Posted by Notarysigner on 10/23/11 9:09pm
Msg #401384

Notary posted business hours

Last night I got a call from someone needing a specific power of attorney because they were leaving the country on a business trip. It was about 8:30 p.m. Sat night. He was about 35 miles from me and said he could NOT find a notary ans was getting desperate. He added he had called about eight different numbers and nobody answered. I told him I would try to find him a "local" notary and if I couldn't, not to worry because I would see to it that he would get his wishes.

Long story short, I went on two different notary site, looked at the listed business hours for THAT zip and made 13 calls, got one answer.....and they were having a dinner party. I gave up. Only one notary returned my call. I got up early this morning and met him so he could take care of his business.

My question is
(1) those who list business hours, is that for NSA work or GNW?
(2) Do you ready keep those hours?
(3) What ever happened to "Notary Public"?

The guy needed help and he had a very hard time finding it. I felt obligated to help him because even with my know-how, I couldn't find anyone. That sad.

Reply by Priscilla Witman on 10/23/11 9:48pm
Msg #401389

I advertise as a 24-hour mobile notary, and I abide by my word. There are actually quite a few notaries in my town, but it seems I get all the calls because nobody else answers. I've met people at Starbucks, McDonald's, Taco Bell...on Saturdays, Sundays, on lunch hours, and in the evenings. That was my goal when I got commissioned; to help people. I actually had a customer tell me once, another notary in town told her "I only notarize for people I know". In my opinion, that's in violation of the " proper request" ideology. We aren't supposed to be notaries "private". If you have office hours, then by all means, ask them to come back during those hours or refer them along. But to flat-out refuse? And this notary advertises herself to be 24 hours. It's not just sad, its unprofessional.

Reply by Roger_OH on 10/23/11 10:02pm
Msg #401391

My ad states "Available 24 hours BY APPOINTMENT".

I don't answer the phone at 3am, but if someone has a special circumstance requiring an after midnight notarization, then I'll discuss that arrangement in advance. There's a slight additional premium for that convenience.

I can count on one hand the number of times it's happened.

Reply by JulieD/KS on 10/23/11 10:43pm
Msg #401394

I'm not a 24-hour notary and if someone called me at 8:30pm on a Saturday night, I don't know that I would answer the phone. I may be a notary public, but I have a right to choose the hours I work. Now, if someone called in advance to see if I could be available at 8:30pm on a Saturday, I would say yes.

It's these last-minute-emergency people that make me a little cranky. The thing I've found is that most of these people is that they've had the paperwork for days but waited until the last minute to try to find a notary. I used to do my darnedest to accommodate them but i finally learned that giving up what little free time I have is not worth the piddling amount of money I charge for notary work. Next time, they can plan ahead.

Reply by Yoli/CA on 10/23/11 10:55pm
Msg #401395

I am available 24 hours and have had calls (not many) in the middle of the night.

Granted ... some people wait 'til the last minute. It's not my call to make as to why. However, it is my call/choice to assist them whenever possible. And yes, there is a convenience fee.

Reply by HisHughness on 10/23/11 11:36pm
Msg #401399

I don't understand the crankiness bit

You don't want to do outside-business-hours notary work, the answer is quite simple: Don't do it. If you do it, then charge appropriately, meaning for last-minute jobs, wee-hours-of-the-morning jobs, weekend jobs, holiday jobs, you add to the signer's fiscal pain. No need for you to be cranky about it. It's a business. If the business involves a notarization at 3 a.m. on Dec. 24, that what you do, and you make money doing it. That's your business. You don't want to do it, don't make it your business.

I just love it when the answer is writ so large.

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 10/24/11 12:16am
Msg #401402

It's not just business hours, either.

Yesterday I traveled 70 miles each way to handle a loan signing for a great couple. We actually tried to find a more local notary for them. I found one here at NotRot who advertises himself as "specializing" in loan signings.

This guy was called by the coordinator at the real estate office as well as the couple themselves. He was grouchy and told one of them that he did loan signings, but told the other that he didn't! It made no sense.

I happily made the trip... and walked out with cash rather than wait 30 days for a check.

Reply by MichiganAl on 10/24/11 1:12am
Msg #401404

Just because I'm available 24 hours a day, doesn't mean I'm available 24 hours a day at a moments notice day or night or that I'll answer my phone 24 hours a day. I'm available 24 hours a day BY APPOINTMENT. Being a notary PUBLIC doesn't mean I'm not allowed to have some modicum of a PRIVATE life.

Reply by HisHughness on 10/24/11 1:59am
Msg #401410

If you're not answering your phone 24 hours a day...

...you're not available 24 hours a day. If a notary is going to be available after business hours only by appointment, then the notary should advertise "Available after hours by appointment," not "Available 24/7" as you do on NotRot. To do otherwise is misleading, much like a 7/Eleven store that closes at 6 p.m. unless you call --BEFORE 6 p.m. -- to make arrangements for the clerk to come back.

