Posted by Linda_in_MI on 1/28/12 3:49pm
Msg #410181
News from the UPS notary front
Stopped in at a local UPS store to drop off a package. Happened to see that there were business cards for UPS Notary services on the counter. I asked if they get a lot of requests/calls for notary service. The counter person said it has picked up recently.
HERE IS THE NEWS: Apparently this particular franchise offered notary services in the past but stopped for some reason. Well, they started up again a couple of weeks ago. They charge $10/signature, which is the state max here in Michigan and $2/witness. I told her I was asking because I have on occasion suggested that the UPS store might be an option if individuals don't want to use my services as a notary. The counter person said that the charges were not standard across the board, that other stores may charge more than this location (remember that most of the UPS stores are independently owned/operated and do their own thing as far as services.)
I then asked if they get many calls under the category of "I can't come there, do you know any notaries that will come to me?". The response I got was if the store wasn't busy, depending in the circumstances, they--staff that are notaries--might leave the store to provide the notary services. Hmmmm. Interesting. Didn't think to ask how or if they are compensated for travel.
So be aware that if not offered at your local UPS store, some may be starting up again. But considering that the client would need to travel to their location, and based on their time frame and schedule, I don't see this as much real competition.
|
Reply by Karla/OR on 1/28/12 4:00pm
Msg #410182
Thanks for the info Linda. n/m
|
Reply by Marian_in_CA on 1/28/12 4:03pm
Msg #410183
All of the UPS stores that I know of have always offered the service... it was the FedEx stores that dropped it nationwide. The problem with the UPS stores is that they only have a couple of employees that may be notaries, and they may not be working when a customer needs them. I've only been to one where they had a staffing policy that a notary was always on duty when the store was open.
I go to UPS stores all the time to deposit checks... USAA has a wonderful service for this and they're partnered with a lot of UPS stores. That's because with USAA, they only have one or two branches in Texas, but customers all over the country.
Because of that, the store employees and owners are getting to know me pretty well, and they all know that I'm a mobile notary. It's paid off because I get calls from time to time from people telling me that the UPS store referred me because their notary was off that day.
|
Reply by Linda_H/FL on 1/28/12 5:04pm
Msg #410185
Aren't they overcharging? Isn't it $10/act, not
$10/signature? And $2 for the witness? Is that legal?
|
Reply by Luckydog on 1/28/12 5:52pm
Msg #410192
Re: Aren't they overcharging? Isn't it $10/act, not
Not sure about the witness price, but in Florida we can charge $10.00 per signature. If it's 2 signing, you can get $20.00 if you have the heart to do so. That is the Maximum, and of course you can do for less.
|
Reply by Linda_H/FL on 1/28/12 7:10pm
Msg #410205
Wrong Luckydog - in Florida it's $10/notarial act
not $10/signature
|
Reply by Linda_H/FL on 1/28/12 7:14pm
Msg #410207
Page 9 of the handbook
"Notary Fees
Florida authorizes notaries to charge up to $10 for each notarial act — administering an
oath, taking an acknowledgment, attesting to a photocopy, verifying a VIN, or certifying the
contents of a safe-deposit box."
http://www.flgov.com/wp-content/uploads/notary/ref_manual1-10.pdf
|
Reply by C. Rivera Chicago Notary Services on 1/29/12 11:06am
Msg #410230
per notarial act = is same as charging per signature...
each notarial act, whether you're giving an oath or taking an ack, etc is per person, per sig...
I believe Luckydog was correct.
|
Reply by Sylvia_FL on 1/29/12 11:25am
Msg #410231
Re: per notarial act = is same as charging per signature...
No - a notarial act is defined as when you put your seal on the document.
Years ago the NNA in their FL handbook stated a Fl notary could charge per signature.
It was pointed out to them that this was incorrect. They disagreed.
The SOS had to clarify it for them, the NNA's response was that they disagreed with the FL SOS, but they issued an addenddum to their handbook until they had new ones printed.
Any notary that charges $10 per signature on a document (unless there are 2 certificates, one for each signer, and the notary notarizes the signatures individually) is in violation of Florida 117.05 (2) and could place their commission in danger as well as be subjet to a hefty fine.
|
Reply by Sylvia_FL on 1/29/12 11:26am
Msg #410232
Oops -should be addendum not addenddum...
Hands a little shaky!
|
Reply by C. Rivera Chicago Notary Services on 1/29/12 1:07pm
Msg #410236
A Notarial Act is any action performed by a notary public
in their official capacity. This also includes when a notary is "witness" to a party signing the document which also needs the notary stamp on it.
I think you all should charge an additional $10 for witnessing as well, making it $20 for 1 signer. Not only are you putting your stamp on the doc they've signed, but have witnessed them signing as well. No? Geez you'd guys make a killing! LOL.
|
Reply by Linda_H/FL on 1/29/12 1:25pm
Msg #410244
Re: A Notarial Act is any action performed by a notary public
Making a killing won't do any good if we're in jail or have to pay it out in fines.
Notarial act is ack or jurat - $10/act..that's it. If anyone is charging per signature they're wrong.
But hey - maybe they look good in jumpsuits.
|
Reply by Sylvia_FL on 1/29/12 2:32pm
Msg #410247
Re: A Notarial Act is any action performed by a notary public
Maybe you would put up the bail and act as our attorney when we follow your advice.
"witnessing" is not listed as one of the notarial duties (except when using a jurat which specifies the signers signed in front of us.)
I will stick to Florida notary laws
|
Reply by desktopfull on 1/29/12 7:36pm
Msg #410255
Re: A Notarial Act is any action performed by a notary public
Sounds like a comprehension problem, maybe this will help: Florida law PROHIBITS us from following your suggestions.
|
Reply by Venita Peyton on 1/30/12 8:35am
Msg #410262
Re: A Notarial Act is any action performed by a notary public
$5 here in NC, but doesn't this discussion make you wonder WHY IT REQUIRES LEGISLATION and isn't just left to the open market?
|
Reply by FlaNotary2 on 1/30/12 9:16am
Msg #410266
Because notarial acts are public services n/m
|
Reply by Linda Adams on 1/28/12 7:16pm
Msg #410209
The price is what I was told by UPS person . . .
I wasn't ready and didn't want to get into the argument of per signature versus notarial act.
|
Reply by desktopfull on 1/28/12 10:34pm
Msg #410215
2 UPS stores by me charge $7.00, but
the money doesn't go to the notary, the store gets it all.
|
