Posted by 101livescan on 3/3/11 8:34am
Msg #374916

Went to Jail last night

for a signing of an interspousal deed by inmate. What a loony bin! I couldn't wait to get outta there. The wall that separated this visiting booth and the jail cells was paper thin. I could hear everything. The cells are overcrowded, four people to a cell, most sleeping on the floor on thin mattresses. The place was filthy. Scary. Gave me the creeps. I was there at 6:30pm exactly to get my clearance to pass through four locked down hallways escorted by a deputy, got the documents signed and the signer signed my journal and gave me his thumbprint. I waited for 30 minutes for the deputy to come back to get me outta there. I was there a complete hour with all the waiting time. It only took a minute for the guy to sign everything. I should have charged more than $150.

What do you guys charge for jail work? Hope I'm immune from whatever germs are hanging out there. The glass between me and the inmate was covered with dried saliva from previous visitors. Guess the janitorial services have been cut too. Haven't done any jail work for over a year I believe. I went to bro's house and showered and hit the hot tub!

Reply by CopperheadVA on 3/3/11 8:49am
Msg #374920

The local jail where I live does not allow outside notaries. They have notaries on staff (deputies or whoever) and they will get to it when they are darn good and ready.

I spoke to a local social worker about it when I was doing her loan closing. She said, "Believe me, you don't want to go in there." She said it was scummy and dirty and you would have to wait quite a while to be escorted out.

Then she proceeded to ask me about notary work and how that might be a good extra source of income for her, and that I needed to give her the names of all my good companies...

Reply by 101livescan on 3/3/11 9:03am
Msg #374924

And, of course, you whipped out your contact list on a handy flash drive and handed it over. What a great resource you are! The NERVE.

Ha ha. I can't tell you the stories I have about people who want to "tag" along, sit in, live in, be my shadow. If you can keep it, great, but chances are you'll have to catch me if you can!

Jail ain't my favorite work site. Guess that's why I've only been on the inside less than a half dozen times in my career. It's getting to be worse work and should command higher fees, IMHO!

Reply by CopperheadVA on 3/3/11 9:27am
Msg #374928

Yeah I was speechless when she said that! Needless to say, I quickly changed the subject. And this person was someone who could barely print out a copy of her D/L because of ESO* and also she was "out of ink".





*equipment superior to operator

Reply by jba/fl on 3/3/11 9:31am
Msg #374929

LOL - ESO! n/m

Reply by James Dawson on 3/3/11 9:02am
Msg #374923

Really depends (of course ) Local Jails, Detention Centers, county Jails or State prisons (and they all differ too).

I find it best to but my fee "on-hold" until I contact inmate service to find out what the process is before setting my fees. I absolutely do NOT do waiting around. Either I have an appointment, where they bring the inmate to meet me or it doesn't get done.

I often go to a detention center about ten blocks from my house (I live close to downtown), $100.00 in and out, 30 mins. Everything else goes up from there. Hope this helps.

Reply by Veronica Bates on 3/3/11 11:16am
Msg #374947

You all are so, so funny. when I need a good laugh I
come to this site.

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 3/3/11 9:11am
Msg #374925

When I was in CA I used to do an occasional signing at the Santa Rita Jail in Pleasanton. It wasn't too bad with an appointment. I don't think I had to be escorted out. In those days,(more than 6 years ago) I charged $75 plus $20 for every 15 minutes waiting time.

Reply by C. Rivera Chicago Notary Services on 3/3/11 11:07am
Msg #374946

Cheryl, who paid you?? n/m

Reply by 101livescan on 3/3/11 1:33pm
Msg #374977

Re: Cheryl, who paid you??

I just invoiced the mortgage company which originated the purchase loan of this short sale property for the borrower, who is the spouse of the incarcerated party. He had to sign off on it.

Funny, when I walked into the little security room, he asked me if I was serving him with Divorce papers. I said, no!