Posted by Cari on 4/6/08 7:32am
Msg #242381

The Notary Biz

Anyone doing work for them lately, wondering if they are still alive....haven't heard from them in a while?

Reply by Miranda/VA on 4/6/08 7:43am
Msg #242383

I did one closing for them last month.

Reply by Cari on 4/6/08 7:51am
Msg #242384

okay, - well I fear I may have been "dumped".

Which sucks, because they were a good SS for me - steady work. I ask if they were still around because I fear I have been dumped. One rep admittedly told me that in my coverage area, they only had two choices me and one other notary.

Looks like the other notary wins - but I know he/she must have lowered their fee significantly, because I never would go lower than $125.00, which is already a seriously low fee. The SS would always try to get me to go lower like $75 to $95 but I would always insist on my fee.

I mean who the hell can work for $75.00 for edocs...its outrageous!

Reply by Sharon Taylor on 4/6/08 10:22am
Msg #242406

Who works for $75? People who do this as a "side" job

And neither understand nor have calculated the true costs of the work. Say Suzy Q or Johnny B is working in an office and bringing home a steady paycheck, but she/he is a little short each month or wants a bit of play money. The paycheck pays the bills, and the notary work is extra play money. Many will not claim the work on income taxes either. That $75 for "a couple of hours" work is straight $75 worth of spending money to them - they neglect to subtract taxes, gas, paper, ink, toner, phone calls, etc., etc., figuring they already have that stuff anyway. They do not treat this business like a business since they consider the work that gives them a steady paycheck to be their real job, and this is "found money" to them. Just a different mentality than that of someone who makes their living as a mobile notary.

Reply by Trinity Mobile Notary and Signing Agency - Notary and Processing on 4/6/08 11:07am
Msg #242411

Re: okay, - well I fear I may have been "dumped".

Just stick to your fee. We have to. I mean by the time we get the check we should add a dollar a day for waiting the check in the mail! LOL!

Reply by A-1 Signing Agents, LLC on 4/6/08 11:39am
Msg #242414

Not a real job?

I see this reference alot on these boards. What about this job isn't real? I feel this is more responsibility than any long term jobs i've had. It's all on me if any errors are made in the closing. Off that topic. You may not realize, for some $75.00 or $95.00 may be exactly what that person needs. Maybe their lights or phone are in jeopard of being cut off. I am aware the money doesn't come in right away, however, a few here and there for that price may be bringing in just enough to pick up their slack. You can't knock everyone who might take a bit less for a job. Before anyone started doing this business, did you make $150.00 per day on your "real job". Alot don't. Minimum at best is what alot of people get. I take $95.00 jobs if they are under 10 miles. Knock away. Just my thoughts.

Reply by Diane Elliott on 4/6/08 1:10pm
Msg #242421

Re: Not a real job?

Even notaries who are just doing this as a side job and are accepting lower fees, will sooner or later be hit by reality. Unless someone else is paying for their paper, toner and gas, it all runs out eventually and they have to pay the piper. My thoughts are that it might be more desperation to get money, any amount, and not looking at the actual cost of doing business. One of my first signings was an FHA. I accepted their fee of $60 since it was my first one. After seeing all of the paper, toner, time and driving involved, my husband made the comment that it appeared to him that I was working for minus $10 per hour.

Maybe the thought process of low-ball notaries is that they will develop a relationship with the signing companies and receive more work for more money in the future, who knows?

Reply by Trinity Mobile Notary and Signing Agency - Notary and Processing on 4/6/08 1:32pm
Msg #242423

Re: Not a real job?

Then the notary will then get upset with themselves because the signing company will then continue to pay them the same fee when gas is $6 a gallon!

We should stand our ground with the fees or meet a very happy SIGNED IN INK medium agreement......Its only fair

Reply by Trinity Mobile Notary and Signing Agency - Notary and Processing on 4/6/08 1:28pm
Msg #242422

Re: Not a real job?

You will take them of course I think we all 'might' but will RESTRICTION...Such as no printing docs, no fax back at all and not one mile over the ten miles and they borrower cant be a minute late, and we get paid the absolute full fee no matter what within a 10 day period......(some exaggerations) but sure...We are knocking the money on the whole but from the perspective of doing this job for some now the title companies and signing companies know what they are asking of their notaries and what they intend to pay. I think that was the point.

$125 is still a basic fee to ask especially within 30days and they get their money with 5-10 days.....

Reply by Alice/MD on 4/6/08 2:47pm
Msg #242429

Re: Not a real job?

WE in Maryland who have Title Insurance Producer License, must charge more. But, companies do not give a rat's rear if you are background screened or have your TPL; they just want a cheap closer. You get dumped if they can find someone, anyone cheaper.

Reply by WDMD on 4/6/08 2:58pm
Msg #242432

Re: Not a real job?

"You get dumped if they can find someone, anyone cheaper."

Key word there is anyone. Can't count how many times I was told they did not need a TPL, any notary would do.

Reply by Roger Proctor Sr on 4/6/08 5:09pm
Msg #242445

Re: A-1 Signing

You ask a notary to do a $65.00 job for you and then you tack on the $25.00 fee you charge just to be added to your database.......who's making money? My guess it isn't the notary!

Reply by Cari on 4/7/08 6:07pm
Msg #242557

A-1 Signing - even if that person were working part-time

getting $75.00 isn't anything. Especially when they won't see it for at least 30 days, then what? And like someone else posted, eventually, their toner, paper, gas will run out, and that little money they made is NOT going to pay an extra bill, it will ONLY pay for the paper and gas, toner only if its a refill at $29.99.

I have no problem knocking those notaries because they should take into account, that they are in a business, even if part-time and they should figure their expenses first, instead of looking at the 'money first', which in the end, at $75 a gig, they are working for free.