Posted by granmapickle on 12/20/07 11:00am
Msg #227012

Fees in FL

I have just turned down a closing with a company that I previously did a lot of work for because their new 'standard fee' for email docs is $75. I explained that was not my standard fee and could not possibly accept that fee. I told them what my fee would be and, of course, they needed to get approval. Naturally that approval was not obtained and when they called me back they explained the title company would not give any additional. Therefore, I did not take the closing. I did call back and found out that they did 'search around' and found a 'new person' to do the closing for the requested fee of $75. I have one message for that 'new person': Get out of our business....those of us who consider ourselves professionals and do this on a full time basis, 365 days a year if necessary, fight for everything we get and to have notaries encourage the continuation of these 'low ball' fees is truly defeating the purpose of being in this business. If you only want to make a couple of hundred dollars a month -- on the side -- that is fine but at least try to stick with the accepted fees and don't make all of us pay because you don't need to do this full time. Unfortunately in FL (especially Palm Beach Co.) there are thousands of notaries and many of them only want a bit of additional money each month so many of us that do this full time are stuck with taking lower fees than are paid in other parts of the country. I just wish there was a way to semi-professionalize our line of work that we have chosen to do. I have been doing these closings for almost 15 years and have seen everything there is to see come 'down the pike'. Sorry for the post but I just needed to vent.

Reply by jba/fl on 12/20/07 11:09am
Msg #227016

I hear you! I also get disgusted with what is offered, but know there are plenty who will undercut just for their measly profit of pennies. I won't, so I lose a lot. The upside: I don't work as much, but I get paid twice as much. Prob. averages out in the long run, except my expenses are lower, a lot lower.

Just hang in there - they are pricing themselves out of business into the poor house.

Reply by PA_Notary_II on 12/20/07 11:42am
Msg #227023

Re: Fees in FL are the same everwhere else...

I turned down a $50 deal yesterday and was rewarded with a $175 deal that replaced it. They can lower their fees, but I won't lower my standards. Turned down Notary Direct today for a $75 deal 50 miles r/t. Hang on...there is a shake out underway and whan the smoke clears only the QUALITY NSAs will be left standing. Like jba/fl, I work less but end up with the same income over time since I get my fee or I stay home. (and save gas)

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 12/20/07 11:49am
Msg #227025

Re: I'm jealous...

" Turned down Notary Direct today for a $75 deal 50 miles r/t." -

I was offered $60 the other day, with e-docs....

Reply by jba/fl on 12/20/07 11:52am
Msg #227027

Linda - you need to work on your exp. level to increase! LOL

For those who think i'm nuts - this is sarcasm.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 12/20/07 12:00pm
Msg #227032

Re: LOL....actually, I've been upgraded

That the highest they've EVER offered me - it's usually $45-$50!!!

Reply by jba/fl on 12/20/07 11:55am
Msg #227029

PaNotary: you also save print costs and those assoc. w/it n/m

Reply by Richard Ingram on 12/20/07 12:06pm
Msg #227034

Re: PaNotary: you also save print costs and those assoc. w/i

Some of my best companies are low-balling. This does worry me. The $40-$50 folks are doing a lot of damage. I do feel they will eventually drop out due to the quality of their work and lack of profit. I just wish they had enough good sense to demand a fair price now as they are hurting this industry badly. I don't know what the answer is but continue to hope that the real pros and quality people hold their prices during this turn-down period.

Reply by Phillip/TX on 12/20/07 12:10pm
Msg #227038

My fees are set... pay them or move on...

with that said, I am here to stay!!! I will be around long after the $40-$50 folks have hung their notary stamps up to dry.

Reply by SueW/Tn on 12/20/07 12:23pm
Msg #227040

Well I can top the "part-timers"

Got a call while on the road for a signing 25 miles o/w from me and quoted accordingly. SS said they could only pay $xxx and I was extremely polite when I told them what my fee would be and told them I would be available for MY fee should they need me. Two hours later they called back with fee approval and sent confirmation which I immediately contacted BO's and was pleased. A few hours after that SS called and asked "do you know for sure where this town is"? Of course, that's the basis for my fee as this place is a bit remote. "Well one of the other SA's we called for a lower rate just called us to tell us about where you were located, where she is located etc." Long story short she had quoted less miles than the 25 AND SHE'S 60 MILES FROM THE LOCATION ONE WAY! This was unreal! SS told me who it was and of course I know her, know exactly where she is and that it would have been 150 miles r/t for $50 less than my quote. SS kept me on the signing, but to that SA....thanks!