In your case, at least on NotRot, there is actually no indication there is a limit to your availability. You do not specify that prospective clients must call in advance to make arrangements; you simply state, without qualification, "available 24/7". Under some circumstances, that could be a really unwarranted imposition on someone who needs to get something done. As, for example, if they expect to receive a document they must execute, but it may be received after hours. If they checked your profile on NotRot, they would with justification believe they could call you at 11 p.m. and get their business taken care of. And apparently, they would be out of luck because you won't answer your phone and they did not make the appointment they were uaware they were supposed to make.

Reply by MichiganAl on 10/24/11 7:38am
Msg #401419

Re: If you're not answering your phone 24 hours a day...

99.9% of the time, people looking for general notary work find me thru my website where it states "available 24/7 by appointment." If you do a search engine query for any number of key terms, it's my website that comes up, not my profile. 99.9% of my mortgage closing appointments come from my profile here and a few other sites and I am available 24/7 for mortgage closings and answer the phone at all hours (yes, I can tell the difference if it's a number already saved or if it's an out of state number).

I don't chose to use valuable profile space to indicate all the exceptions that might preclude me from being able to pick up the phone. But FYI, when you check the box here indicating your availability, your choices for 24/7 are "yes" and "no". So even if it's not in the body of your post like mine, unless you specifically clarify that somewhere else, there are a lot of people here who just show as 24/7 without any further clarification. And you're one of them. But I'd be happy to call you at 3 a.m. to discuss it further.

Reply by HisHughness on 10/24/11 7:46am
Msg #401421

Re: If you're not answering your phone 24 hours a day...

***I'd be happy to call you at 3 a.m. to discuss it further.***

Bring cash. I DO answer my phone 24/7, as any number of people who have had their cars towed can attest. It keeps me out of bars and away from loose women.

Reply by MW/VA on 10/24/11 7:30am
Msg #401418

I list my biz hrs. as 9am-9pm/7 days a week. That means general availability, since everything is by appt. & on a case by case basis. I won't even go into that 24/7 issue.
If I'm going to get a call for GNW, it's usually after hrs., on Sat. & Sun. I try to accomodate if possible. BTW, most of the NSA's in my area do not do GNW. It isn't always about the money--it's also about providing a service to the community. I've found that most people are very grateful to !. find a notary that is mobile & 2. find someone who is available outside normal business hours.

Reply by Notarysigner on 10/24/11 8:08am
Msg #401423

I agree with Hugh, if you're listed as 24/7 without exceptio

as Mich/Al and a few others, then it's 24 hours i.e. accept calls 24 hours. Common sense would tell you it has to be within reason, we're not firemen.
Common sense is the least common of all the senses. IMO

Reply by Carolyn Bodley on 10/24/11 2:43pm
Msg #401469

I just checked my own profile before responding ...

since I now only do general notary work. My profile states "by appointment only" but even if it didn't, my reply would be the same. Yes, I am a notary and, as such, a public servant -- however, lack of planning on your part, does not make it an emergency on my part. Granted, there are emergencies that pop up without notice, although, 99.9% of people requesting my services at last minute have known that the document(s) needed notarized for a number of days.

Reply by Stephanie Santiago on 10/24/11 3:13pm
Msg #401476

Very relatable Carolyn..... n/m

Reply by HisHughness on 10/24/11 3:16pm
Msg #401478

Nobody, absolutely nobody, has said...

...you SHOULD do after-hours notary work. Poor planning by the signer has nothing to do with it. Turning off your phone at 6 p.m. has nothing to do with it. Crankiness at getting a 3 a.m. call has nothing to do with it. All anybody has said is that if you don't do after-hours notary work, don't say you do it. Nobody made a judgment on your value as a human being.

FWIW: Definitions of "available""

Free Online Dictionary: Capable of being gotten; obtainable
Merriam-Webster: Present or ready for immediate use
Dictionary.com: Readily obtainable; accessible

If your advertising specifies limitations on your availability, the discussion in this thread does not apply to you.

There. Problem solved.

Reply by TacomaBoy on 10/24/11 3:18pm
Msg #401481

It's not just a job, it's an adventure!

OK, OK! I consider my business to be a 24 / 7 services and I promote it as such.
However, when I am requested to provide notary and signing services far beyond regular business hours or in unusually remote locations, I make it clear that there is a surcharge for such services. I also make sure the client can pay cash, upfront before I even leave my home for the assignment. I rarely have objections to this position. People seem to anticipate the extra expense when they're caught in an unusual circumstance. You can see expressions of utter relief on the faces of some clients. On the other hand, I'll provide my signing and notary services for free under certain circumstances. Traveling Notaries: It's not just a job, it's an adventure!

Reply by ikando on 10/24/11 8:11pm
Msg #401514

Re: I just checked my own profile before responding ...

My frustration comes when I get a call from someone who admits to having had the documents, even signed them, THEN realizes they need a notary before they can send them, and the recipient needs them right away. These calls inevitably happen on Sunday night after 6:00.

When I tell them my fee to meet them right now (always a premium), they are either very grateful and pay with a smile, or decide the docs can be late to the recipient. If they hesitate on my charge, I offer to meet them at a convenience store near me for a lesser amount. I tell them to call me when they get there. I don't leave my house til they call. Often I don't get that call.