Posted by Rachel Truax on 10/9/06 4:10pm
Msg #151175

Referral program for AZ notaries

Hello AZ notaries,

I was just recruited for a program that may help you. A company which does Living Revocable Trusts in AZ will pay a notary $25 for each "sold" referral. I have just gotten paid for 4 leads. What I am doing is just asking at the end of my closing --- Do you have a living trust and/or living will? If the person has one, great!! If not, I ask them if they would be interested in obtaining a trust for $349. If I get a "yes", I write the borrower's name, address and telephone number on the referral sheet and let borrower know that Peace of Mind Trusts will be contacting them. Of course, any one else that you know can also be a referral, not just borrowers!

Just contact me either here or at [e-mail address] if you are interested. I don't usually monitor this site very closely, as I am out and not at my computer!!

AZ notaries are having a hard time now....I have had a drop in business and these$25 checks will come in handy!

Reply by Ernest__CT on 10/9/06 4:22pm
Msg #151178

What you are doing is unethical.

Selling another product or sevice when you are contacted to do a loan signing is a definite no-no. Even though you are "just generating leads" it is wrong.

Reply by Charm_AL on 10/9/06 4:34pm
Msg #151182

OUCH!

that is a no-no dear. You are there representing the company that hired you to perform a witness signing, not as Inspector Gadget. Imagine if we all did this. Oh, by the way Mrs. Jones, I have a gem business on the side.....
Utterly unprofessional in volumes.

Reply by Rachel Truax on 10/9/06 4:46pm
Msg #151190

Re: OUCH!

You could be right....however, because of our senior population here, many of the signing companies are glad for us to mention this to clients. It is a type of education.

Reply by Charm_AL on 10/9/06 4:49pm
Msg #151192

Re: OUCH!

I can't imagine SS's being happy about this if you even ask permission, you're also advertising your business and I wouldn't be too surprised if Harry yanks the post.

Reply by Julie/AZ on 10/9/06 4:56pm
Msg #151194

Re: OUCH!

Because of the high number of seniors in AZ, I do A LOT of Reverse Mortgages, and I'm sure some Living Trust company somewhere would salivate at the idea of being able to market to these folks through me. However, as an NSA, you are there to conduct the signing, and nothing else, period. You may not realize it, but you are hurting your credibility as a disinterested third party by even asking about a non-competing product. You may see it as performing a service for the seniors, and your intentions may be good, but this idea is incredibly unethical.

Reply by Rachel Truax on 10/9/06 4:58pm
Msg #151195

Re: OUCH!

Julie,
I had not looked at it that way. You are all correct. I will "cease"!!! Thanks for your imput!

Reply by Bob_Chicago on 10/9/06 4:43pm
Msg #151185

Save those $25 checks. You will need them when your....

NSA business evaporates just as soon as one bwr
reports you back to their lender/TC

Reply by Jenny_CA on 10/9/06 5:01pm
Msg #151197

most of my borrowers have had teeth....

I don't refer them to a dentist to collect $$$.

Seriously, a local notary is no longer doing signings for TCs and has gone back to a full time job because she was selling attorney services after the signings. We all need attorneys at one time or another, right?

The TC's talked amongs themselves and she is no longer signing for them.

Reply by Rachel Truax on 10/9/06 5:01pm
Msg #151196

Okay - I have "unrecruited" myself!!

Thanks for your opinions!!!

Reply by CaliNotary on 10/9/06 5:28pm
Msg #151200

Your profile

"Although I do point out where information is located on the paperwork, I always suggest that we call the loan officer so that he or she can add their professionalism to the closing."

I would suggest that you remove this from your profile. If I were a hiring company and saw this I would assume that you weren't particularly confident in your ability to do this job and needed outside help.

A good signing agent should be able to do the vast majority of his closings without having to contact anybody. Yes, there are times when something will come up that we can't answer, usually related to why certain figures are what they are, but beyond that we don't need anybody to "add their professionalism" to the closing.

And I can't imagine too many loan officers would be too thrilled about having to take a phone call to do the job of the NSA.

