Posted by GregM/ME on 3/24/08 5:53pm
Msg #240465

Last minute signing. tonight

Thought I would share this. I just got a call from NREIS. (6:30pm) Can I do a signing tonight at 9:00 in ??????? w/E-docs? YES, I can. How much are you offering for this late, last minute signing that's 45 minutes away? We can go $90.00 (including the E-docs) I did a slight chuckle and said "No, I'm not interested." She asked if I wasn't interested because of the fee. I told her that she was correct. Asked me what my fee would be for THIS signing. I quoted her $$$, a fair amount for all involved. She COUNTERED with "My manager said to offer $115, can you do it for that Just This One Time"? I politely thanked her for the call and hung up.
What is happening here when a really good company like NREIS pulls this low ball money grubbing crap?? This business is slow all over, almost non-existant here in mid Maine. But..... I'm not going to jump up at the last minute for low money.
Sorry......... I'm done now. Needed to get that off my chest before I called them back and possibly said something stupid.

Reply by CopperheadVA on 3/24/08 6:09pm
Msg #240468

Good for you! I'm doing one for a company on Tuesday at 4 PM in a town about 20 - 25 miles away. Got the call last Friday and to my surprise, this usually on the lower $$ side company agreed to my fee. Then today I get a call from someone else from that same company for the same town at 7 PM. I told him my fee, he said, "But you're already going to be there!" I said, "If I'm going there at 4 PM, I'm not still going to be there at 7 PM." What does he think I'm going to do, wait in town for two hours for his 7 PM closing? He decided to call someone else that's closer rather than pay my required fee.

Reply by Ilene C. Seidel on 3/24/08 6:18pm
Msg #240472

I'm surprised NREIS was willing to pay more than $90. They've been pretty tough with their fees for a long time.

Reply by Cari on 3/24/08 9:27pm
Msg #240512

NREIS

I went back and forth with them for a signing that was similar, 45 minutes away, I settled for low $xxx...

I was pi$$ed to say the least, the loan docs were at least 110 pages, and of course late!

I still get calls from them to work as low as $75 w/edocs! I always refuse them and tell them its because of their fees.

We have to let these TC/SS companies know that we simply can not afford to work for these low ball prices!

Reply by Carmi/CA on 3/24/08 7:33pm
Msg #240482

Just got a call to do one from Bancserv for 6 pm.

It will be my first time with them. I quoted them my fee and they asked if I could do it for $10 less. I agreed. When I got the confirmation, I found out that the location is actually more than 30 miles from me. I asked a fee increased. The scheduler said she doesn't have a choice but she'll notate the amount that I charge more than their other regular notaries. I said fine. And oh, by the way, I am still waiting for docs.

Reply by NVnotary on 3/24/08 9:25pm
Msg #240510

I got a bait and switch. I took a loan that was going to be overnighted. Then today, they told me that they were going to edoc the package. Of course, the fee didn't change. I agreed to do it but they are now on my "no-no" list.

Reply by CaliNotary on 3/24/08 9:32pm
Msg #240515

That's not a bait and switch

"they told me that they were going to edoc the package. Of course, the fee didn't change. I agreed to do it "

Now why would you agree to something so foolish? You allow others to set your fees for you? Did you even try to get them to raise the fee or were you just hoping they'd offer? And if they refused to raise it, why didn't you just say NO?????

It really is remarkable how many people on this board will bend over quite willingly and then complain about it later on here.

Reply by Cari on 3/24/08 9:36pm
Msg #240516

Have to agree with CaliNotary on this one...dumb move...

NOT to ask for more $$

Reply by LKT/CA on 3/24/08 9:55pm
Msg #240521

<<<I took a loan that was going to be overnighted. Then today, they told me that they were going to edoc the package...>>>

I would have then informed them that since the terms of the agreement changed (overnight vs. edoc) so will the fee. This could be a back-handed, lowball tactic to get more for their money. Stick firm to your fee schedule and don't take the bait. This company knows what it's doing and will keep doing it to see which Notary will "bite".

It's the back-handed way of getting more for their money. Like the diaper company that instead of raising the price, just takes out a few diapers and charges the same money. Either way, you'll pay more for less.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 3/25/08 2:43am
Msg #240571

It's also sometimes just that they didn't know for sure that it was going to be edocs. This has happened to me countless times. If you give them the benefit of the doubt and call, letting them know that it ended up being edocs after all, most companies won't have any problem adjusting the fee. Sometimes they have the best of intentions of getting them ready to ship overnight, but something goes wrong (gee, when have we ever seen THAT happen!) and they end up having to send edocs. I can't remember ever having a problem with this. Same thing with double packages (which I hardly ever see anymore...). The hiring company -- especially if it's a signing service, isn't always told in advance.

Reply by NMS/FL on 3/25/08 10:09am
Msg #240593

I've established what I feel are fair notary signing fees right up front. I keep a fee schedule right by the phone and it's the same schedule for everyone wanting to do business with me. This avoids the negotiations, dissimilar fee quotes and anxiety. Clients then know what to expect whether they want to do business with me or not. I tell them what my policies are up front and willing to fax them a copy. I think this goes a long way to establishing yourself as a credible business. Those that determine that the fees are reasonable in combination with the correctly executed documents and borrower feedback (which I encourage), will determine future signings by ethical TC's and SS's.

Reply by CJ on 3/25/08 11:13am
Msg #240602

SS also make more money on edocs . . .

So it behooves you to raise your fee for the edocs, and then they also charge more to cover your costs, plus a little more for themselves. That's how I understand it.

I have told SS that the docs arrived edocs, and they say, "Good, thanks for telling us, we will adjust your fee, and charge them more."

Reply by JanetK_CA on 3/25/08 7:53pm
Msg #240705

Exactly! n/m