Posted by Stoli on 10/10/11 7:17pm
Msg #400097

Adrienne McDowell - Affordable Notary Services

Affordable Notary Services – Adrienne McDowell
610 16th Street #10
Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 485-3534
[e-mail address]
www.sundancenotary.com

This is my own fault, so I’m posting to vent my anger, and secondly, to prevent everyone else from being victimized by Adrienne McDowell.

As a Sacramento notary, I frequently receive calls to hand deliver, or pick up documents such as an Apostile, from Secretary of State’s Office (SOS).

I picked up Adrienne's documents from the SOS, hurriedly dropped the docs in Federal Express, and deposited Adrienne’s check in due time. The check was eventually dishonored by her bank, and my bank charged a $25-charge-back fee.

When I contacted Adrienne, she claimed that the dishonored check was my own fault---I should have cashed the check before rendering service. Well, the short version of that exchange was that I considered her everything but a child of God.

On the second cannon volley, she wanted documents from the SOS and wanted to pay $10---almost enough to pay the public parking fee. I declined to work for free.

The next exchange, she called from a signing asking if the borrower’s identification expired four-years ago, is the identification valid for notarization?

Adrianne recently contacted me to provide SOS service again, and with the condition that she provide a cashier’s check for my services, I would hand-carry the documents and guarantee same-day return shipping. What could POSSIBLY go wrong with that transaction?

Adrianne provided a self-addressed, hand-written Federal Express label with her credit card number. Adrienne listed me as the shipper, and she was listed as the recipient. The credit card number was fraudulent, and Federal Express reversed the shipping charges to my account and deducted the shipping fee from my checking account. It took four hours of my time working with FedEx to understand what she had done.

When I contacted her, she said, and this is a quote, “That’s fraud! FedEx can’t do that! I want to see in their Terms and Conditions where it says they can reverse the charges.”

When she said that she ‘doesn’t want to send a cashier’s check to cover costs because it will cost extra money…’ Well, I’ll spare you that part of the conversation.

So, the point of the story is, if the shipping cost is billed to the recipient, the recipient has the right to refuse the charges. In that event, the charge will be billed back to the shipper---in this case, me. Once the shipping charge has been denied by the recipient, Federal Express cannot re-bill to the same account.

As far as I know, Adrienne is listed on Notary Rotary as a notary public. I tried to add her to Signing Central without success. I’ll see if I can figure out if one of her other business are listed, and if so, I’ll link this post.

She hurt my feelings when she said that she gets 'negative energy' from me.

Reply by Notarysigner on 10/10/11 8:06pm
Msg #400099

I know of this person Stoli, bad news.

I A M responding because I want to show support for you. She once called me and asked if she could "borrow" my notary stamp,......insane.

ANYONE just type in her name on utube, I apologize in advance, she does NOT represent the average notary here.

We are in the same zip and I get calls from people who often have had dealing with her, what a joke.

Hopefully other notaries will come forward and share their experiences...........

Reply by MistarellaFL on 10/10/11 8:12pm
Msg #400100

I'm not a litigious-minded person, but

I would make an exception in her case.
She needs to stand before a judge.
Yeah, maybe you'll "only" get a judgement, but that will stop some potential future manuevering and payment for you if you file a judgement lien.

Reply by Stoli on 10/10/11 8:12pm
Msg #400101

Thank you, James. I want to snatch off her wig and flush it

Unfortunately, I like Federal Express, and they shouldn't have to eat her shipping costs. I'm sure this wasn't a first for her.

Can you believe it? I give her negative energy!

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 10/10/11 8:49pm
Msg #400111

And of course you gave it to her, right? NOT!!! n/m

Reply by HisHughness on 10/10/11 8:19pm
Msg #400102

Wonder how much energy, negative or otherwise...

...would be generated by a hockey stiack upside the head?

Reply by Buddy Young on 10/10/11 8:39pm
Msg #400107

Re: I like the Hockey stick idea best. n/m

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 10/10/11 8:47pm
Msg #400109

IMO it belongs somewhere else! LOL! n/m

Reply by Stoli on 10/10/11 8:50pm
Msg #400112

True 'dat, Shoshana. n/m

Reply by Stoli on 10/10/11 8:34pm
Msg #400105

Thanks, Misty. There are several problems.

First, she's listed as a notary and can't be added to Signing Central. Many of us have complained about that system glitch. I want to link her business to the deed so that others are warned. She deserves to be publically slimed.

Secondly, I like Federal Express. I will bet a dollar-to-a-donut this isn't the first time she's used this billing technique.

She tries to change the subject. The subject is no longer that I was stiffed for her shipping charges, but it is now about how dare FedEx.... She was more than a little shocked and upset when I gave her a fraud case number from FedEx.

I'm not sure if a small claim will show up on her background check, but it couldn't hurt to try. It would be fun to get a judgment for $135 document service fee, $35-dollar filing fee plus the original $25.10 shipping fee.

I do have Square-Up and could process a payment to myself and charge the transaction fee, but I'm not sure if that's credit card fraud.

Many of us have posted clever ways to avoid shipping charges from UPS, but I didn't see this one coming.

Thanks for the support. Can you believe it? I give her negative energy.

Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 10/10/11 10:25pm
Msg #400119

I don't think she is listed on CA SOS website as a notary

I can't find her listed as a notary, am I missing something here?

Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 10/10/11 10:28pm
Msg #400120

I found her. My mistake. n/m

Reply by Stoli on 10/10/11 8:49pm
Msg #400110

Hockey stick works, too. She's full of el toro poo-poo.

She's full of el toro poo-poo.

Reply by docs1954CA on 10/10/11 9:40pm
Msg #400117

Has this been going on since 2009?

msg#310392.Sounds like you've been more then patient with her.

Reply by Stoli on 10/10/11 10:15pm
Msg #400118

Re: Wow, Docs, you're good. Yes it's one and the same.

I haven't done business with her since 2009 when she bounced the check. I wonder why she called me again. Actually, I was less than kind to her when the first check bounced and copped an attitude.

I didn't remember posting---you're good.

Reply by Stoli on 10/10/11 10:47pm
Msg #400121

Adrienne McDowell - YouTube the name

Don't watch the video without an aluminum cap and underpants! I swear, I have the creeps now.

Reply by Scriba/NM on 10/11/11 1:47am
Msg #400125

Re: Adrienne McDowell - This Is a Real Notary? OMG n/m

Reply by 101livescan on 10/11/11 8:46am
Msg #400131

What an absolute HORROR STORY....hard to believe someone can be this responsible and also be a Notary Public.

I think this warrants a complaint to the SOS in writing. They should know this is the MO of one of their officiating notaries in the State of CA.

Thank you for posting. You definitely have been victimized by this careless, irresponsible, negligent individual. I've done only one assignment with her, but not recently.

Definitely pursue with Harry and Traci Shoemaker getting this woman listed in SC.

Scary woman!

Reply by mwm143 on 10/11/11 9:20am
Msg #400134

Stoli - Katrina, and you're complaining why?? You pet the

same dog that bit you once before and yet you continue to offer your support to this person and help her stay in business.

Reply by NJDiva on 10/11/11 10:33am
Msg #400141

Stoli - Katrina, and you're complaining why?? You pet the

same dog twice.

I have to agree with mwm143. It struck me odd that you would continue to set yourself up to get sc*****.

"Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me." I love cliche's obviously. They're so philosophical...lmao

Reply by Notarysigner on 10/11/11 9:56am
Msg #400137

Stoli, if you go to "find a notary" once you select them, there is a box at the bottom of the page labeled "Rate" the notary. You can use that instead of S/C

Other sites have that ability also.

Reply by NJDiva on 10/11/11 10:24am
Msg #400140

My heart goes out to you...

lol...you give her negative energy? Wow, the karma she's incurring upon herself. I am secure in the belief that it ALWAYS comes back around. It might not happen today, or next week, or even next year. I don't need to see it (though many times I do!, especially if I don't do anything but trust that it's going to come back) because I know that what you put out, you get back two fold...eventually.

As far as the FedEx situation and getting charged back, that is exactly why I NEVER put my info in the shippers section. I absolutely, unequivocally will not take responsibility for paying for shipping of someone else s documents.

I've heard numerous stories about companies going out of business and notaries getting stuck.

I put the recipients address in the shippers section in addition to the recipients section. Haven't ever had an issue.

Reply by Stoli on 10/11/11 2:24pm
Msg #400160

MWM143 and NJDiva - You guys summed it up correctly.

All thing being equal, you guys placed the blame exactly where it belongs.

Here’s the deal though: the first time I did business with her I had no history her, and absent any information to the contrary, I didn’t have a reason to deny service. That was, as Docs pointed out, in 2009.

When she recently contacted me, the fee she offered wouldn’t cover the cost of parking, so I refused to do business with her.

For the recent assignment I insisted she include a cashier’s check for my fee and provide the return shipping. In truth, I didn’t recognize the landmine of the shipping charges.

The value in this post is to inform others about the reversal of shipping charges, not the amount of money lost. Heck, the shipping charge was only $25.10, but I’ve had a $100 worth of fun chewing the fat with you guys.

I know, I know, I did it to myself. Who said, “Never give a sucker an even break”?

I have the creeps just thinking about the video that James found.

Reply by topflyt on 10/11/11 4:24pm
Msg #400176

I can think of many negative things you can give her!

Reply by CinOH on 10/11/11 4:38pm
Msg #400177

You said the credit card she gave to FedEx was fraudulent. I'd contact FedEx's fraud department and alert them. Hopefully they'll contact the credit card company and turn her in. You might try contacting cops where she lives. She seems shiesty. They probably have had dealings with her and may be interested in that bogus credit card.

Reply by CopperheadVA on 10/11/11 5:36pm
Msg #400182

You can also contact your local police dept and file a report. My husband's credit card number was stolen (he still had the card but someone in Texas got a hold of the number - still don't know how it happened) and he reported it and had to keep contacting the detective on the case, pushing for some resolution. He also had to do some legwork himself, since the crime was not a high priority for the police. The legwork he did was calling the stores (Dillards and Victoria's Secret) where the fraudulent purchases were made ($200 gift cards, overnighted to the recipient) and was able to get an address where the gift cards were shipped to. He provided this info to the detective.

At Dillards, they told him that the gift card was already redeemed, but get this for the stupid crimal story of the day:
The gift card was for $200 but the purchase totaled a little over $200, so the thief used her DEBIT CARD to pay for the remainder. I guess she didn't think about the cops being able to track debit cards... DUH!

I would definitley file a police report if a fraudulent credit card was used and I got billed for the FedEx charges.