Posted by CapCityAgent on 8/16/10 12:52pm
Msg #349146

Work situation and notarization! Guidance needed

Hello fellow Notaries: Put your thinking cap on for this one.

Situation: Me: Federal Employee working in a Private building. My co-worker ask if I will notarize housing paperwork to purchase property for her. This is my personnal commission I inquired this commmission using my own funds (not a business/government sponsored commission). However, I cannot charge a fee to notarize documents in a federal building(again, my office is renting from a private building owner although it is a federal government office). I did notarize one co-worker's refinance papers a few years back unknowlingly that documents were for a refinance. I did not charge the co-worker because it was on government time in this same private building. Of course I was upset with myself for doing something for free that I get paid for doing outside of work. The first co-worker referred this co-worker to me.

First, I am not sure the size of the package. Second, I want to get paid because this is not a regular one paper notarization. How should I approach this situation/ co-worker. Of course, if i notarize the package, it will be outside of working hours because these documents are not work related and I definitely do night want to abuse my work hours notarizing forms that are non-work related. Is my frame of thougt accurate? Give me some guidance fellow Notaries/TIPICS

Reply by SharonMN on 8/16/10 12:56pm
Msg #349148

Tell the co-worker you're too busy with work to help her during business hours, and offer to meet her nearby at lunchtime or something, quoting your regular rates. If she asks why you didn't charge co-worker X, just say that was several years ago and you aren't able to provide that kind of service for free anymore.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 8/16/10 1:03pm
Msg #349150

Decide if you're doing a complete loan signing for her or just the notarizations. Also, where is the package coming from - does she have it or do you need to print? Then tell her since the documents are not work-related and are for her personal matters, you'll have to tend to it after work off site and the fee is $xx per notarization - whatever you can charge in MD - (or if you conduct a complete loan signing then quote that fee).

If she has the docs I'd have her separate out everything that needs notarization and just go with the notarization fees.

What happened years ago has nothing to do with today.

Good Luck!!

Reply by PAW on 8/16/10 1:03pm
Msg #349151

What is your agencies policy? I think that most, if not all, government agencies do not allow "private" work to be done during working hours. Not so much a conflict of interest issue, but more of a liability and perception issue.

If you were notarizing signatures as part of your employment, then your right, you cannot charge for it. But, that doesn't sound like what your asking or being asked to do.

In your situation, I would simply inform the "friend of a friend" that you cannot oblige them during normal working hours, citing agency policy, but would happily do so after work. And let them know what your fee to do the notarizations would be.

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 8/16/10 1:08pm
Msg #349153

What is it worth to keep good relations with the people who work in the same building? Perhaps one courtesy signing every few years is a small price to pay not to have negative talk going around about you.

In the same situation, I would probably do another courtesy signing. It depends how closely I worked with that person. If the money subject was brought up by the co-worker, I would tell them what I normally charge. And I would draw the line if co-workers asked me to notarize their friends and relatives documents for free. If asked, I would quote a price.

Reply by MistarellaFL on 8/16/10 1:45pm
Msg #349161

I agree with Glenn, and I would add.......

If it were me, I'd likely just do it pro bono, but ask that they refer "paying customers" to me.
Their friends, family, etc.
I once did a freebie for someone who put one of my magnetic car signs on the rear of his
van for a month, free advertising for a free signing.

Reply by ReneeK_MI on 8/17/10 5:27am
Msg #349267

Yep, agree with Glen - deposit into the Bank of Karma ... n/m

Reply by Tess on 8/16/10 1:11pm
Msg #349154

Personally, I would explain that my being a notary is a side business and not work related. I would offer 1 free notarization on my lunch hour, and or right after work, for all my co-workers, in good will. Anything above that will need to be scheduled and billed at your business rate. No one can take advantage of you, unless you allow it!!

Reply by MW/VA on 8/16/10 1:23pm
Msg #349156

I agree with Tess to a point. Why should you be doing loan signings for free? Among other things it sets a poor precedent for the industry. Our services have value. If you do it for free, some other notary didn't get the call & get paid for it. Do you really want to undercut that way?

Reply by CapCityAgent on 8/16/10 3:50pm
Msg #349171

I really appreciate everyone's response. I have taken everyone's advice into consideration. I will perform all non-work related notarizations either on lunch break or after working hours. This will allow me to keep my entrepreneurial responsibilities separate from my employement responsibilities which the latter does not include notarizing documents.

Reply by FlaNotary2 on 8/16/10 1:21pm
Msg #349155

Why charge her at all?

If this is your friend, I would just do it for free at her home or at some location outside work... you can only charge $2 per notarization in D.C. anyway. It does not sound like she is asking you to act as a signing agent - she just wants her papers notarized.

Reply by Stephanie_CA on 8/16/10 1:31pm
Msg #349160

Re: Why charge her at all?.not all co workers are friends...

I completely agree with Sharon's response.
Find out if it is a full signing; if so, explain there is no time during work hours to give full attention.
Ask if she would like to schedule an appointment - letting her know your fees.
Then, it is up to her.
I have a few, very few, Co Workers that I consider a friend.
I am easy to get along with, but in the corporate world it is difficult to a friend interested in friendship and not anything more.
just my opinion....

Reply by Bob_Chicago on 8/16/10 2:14pm
Msg #349165

I question if a NP in any state, who does not have some

other type of license, and who is hired by the borrower, can charge anything beyond state mandated notary fees for conducting a loan signing.

Reply by MW/VA on 8/16/10 3:26pm
Msg #349168

Re: I question if a NP in any state, who does not have some

I would think that is true if they have the docs, and only want the services of the NP for those specific pages, and there is no travel or special accommodation involved.
When it comes to general notary work, I don't charge friends. That is my discretion. The state only sets the maximum fee I can charge. I can charge anything up to that or nothing at all.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 8/16/10 4:13pm
Msg #349187

Lots of good points here. You mention that this person is a "coworker". I think you have to ask yourself how many other "coworkers" are there in your office/dept./building and do you want to set a precedent of providing free notary work in your spare time (for something you "get paid for doing outside of work") to all of them or not. Or do you in fact consider this person also a friend that you'd be interested in doing a favor for. I didn't get the impression this was the case.

If the question of fees comes up and you find out this co-worker is expecting to get the service for free, then you could simply tell the truth and explain how you realize that you probably shouldn't have done the other notarization on government time at all and won't be doing so again. And that this is a sideline business for you and your fees for this kind of service are...

If all DC allows you to charge is $2.00 per signature, I wouldn't think this person should have a problem with that. You are providing them a convenience and a service, even if it is somewhere outside of the building. I think the key thing is for you to decide on a policy and apply it consistently to ALL co-workers in your building.

Reply by MikeC/NY on 8/16/10 4:59pm
Msg #349199

You seem to be assuming that she wants you to go through the whole package with her; more likely, she just wants to get a few documents in the package notarized.

Since work rules don't allow you to do this during business hours, you should probably tell her to either meet you for lunch or immediately after work. I would ask her to pull out the documents that require notarization, and those would be the only ones I would look at - the rest of the package could be the size of "War and Peace", but who cares? I would also not charge for notarizing for a coworker - one good deed could possibly lead to referrals in the future for which you CAN charge a fee.