Oh! please give me a break!
And I have a bridge in New York that I can get you "real cheap!"

I'm going to try this reallll slowww this time, do not work for these people, low ballers and cheats.
Be sure you get your confirmation and save their emails. There's a strong possibility you will need all the information in the future. Count your pages and write them on the confirmation so you have a record. Last, but not least get the names and extensions of everyone that you talk with. If they don't want to give you the information, "well it's been nice talking with you" bye bye!

Last minute jobs. Caution Caution! If you have never worked for them before and if you do not know anything about them I suggest you take a pass on that one. That's just my opinion. I will not do any last minute jobs unless I know the company very well.

Reply by patricia on 3/25/06 7:17pm
Msg #108581

Re: girlie B

I think I met this "lady", what a rude jerk she is! I also hung up the phone on her. I no longer have anything to do with ServiceLink and at one time they were one of my good customers.

Reply by Teddog_CO on 3/25/06 7:20pm
Msg #108583

Re: girlie B

Good grief ! How professional is that, Not! If it was me I would of called back and asked for a supervisor. At least beef about the "beastie girl" and her attitude.

Reply by Teddog_CO on 3/25/06 7:31pm
Msg #108588

Laughing

I just had a rather funny thought pop into my noggin!

On our initial call from clients , "We now accept Master Card-Visa-Discover-American Express, followed by "For your convenience we accept this information at the time you place your appointment."

I love it!!!! Hummm Looks like a concept to me.

Reply by Teddog_CO on 3/25/06 7:37pm
Msg #108592

Darn! should be "at the time you place your order." n/m

Reply by carlosnyc on 3/26/06 12:35am
Msg #108635

Re: Darn! should be "at the time you place your order."

Hahahaha, hey that's a good idea. I have a paypal account, if they ever call me again I'll tell them to wire my fee into my paypal account before I do the closing.

Reply by SanDiegoCA on 3/26/06 1:16pm
Msg #108660

Funny, I just finished and eDOC C'wide for them and got paid $135, but then I have also been able to negotiate a $15 up in fees for doing the "needed" faxbacks. MAYBE you could to if your general attitude wasn't so CAUSTIC with them, on and off the conversation.

As for CaliNotary, if lulu wants to accept $65 for edoc signings, that's her business, not yours to criticize. This is the USA, and, frankly, my opinion is that there is absolutely NO justification for telling some other business what they can, or can't accept in pay for anything. None. Zero. Zip. If you need to criticize competitors that badly because the might be "stealing your business" you should find another line of work.

Take a good look at the attitudes expressed on this thread, folks. In general this is why comments on this forum are never taken seriously by SS office or anyone else. Y'all sound like a bunch a cackling chickens complaining about this and that, and how unprofessional OTHER folks can be by using the best examples of unprofessional commentary around.

Frankly, one notary I spoke to last week is right. This is quickly becoming a second rate forum full of hyper critical know-it-alls who need to wake up and smell the coffee ........ your competition may be getting your client's assignments for reasons other than price difference.

Now, y'all feel free to pile on ME like a bunch of dogs .......... trust me, it doesn't effect me at ALL.

Harry, don't look now, but you've created a monster, and it eats it's own young .........

Reply by CaliNotary on 3/26/06 1:48pm
Msg #108667

"If you need to criticize competitors that badly because the might be "stealing your business" you should find another line of work."

Yet another poster on this board throwing around the same empty platitiudes and not even comprehending the meanings of the posts they're reading.

Since Lulu is in a different state than I am, I think it's quite safe to say that she isn't my competitor. Nor did I mention anything in this thread about business being stolen. If you're going to open your big yap the least you can do is actually respond to what is written instead of just making stuff up.

If Lulu posts her fees on this board it IS my business to criticize if I so choose. Just as it's your business to criticize anything I post on this board. That's kind of the whole point of a public forum. Why is that so hard for so many people to understand?

