Posted by GOLDGIRL/CA on 7/4/11 6:35pm
Msg #388552

Fed up!

I don't know how you notaries who rely on GNW (as opposed to loan signings) do it.
My experience is that practically everybody expects me to drop everything, meet them ASAP, notarize umpteen signatures and are shocked that I would charge. (Actually that kinda sounds like a SS)! Anyway, these GNW callers act like they expect it for free - or practically free. CA allows $10 per sig and when I told the guy today it would cost $40 for 4 sigs he gasped. I didn't charge him for any travel, though I had to drive for 15 minutes, not to mention this is a holiday! He had to go consult with his wife first. Oh, and they drove up in a big fat new shiny F250 truck!

By far the worst part is that the document(s) hardly ever have CA compliant verbiage - if any verbiage at all except: "Notary, sign and stamp here" and they completely freak out at the idea of my attaching a loose leaf or using my ack/jurat stamp on their doc. They are convinced the receiving agency will not accept it. I'm SO SICK of arguing with them about this after trying to explain to them why I can't just willy-nilly put my notary stamp on their document. Some are so freaked out that they absolutely refuse a loose ack/jurat or a jurat/ack stamp and just walk out - meaning no pay and wasted time.

These are the ones who actually show up. I've been stood up a few times - when I call and ask where they are, they say "We changed our mind." Then, there are those who say they need one signature notarized and show up with an entire loan package and want it done for $10. Etc. etc.

Whenever I get these calls, I tell them about UPS and thankfully most people are happy to know they can go there at their convenience - and where they know they'll have to pay something. But on Sundays and holidays, they call notaries. Think I'll shut off my phone.

I really admire you notaries who make $$ doing this while keeping your sanity. One other point: I don't charge military. Also, I have been at jobs where I ended up not charging cos I felt sorry for the people or they were young and I knew didn't have much money.

Way too much drama and trauma for me.

Reply by MichiganAl on 7/4/11 7:02pm
Msg #388553

I definitely find that general notary work is a pain in the rear more times than not. For every ten calls I get, maybe one turns out to be a legitimate job worth my time. I have many of the same experiences; people who expect you to drop everything right now no matter what time it is, people who don't want to pay a fair fee for the travel, people who have expired ID, people who want legal advice, etc. But the one problem I don't have any longer is not getting paid. I now make it very clear when I set up the appointment; I am paid for making the trip. If your ID is expired, or you don't have the proper witnesses, or the signer is unable to understand what they're signing, or anything else that isn't in my control, I am paid regardless. I've even heard others say they will ask for payment first before continuing. I haven't needed to go that far yet.

General notary work isn't how I make my living. For me, it's lunch money. Nothing more.

Reply by kathy/ca on 7/4/11 7:31pm
Msg #388554

I dont do gen. notary work unless a freebie for a friend.

I dont bother with it for all the reasons you mentioned. For me, it just isnt worth the hassle. I am not even doing much loan work anymore due to such low pay. I sure wish things hadn't changed so much in this line of work, for many years, I enjoyed the heck out of it.

Reply by Linda Juenger on 7/4/11 7:36pm
Msg #388555

Re: I dont do gen. notary work unless a freebie for a friend.

Just depends on what kind of deal you can fall into. Made $258 for about 8 hours of work for 1 day last week. That's $32 bucks an hour and no mileage. I would do that every day.

I too have not charged many many times. Just depends on the situation.

Reply by jba/fl on 7/4/11 7:50pm
Msg #388556

I have 2 places that I meet people for GNW - one about 1/2 mile, the other 1 mile. Both are near a shopping (for me) source so if something goes wrong I can grab some food or small items I may need anyway. I stress exactly what they need to bring, that I must be paid min. $10 fee to show up (only these 2 locations). Then we go from there. Like Al, lunch money. Not a living for sure. Almost always I make much more, but I have to have that guarantee. And usually I tell them when you get there or 5 mins. away, call me and I'll be there in 5 mins. I am not wasting my resources.