Reply by Elaine Sedlock on 12/20/07 12:46pm
Msg #227048

Re: My fees are set... pay them or move on...

Today I had my first cancellation and had already printed 2 sets of e-docs and spent time perusing them and organizing. I called the SS and they wanted to pay me a $25 print fee. I told them my fee for printing and they said they never pay more than $25. I worked my way up the chain of command and got approval for my fee from a manager. Sometimes you "have not because you ask not." IMHO there are a lot of people out there who are new to the business and accept the lowballer fees because they're afraid they'll lose the business w/XYZ if they don't. To those people I offer this advice: If you settle for less in the beginning just to gain experience and build clientele, you will have set a bar that will be difficult to raise later. Better to set the bar higher and just make sure you do the job right, even if it means having to call someone for answers when you have the least doubt about any aspect of the signing at hand (I know this can be humbling -- but it is worth swallowing pride). This has worked for me so far, not only in this business, but in every other business venture I've undertaken. In the end, even if you lose some business by turning down low fees, those who want quality assurance will come around eventually. The old saying, "a fast nickel is better than a slow dime" is not the proper motto for making it in this industry! JMO "Slow and steady wins the race" would be a more fitting rule of thumb. Satisfied customers always return! Sorry so long-winded! I just think it's important for everyone to get paid their worth. Recently the same SS I dealt with today, for whom I've done several signings, suddenly decided to dramatically reduce their fees. I stated my fees each time they called and every time they said they'd get back w/me after they got approval. No call backs at all. I was very discouraged and POed that there were people out there selling themselves short to my detriment. After about 2 weeks of calls and refusals they began offering more again! It is imperative to all of us that we hold out for the true value of our services! I'm stepping down from my soap box now!

Reply by Shelly Fox on 12/20/07 2:44pm
Msg #227066

Re: My fees are set... pay them or move on...

Legal Documents Express called for edoc signing 40 mile r/t and they offered $75, said they could go no higher "without approval". Right!

No less than $100 for edocs - EVERYBODY!

Yesterday, I had a borrower call me 30 minutes before the scheduled signing to say a lady was at her house from the Title Co with the documents to be notarized. Say called me out of courtesy because no one else had contacted her since I made the confirmation. Of course, SA didn't have a clue what was going on or so they said. I suspect they found someone closer and/or cheaper. Will be invoicing them for the "cancellation" without notice. Won't hold my breath for the check!

Reply by SheilaSJCA on 12/20/07 3:14pm
Msg #227074

Shelly are they located in Michigan? in Signing Central? n/m

Reply by Alta Schuck on 12/20/07 5:27pm
Msg #227092

I am new and from FL. What is an acceptable fee to charge when you are first starting out?

Reply by granmapickle on 12/20/07 6:38pm
Msg #227107

there should be no difference. If you want to participate in this business then you should learn everything that you can about properly executing the documents that will be necessary. Then you should be able to charge the going rate. Under NO circumstances should email documents be accepted for less than $100 to do so merely undercuts every other agent in the area. If we stick together and stay with minimums then they will have to pay us the same as others. Unfortunately here in Palm Beach Co there are far too many notaries trying to do this. Many who don't have a clue what they are doing. Where are you in FL?

Reply by Alta Schuck on 12/21/07 7:00am
Msg #227150

I am in southern Brevard and probably fit into your "no clue" catagory at this point. As soon as I read other messages about fees, I immediately went into my profile changed my charge for e-docs. What about the other fees such as extra mileage, copy fees, etc. I filled those in but honestly, they were a shot in the dark. I know my timing wasn't very good coming into this but I am trying to be positive and hope that the market starts turning around. In the meantime I would like to use this slow time to learn.

Reply by Demore on 12/21/07 2:50am
Msg #227144

Hi! Granmapickle,

You are reasonable with your comments and I truly understood your point of view. It is absolutely logical that you express your setimentals about this situation.

Glad that you can express your feeling in writing and it is good for you to vent.

Regards,

Demore