Posted by Erica McManus on 9/29/11 10:27am
Msg #399158

NOTARIES-START CHARGING WHAT WE ARE WORTH!

If EVERY signing agent out there would STOP accepting assignments for $45-80, etc. for signings (2 copies for borrowers, and/or fax backs), and DEMAND $100 minimum, then there will be no signing agents out there working for less, and we will all be paid what we are worth. Let's face it, most signing agencies only get $125 signing (so they claim), but what do they really do to earn it? Find a name and send an order? We, the signing agents, do the WORK and get paid squat! Fortunately, I have signing agencies that pay me $100 and up for signings without batting an eye, because I am a phenomenal signer and I don't screw up. The newbies that have come into the signing service industry figure making $150/day doing three signings is better than working a full-time job. They are not taking into account the time it takes to print the docs, go to the signing, do the signing, drive back from the signing, drop the docs, not to mention the cost of printing two sets of docs (with paper and toner prices on the rise) and the gas it takes to go to the signing. At $50/per signing, one is actually LOSING money, unless all three happen to be in the same location and you have docs to get to all three appts. back to back. In 17 years of being a full-time signing agent, I have NEVER had all of my docs at one time to do 3-7 back-to-back signings at the end of month. EVERY NOTARY MUST STAND UP FOR THEMSELVES AND DEMAND $100/SIGNING. IF YOU DO, THEN WITHIN A FEW HOURS, GUARANTEED, THERE WILL BE NO MORE OFFERS OF $45-80/SIGNING. Think about it: If every company around the country calls and asks a signing agent to do a signing and they are only offering $60, and you said no, it's $100, and they call the next one and they say no, it's $100, and so on, they will have NO choice but to pay the $100. I cannot live on $50/signing. I don't know who the braniacs (not!) were that suggested it was okay to accept this amount in the first place! PLEASE WAKE UP AND DEMAND $100 MINIMUM FOR YOUR SIGNINGS, especially signing agents in California!! Thanks! Erica

Reply by SouthernOK on 9/29/11 10:59am
Msg #399161

Please search Antitrust laws. n/m

Reply by Notarysigner on 9/29/11 8:31pm
Msg #399231

..but wait!

The Laws are one thing but I just searched the Anti-trust violations and a complaint by anyone about notaries establishing a viable fee would be so far down the totem pool it might be worth the risk. I'm not an attorney but I believe it is the "intent" that counts.

Right now they're argueing about price fixing for gas in Russia, give me a break!

Reply by ToniK on 9/29/11 10:45pm
Msg #399241

search Antitrust laws. Did you mean price fixing? n/m

Reply by SouthernOK on 9/29/11 11:04am
Msg #399164

Then why is your base fee below this new minimum?

Just a question.

Reply by Erica McManus on 9/29/11 11:55am
Msg #399190

Re: Then why is your base fee below this new minimum?

My base fee is $75 with $25 for edocs; that totals $100. I believe we are worth WAY MORE than that, but most companies are willing to pay $100. There are still companies out there that are only paying $45 (that's the lowest I have found through Nations Direct) up to $80 (Servicelink -- who used to pay $125!). This industry is crazy.

Reply by Erica McManus on 9/29/11 12:03pm
Msg #399191

Re: Then why is your base fee below this new minimum?

I just changed it; reads much better as $100 including e-docs than $75 excluding e-docs. Thanks for the suggestion! I don't get nearly as many referrals from this site as I do from another site which apparently I cannot post on here. Oh yeah, nice to meet you.

Reply by topflyt on 9/29/11 11:07am
Msg #399165

Nice soap box speech! Too bad it just won't happen. There are too many who will take less just to get a job offer. It's like asking all americans to not buy gas for today, the oil companies would really feel the crunch! But , NO, alot of americans...DIDN'T GET THE MESSAGE...or FORGOT IT WAS TODAY. You need to accept the fact that there is always someone out there that will do the job for less...even if they are as phenominal as you.

Reply by Stephanie Santiago on 9/29/11 11:20am
Msg #399171

Erica, I pay attention to the way I run my business....

I feel each Notary should run their business as they please. I don't see us as a part of a"Union"; therefore, we make decisions on an individual basis .
Erica - I understand what you are saying, but who are we to tell someone how to run their business.....