Reply by Rachel Truax on 10/9/06 6:02pm
Msg #151209

Re: Your profile

Thanks, I value your suggestions! I have removed that part.

Reply by Charm_AL on 10/9/06 6:08pm
Msg #151212

Rachel...

you took a beating here and sometimes that happens. It's good that you can 'see' both sides and not be so one-sided like many here who only defend defend defend., I think you'll do well, I also thought that you meant that as if there's a problem, you would call the LO. Good luck!!

Reply by JanetK_CA on 10/9/06 6:17pm
Msg #151216

Good Point, Charm...

If others (I'll refrain from any characterization) kept an open mind and truly were interested in learning rather than getting positive strokes, they'd be much better off and this would be a nicer place to come to. You set a good example of that, Rachel. Good for you!

Reply by Rhonda Skansi on 10/9/06 6:17pm
Msg #151217

Charm

I was thinking the same thing. Its really nice for you to balance this thread by your post. I'm sure Rachel was needing that.

Reply by CaliNotary on 10/9/06 6:36pm
Msg #151221

I'll agree with all of you

It's definitely refreshing to see somebody who is open to constructive criticism and doesn't immediately go into whiny "you're mean" mode. It bodes well for her success.

Reply by BrendaTx on 10/9/06 7:19pm
Msg #151237

Re: I'll agree with all of you - okay, Rachel...

everyone else sees this differently than I do. Perhaps I have on my jaded glasses. I will take them off and bow to those who seem to be less suspicious.

Reply by BrendaTx on 10/9/06 6:14pm
Msg #151213

Re: Referral program for AZ notaries - Not so fast!!!

First of all, those lawyers are really short-changing you. $25??? Is that really all you are getting? They oughta be giving you three times that, Truax.

For every blue haired couple you maneuver in there, they are doing a lot more than $349--that's just the point of beginning.

Next, they are milking those poor saps for their friends names...stripping off the referrals for rev morts which should be for their lender who is hopefully paying you at LEAST $150 a signing. Cripes sake, for every rev mort lead there should be $50 in it for the lead generator.

Besides that...in one post you say "slow" to excuse yourself for bringing up the referral and lead generating business which you might just be able to get your notary friends here into...maybe you are getting $50 - $100 for their leads and gonna pay them $25 each.

Then, in another post you say...

***************

Ann,
I can tell you that I am full-time notary in AZ. I have been full-time for about a year and I love it.

I make about $5000 a month from it, but may suppliment income with a little mystery shopping, especially if it involves food! I also do some copywriting, but these are just fill-in jobs that I get asked to do or find on the internet.

Being a notary full-time is definitely worth it to me!

I did and continue to do a lot of marketing to keep myself going. You have to be willing to provide extra good service if you want to be full-time!

Rachel

************

Nothing wrong with a little sideline business, but you just don't sound on the level ma'am. Two or three of us here have been to more than one rodeo.

Reply by Ernest__CT on 10/9/06 8:20pm
Msg #151268

Good for Rachel for taking criticism well!

Of course I had to look at her Profile. Nice photo (copyrighted by Glamour Shots [hah!]), but is it appropriate for business?r 4,000 loan signings?r Really?r As in, Four THOUSAND?r

In the Post Brenda quotes above Rachel states $5,000 per month income, but needs to "suppliment" [sic] it with mystery shopping. Hmm.

Reply by Ndwa on 10/10/06 3:12am
Msg #151320

Can fool me, not MIA

MIA, I think you're dead on with the lead recruitment lines and the $ involve. On the other hand, my resource tell me this girl is busy enough to make the $5k figure doing signings.

Reply by BrendaTx on 10/10/06 6:46am
Msg #151325

Re: Can fool me, not MIA

Good for her...it was the difference in her two posts that made me pause. I trust your resources are excellent. From what I am hearing out of AZ, however, the business is not booming except for low ball offers.

Reply by LkArrowhd/CA on 10/9/06 7:13pm
Msg #151231

Re: Rachel you are totally out of line in doing this? n/m