Reply by Lee/AR on 7/4/11 8:37pm
Msg #388557

Part of the problem--at least in this area--is that every bank has umpteen notaries who will notarize just about anything but Loan Docs for free for customers. People here are so accustomed to the freebie, that they find paying incomprehensible. I've actually had people say "Pay you? The state pays you!" I usually just tell them to go to their bank. And they do.

Reply by topflyt on 7/5/11 1:04am
Msg #388571

Most banks around here will notarize only loan docs and only if they are the lender!

Reply by HisHughness on 7/4/11 8:48pm
Msg #388558

I have decided I want a television set so big, I'm going to have to hire professional window washers with scaffolding to clean the screen.

I have a jar in my bedroom. I always try to get general notary work payment in cash, and when I get it, it goes into the jar. That jar is my "Bigger Than Life West Wing reruns/NCIS" jar. The only way I can justify that kind of expenditure on myself is for it basically to come out of "found" money, so that's the way I treat general notary fees. I'll let you know when they come to tear out the north wall to install the TV.

It is not, incidentally, that I am that enamored of TV that I have to have one the size of Kansas. I just want my aging eyes to be able to read all that stuff that trails across the bottom of the screen.

Reply by davidK/CA on 7/4/11 9:27pm
Msg #388560

Reading the stuff on the bottom of the screen...

That's what the pause button is for. Then you can take your time reading the often transparent text.

The advertiser has to post whatever or the FTC will sue them, but they don't really want you to read it.

Reply by SouthernOK on 7/4/11 9:32pm
Msg #388561

You know Hugh reads the fine print

then calls the poor "read from the script" agent at the other end of the phone line and grills them for kicks.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 7/4/11 10:57pm
Msg #388563

HisHughness on The Blessings of Piggy Banks. Publish. n/m

Reply by Ernest__CT on 7/5/11 12:08am
Msg #388564

General Notary Work

Many banks in my area have Notaries who will notarize for free, and some will even notarize at no charge for non-customers! The bank Notaries will not, however, notarize Powers of Attorney or Wills. Huh?r You'll notarize a Deed of Trust, but not a PoA?!r

Most PITA phone calls came from the phone book advertising. Now that I've dropped that, I get fewer calls but more real business.

It's amazing to me that somebody will call and absolutely have to have the document notarized within two hours, but will then question the fees, including exactly how many miles it will be. There are times when I want to ask "Do you want your signature on the document notarized or not?" Customer service, however, is too important for me to ask them anger-provoking questions.

Like many other situations, Notaries Public who do not charge at all are devaluing the notarial act and the profession for all of us. Respect your fellow Notaries even if you don't respect your own value.

Reply by GOLDGIRL/CA on 7/5/11 12:46am
Msg #388570

Re: General Notary Work

**Like many other situations, Notaries Public who do not charge at all are devaluing the notarial act and the profession for all of us. Respect your fellow Notaries even if you don't respect your own value.**

I agree with you, Ernest, but we must realize that only the stingiest of business owners/professionals would charge every single time for every single job. Even lawyers occasionally do "pro bono" work, and my neighbor dentist volunteers his services at free kiddie clinics. Not charging active duty military is my small way of saying thank you for their service. It doesn't mean I don't value mine. (Speaking of military personnel, Delta airlines is probably wishing it had thrown a bone to soldiers coming home from Afghanistan instead of charging than $3,000 in baggage fees.) Anyway, my other occasional freebie is for young men and women applying for CA correctional officer jobs. They're so grateful when at the end I say no charge, but I make it clear that they need to give me special treatment if I run into them on the job (hee hee! .... ya never know ....)

Anyway, I'm glad to know I'm not attracting all the buzzards and that other notaries have to deal with the same demanding people who expect first class service for fire sale fees. Well, I didn't mean I was glad other notaries have to deal with this, too --- I'm just glad I'm not alone!

