Posted by jjill_CA on 6/18/09 11:52am
Msg #292691

Nations Direct Laugh for the Day...

I always like to start the day out with a laugh...

Just got a call from Nations Direct: "Would you be available to do a signing today at 4?"
"I think I can do that...is it EDocs?"
"Yes, and it's only 3 miles from you"
"How much do you pay for that?"
"$60"
"Did you say $60???"
"yes, but it's only 3 miles from you. What is your normal rate?"
"For EDocs, $100"
"Would you be able to go lower? BTW, we require that all notarized documents be faxed back"
"Yeah, I normally add a few extra $$ for the hassle of fax backs"
"OK, well I'll put that in your file" click

Reply by Kay/IL on 6/18/09 2:07pm
Msg #292719

They did not even say thank you before you heard the click?

Wow........that's too cold! And shame on them for being so rude. Then they wonder why they cannot keep or acquire good notaries.

Reply by MW/VA on 6/18/09 2:09pm
Msg #292720

Another laugh. Who would you know that would insult you twice & then say thank you--really!

Reply by Kay/IL on 6/18/09 2:16pm
Msg #292721

LOL.......You Got Me On That, But

the real insult is thinking that you can even call an experienced and established notary offering that pittance. And ND refuses to change their prices in spite of the cost of living, rising gas prices, etc.

$60.00 may have worked 10 even 5 years ago, but not now. They need to get with the program.

Reply by MW/VA on 6/18/09 2:33pm
Msg #292722

Re: LOL.......You Got Me On That, But

Another joke. Their fees were $40, so apparently they have increased them. I can't imagine who takes work from them with the ridiculously low fees & hassles involved. Obviously, they find someone to work for that--how pathetic.

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 6/18/09 2:37pm
Msg #292724

I love it when they assume....

I get calls like that a lot where they say, "Oh, this is only a mile away."

I always have to ask on what basis are they making their distance calculation. Because if they do it by zip code... honey... my zip code is 250 square miles large, and those distance calculators assume I'm in the CENTER of that. Not so... I live on the western edge of the zip code.

If they base it on my mail address, well, that's not accurate, either... that's my MAILING address. It's actually about 3 miles from where I live and is a box at the UPS store. I did that on purpose because it's near my mom's house, and in a pinch she can pick up things for me, too.

Finally, how do they even know where I am at any given moment? I'm a pretty mobile person. I have Internet access anywhere I have a cell phone signal. That includes my laptop. You may think the address is "only a mile" away... but what if I have an appoint 2 hours before that way out in Littlerock (25 miles away to the east) and another one in Acton 2 hours after the one you want me to do? Acton is convenient to Littlerock... but if you want me to drive back to Lancaster from Littlerock, and then have me backtrack to Acton? HAH!! I'm charging 1.5 to double the travel fee.


It really grates on my nerves when they make an assumption about my location and try to base my fee on said assumption. Especailly when they try to cheap out.

Reply by MW/VA on 6/18/09 2:54pm
Msg #292726

Re: I love it when they assume....

With ND & some other companies it is part of their "game". They try to convince you to take a low fee by telling you it's "right around the corner". The greatest insult is that they resort to this "sucker game" approach to obtaining notaries.

Reply by Pamela Hoyle on 6/19/09 12:39am
Msg #292802

Re: I love it when they assume....

They called me last week and asked me to do initial app for a reverse for $30. Yes, not a typo. $30. Anybody done those? They tend to be protracted, to say the least. ND's justification was "but you aren't doing any notarizations!" OK...so the 1.5 to 2 hours of my time at the table, plus adding in print cost and drive time leaves me making $6 or so an hour....I've got a line on a job at Chick-fil-A, TVVM

Reply by Elizabeth Soliday on 6/19/09 12:46am
Msg #292804

Just a suggestion from experience, it's a good idea just to tack on your faxback fee onto your price, then you never have to deal with trying to negotiate it. I also charge the same thing whether the signing is next door to me or up to 30 minutes away. It makes the whole pricing thing so much easier, everything kind of evens out.

Reply by Elizabeth Soliday on 6/19/09 12:51am
Msg #292805

Honestly, I would ask them to stop calling unless you are very new and need the experience. I am so happy they don't bother me anymore, it was a lot of hassle dealing with them.

Reply by jjill_CA on 6/19/09 12:08pm
Msg #292871

Yeah...I have a feeling they won't be calling me anymore. Plus--I'm in a pretty remote area (town of @ 25,000...next largest city is 90 miles away) and all the notaries know each other. If I find out one them took this job I will bonk them on the head!

Reply by pan/nd on 6/19/09 11:30pm
Msg #292952

All of the above posts are correct when it comes to Nations Direct.

However, if they are desperate...they'll pay fairly.

Trouble is...they're desperate once in a blue moon.

Ironically, the most I ever got for a single signing from anyone was from Nations Direct.

They're cheap....like dirt....in fact dirt is more expensive.

And, I hate getting bugged by their ridiculous pay offers.

But, they're like slot machines: every now and then--though not often-- you hit the jackpt.

And you know you'll get paid.

Reply by HrdwrkrVA on 7/1/09 12:07pm
Msg #294186

"...bonk them on the head" LOL!! n/m

Reply by Kate/CA on 6/19/09 11:35pm
Msg #292954

Hey, was that for Ridgecrest, CA. I got the same request. Told them what I would do it for, they never called back. There is someone over there that is doing them.

Reply by notaryinmo on 6/26/09 1:18pm
Msg #293715

They are calling again! I was offered $60 for a 45 mile drive there with edocs. I advised my fee of xxx. - they said they'd see if they could get it approved and call me back. That was over 3 hours ago - think i'll have my friday evening free

I'd really like to know why these companies think they can low ball these fees and then ask us to fax notarized pages to them. Since when do they think they can have us pay them for working for them? Something just doesn't make sense for anyone who takes these low ball deals.

Reply by HrdwrkrVA on 7/1/09 12:17pm
Msg #294189

Who in the WORLD is doing these signings?!?!?!? I'm in the DC area (10 min trip is 1 hr+ in rush hour) Is this their hobby?????

Once when I told them what my fee would be including travel, they said,"We've never paid you $150 before". After they hung up, I belatedly thought to tell them"You've never paid me $85 either"! In the spirit of George Costanza/ jerk store, I'm waiting for the next opportunity for my snappy comeback!

I've told them to adjust my fee in my file so they can stop wasting my time (they don't/won't). Sometimes, when their # comes up, I don't even bother to answer.

Reply by Ilene C. Seidel on 6/29/09 5:29pm
Msg #293983

I did an affidavit for them thru EquiPoint Financial Network in April and have yet to be paid.
I called Nations Direct today to inquire about my fee and a women by the name of Linda Smith was so rude she slammed the phone on me. How do people stay in buz?