Posted by Linda_H/FL on 1/18/10 12:33pm
Msg #318414

I applaud those of you who make good money in general

notary work - must be my neck of the woods but it boggles my mind....

Just got a call from a lady - what do you charge? I say "depends on what it is and where I'm going"....she says "general power of attorney" - okay...."that's $10 for the notarization and $25 minimum travel fee" - okay, thank you, I'll get back to you...click

People around here don't think they have to pay a notary...kudos to you who live where people realize notaries need to get paid...

Reply by PAW on 1/18/10 12:48pm
Msg #318418

I find that most locally grown folks (and businesses) around here understand it's not free. When I state that some banks may offer free notary service to their customers, they are bewildered. However, snowbirds, especially those from NY (just an observation of my experience) seem to think that our service is free and are surprised when I say "the fee for that service is $xx."

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 1/18/10 12:55pm
Msg #318420

The only ones who have been agreeable

and some even downright eager to pay for my services - are those who are sick, in the hospital, or are signing a will at the eleventh hour!! Then I feel bad charging them! Under normal circumstances though they are usually surprised that there's a fee involved...

Ugh

Reply by Roger_OH on 1/18/10 1:01pm
Msg #318422

I'm in a state capital, the 15th largest city in the U.S. But even in an urban setting, places like banks have increasingly shied away from providing general notary work, except for primo customers, and this trend was happening long before the FedEx court judgment.

Consequently, when people call me for mobile service, particularly during evenings, weekends or holidays, they have no problem with my travel fees (only $2 max for notarizations here).

I find that many people have no concept of what a notary is or does, only that they need one.

Reply by Vince/KS on 1/18/10 1:21pm
Msg #318429

I get many calls for general notary work and refer the vast majority of it away as there are typically much more cost effective ways to get the job done than using me out on the edge of the city. However, I'll get last minute calls on late Sunday afternoon wanting something done - right now. The latest was a large retailer's buyer going to China for a month. He wanted a poa that was already prepared sealed so that his wife could take charge, just in case. The plane left before dawn on Monday. So, I did a zip code search on this site and gave him five names closer to him than me (all folks that had recently updated profiles) and also this and another couple of web sites to find a notary. I asked him to call me back if none of them could do it and if he was willing to drive the 15 miles here - if need be. A half hour later he called for directions. He and his wife were very appreciative and willing to pay much more than a nominal charge.

Reply by Cari on 1/18/10 1:53pm
Msg #318435

IL is only a $1, and I do charge for travel...but it depends

on how far I'm going...$xxx is my usual charge, and if I have travel, more than 20 miles...otherwise in office general notary its $xx...notarial cert is another $25.00 thanks to our new law....notaryies now have to pay out of our pocket a $5 filing fee with the deeds office!

when I get questioned, I usually say that's our fee and stick to it...nothing free is given to me soooooo...

but for adoptions or the very sick, I usually give a great discount....

Reply by Cari on 1/18/10 1:56pm
Msg #318436

sorry for lame grammer n mispellings..what a mOndAy..:( n/m

Reply by Roger_OH on 1/18/10 3:58pm
Msg #318452

I don't discount for adoptions...

as I have to go to their docs' office, and not infrequently, have to wait a good while. Additionally, the adoptive parent(s) can write off their adoption expenses on their federal taxes, so I always give them a receipt for that.

I also give a good discount for veterans, and WWII vets are always free.

Reply by MikeC/NY on 1/18/10 5:13pm
Msg #318459

>> However, snowbirds, especially those from NY (just an observation of my experience) seem to think that our service is free and are surprised when I say "the fee for that service is $xx."<<

That's probably because a) most banks here offer free notary services, and some don't even require that you be a customer, and b) we can only charge $2 per signature notarized. I almost always get resistance to a travel fee here, at which point I suggest they check with their bank or the local UPS store. Sometimes they call back, if they're desperate. I had one call on New Year's Day last year, and they were more than willing to pay the travel fee because the document HAD to be notarized that day...

Reply by Notarysigner on 1/18/10 1:10pm
Msg #318424

In my area, people are often surprised to find out that a Notary (Mobile) will come to their location. Travel cost generally not an issue. Some will even tip you!

Reply by BobbiCT on 1/18/10 1:10pm
Msg #318425

Advertising FREE notary public services

Our Town Clerk just included a notice to EVERY resident in the local town news magazine that her office provides FREE notary public services .... just come in with government-issued id.

I cannot compete with unlimited free notary public services. Further, I see no point in paying for local advertising for notary public services when the Town Clerk is advertising the same services at no charge. Tuesday evenings, her two-person office is open until 7 pm, too.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 1/18/10 1:16pm
Msg #318427

Don't blame you one bit Bobbi...

I wouldn't do it either - even the Mailbox Stores and UPS Stores charge for the notary services.

My ad in the local advertiser (published weekly) was $2/week - it's the cheapest advertising I have around here, next to free - I took an ad for 10 weeks - last time I did this my first general notary call paid for the advertising - this time not so lucky.

Ah well - time to shift gears...

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 1/18/10 1:27pm
Msg #318431

Re: Advertising FREE notary public services

However, you provide mobile service and she doesn't. That's a big deal for a person who is not ambulatory.