Reply by Bob_Chicago on 7/5/11 10:25am
Msg #388586

Disagree with you on this one, Ermest

"Notaries Public who do not charge at all are devaluing the notarial act and the profession for all of us. Respect your fellow Notaries even if you don't respect your own value."
I have the deepest respect for my fellow Noaries and for my on value.
My state , however, limits my notarial charges to one whole dollar, and makes no mention of
the legality of charging travel or other ancillary fees. I interpret this as limiting my notarial charge to $1.
It is not worth my time to issue a receipt (required by law) nor to do the necessary bookkeeping to reflect the $1 allowed charge. I , therefore, do my GNW on a probono basis, if someone gives me a good enough sob story.
I would estimate that , at least in low fee states, in excess of 90% of Notaries obtained their commission because of a job requirement. I had no need for a commission, until I decided to become a NSA.
Illinois has numerous currency exchages available for public GNW, and ,more recently, UPS stores.

Reply by HrdwrkrVA on 7/6/11 5:10pm
Msg #388796

w/o reading the other posts, GoldGirl - ALWAYS chrg for

travel or let them come to you (maybe not such a good idea)

Reply by LKT/CA on 7/5/11 12:39am
Msg #388569

Wow, Goldgirl....that's unfortunate that GNW is such an ordeal for you. I have completely the opposite experience. I prefer it to loan signings - it's immediate cash in hand. No invoicing, no waiting 30 days.

In nearly 4 years, I've only been stood up once and maybe a handful of times the ID was not current - even though on the phone, they told me it was. Considering I'm going on my 6th journal, 70% of which is GNW, it's been very lucrative. Many of the people I notarize for are repeat customers.

I cannot remember if ever anyone complained about being charged a fee - they know it's not free. Not sure why the people who call you expect notary service for free...very bizarre. I don't argue with people about certificates - I tell them what I can legally do and that the recipient of their doc doesn't get what they WANT - they get what the law allows, period. Never had anyone say they have one doc and show up with more. During the initial call, the first question is "What is do you charge?" After I ask a few questions, the way I quote the fee is like this: You say that you are the ONLY signer, and you have two documents, is that correct? Okay, since you're the ONLY signer, and you have ONLY two documents, the fee will be $20." If they were to show up with more signers and more docs - I would require the entire fee for all docs and all signers up front and in cash to ensure I am not notarizing <for free> what wasn't discussed on the phone.

I've learned the questions to ask and the techniques to use to ward off the freeloaders.

Reply by Notarysigner on 7/5/11 1:35am
Msg #388572

Ditto GoldGirl

I do free notarization at our local Senior center on Weds (AM). Did one last Weds, client calls me Sun and comes over today and has me do two Docs, pays me $20.00 and tips me $20.00, 10 mins. Last Tues, six Doctors at a clinic sign six prepared Docs, $130.00, $20.00 tip, 20 mins. Corner grocer has me sign two Doc, $20.00 and free six pack, five mins. Health fair for County Seniors, called by Social Services, $180.00 3 hours and handed out two hundred business cards to various agencies. Proctored an exam, 15 mins $65.00. Oh yea, loan signings, one ($125.00), 250 pages 35 miles round trip 3 hours total, haven't been paid for that yet. It's really tough out there.

Reply by Alz on 7/5/11 7:34pm
Msg #388661

That's why I love, love, love, GNW! n/m

Reply by Alz on 7/5/11 7:32pm
Msg #388660

I'm little late to the party, but must agree with you about

what questions to ask and techniquest to use.

Most of my GNW is ironically repeat business with a few small to medium size companies. Because of the relationships establishd an invoice is always submitted.

I generally will refer the freeloaders, shoppers, and scouts to UPS.

Reply by ikando on 7/5/11 9:59pm
Msg #388677

I also do general notary work, mostly in nursing homes and hospitals. The calls I get from either my ads in the phonebook or online, usually start with, "How much do you charge?"

I used to say, "How long is a piece of string?" Some got it; some didn't.

Then I ask questions similar to LKT, and determine what I'm expected to notarize. I've had one person who told me he had one document to be signed by a third party, but when I got there, the caller presented 3! When I told him the fee would be more, he said, "Talk about upcharging at the end." I said, "I quoted you for 1 doc. You gave me three." He threw the money at me and left with his notarized documents, never to be heard from again.

The calls that bug me are those wanting to know how to become a notary. I always refer them to the SOS site. It just bothers me that they couldn't do their own research.

