Posted by Frank/NC on 12/18/12 12:53pm
Msg #446937

All lowballers please read this

Just received a call from JT Notary Service, 949-706-5550. The girl stated she was "looking for the lowest price" on a closing tonight. I told her she doesn't even want to continue with me and that it isn't even worth talking any further. However, I recommend the company to all you lowballers. Get on the computer or phone immediately and get listed with them. You know what your work is worth so get to it and have a new customer for New Years.

Reply by GOLDGIRL/CA on 12/18/12 1:26pm
Msg #446944

How insulting. But there is a bright side. At least she was honest. Better than some SSs that:

1. Agree to whatever fee then short your check to whatever they intended to pay you in the first place.

2. Send you an unsigned check.

2. Agree to your fee and while you're on the hook, shop around for a cheaper notary and then:
a. call you and say signing's "canceled."
d. don't call you at all until you call asking where docs are and they say signing's "canceled."
b. don't call you at all, so when you call to confirm, the borrower says "another notary" has already confirmed ... or if you're the first to call, the borrower calls you back asking why another notary called later about the same signng.
c. or you show up and another notary is also there (that's happened).
3. Or the most common with these pathetic pieces of crapola, just don't pay you at all.

Yikes! Howz that for the state of the union when it comes to SSs?

Merry Christmas, Frank!

Reply by JanetK_CA on 12/19/12 1:32am
Msg #447043

Gonna save this list...

Whenever anyone asks me about becoming a notary, I can now easily show them the dark side of the business. Frankly, I've said before that the easiest part of this business is at the table. [Although I'm having second thoughts after the Provident signing I had tonight with a couple from the other side of the world, where numbers and signatures are written a little bit differently. Plus one of the signers had a little bit of shakiness in the hand from some medication. Please keep your fingers crossed for me. I could have used an entire 3rd set of docs tonight! ]

Reply by PegiT_MN on 12/18/12 2:09pm
Msg #446949

LOL.....it must be her first day and her boss forgot to tell her that what is said in the office meetings stays in the office meetings.....you don't repeat it to the notaries.

Reply by Bayshore on 12/18/12 2:27pm
Msg #446954

Got a call last night (in the middle of a signing, of course) from one of the "24/7" services who was all friendly until I asked about the fee. $70. AND faxbacks! I would have been more unfriendly, but was in front of borrowers so I simply said, "No thanks. Good night." I don't usually take calls during signings, but in this case the little ditz got lucky.

Reply by Kenneth Pallante on 12/19/12 11:23am
Msg #447063

I joined NR 3 or 4 years ago. I quickly learned that every company that wanted my services were offering extremely low fees ($25 to $75 per assignment). I told everyone of them to go pack sand. They all stated the same thing: "That is ok, we'll find somebody out there that will do it for $25. There are plenty of notaries that are desperate and we will keep calling until we find find one!" I have just recently checked back with NR and I see that nothing has changed. Those that want a notary are still offering fees that are an insult. I am not leaving my home for $25 (or $75 for that matter). It is almost 2013 and they still are offering $25 -- and, presumably, getting uneducated losers to do the job.

It is analogous to the real estate appraisers that banks now use. Rather than hire an excellent appraiser that knows the area and has 30 years of experience (and charges a lousy $500 fee) -- the lenders would rather pay $100 to an "appraiser" with 1 month of experience.

Are there any companies out there that will pay the normal fees that we professionals used to receive for this important job? I, regularly, used to receive from $250 to $500 per closing. Then, 2007 hit...