Posted by Susan/CA on 7/6/11 3:36pm
Msg #388774

Just got the dreaded call from Service Link! :(

Wow..I had begun to think maybe after all of my 10 years of loyal service to S.L. they would spare me from their new rules! I was on the phone with my brother when they called and said they had something to talk with me about. I told the young lady I belieive I may know what you are going to ask me. I was correct, she said it was about the economy yadda, yadda, yadda and I cut her short and said I will not go any lower on my fees. They are as low as I will go. She said well, then don't expect any calls from us anymore and I said that is fine, gas is expensive, food is going up, all my business costs are going up now is not the time to lower my fees if anything I should raise them a few bucks. She said they have plenty of notaries in my area that are accepting the new fees of 45.00 for overnight packages and 10.00 extra for edocs! OMG...please tell me she is lying and no one is accepting these fees!!!???? I said absolutely not, if things are this bad I may as well get a regular job. She said...okay....I tried to act tough and like I really didn't care but S.L. has been a constant reliable monthly source of income for me. I was getting about 6-10 calls a month from them. It was a large part of my house payment. I noticed a significant drop in May and last month I only got 2 calls for mod's for them so I am assuming they are getting notaries to work for peanuts. With all the changes in the market I was getting worried, but this has truly burst my bubble and I am now extremely worried. I am a R.E. agent as well, and I am now seriously considering getting my NLS (not sure if that is the correct acroynm) to start doing loans. Here in S.CA although its not like it once was (what is like it once was) it is still a reasonable source of income. Well...I hope S.L. is bluffing me and I get calls from them at least when no one else is available, but I am not holding my breath...

Sadly stepping off of my soapbox..

Thanks for letting me vent.. :"(

Susan

Reply by kathy/ca on 7/6/11 3:51pm
Msg #388776

Susan, I too am in So. Cal and got exactly the same call.

They were one of my best clients but not now, I will not work for so little money. Time for changes to be made I am afraid.

Reply by Lee/AR on 7/6/11 4:02pm
Msg #388783

Don't drink the KoolAid...

Methinks they are just playing us because volume is down for them/us/everyone. If they can find a few who will work for peanuts, well, it's extends their own life a bit. Do they care if the peanut-picker falls by the wayside? I don't think so because they'll always have us if/when business picks up. If not, they'll be a whole new flock whose bones they can pick.

Reply by JandB on 7/6/11 4:32pm
Msg #388790

Re: Don't drink the KoolAid...

I agree. I rec'd the call while driving so asked them to call me back. I intended to tell them "no way" but they never called back. In the original call it was $55 per signing and that would include e-docs. I was told I would be the 1st notary called for my county if I agreed to the fee. It's a big county and I don't cover the whole thing for my full fee so that means they would be ringing my phone all the time only to hear me say it's too far for the money. They never called back so I assume they found somebody.

So, whoever you are, go ahead and allow them to work you into the ground. I'll take the 2nd call for my full fee. If that does not work out then I will move on to work for others.

Reply by notary4az2 on 7/6/11 4:08pm
Msg #388785

Regretfully, the signing services are cutting notary fees to the bone. I have also seen my mobile notary business go by the wayside after 6 yrs and will have to find another means of income. It has been heartbreaking as I have loved doing this work through all its changes. There are notaries in all parts of the country that are accepting lower fees to just keep those companies as clients. I will not be joining them because as alot of other notaries have said here that I cannot afford to pay the signing services to do work for them.

Reply by CopperheadVA on 7/6/11 4:10pm
Msg #388787

They just sent me an email soliciting me for e-sign assignments. I have never worked with them before so I guess they are trying to recruit new blood that will work on the cheap. I looked at the packet just for grins, but I have no intention of filling it out. No mention of fees offered in the packet, but it did say that I would have to pay for a BGC.

Reply by Jack/AL on 7/6/11 5:08pm
Msg #388794

SL has been calling me with the $45 offerings for a couple of weeks. Just got a call for a Friday evening signing for $45, with overnighted docs. I'll just enjoy staying at home on Friday evening. Nice lady explained that she'll have to call others to try to find someone for $45. That's fine by me.

Reply by Moneyman/TX on 7/6/11 5:11pm
Msg #388797

Think about it, Susan. She is lying.