Reply by SarahBeth_CA on 3/26/06 2:08pm
Msg #108672

Cali you could not be more correct. Anyone accepting $65 for edocs is hurting business for all sa's.
I wouldn't call your post angry I would call it rightous indignation.

Reply by Teddog_CO on 3/26/06 3:24pm
Msg #108680

SarahBeth_CA & Cali agree with you both. The more read these recent postings on the board the more disgusted I get. Same old problems. I think you will agree that these people doing $40-$50-$65 buck jobs "just don't get it!" It's no wonder what has happened to our profession.

I've just come to the conclusion people will just keep answering the repetitive newbie questions and feed them information so they can do the $40-$50-$65 buck jobs and help to ruin this profession at an even faster pace. (not all newbies are included in this statement)

Reply by BrendaTx on 3/26/06 4:22pm
Msg #108689

I do not worry myself any more about my business...not because it's so glued to me, but because it is so little to worry about currently...I would not lose a lot of sleep over the way it is right now...However, watch out in a few weeks...I have determined there are three new types of clients to solicit and I am developing a heck of a marketing campaign for one of them..

I did my $50 - $65 jobs until I found Not Rot...then I realized how stupid it was for me - driving across he11 and a half acre.

I have nothing to brag on as far as fees..--.Often I am told by a friend in the business that my prices are too low...I have been posting fees so that others would be encouraged to do better IN MY OWN AREA if anyone reads this board from my counties.

I hate the thought of how those companies must think Texans are dumb as door knobs to take jobs at that amount. Girlfriends - Respect yo' bad self.

Reply by BrendaTx on 3/26/06 4:47pm
Msg #108696

Ray has had the pleasure.

Same M.O.

Ray just country-boyed them back that he only did car titles for $50 in his home for $50...now, if they'd have that bwrs come on over to his house, welll, sure he could do it for $50...but remind them to stop and get a UPS envelope (BYOE for $50). For $50 the borrowers also need to print their docs, as well.

He did NOT do any job for $50.

That cannibal dragon I received so many calls from also called him back to give him advice.

That is the most bizarre thing I have ever heard of. She hung up on Ray...I guess I stole her thunder.

This is the sickest trick I have seen played on new notaries. Ray's fairly new so they were trying to brow beat him a little. I probably have a profile out somewhere that says I have less than 25 signings behind me.

Ray, get the grandkids together, swing by Alvord and get mine...load up Teresa and I'll get my dogs. I think it's time to go talk to ServiceLInk...we'll start in FL and work our way east. No violence...just the children. I don't know about Ray's but that little grandson of mine is a rough customer. Camron would show them something about his grandma's fees.

I hope Ray did not mind that I posted this. I will have heck convincing him that I did not. He'll catch on...my lying has got to get better to stay up with this garbage.

Reply by Anonymous on 3/26/06 8:06pm
Msg #108710

Very good, very good. I totaly agree with you.

Reply by BrendaTx on 3/27/06 6:30am
Msg #108737

SanDiego - I cannot tell if you are directing your post at me or at Patricia - assuming me.

If you and I do not agree, I guess that could mean I have an attitude problem. You are one of the ones who look for too much validation in the words of notaries and in the meaning of it all if we do not accept your assignments. Sometimes I don't want to spend my day hovering around one assignment for $65....and if I do not get myself into that position then I am available to hover on busy days for $175. That's my kind of hovering.

Buck up. Deal with the position you have chosen. You are cutting into the notary's profit so you are a problem to many notaries once they get the picture. I do not think you do not work hard for your money. I do. I just don't know why. If you were really making a lot of money, you would not give a rat's tale what little notaries talked about on the stupid not rot board.

Last year when I realized I was sold out for $5 by one SS I was already cutting a deal to...when one of my best clients needed me to go a long way and then could not understand why the travel fee....when every assignment from one company came with a bait and switch $75 for $50 ...not the agreed upon price...causing more phone calls and my time to correct...when I realized sss were only getting $125 for their jobs so they could out bid their competition who were paying well...I did not care for these things.