Reply by Roger_OH on 1/18/10 3:53pm
Msg #318451

FREE notary public services - Agree, Shoshana...

There's still weekends, holidays, and all the other evenings she's NOT providing services, plus you have the mobile advantage.

I'd say it's worth at least a small ad, and putting your cards up around town.

Reply by BobbiCT on 1/19/10 6:33am
Msg #318501

Thanks for the encouragement BUT ...

At 35 cents maximum allowed under our law per mile, I don't travel (rather do a no fee notarization for a local person in hopes of "good will". (I've been fighting this minimal mileage amount for over 20 years. When the SOTS and legislature raised it from 25 cents per mile the IRS reimbursement rate was higher than 25 cents; they thought 35 cents was "fair."

Town Clerk's free notarization is in addition to: free at all local bank branches, free at Senior Citizen centers, free at local attorney offices, etc. Unlike the Clerk, they don't advertise free notary services, but word of mouth travels fast. I do get the odd "emergency" with just my website add, but for $5 do I really want the Saturday and Sunday night emergencies. I take them; last month I had two $5 notarizations at 8 pm at night because they wanted to get something in the next day's mail and I wasn't available before 6 am. I've also had quite a few non-customers - i.e., turns out they couldn't get a "free" notarization because their ID was no good, document was sketchy (notaries "didn't know what it was" so suggested find a notary who did), etc. If the FREE notary turns them away, do I really want the liability risk for $5?

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 1/18/10 1:16pm
Msg #318426

Well, that depends on your definition of "good money". With me, it's more like "beer money". I do collect enough to make it worth an effort, but if I were not semi-retired and had other money coming in, I could not live on it.
I pick up more than 1/2 of my general notary work through signs on my truck (PAW's website) and keeping my briefcase with me even when I am doing other work, or my sister-law's office is a couple of blocks away and I get a lot of work there when I just sit there to do other work, and put my "Notary Public Available Today" sign in the window. Both those instances, I just charge per signature, no travel fee as I am already there. I spend the same day each week at the office and that works pretty well. That way the people get use to that there is a notary at a certain place on a certain day.

When I get phone calls inquiring about fees, that is where I get the most complants about travel fees. "I can go to Mailbox Etc and only get charged $10." Well, sir, that's your choice if you want to leave work, spend the fuel and time to do that. The travel fee covers the convience of you not having to take time off from your day and covers my expenses such as fuel, insurance and other expenses plus a small profit.

Reply by Bob_Chicago on 1/18/10 1:18pm
Msg #318428

I only do general NP work on a probono basis. Illinois

notary law is silent on the matter of travel fees, and I , conservatively , interpret that
as a prohibition . We are only allowed to charge one whole dollar.
I usually tell them to go to a crurrency exchange or UPS store ( understand that
Fedex Office {Kinkos}no longer does notary work)
If I'm feeling charitable and get a call on Sunday or late nite that someone needs a minor's
travel permission (or some such doc ) executed for an early flight , I have them meet me
at the corner Mickey Ds. When they offer to pay, I suggest that they buy the kid an ice cream.

Reply by Cari on 1/18/10 2:05pm
Msg #318440

"notary law is silent on the matter of travel fees..."

it is silent, but I don't interpret that as "prohibited" not in the least. Even the XYZ company says the same, and indicates to those to expect a travel fee. When people ask why I charge what I charge, by the time I'm done explaning, they either understand or don't...simple.

I get many phone calls for general notary work and it pays to charge a nominal fee...its the traveling fee where I charge most...if they seem wary, I give them an alternative to come into the office, and they prefer coming in over paying for my travel or not getting their doc notarized at all.

UPS by me anyway, stopped notarizing docs as well as the few banks around me, even for the long time customers, so I am getting more biz in that area. I have clients coming in saying that their 'notary friend' won't touch certain certain docs out of fear...that still boggles the mind...but hey with the economy the way it is, I can use all the doe I can get....two kids in college, 14 in H.S. and a 7 year...got a family to feed myself...all by myself...u know...no regrets in charging from this end...

And Bob, please feel free to refer those clients to me....

Reply by MW/VA on 1/18/10 1:47pm
Msg #318433

I consider most of the general notary work that I do as a public service. I do charge a minimum of $25 w/travel. I also end up referring most of the calls I get to a local "mailbox" store where there is always a notary on duty. When it is a situation at a hospitals/nursing home, people are very grateful for the "mobile" service, and often make a very positive comment. IMHO, sometimes, the best "payment" is the feeling you have, knowing you did a good service to someone in need.

Reply by mtnotary on 1/18/10 2:05pm
Msg #318439

MT is a $1.00 state so I donate my time

When I lived in California 15 years ago I made a lot of money doing Notary signings. However, Montana is a $1.00 state so I don't find it cost effective to do Notary work. If they come out to my ranch I do it for free and tell them to pass it on. However I always suggest to them to try the UPS store or the pawn shops and banks in town that are closer to them and cheap too first.
If it is a Veteran I will travel to them for free as I feel that it is my Patriotice duty to give back to my country. I also have 2 sons in the Navy so I feel for the Veterans.