Posted by Anonymous on 3/1/06 11:11am
Msg #100947

Travel fee for notary signings

If you are traveling to a home that is local, do you charge a trip fee? If so, how much is the normal fee? I have to notorize one document for a Leasing Co. The person signing the document is going to pay me.

Reply by Shane_OH on 3/1/06 11:14am
Msg #100950

I certainly do. I travelled 2 miles the other day to notarize a car title... I charged the guy $25, and he was more than happy to pay it.

I've done it for as little as $5-10... but I figure, they worst they can say is no.

Reply by peterole_MN on 3/1/06 11:24am
Msg #100956

Last week I drove 6 miles from my home to notarize 2 docs for a title company and I charged $40 cuz I then had to FeEx them to the loan company. The FeEx was prepaid. So, I like those kind of quick jobs.

Reply by Anonymous on 3/1/06 11:53am
Msg #100968

I am traveling 15 miles one way. Do I have to tell them what me trip fee is ahead of time? I ask this question because I all ready made the appoitment this afternoon.

Reply by Brenda/CA on 3/1/06 12:09pm
Msg #100977

I charge a base travel fee of $20.00 for my hometown in addition to the notarize per signature fee. If I travel outside of town I add mileage to my base fee. I always quote the total fee in advance, so there are no surprises when the job is done.

Reply by SarahBeth_CA on 3/1/06 12:16pm
Msg #100980

Always inform the customer of your fees before going to the appointment.

Reply by Anonymous on 3/1/06 12:47pm
Msg #101001

Thank you all for responding to my post. You have giving me great advise. I was caught off guard this morning on this call. I guess I better call the signer. I don't want to drive that far for $10.00.

Reply by SarahBeth_CA on 3/1/06 1:42pm
Msg #101019

In my opinion if you haven't contacted them yet then don't. It stinks when we work for pennies but since you already quoted your fee you shouldn't call back and change it. Just chalk it up to a learning experience, at least it will pay for your gas. Now if you were to get there and they were to pull out a loan package that's a different story. You could explain that you are also an SA and you could either just notarize the one doc for XX or you could perform the SA duties (explain the difference) for XX.

Reply by Anonymous on 3/1/06 2:08pm
Msg #101022

I haven't stated my fee yet. She never asked for a feeand I never quoted her a fee. I do know that she wanted someone to come to her house from the leasing agency that called me. He also never asked my fee. I was going to charge her a $20 travel fee , plus $10 for the signature and notary stamp since it is 15 miles one way. Is that a reasonable fee?

Reply by Traci/MD on 3/1/06 3:32pm
Msg #101044

Call the local Kinkos' or other small print companies.

They charge $50 and up for a trip fee here.

Reply by SarahBeth_CA on 3/1/06 3:55pm
Msg #101051

Anon your fee is very reasonable. You know there are those who would refer to a Kinkos or UPS. But if someone calls me and asks me what I charge and agrees to my fee I'm not going to send them elsewhere. Out here I see notary signs in windows on every other block, they may have a reason to call someone to come to them. That reason is not any of my business.

Reply by Anonymous on 3/1/06 4:18pm
Msg #101063

I would just like to let you know that I did the signing and charged $30. When I walked out of there I was all red in a rash. My nerves had gotten to me, but I know that the form was done correctly. That took a total of 5 minutes. What am I going to do when I have my first loan signing? Here is the whole story. I get a call this morning to go and do this notorization for a POA. They had already had this form signed and notorized by another notary. The notary put her name on the line that states "Sworn to and subscribe before me". Needless to say it was kicked back. So I show up and the lady tells me that she took this form to two other notaries and they said it was correct. The notary that signed this form has had her commission for at least two years now. This was my very first notorization and I even know how to do this one. How can you be a notary and not know how to fill out a Jurat. This is the funny part. She told the leasing guy she wasn't going to pay for another notary unless he sent someone out that knew what they were doing and here I am doing my very first notorization. LOL

Reply by eXpedN_TX on 3/1/06 4:27pm
Msg #101066

Good for you!!! As for the nerves, it'll take a little time. The first 5 or so signings I performed were very nerve-racking. It does get easier. Good job. My only recommendation is you let the borrower know of the "addional fees" ahead of time. In Texas we have strict rules about this. I have to be sure and let the person know that I can not charge more than $6 for a jurat. I charge a mobile fee separately. If they don't like that, I send them to a local Postnet in my area and some times have them come to me. Usually I get those that waited until the very last minute and nothing is open. I charge anywhere from $10 - $20 travel fee if it is within 10 miles and also depending on what time it is.