Yeah...all this and all of a sudden MORE SSs went into business. Okay...this is getting worse, not better, I thought.

Just to be clear with you ... NO, I do not plan to share one single fee with you that I do not have to. So, I do things and sacrifice my time actually referring notaries jobs for free because I see a differnt view...I know that we have got to pull together or there will be no *us.* I work like a dog to circumvent the problem of sharing a fee or two with you guys. It's business. It is not personal.

If notaries did not take the pittance they do in many cases, the situation would normalize...SSs which could not pay notaries a reasonable fee would leave the business. Good SSs could get better prices to pass on to notaries.

I hate that term bottom feeder, but my goodness, when the SSs started taking the fee that a notary should get, that's bottom feeding and pathetic. The sad little $50 for the notary is a pathetic offering. I cannot believe you guys don't see it the same way.

On a personal level, I find Ss owners and notaries alike to be warm and friendly people. But, when it comes to business, I have opinions that you'd rather consider just an ol' caustic attitude...that's okay with me.

In my ever so humble opinion, SanDiego, you set yourself up on this one. When you create an instance like this where there is so much name calling and you do your own "unprofessional commentary" you are just leaving yourself more out in the open to look like ...well...since notaries are actually the commodity here...and you are crying foul so loud...you set yourself up this time to look like a needy pimp who is going to verbally berate a deliquent hooker from down the street until all the tough guys think he's tha' big man...and you use all that big mean talk about others to avoid addressing what your problems are.

You'd rather just smear a little flamey talk around, I guess. No one was being a problem to you...you jumped into this thread...now you're just slinging mud with no factual data. You are sounding hysterical. Next time, be objective. People can respect that. Running down your "inventory" is not appealing. The very respectable signing services know better than this.

You wanted to be an SS, now you have to deal with the fact that not all people agree with your purpose or practices.

Reply by SanDiegoCA on 3/27/06 9:14am
Msg #108763

Well, I now have the proof that I was correct about what would happen when I posted what I did.

Thank you ALL for confirming not only my suspicions but my appraisals.

Look around, folks. Other forums are rising to the top like cream, this one continues the ever falling demise in flames.

It's almost like none of you can help it, because what you post here is the way you really are ...... isn't it?

Reply by BrendaTx on 3/27/06 9:51am
Msg #108773

SD,


*Thank you ALL for confirming not only
my suspicions but my appraisals.*

I am not clear on who ALL is. I only see my post thus far.

*Look around, folks. Other forums are rising
to the top like cream, this one continues
the ever falling demise in flames.*

Thank you for your concern and the warning.

Your criteria of judgment would be enlightening.
I may be gone and not even know it.

Perhaps you should move on to those better
places to read before you are left
behind here with the Group Threes who are just
too darn slow to understand a smart guy like you.

*It's almost like none of you can help it,
because what you post here is the way
you really are ...... isn't it?*

I believe you are
confused ... it's a compliment you have
paid me if you are saying that my posts
and behavior are really me. I am not
interested in being deceptive.

Reply by BrendaTx on 3/27/06 9:53am
Msg #108777

Re: Toxic - I made an error...

I said, "I am not clear on who ALL is. I only see my post thus far. "

I was using the wrong view. I see you got a couple other replies.

Reply by CaliNotary on 3/27/06 11:51am
Msg #108815

"Well, I now have the proof that I was correct about what would happen when I posted what I did"

Well aren't you the freaking genius. Of course anyone who has read this board regularly would have also been able to predict the same thing, so don't strain yourself too hard while trying to pat yourself on the back.

I also find it amusing that your post to me didn't actually address what I had written, and now this post doesn't actually address what Brenda has written. You're the epitome of a phrase a former co-worker used to say - if you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullshit.

My posts definitely show who I really am. I'm assuming yours do to and that you really ARE a blowhard with limited reading comprehension skills.