Reply by CopperheadVA on 7/5/11 7:25am
Msg #388574

I, too, have had a few no shows and late-shows for GNW. Thankfully it doesn't happen often but it seems that when it does happen, it happens a couple of times in a row. I have taken to telling people that I've had a a few no-shows so please call or text me if you need to cancel. I find that my GNW comes in spurts - I'll have a dry spell followed by flurry of GNW calls. I get most of my GNW business from my website that people find through a Google search, and I have my rates posted there and most do read it and are aware when they call or email me. I meet most people at the local Starbucks for a very low travel fee, plus $5 per notarization allowed by my state of VA. I have learned not to quote a total on the phone because many times people will minimize the number of notarizations they need or they simply do not realize how many notary certificates are on their documents. I tell them I charge the travel fee plus $5 per notarization and leave it at that.

I sometimes get business referred from the local pack & ship store, when the owner/notary there is not familiar with a document then she will refuse to notarize. She also will not notarize wills. She referred a job to me the other day that was to be used in court regarding a divorce and involved a witness signature (the guy brought his own witness), and the guy needed 8 seals. That was $40 + travel fee in my pocket that the pack & ship notary threw away just because those documents were out of the norm from what she usually sees. She says she usually gets people bringing in mail-away loan packages, retirement account spousal signatures, permission slips for medical treatment for daycare, etc.

In any case, at $5 per seal and with the flaky nature of some people, GNW is not super lucrative for me. Like others, it's just pocket money.

Reply by FlaNotary2 on 7/5/11 7:48am
Msg #388575

If you aren't willing to do general notary work

then you should not have become a notary. The whole point of the office of Notary Public is to serve the PUBLIC. Every notary should have a neutral place where they will perform routine notarizations for their standard, state-mandated fee, without travel fees added.

If you think General Notary Work is a pain in the butt, then why on earth did you become a notary? This office was established to SERVE the public, not PROFIT from them.

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 7/5/11 8:18am
Msg #388576

So, you ask a hospice patient to meet you at Starbucks? n/m

Reply by FlaNotary2 on 7/5/11 8:53am
Msg #388579

Is that what I said?

I said every notary SHOULD HAVE a neutral place that they offer - I didn't say "Make all of your customers meet you at this neutral place".

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 7/5/11 8:42am
Msg #388577

Re: If you aren't willing to do general notary work

"Every notary should have a neutral place where they will perform routine notarizations for their standard, state-mandated fee, without travel fees added."

Not always possible, Robert, especially for those notaries (like me) who are very rural - also is heavily dependent on the signer's circumstances. And no notary should have to travel for free - there's no travel consideration in the $10/notarization.

Reply by HisHughness on 7/5/11 9:53am
Msg #388584

Wow. This is a stretch even for you, Robert.

***Every notary should have a neutral place where they will perform routine notarizations for their standard, state-mandated fee, without travel fees added.***

I know of nothing in my state law, SOS regulations, or commonsense that would mandate such a requirement. I suspect your pro-general notary bent is morphing into an anti-signing agent inclination.

I provide a service, a service that is often quite valuable to the recipients because I make myself available to them at <their> chosen location at any time on any day of the week, including holidays. <My> service kicks in when and where <other> services leave off. And you're telling me that because I do that, I am also expected to make myself available in the same fashion as the other services?

You need to increase your consumption of fish oil, or blueberries, or whatever you use for brain food, Robert, because the current quotient isn't working.

Reply by MW/VA on 7/5/11 10:48am
Msg #388589

There is nothing that requires someone to be available to

the public at all hours of the day or night & anywhere. Yes, we serve the public, but that's subject to interpretation. I know many NSA's who don't do general mobile notary work. I accommodate when I can, or refer the caller to a convenient location (typical pack & ship store) if they don't actually need someone to come to them. I'm not required to do that, and I'm not required to do anything as a notary, for that matter. I do have an obligation to follow my state's notary laws & charge the maximum fees allowed.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 7/5/11 11:02am
Msg #388591

I limit general notary work to my own home county

simply because of the distance involved. That does not mean I don't get calls for out-of-county work - and in those cases I make suggestions to the signer for cheaper alternatives (their bank, local pack n ship, UPS store) or will search online for them for a notary closer to their location. I never just say "Sorry I can't help you", end of story - I always help them find someone and end with "If you can't find someone closer get back to me and we'll see what we can work out".

