Posted by pat/WA on 6/16/10 3:41pm
Msg #341249

Courier service

I have been asked to bypass FED EX or UPS and courier the documents after the signing to the Title company.
This is something new for me. I would like to know if others have done this, what they charged for this service and if a special permit or license is required. If so, do you advertise that you offer this service.
Could be a money maker!

Reply by John/CT on 6/16/10 3:49pm
Msg #341251

From my experience (as a former Mail Boxes, Etc. owner), there are private courier services ... usually in the same metro area ... that will pick up and deliver the same day. Can be somewhat pricey. Yes, it "Could be a money maker!" ... for the owner of the service.

Reply by Linda Juenger on 6/16/10 4:04pm
Msg #341257

Re: Courier service n/m

Reply by Linda Juenger on 6/16/10 4:04pm
Msg #341258

sorry n/m

Reply by pat/WA on 6/16/10 4:18pm
Msg #341261

My question is:
Could courier service be an additional service offered by the notary at an additional cost?

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 6/16/10 4:29pm
Msg #341264

I don't see why not.

Notaries do that all the time on a casual basis for more money.
If you want to regularly offer that service, For any rules, regs, insurance, etc you need to check with people in your state.

Reply by Alz on 6/16/10 10:28pm
Msg #341323

I certainly agree, as I have been

asked by a new client to merely delivery checks to various contractors and notarize the release of liens if the contractor did not have the document notarized.

Reply by MW/VA on 6/16/10 4:31pm
Msg #341266

I think you need to decide if the time is worth the money. You didn't say how far you were expected to courier those docs. Considering UPS/Fedex charge $25/$30 for overnight services, what could you expect to charge to deliver the docs. BTW, I have sometimes delivered docs to a local tc at no additional charge.

Reply by aanotary on 6/16/10 4:36pm
Msg #341270

Re: Courier service? never worked for me-

My experience with this has not been good- Title and signing companies want this done for free. I just quit working for a SS that I had done a ton of business for. They wanted to offer " exceptional service " to the Title company- only problem was - they want "ME" to pay for it by driving for free. The more I did, the more they expected and never any extra $$ And just a side note- this is the SS that was discussed in great length here in the last 2 days........

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 6/16/10 4:33pm
Msg #341267

I've done this...

I have one local TC wherein I pick up the docs from their office and return them personally. But, it's a local office and I am paid for it as part of my service.

I have also personally delivered docs to certain offices in situations where it was necessary. And, yes... I was paid for it. For those situations I charged a flat rate of $1.50 per mile. It's much more expensive than FedEx, but in each of those circumstances they got their docs quickly.

I also do occasional courier stuff for attorneys here in town, and it usually runs them between $15 and $50 a pop. It's not anything I do as a regular thing, thing... just an added services for companies I already have a relationship with.

Reply by pat/WA on 6/16/10 4:36pm
Msg #341271

Re: I've done this...

Do any of you advertise this service?

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 6/16/10 4:49pm
Msg #341275

Re: I've done this...

Not really... no, because I don't consider myself to be a courier. However, my I do mention it once in awhile if I can see it could be a benefit to someone, and I do have a written fee schedule made up for it if I'm asked.

I don't directly go out and advertise that way, though... I just think that for some notaries it is a natural extension or added service. Much like how some notaries offer to handle the apostille/authentication process for a document.

Reply by Les_CO on 6/16/10 8:44pm
Msg #341315

Re: I've done this...

I have many times ‘dropped off’ the signed package” to local Title Companies. I’ve always done it for free. It’s usually the next morning, and this Title Office is only about a mile further than the FedEx, or the UPS store. Although I admit there is one title company that’s about 14 miles from me, and I always drop of the signed package…just as a service. They are good people, pay on funding (or not) and I do maybe 3 a month. Not a lot of business, but good business.

Reply by MikeC/NY on 6/16/10 6:11pm
Msg #341294

I've done it for a local title company, but it's probably not something you want to get into on a regular basis because they expect you to do it as a "favor" - which is fine if they're close by, not so fine if you have to go out of your way.

As far as what to charge if you're considering offering it as a service - look in the Yellow Pages for a local courier service and pose as a potential customer to find out what they charge to go from point A to point B. I know it's not cheap, but what you're selling is same day delivery...

Whether or not a permit or license is required depends on your local laws. You may also need to purchase additional insurance, so you should factor that into your decision.

Reply by CF on 6/16/10 7:37pm
Msg #341301

I have done it in the past and will no longer do it! It takes a lot more time to go and "pick up docs" then to print them out yourself. Additionally, the office was out the way for me to drop them back too. This title company went out of business...it was a PITA.

Just email them to me....I print and then I drop. BTW...they did not like my $25.00 additional charge for personal couriering service. I did not think that it was worth the $25.00..or $50.00 to be honest. The office was not centrally located...and it jacked up my travel for other appointments. Which, ultimately, leads to profitability issues with other orders. If it would have been 2 miles from my home...then sure no problem....but that was not the case. I would have to say that it added 45 minutes to 1 hour to my day...and that could be a whole other order....much more than $25.00. Agree with others it becomes more of a "favor".

Reply by MistarellaFL on 6/17/10 7:05am
Msg #341336

I do, and this is how I charge (about 18 miles RT)

Recording Services, Sarasota or Charlotte Counties:

$25 Per Trip, 1 Document.

Each Additional Document $10
Each Additional Trip $25

Reply by Susan Fischer on 6/17/10 3:11am
Msg #341331

Precisely, MikeNY. And, not to denigrate the happy campers

at the doc delivery locations by providing 'instant gratification' of a completed stack, but one can also note a lack of acknowledgement for the Above And Beyond service. Ah! How quickly they forget...

I've checked the courier fees locally, and my travel fees are pitiable in comparison - and when you add the value of the bottom line? The expertise of the experienced remote closers? Doen'st even compare.

Reply by SharonMN on 6/17/10 4:20pm
Msg #341421

I have long maintained that the charges for notary signing agent service should be at LEAST what a legal courier charges, taking into account that the NSA job usually doesn't involve volume (a legal courier can charge 6 clients $50 to take something to the courthouse and drop them all at once), and that the NSA typically offers more service than a legal courier who would just hand the client the document in an envelope and have them sign it.

You are already acting as a courier in taking documents to the borrower and to the FedEx box. The only difference is whether the mileage is more so you might need to charge more.