Stephanie

Erica,
Also, so called "newbies" just do not have the confidence to ask for a higher fee and there is nothing anyone can do to give them the confidence.
I'm personally concerned about my business and the rapport I have with a select group of Title Companies, Lenders and Mortgage Brokers.

Reply by janCA on 9/29/11 11:32am
Msg #399177

It's all subjective. To me, $100 is too low! n/m

Reply by Stephanie Santiago on 9/29/11 11:34am
Msg #399178

I'm on board with Jan. n/m

Reply by Notarysigner on 9/29/11 11:47am
Msg #399185

Re: Erica, I pay attention to the way I run my business....

On another note there is gold in these low paying assignments.

Yesterday I had three as a result of unprofessional, low fee accepting, knowledgeable you know who.

1. Notary tells borrower her house is nasty?
2. Notary leaves without picking up the check because she's late for child pickup?
3. Notary shipped back the copies instead of the signed Docs?

All had to be resigned at my fee, not theirs.

Reply by MistarellaFL on 9/30/11 12:11am
Msg #399249

You're preachin to the choir

Personally, my minumum is a little higher, and if it's not met, I don't accept.
Depends on the circumstances of the signing, however.
I'd do a 40 page refi in my town for much less than my regular minimum and make a nice profit.
Because I'm in Ruralville, most of my brws and buyers are outside of a 20 mile radius, and I charge more for travel, gas prices being what they are now and likely remain.
Let the more desperate take the low-ball work: I didn't keep all my eggs in one basket, allowing me to pick and choose which assignments are profitable and convenient to me.
The better the fee, the more convenient for me!

Reply by Ali/IL on 9/29/11 12:26pm
Msg #399196

Re: Erica, I pay attention to the way I run my business....

We are not supposed to join up with each other and decide what we are going to charge. Plus, were you throwing all those numbers to have us post what we charge? Just wondering.

Reply by Deb/AL on 9/29/11 11:46am
Msg #399184

I agree, the min should be $100.00

Reply by gowithn/TN on 9/29/11 11:50am
Msg #399186

Re: NOTARIES-START CHARGING WHAT WE ARE WORTH! Agree . n/m

Reply by ikando on 9/29/11 4:29pm
Msg #399216

Let's flip the anti-trust coin--Is it wrong for the signing services to start lowering the fees they offer us? Wouldn't that "trend" also be considered price fixing and subject to anti-trust scrutiny?

Not looking at this from a legal point-of-view, but as we are all declared independent contractors, shouldn't we have the option to determine that we charge a similar amount as others in the field? Service stations do. Bakeries do. Engineers do. Lawyers do. Why can't notaries?

Reply by samH/CA on 9/29/11 12:44pm
Msg #399198

100% agreed. NM.

Reply by dickb/wi on 9/29/11 8:20pm
Msg #399230

when will u all learn about anti trust violations????????... n/m

Reply by MistarellaFL on 9/30/11 9:44am
Msg #399264

Tutorial on anti-trust laws

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_antitrust_law

Regarding "price-fixing"
Price fixing: An agreement between business competitors selling the same product or service regarding its pricing

Reply by Carole/CA on 9/29/11 11:24pm
Msg #399244

What a coincidence Erica..I signed up here a long while back..but haven't really participated in reading these forums and exploring this site until the last few days..I went to my profile and clicked on fees..forgot I ever did that before, didn't even realize it was there..and changed everything on there and made my base $100 about 10 minutes before I even read this ! Thank you and I agree!!!
What do you suggest for base milage charge, etc?

Reply by Carole/CA on 9/29/11 11:35pm
Msg #399245

ooops, was I not supposed to say that?

Reply by MistarellaFL on 9/30/11 12:19am
Msg #399250

Carole, most of us include mileage in our base fee

for loan signings within a certain mileage radius.
Outside of loan work, you have to decide what mileage rates are profitable.
And, nothing wrong with what you wrote, there's nothing wrong with getting a feel for what others might be charging.
For GN work, I charge a specific fee for work in my own town, and then about .75-1.50 per mile outside of my area (roundtrip), fee depends on number of notarizations.
In some instances of multiple notarizations, I will waive my travel fee if the notarizations are abundant.

Reply by Carole/CA on 9/30/11 12:45am
Msg #399251

Re: Carole, most of us include mileage in our base fee

Thank you Mistarella!! I really appreciate it!