Had one today for a VIN Verification outside my county - I referred her to the Sheriff's Office because I know they come out and do it for free - where I'd have to charge her to go to her.

Our manual does specifically state that we can refuse the notarization if it requires us to travel to another location.

Reply by Treasure Valley Notary - Tina on 7/5/11 11:12am
Msg #388593

I am a LSA First!

I didn't become a notary to do general notary work (are you kidding me? The signer can go to UPS, their bank, etc around here). I became a loan signing agent (before the rush) and got my commission to do my work. Here in the state of Idaho the fee is $2. I am not going out of my way to offer my services as a notary. You said that we do this to serve the public, and that may be true to a certain extent, but it is at MY convenience. Most of the time I don't charge, especially the military, police, fire, teachers, etc. Seems kind of silly for a whole $2.

As far as profit goes. I should be getting more than $2 per notarization just due to the expenses I have in maintaining my commission, if I were JUST a notary. You may feel the way you do and that is fine. But not everyone becomes a notary to serve the public as you say. And as a notary, if I leave my office (which is out of my house and it is an actual office, but I don't allow walk in traffic) I will charge travel fees. This is what works for my business plan. I realize that your business plan is set of different criteria, which is fine. But don't tell me, or the others here, what a notary is to be or not to be.

And don't even get me going in regards to my commission in Oregon. IF you think I'm not charging travel fees to go a minimum of 60+ miles . . .

Reply by MichiganAl on 7/5/11 11:35am
Msg #388597

I typed up my response before I saw your response

But we seem to have the same exact points. So we must both be right.

Reply by FlaNotary2 on 7/5/11 11:45am
Msg #388600

NO, you are NOT a signing agent first, and if that

is your philosophy than it is time to hang up your commission.

I didn't say that no one should charge travel fees. I said that every notary should OFFER a "come-to-me-and-no-travel-fee" place where they will meet client's for notarizations without travel fees.

Reply by Treasure Valley Notary - Tina on 7/5/11 2:51pm
Msg #388622

Free Course - Business Planning

How dare you tell me to hang up my commission. Whether you like it or not, I only got my commission to become a LSA. I didn't get it to be a public service to anyone and everyone. I don't own a store front, nor will I. But I will let you know I am a fantastic commissioned notary. I know not only Idaho law but Oregon law. I take my responsibilities very serious. So much so I have been asked by Idaho law makers to teach notary classes. (Maybe, maybe not - haven't decided yet)

I am MOBILE (I leave my office the client pays for it - with the exceptions that I stated in my other post, which also includes women's shelters, the elderly and a few others - but it is my choice not theirs). It is that simple.

Once again I will tell you . . . it works for my business plan. Since you seem to have a hard time understanding that, I am going to offer to you a FREE course on running your own business and how to write a business plan. If you would like to take me up on it I will give you the location and dates. I seriously would recommend you taking that and also a couple of other courses on communication skills. My training center offers those courses as well as many others.

Reply by FlaNotary2 on 7/5/11 8:04pm
Msg #388665

LMAO! As if I would want business advice from you.

I do quite well, thank you - and I would hate to see someone with such a complete disregard for the import of the notarial office actually educating other notaries. I run my business just fine and certainly don't need your "expertise"

Reply by MichiganAl on 7/5/11 11:25am
Msg #388594

Re: If you aren't willing to do general notary work

So someone becomes a notary just so they can do mortgage closings, that's unacceptable? We must also do general notary work or we shouldn't have become a notary? We don't get to choose how to run our own business and what services to provide? Utterly preposterous. And every notary should have a place where they perform services without a travel fee? So I can't just be a MOBILE notary and offer a service the local banks and UPS stores don't? Not a very smart business plan.