"She said they have plenty of notaries in my area that are accepting the new fees of 45.00 for overnight packages and 10.00 extra for edocs!"

Really? Then why bother you, or anyone else since they have "plenty" of low ball accepting notaries that do now know their own worth working for less than peanuts? She just wants you to doubt yourself. I refused to lower my fees last year for them.

WHEN Service Link does call me, they meet my fees (which are going up, at least for them). I can do that because I know that when they call me, they are out of low ball accepting notaries and they have to start calling SAs that understand their services are valuable and therefore do not price them as though they are on a clearance rack.

I have a few companies that used to be good customers that now only call when they are in a bind. They are charged FULL price for every service they request. "Helping them out" will not net me, or anyone else they use that way, any additional business. I know as soon as that particular job is completed, they will again call their $50 notaries first. That's ok. I'll gladly take my $150-$200+ for the one job that they "have" to call me on. Why should I lower the one shot deals to $90-$100? Even at that low fee, they will not be calling me again unless the "have" to.

Reply by Moneyman/TX on 7/6/11 5:14pm
Msg #388799

Oops ..do now know should be "do NOT know" (2nd paragraph) n/m

Reply by Pamela Brownlee on 7/11/11 3:24pm
Msg #389369

Re: Think about it, Susan. She is lying.

You know, they are still getting paid the same amount of money, so why shouldnt we? They haven't reduced their fees. I know; I asked USAA.

Reply by Dorothy_MI on 7/6/11 5:12pm
Msg #388798

My answer to them was

When she said that they were cutting fees so they could stay in business, my reply was, "If I start accepting calls for those fees, I will be out of business. She went on to say that someone at SL had done a study and determined that it only cost us $5.00 to print the docs! I did a quick calculation and determined that they are right if you only count the the cost of paper and toner. No consideration for our fixed costs. I just did a calculation for a job they wanted me to do for $45.00. 15 miles each way = $15.09 for call expense (what the IRS allows and they are NOT generous) plus $3.00 for paper and toner = gross profit of $23.00. Now this job would take me approx. 2-1/4 hrs (30 minutes each way, 45 minutes for signing, print time 15 min, dropping docs and updating status - 15 min. This is less than $10.00 per hour.

I also told SL that I can read a HUD as well as anybody and I don't see fees going down to the borrowers or the appraisers or for title insurance, only for the NSA. She said she would pass on what I said to management.

I guess they are so used to getting part timers who can print at work and are doing this for pocket money, not realizing that we have a business to run also and must at least break even or we can't continue to subsidize them.

Reply by MikeC/NY on 7/6/11 6:08pm
Msg #388803

"She said they have plenty of notaries in my area that are accepting the new fees of 45.00 for overnight packages and 10.00 extra for edocs!"

If they actually DID have a stable of notaries in your area who are salivating at the chance to work for those low fees, why would they be wasting the time and effort calling around to find more?

Whenever someone uses that line on you ("We have plenty of other notaries who... "), your only response should be: "So why are you calling me?"

It sucks to lose what was a big part of your business, but no one can make a profit at the price they're willing to pay. Stick to your guns - when they get in a bind, they'll call and will be willing to pay your fee.

Reply by oldhippie_IL on 7/6/11 6:18pm
Msg #388804

I, too, received the call. At first I thought it was for overnights. A person can do loan mods for that. And, what about fax backs? SL was also a big client of mine, but, like you, can not afford those low ball fees. Someone else can run their A$$ off for that. I have no problem getting my fee from other companies, nor have they mentioned cutting our fees. One thing I can say, since I refused their offer, I have yet to hear from them....

Reply by MikeC/NY on 7/6/11 6:28pm
Msg #388807

When they need you, they will call. The important point is that YOU don't need THEM - at least not at those rates...

Reply by LKT/CA on 7/6/11 7:51pm
Msg #388817

<<<I was at the borrowers home and first thing I do is let them look over their settlement statement and payment statement. This time it happened to be way off from what they expected. So immediately they are furious,...>>>

They all say that.....my question to her would have been, "Then why are you calling me? You already have PLENTY of Notaries to choose from - call one of them! <click>

With the economy and all the "changes in the market", I still see upwards of $250 on HUDs for Notary fees. The lowball Notaries are what drove the fees down - not the economy or changes in the market.

