Posted by Les_CO on 4/30/09 9:12pm
Msg #286948

Why I can't do $50 signings.

Why I can’t do $50 signings.
11:30 AM: I’m in Costco (buying paper…etc.) I get a call on my cell…It’s from a Title Co. that is a very good customer… “We need a signing to happen 30 minutes ago! The notary didn’t show can you do it?” Where and when? Is it a refi? Do you have docs?...Yes it’s a refi…we have doc…but with POA for spouse. It’s fairly close (15 miles)” I say do you have the POA? Docs? : ”Yes!” I say:"No problem.. I can be back in my office in15 minutes…I can download and print the docs in another 15…. I can be there at…say… 12:30”. She says I’ll call the borrower and see if the time is okay…she calls back (2 minutes) says borrower has been waiting since 10 AM…but says okay, 12:30 is fine.” I get back… I check email…No docs…I call Title…Doc's coming now…I get a UPS label. I hit send/receive every 3 minutes….no docs….12:00… 12:15 …I call Title…Docs? I have the UPS label…but nothing else? We're Sending now! “Do you have a ph # for the borrower? I can’t get there on time if I leave now.” "Yes" …I call borrower explain… say I’ll get there ASAP. 12:20….12:30….12:40 …12:50…1:00… Call Title?…We sent the docs!…. (My primary e-mail address is Comcast, because it is the ONLY cable (fast) connection I can get here (in Denver)..But they OFTEN screw up. I call Title …What? They sent it…I say send to my other ip address (go daddy)…. She does…I get it…she gets some BS from Comcast where they ‘bounced’ her transmission, too big..15 MB..(Damn Comcast!!!!) I finally download and print two copies of the package….drive to the borrowers….have her sign as her & him POA…time…time…time…She has no copy machine…so I take a picture of her ID….drive back (Now it’s getting rush hour) to my office…print a copy of the ID, and type an invoice….drive to the UPS store…deposit the package…get receipt…drive back to office. It’s now 3:45…this “signing” has taken four hours plus of my time…plus several phone calls…printing…drive time/ other expense/etc. This is TYPICAL! Not unusual! My fee? $125…Four hours of my time…printing (paper/ink/internet access/equipment…driving..(gas/car/insurance)…I think I LOST money! (But it was for a good customer.) While on the road doing this someone called me to do a refi tomorrow for $60…I said no…she said what do you charge? I said call someone else. These lo-ballers have no clue about this job.

Reply by Maureen_nh on 4/30/09 9:50pm
Msg #286953

I just found out the hard way that my server will only take 10MB chunks at the most--good reason to keep my yahoo mail.
Of course if they just sent the links there wouldn't be this problem.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 4/30/09 11:40pm
Msg #286963

Great post. Five Stars ***** n/m

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 4/30/09 11:51pm
Msg #286968

The low ballers know all about this job ....

they low ball because there are people out there that will accept it.

Reply by Teddog/CO on 5/1/09 8:40am
Msg #286996

Les good for you!! Just say NO!! to low-ballers. This is not what you would call a "Fun Job." It can be very nerve racking. It is very expensive to be a traveling notary for all the reasons that you have already listed.
For years low ballers, both companies and low-ball notaries have been disgusted on NotRot. I have no idea how low-ball notaries even expect to "break-even" let alone make any money. JMO Yes folks I know everyone is free to charge what they want. But, please sit down and figure out what everything is costing you, plus your time.

Reply by sue_pa on 5/1/09 8:53am
Msg #286997

...I get a call on my cell…It’s from a Title Co. that is a very good customer… “We need a signing to happen 30 minutes ago! The notary didn’t show can you do it?”...

My greatest concern would be why a "very good customer" didn't call me for the order ...l why someone else was called first.

Reply by Les_CO on 5/1/09 11:38am
Msg #287020

My thoughts too. Firstly I’m not the least expensive notary in my area, and that may have had something to do with it? This was from a Title Co. in CA. that I do several a month for, the processor that usually calls me was off, and this was handled by her assistant. Just a guess, but this company is part of Fidelity National, that I believe has an in house SS/or an ‘agreement’ with a national SS that they use. They ‘recommend’ their affiliates use this SS; however the individual Title Companies and processors really have the final say. I always try and do my best, but I give extra consideration to my old time good customers.

Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 5/3/09 11:48pm
Msg #287184

This is what the company will tell you: we had a new person on the desk and he/she didn't know you were to be called?

Reply by MW/VA on 5/1/09 2:50pm
Msg #287033

Great post! This is the "day in the life" kind of story that we all deal with.
It's priceless (no pun intended).