Robert; as soon as I walk out my front door, I'm traveling. And since I choose not to have strangers in my house, every job I do includes a trip. Even if I'm meeting someone three blocks away, I'm packing up my stuff, walking or driving to a location, sitting and waiting for them to show up, signing, and traveling back home. Darn right there's a travel fee. Don't know about your business, but I'm in business to make a living. They want to pay the state mandated fee? They can go to their bank or the UPS store or the post office or wherever else they can find a notary during business hours. I always give them that option. But if they want me to meet them somewhere, usually after hours, and usually on short notice, there's a travel fee for that.

Reply by FlaNotary2 on 7/5/11 11:50am
Msg #388601

Re: If you aren't willing to do general notary work

>>>So someone becomes a notary just so they can do mortgage closings, that's unacceptable?<<<

Yes, IMO. The worst signing agents are the ones who got their commission just to do loan signings - because they usually have half-ass knowledge in both notary practices and in loan signing practices.

JMHO.

Reply by Bob_Chicago on 7/5/11 12:20pm
Msg #388610

notary just so they can do mortgage closings,..unacceptable?

Many of the NPs on this board, (including me) became NPs for the sole purpose of
doing loan signings.
I assure you that most of us have (full -ass ) knowledge of of our states notary and loan signing practices. I find your accusation insulting, to say the least.
You apparently became a NP in order to hold you para-legal position, which is an acceptable reason.
Few , if any, people have the ambition to become a NP due the the high prestige of the profession. Personally, when I was a little kid, I wanted to be a cowboy, but it just never worked out.
I would estimate that well in excess of 90% of NPs, obtained their initial commission as a condition of employment. That does not mean that they failed to obtain the necessary knowledge to fullfill their NP duties in accordance with the laws of their state.
I will mail you a chewing gum wrapper. You can use it to write down all that you know about NSA loan signing practices ( other than what you may have gleaned by reading this board.

Reply by MikeC/NY on 7/5/11 4:25pm
Msg #388634

Re: notary just so they can do mortgage closings,..unacceptable?

"I will mail you a chewing gum wrapper. You can use it to write down all that you know about NSA loan signing practices ( other than what you may have gleaned by reading this board. "

OK, but what's he going to do with the other 95% of the wrapper?

Reply by MichiganAl on 7/5/11 1:25pm
Msg #388616

Re: If you aren't willing to do general notary work

We can't be good signing agents unless we're good notaries as well.

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 7/5/11 12:08pm
Msg #388605

Re: If you aren't willing to do general notary work

But Robert - what about the notaries who became notaries because of where they work? Their employer required they became notaries. They didn't become notaries just to serve the public, they became notaries because their job required it.

Reply by FlaNotary2 on 7/5/11 12:11pm
Msg #388607

Re: If you aren't willing to do general notary work

Well that is my situation - I became a notary for my place of employment, but that is irrelevant. I have my office as a neutral location. If someone walks in during normal business hours, and I am here, I can perform the notarization and charge $10 without a travel fee.

I am not saying there is anything wrong with traveling. I am saying that every notary should have a particular place - whether they have business hour restrictions or not - where people can come and get things notarized without a travel fee.

Reply by Lee/AR on 7/5/11 12:20pm
Msg #388609

Re: If you aren't willing to do general notary work

Heh... the first commission I had was paid for by my employer. Tho' it never happened, I am absolutely positive that had I ever notarized for the general public at my job or attempted to take the seal home so I could notarize in a neutral location after work, I'd have found myself without a job real quick. Had I attempted to argue the point--same deal. It may not be right, but it surely IS.

Reply by MW/VA on 7/5/11 3:20pm
Msg #388624

No, IMO it isn't irrelevant that you are a notary as part of

your employment. In reality, your employer is paying your fees through your paycheck. There's no connection to those who are self-employed, and the use of a notary commission is party of that business, as in a NSA.
I'm wondering who the h#$l you think you are, telling anyone to "hang up their notary commission". I'm wondering if remarks like that would constitute having YOUR notary commission removed in FL.
I don't think the high horse you ride on came with your notary commission.

Reply by 101livescan on 7/5/11 9:11am
Msg #388582

Maybe because there are so many senior people in my county who live well into their 90s quite lucid but not very mobile, I get a lot of requests to visit their homes with family in attendance to notarize POAs and grant deeds, trying to tidy up things as part of end of life process.