Reply by Pamela Brownlee on 7/11/11 6:41pm
Msg #389396

"The lowball Notaries are what drove the fees down - not the economy or changes in the market."
You are 100+++++++++++++++++% right.

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 7/6/11 8:36pm
Msg #388821

I got it, too.... LOL

I was shocked...she was clearly speaking from the script. The she dropped the line about "plenty of notaries in my area" willing to take the lower fee... after laughing, I challenged her on that, reminding her that I live in the middle NOWHERE and they keep keep calling me for appointments 1-2 hours away and paying me well over 3 times what she was trying to reduce my fee to. If they had plenty of notaries willing to do that for $45... they were welcome to call them, because I'm not that stupid.

I got the usual threat... about not getting calls, etc.

And guess who called me 2 hours later? For an appointment 90 mins away...offering me my regular fee?

Seriously... it's a joke. If they need me, they'll pay for me.

Reply by Alz on 7/6/11 9:51pm
Msg #388824

What a hoot! n/m

Reply by Moneyman/TX on 7/7/11 9:46am
Msg #388872

And there is the proof!

They may be seeing who will lower their fees before calling them anyway for a signing. Sure beats going thru their pitch only to end up saying "I'll see if I can get that approved". If they lock someone in at a lower fee first then they can just call the low ball accepting SAs first.

They are right about one thing, it is the economy <THEIR ECONOMY, NOT YOURS or the nation's>

Reply by Notarysigner on 7/7/11 11:09am
Msg #388901

Get the Name of the person making these offers and post it n/m

Reply by Pamela Brownlee on 7/11/11 3:18pm
Msg #389367

I got that call last Thursday when they called me to do a closing for today at 8am. I told them that I would have to talk with my husband about the fee matter, and I never got the docs till about 10am. I have talked with the borrower and he is good; he is mad at SL. The lender is USAA; I am a USAA member, so I called USAA and informed them of the lowering of the fees. They were not aware of it, as I am sure the same goes for the other lenders. The SL rep told me that they are getting notaries to sign for $60.00, but she wants to use me because she knows that I am good, and thorough. I do good work, and I know it. Anyway, the SL sent me an email per my request. The person from USAA, after I told her about the email, asked me to forward it to her. She is going to turn it over to their person who deals with SL and LSI. The work is going to notaries that are willing to take signings for little or nothing, and that is not right, not to the rest of us that have been doing this for so long and are just darn good at what we do. I want to work, and want the work, but I will not lower myself to begging, it is just not the right thing to do.

Reply by DickMN on 7/12/11 12:31pm
Msg #389465

My fee typical signing fee is $100, with e-docs, $130, with faxbacks $150 or more. Service link will call to schedule a signing many times they don't know the size of the package or if it requires fax backs. I absolutely refuse to do fax backs without being paid extra. 27 pages scattered through out the package is just as bad as faxing the whole package. Trying to find the pages they ask for can be a nightmare, and sometimes the pages they ask for are not in the package. I received a call in June, priced it at $130 without faxbacks. After I downloaded the package I noticed they wanted all 96 pages faxed back. I called and spoke with Kiara, I explained to her if I faxbacked back my fee was going up, she put me on hold for a short while and then told me if the package was drop same day that I did not have to do the faxback, we signed and dropped same day. The next day I received a call from Service link, Brittany, and she was scolding me for not faxing back the 96 pages. I explained that I spoke with Kiara and had permission for drop w/o FB. She says if package demands FB then that must be done. I said no problem if I get paid. She says no one gets paid to FB. We went round and round and after the 3rd or 4th time that she told me I would be removed from there notary list and said, Fine , remove my name, and I hung up. Most of you are right, GAS, Groceries, Real Estate Taxes, Health Insurance, HealthCare, Electric rates, Home Heating, etc, etc, have increase dramatically in the last few years. I will not lower my rates. I do not believe that have notaries dumb enough to do signings with e-docs and faxbacks for $60 like she tried to tell me. If that is true, then those signing agent will eventually wise up. In the past I would have given Service Link a 4 out of 5 rating, now probably a 2. DB, Minnesota.