Posted by ajd/pa on 9/25/10 12:29pm
Msg #353961

General Notary question

Here's one for you all: A few weeks ago (sometime in Aug, can't remember off the top of my head). I did a notarization for a man to send some paperwork with a POA to sell his house in Canada. He called me this morning to report that the documents have not made it there and he needs to redo everything that we did before. How would you charge for this trip? Same as before or cut a travel break? I am just curious how some of you who do general work would do this.
Thanks!

Reply by James Dawson on 9/25/10 12:35pm
Msg #353963

Same job, same person, different day.

Reply by LKT/CA on 9/25/10 12:36pm
Msg #353964

If it were me, I'd give the customer a discount.....considering that he called *me* back rather than just going to the local UPS Store or AAA office.

Reply by npross on 9/26/10 1:01am
Msg #354075

I would give a discount as well. Its a repeat customer. A few bucks, maybe schedule him around your other app. in that same area.

Reply by Hugh Nations Signing Agents of Austin on 9/25/10 1:18pm
Msg #353968

I make it a point to tell every caller who wants general noatary work that I will be happy to help them, but there is a good chance they don't want me to do so. Then I explain that UPS offers notary services for $6 a signature. Most of the time they thank me, and elect the far cheaper option. If they *need* a mobile notary, then of course I help them out.

I hope in this case you have pointed out that far less expensive options are available, if they would work for the customer. If you have, and he still wants you to do it, then cut hm a discount; he will send you other customers in the future.

Reply by Donna McDaniel on 9/25/10 5:35pm
Msg #354012

Why would you send them to UPS?

I never tell people they can get it done cheaper somewhere else. I don't answer the phone so that I can point them towards less expensive options. They seek us out, we advertise to them, we want their money. Maybe it's just me...

Reply by Hugh Nations Signing Agents of Austin on 9/25/10 9:16pm
Msg #354043

Re: Why would you send them to UPS?

I am a mobile notary, and charge for that service. If someone is mobile and doesn't need the service of a mobile notary, I see no reason why they should have to pay more than eight times what UPS would charge. Especially if the prospective customer is not someone who normally deals with notary fees.

You wouldn't regard that as taking advantage of a customer?

Reply by Donna McDaniel on 9/25/10 9:52pm
Msg #354049

Nope

No, Hugh, it's business. I charge no more than allowed by law, 1/3 more than UPS, typical markup for any business is 33%. My travel fees are reasonable. Often I'll meet them halfway for less or if I'm on my way to Walmart or Lowes and you want to meet me there, no travel fee. I always give them my business card, and that leads to more business. NR cards, BTW, they're so cool!
Most people don't understand the real function of a notary, they are always surprised by the process and the requirements. They usually get an education on how important our function is in preventing fraud. If we ever want our profession to be as respected as we all know it should be, we need to be out there.
I went to my local UPS to have a document notarized once and the certificate on the doc was the basic one's we see all the time in loan docs, very little of the required information. The notary looked at my ID, signed his name, and stamped.
I don't have a cardboard sign outside my home with the word NOTARY hand written on it. I offer PROFESSIONAL notary services to the public, it says so on my business cards, so I charge more, to me that's just good business.

Reply by Hugh Nations Signing Agents of Austin on 9/26/10 12:36am
Msg #354070

Re: Nope

I don't walk out my door, Donna, for less than $50.

It is "just business" to you to charge someone a minimum of $44 over the $6 service they do need for a service they don't need? Without telling them they have an alternative?

That isn't "just business" to me. That's just plain unethical.

Reply by Donna McDaniel on 9/26/10 9:59am
Msg #354098

Re: Nope

The client calls me, a mobile notary (says so on my website), I give them my fee, they agree.


Some of your posts here are so outrageous, Hugh! I'm beginning to believe you make them only to entertain yourself or maybe you just like toying with the new kid on the block.

Have a nice day!

Reply by jba/fl on 9/26/10 10:04pm
Msg #354221

ROFL! n/m

Reply by Hugh Nations Signing Agents of Austin on 9/26/10 10:36pm
Msg #354225

Re: Nope

***Some of your posts here are so outrageous, Hugh!***

Yeah, gotta agree with that, Donna. In today's business climate, it is quite outrageous to try to avoid taking advantage of unsuspecting people. One could even compare a notary who overcharges to an SS that underpays, like, you know, those that you see so many forum participants complaining about.

Reply by CopperheadVA on 9/25/10 1:25pm
Msg #353974

My travel fee is very low already - I would charge the same as the first time. I meet most of my private jobs at the local Starbucks for $10 travel fee plus per notarization fee.

If something I had done on my notarization had been the issue, then I would re-do it at no charge.

Reply by LKT/CA on 9/25/10 2:39pm
Msg #353988

I believe the issue is.... n/m

Reply by LKT/CA on 9/25/10 2:42pm
Msg #353990

Re: I believe the issue is....

....whether or not to give a *repeat* customer a discount for the *same* job, considering the first job was completed a few months ago. Personally, I would.

Reply by Margaret Paddock on 9/25/10 5:56pm
Msg #354017

Re: I believe the issue is....

I am confused as to why the papers did not get delivered.
Did you not have a tracking # or did he mail them?
It certainly was not your fault either way so I am not sure
I would have lowered my price.

Reply by ajd/pa on 9/25/10 6:51pm
Msg #354030

Re: I believe the issue is....

Thank you to everyone who responded. The documents in question were mailed by the signer. I only showed up, notarized and witnessed a document and he took care of the rest. Somehow between here and Ontario (a suburb of Toronto, if I remember correctly), the envelope disappeared.
He is a "repeat" customer although when he asked what the fee would be, he said the same as before, so I don't think he is expecting a break. It may depend on what my mood is at 10:30 on a Sunday morning.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 9/25/10 9:22pm
Msg #354045

Re: I believe the issue is....

You kind of touched on what my reaction would be. It depends on many different circumstances: how convenient/inconvenient is the time they are requesting; how far do I have to travel; what kind of fee did we end up agreeing to on the first one (if I cut them a break already, I'd probably charge the same thing); what is their financial circumstances, e.g. if they are on a fixed income and paying again would be a hardship to them; and like you said, what's my mood, how tired am I, etc., etc.

My primary reason for being in business is definitely to make money, not to provide a free service, but I also like to be compassionate and helpful when a situation warrants it - within reason. Sometimes you just have to go with your gut, but those types of decisions are going to be different for every notary, as everyone's circumstances are different. Ultimately, you have to make your own judgment call.

Reply by Mary Ellen Elmore on 9/25/10 9:19pm
Msg #354044

I would charge my regular fee. It is not your fault.