It's not a majority of my notary work, but I'd say a third. It will stay constant, however, and who knows what the heck will happen to loan work in the coming months. It's why I began live scan fingerprinting service. It is constant, and the worse the world becomes, the more agencies and private companies will turn to LS fingerprinting as part of the hiring and contracting business.

I think stating up front what travel fees are involved as well as identifying how many signatures/documents, etc. will make this a viable service. I will always provide this service as it was the reason for becoming a notary in the first place, long before the GB act became law and the role SIGNING AGENT came into play some 12 years ago. I did have a client who had the expectation that I would travel to them and do one signature for $10. I told them they could visit AAA, their bank, or UPS store for this service, not worth my time.

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 7/5/11 11:06am
Msg #388592

It's a dirty job, but someone's got to do it!

A person can pretty well screen out those stinky jobs during the initial phone call by asking the correct questions. I simply state my fees, and require cash in advance (unless it's a senior home, attorney or someone else I regularly do business with. You have to use discression here.), and when if I am as to do work at a local prison, then I also have an hourly fee, two hours cash in advance, with a refund, should it not take that long.

We have a lot of senior citizens in the area who are not too mobile and many live in a senior home of one kind or another. The operators of the homes tell me that they are having trouble finding notaries to travel to their locations to do the work. I do get many calls to these homes and normally don't charge travel fees. And a lot of times ... well, Call it my payback to society, what ever. Lately, I have been out of town a lot, and I actually have a busy schedule the next couple of days. A few of the senior homes actually waited for me to get back this week and scheduled accordingly. I may not get rich, but it's a good time with a free lunch at least.

My concern is that if all you competent notaries bail out on general work, especially when it comes to Senior America who may not be very mobile, then we will be leaving it to the same idiots that have given the loan signing business such a bad name. I have found that it's relatively simple to screen out the idiot customers and send them to the mail stores during the initial phone contact.

Reply by Notarysigner on 7/5/11 11:52am
Msg #388602

Re: It's a dirty job, but someone's got to do it!Yes!

In my neighborhood there are no grocery stores, gas stations, AM/PM OR bus service you can count on. Seniors who don't have transportation or simply SOL......Some cannot even spell NOTARY. I love the help I can provide and I feel great about it. Last night I was paid with a roll of quarters (which they had intended to use at a laundry Mat), I gave it back!

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 7/5/11 12:30pm
Msg #388613

I think it's probably your people screening ability...

Like several of the others, I have no issue with general work. In fact, it makes up the majority of the work that I do - and a significant portion is reduced or free since I live in an areas with lots of seniors and military folk.

Thing is, I ask them questions ahead of time and I can generally tell if they're serious or just looking for a deal. I keep a list of pack-n-ship and AAA numbers to refer them to if they don't want to pay my fee. I happily refer them to those places... and in many cases, those places have contacted me and asked for my card so they can refer after hours/mobile service. Works great.

Out where I am, it's very difficult to find a notary in general... and for those that are stuck at home for some reason? My mobile services are worth it to them. It's especially true this time of year when temperatures are over 100 degrees in the desert -- people just don't want to leave the house during traditional notary hours. Bonus for me, too. I grew up in this heat and my car has A/C. I'm good.

Finally, what makes things tough, for me, is that my city business license prevents anyone from coming to my home for service. I'm a home-based/mobile business (I even have to drive around with a city bus license sticker on my car). They know that I'm a strictly mobile service. However, since it's a small town and I know people... I have been able to make arrangements with a couple of business owners to allow me to meet customers at their location. The businesses advertise that they have a Notary available during certain times when I can can make a quick drive over to the shop. I charge them $10, and give the shop owner 5-10% of whatever I make. They both love the arrangement because those customers usually stay put and buy something else while they're there. It works well for me.

Reply by ikando on 7/5/11 10:12pm
Msg #388682

Re: I think it's probably your people screening ability...

I like your idea, Marian, of having a cooperative effort with the shops. Win-win. I'll have to see who I can coop with.