Posted by Audrey Middleton on 10/28/11 4:57pm
Msg #402112

Was I being unfair?

First, let me say that I really appreciate the post on this site from everyone because it is very informative and helps me with my business. So I wanted to ask if I was being unreasonable with a fee. Initially, the signing was 50 miles one way for 7:00 pm. I agreed to 80.00, which I know is low but he was really nice so I agreed. When I called to confirm the borrower switched the location which added 10 extra miles and a different direction with 130 pages with 2 copies and fax back. I called the SS company and told them that my normal fee for 60 miles is $150.00. He stopped me and tranferred me to the manager, she immediately told me that she was dropping me from the assignment I said that's fine. I would like feedback if I was asking for too much? Scenario....120 miles roundtrip..........gas 3.54 per gallon.....7:00 pm.....different route.....130 pages with faxback.....?

Reply by Cam/CA on 10/28/11 5:09pm
Msg #402117

There's no way I would travel 100 miles round trip for $80 no matter how nice he was, even $150 is a little on the low side.

Reply by Audrey Middleton on 10/28/11 5:30pm
Msg #402122

Thank you, I thought so too.

Reply by DaveCA/CA on 10/28/11 5:36pm
Msg #402128

Unfair to yourself

I'm with Cam on this one. Did I understand correctly that you would end up printing 3 sets? (1 original and 2 copies) I think I would have asked for $10-15 more for the extra set. 80 bux is just really low. Personally, if you accepted $80, then I think your next move should have been more like $100. You were already willing to do the signing for $80. Essentially, you are asking for $70 for 1/2 set of docs and faxbacks. You almost doubled your fee for what I consider little concessions. Please know I hate faxbacks and all that. Yes, I know, it was another 10 miles.

What I'm getting at is that your original fee agreement was way too low. Had you agreed on $125 in the first place, then leaping to $150 is reasonable. Perhaps you already have a business plan. If not, I would look at what things are costing you. If gas is $20, now you are making $60. Throw in $10 for printing and now you're at $50. You know you are going to drive at least 2 hours and the signing will take at least one hour. Divide that and you're at $17 an hour. Keep in mind that this doesn't include wear and tear and all the rest. Sorry if I am not making sense. You were unfair to yourself in the beginning by not valuing your time.

Reply by Audrey Middleton on 10/28/11 5:45pm
Msg #402130

Re: Unfair to yourself

I'm sorry for the confusion. I only printed one set of copies. It was a last minute and the previous notary backed out. So keeping in mind this is about helping the borrower I accepted the assignment with a very bad taste in my mouth.

Reply by ikando on 10/29/11 7:25pm
Msg #402182

Re: Unfair to yourself

I note the comment, "It was a last minute and the previous notary backed out."

It's all well and good to think of the poor borrower being inconvenienced, but you should be your own first priority.

So this SS calls you to bail THEM out in a rush, and rather than offer you a premium to do that, they wanted you to take a low ball amount? Then they complained when you wanted a more reasonable fee? Hum-m. Which company was this?

Reply by Audrey Middleton on 10/28/11 5:48pm
Msg #402131

Re: Unfair to yourself

Your exactly right and this is my part-time job. I have a formula and was willing to take it for less to help the guy out, but I just couldn't do it.

Reply by Buddy Young on 10/28/11 6:12pm
Msg #402137

Re: Dave, you forgot to add

an hour for printing out the docs and making copies. Then you have to check all the docs to make sure they printed out correctly.

Reply by Dorothy_MI on 10/29/11 11:29am
Msg #402161

Easy way to figure your gross profit

50 miles round trip times 2 equals 100 miles times $.50 per mile (Govt allowed mileage credit which includes not only gasoline but other costs associated with auto expenses) equals $50 just in car expenses! Leaves you just $30 for printing and fixed overhead. Now take whatever that pittance is and divide by 3 hours (min) -- one hour or more travel time each way plus 45 min to one hour for the signing and you are not even making minimum wage. NO ONE else is this whole transaction if working for minimum wages. I had a business associate that used to say if the arithmetic doesn't work nothing else counts.

Reply by GWest on 10/29/11 11:47am
Msg #402162

Actually IRS mileage rate is .55.5 cents per mile as of 7/1 n/m

Reply by Buddy Young on 10/28/11 5:25pm
Msg #402120

No Audrey, you weren't being unfair.

120 Miles round trip. I charge 50c a mile, that would be $60 added to your regular fee.

130 pages plus copies and faxbacks should be an additional fee maybe $25 or what ever you charge for large packages.

Lets say your normal fee is $100, that would bring your fee up to $185

If your normal fee was $80, the extras would bring your fee up to $165. \

No you were not unreasonable.

Reply by Audrey Middleton on 10/28/11 5:31pm
Msg #402123

Thank you so much. I really appreciated it.

Reply by Notarysigner on 10/28/11 5:29pm
Msg #402121

You are my hero. If you got 20 miles to the gal it would have cost you something like $21.00 just to do the job. Not to mention two hours just driving. You made the right decision.

A little strategy to employ. Next time, suggest they get a notary who is closer to where they want you to go and tell them if they can't do so, you'll do it for XXX. That keeps you in the "call again" loop.

Reply by Audrey Middleton on 10/28/11 5:32pm
Msg #402125

Thank you! Great advice.

