Posted by Art_PA on 3/4/10 1:57pm
Msg #325329

General Notary Referrals

It appears from a recent post that some of you refer people who do not want to pay your notary fees to UPS or to places which provide free service. Do you refer signing services or title companies to cheaper notaries?

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 3/4/10 2:02pm
Msg #325330

I don't know about "cheaper" -- but I always offer to give a number to another notary in the area. If I'm not available, I'm not available... and if I won't ever work for them, I won't ever work for them. I know there are one or two notaries in my area who take ridiculously low fees, like $50-$60 a pop ... so I don't really care.

Reply by John/CT on 3/4/10 2:11pm
Msg #325331

If they are available during banking hours, I always refer the caller to their local bank ... who would do it for free. ... can't get any cheaper than that. Works just about all the time, with the caller thanking me.

Reply by Charles_Ca on 3/4/10 2:13pm
Msg #325332

I don't refer, if they don't want to work with my fees

its not my job to do their shopping for them!

Reply by HARRY_PA on 3/4/10 2:21pm
Msg #325334

Local banks refer people to me. It is rare around here for banks to do outside notary work for customers or non customers for fee or free. Some branches do not have a notary at all.

Harry

Reply by trnsa_IL on 3/4/10 2:49pm
Msg #325336

I often inform people that their local bank typically has a notary in house who can help them for free. Most people are not aware of that fact.

IL only allows a 1.00 charge for a notarization, and I have notarized for free for people who drive to my house. I do, however, meet them in the driveway.

I have also performed general notary work for the home-bound elderly for free if they are nearby.

Also on rare occasions, I have performed general notary work for a flat fee which included travel and time for a local attorney who was working late and her office notary had gone home, or for people who are willing to pay the travel fee alone.

Typically I refer most all of the few general notary calls to local banks much to the delight of the caller. (FREE is the winning word!)

Reply by Maureen_nh on 3/4/10 11:04pm
Msg #325435

I have found that many of my general notary people won't show up on time or get get told by others that they can get free notary services some where else and don't show up or call.
Therefore I either am posistive they will be here or at home. I do send quite a few people to their local banks or AAA if they are a member.

Reply by Notarysigner on 3/4/10 3:32pm
Msg #325346

I don't refer them. I will reassure them they will be successful reaching someone who will agree to their price if they continue calling down the list.

Reply by MW/VA on 3/4/10 4:18pm
Msg #325360

IMO it's not the same thing. The calls I get for general

notary services usually have no idea that I'm a mobile notary & charge a travel fee.
Loan signings is where I make my money. I consider most of my general notary work to be a community service (Notary Public). If I had an office set up, that might be a different story. Our state notary fee is a maximum of $5. It's up to the caller to decide if they need my mobile services or not. I give them options. To me that just's good customer service.

Reply by LKT/CA on 3/4/10 5:01pm
Msg #325377

<<<Do you refer signing services or title companies to cheaper notaries?>>>

No, I do not. The general public usually is uninformed regarding mobile notary service and the travel fee charged. SSs and TCs have knowledge of mobile notaries and know how to find them.

Reply by Moneyman/TX on 3/5/10 10:58am
Msg #325473

<<Do you refer signing services or title companies to cheaper notaries? >>

Not my job to make it easier for these low ball companies jobs easier. So No, I do not refer them to other notaries. If they can't find someone to take their low fees, they might just have to call and accept my reasonable fees for the job. Doesn't happen often but it has a few times in the past.

Reply by RJE/MI on 3/6/10 8:15am
Msg #325699

Amen Moneyman! Y took the ....

Words out of my mouth! As much as we complain (and rightfully so) about these lowballers and as much as we would like them to understand that you get what you pay for. Why would any of us encourage the continuation of these low fees by telling a SS where they can find a low paying NSA?

More often than not I get a request from a SS at a low fee, state my fee, get told they need to find someone else, I tell them good luck (nicely) and wait for the call back from that SS willing to pay my fee.

That works a little better for me bc there are only a few NSA's that cover the same area I do. One of which excepts low fees that I DO NOT referr the SS to.

If I do give a referral because I'm not availabe it is to a NSA that only excepts fees that are in the same range as mine.

That's just my take on it.