Reply by Riley/FL on 10/28/11 5:32pm
Msg #402124

I'm confused, Audrey.

"I am a licensed certified Notary Public with two years of experience in all types of loan closing transactions. I have performed, purchases, fixed and adjustable rate refinances; government and commercial loans, lines of credit, settlement loans, and auto refinance loans"


This your second post with the same issues. If your normal fee is $150 for 60 miles, why would you accept $80 for 50?! If the above is true, you should be way more consistent with your fees by now and you should not be working with SS that are well known for these tactics. For someone with your experience, why are you are asking so many newbie questions?

Reply by Audrey Middleton on 10/28/11 5:33pm
Msg #402126

Re: I'm confused, Audrey.

I have children to feed?!

Reply by Audrey Middleton on 10/28/11 5:43pm
Msg #402129

Re: I'm confused, Audrey.

I'm confused about the negative stand your taking to my questions. Are you the Notary Rotary police?

Reply by Riley/FL on 10/28/11 5:54pm
Msg #402132

Nope, just filling in for tonight.

The others are at the annual NotRot Halloween costume party dressed up as licensed, certified Notary Republics doing notaries.

Reply by Stephanie Santiago on 10/28/11 6:02pm
Msg #402135

Notary Republics...doing notaries. Cute :) n/m

Reply by jba/fl on 10/29/11 3:42pm
Msg #402172

What a hoot Riley! Heck, I was setting up my republic,

laughed so hard, I lost my place in Hugh's instructions and will have to start all over.l Dang, I hate when that happens.

Reply by MichiganAl on 10/28/11 8:26pm
Msg #402146

I think the problem was that you set the bar low

Once they thought they had someone who would accept a ridiculous fee of $80 for 100 miles of driving, printing two sets of docs, and doing the closing, well then HOW DARE YOU come back and ask for something more reasonable after it turned out to be even farther.

I've made the mistake of "being nice" just this once. You know what? Every time they call you after that, they'll expect the same thing. I'd do something nice like travel farther for any of my regulars that pay a fair fee and keep me busy. As a matter of fact, on Monday, I'm closing a loan for one of my best clients at a bank office. They've got another closing going on simultaneously. The loan officer is going to close that one, but I'm going to jump into that signing when they need docs notarized because they don't have anyone else. More than happy to do it because they send me a ton of business. But it just doesn't pay to cut your fee or do any favors for the lowballers that call at month end. They'll just suck you dry.

Reply by MW/VA on 10/29/11 12:41pm
Msg #402167

It's ok to be nice, but you also have to be smart.

While you can rationalize that you're doing this part-time, accepting low fees will always be a
problem. The co's. that do biz that way are taking advantage of you in the first place, and they won't play nice. If you want to feed your children, why not decide to feed them steak instead of McDonald's.
I hope you understand the reasoning here. Put a value on your efforts & you will be compensated accordingly. It's just good biz sense. :-)

Reply by RedBaron/IN on 10/30/11 2:24pm
Msg #402212

Re: It's ok to be nice, but you also have to be smart.

I have had one SS manager refer to notaries as cattle. Just use the prod to get what you want from them. That came from a low baller.

Reply by JulieD/KS on 10/30/11 10:00pm
Msg #402226

Re: It's ok to be nice, but you also have to be smart.

One thing that I read on here quite often is how nice the scheduler was. Of course they are nice....they are calling you at the last minute with a ridiculously low offer for a job that is 50 miles away with 130 pages of printing. They know they have to be sweet as pie because as women, it's our nature to want to nurture. So, they try to kick in our 'nurture' instinct, and boom, they've got a taker for their riduclous offer.

That's why I truly don't give a crap how nice the caller is. This is business and if they offer me peanuts for a professional job, I tell them take a hike.

Another thing they do to try to engage our 'nurture nature' is to ask if we can 'help them out with a signing'. Help them out? Are they trying to act like we are their mommies and if they ask nicely enough, sure we'll make them a grilled cheese sandwich?

Again...this is business. I don't care how nice they are. And, if they approach me with the line "Can you help us out with a signing?" instead of engaging my nurture nature, it gets my hackles up because I'm not here to help people out. I'm here to run a business and the more you ask of me and the less notice you give to me, the more bucks you better be willing to cough up if you want me to put my pantyhose on. It's my Pantyhose Rule.

I got weary a few years ago of how these companies treat us like chumps and 2nd-class citiens. My fee is what my fee is...and if they call at the last minute, I say NO, regardless of how sweet they are. If they call with 6 hours or less, I add at least $50 to my regular fee of $xxx. Take it or leave it.

I used to be more flexible. I've learned not be flexible because after the work is done, then you get to wait and wait and wait for your peanuts to arrive. It just isn't worth it. Charge a fair fee from the outset and let the chaff blow in the wind.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 10/31/11 3:17am
Msg #402231

Re: It's ok to be nice, but you also have to be smart.

I totally agree with what you said about their "can you help us out?" line. And for anyone who has any doubts about how sincere that sentiment is, next time they call you, just try asking them to help YOU out with your fee or whatever, and see how far you get!

(Naturally, I'm not talking about good clients who don't try to low ball us - especially last minute!)

Having said that, though, when we're talking about a scheduler, we're just talking about an employee who is trying to do a job they're paid to do and I'll bet most of them have no real idea what it is they're asking of us.