Posted by Gary Williamson on 3/14/12 12:54pm
Msg #414882

Fax backs

I started charging $1.00 per page for the service of faxing documents back to agencies about a year ago and today I got blasted by one agency because of it and was told that my fee should cover the fax back work. I disagreed and lost the signing.

What are the thoughts of other notaries on charging for fax backs?

Reply by walthtz on 3/14/12 12:59pm
Msg #414884

Hi
I have an unlimited phone line.
I do not normally charge for faxbacks unless they want more than 30 pages. Then I charge 20.00.
I understand that faxing takes some time, but I also tell the company that the package will be delayed 1 day for shipping due to the faxing.
I do the faxing at the end of the day usally after 10 pm.
If a company insists on the faxing bein g done within a couple of hours after the signing, my fee goes up by 50.00.
So far this has worked for me.
Walter

Reply by Mike Goodey on 3/14/12 12:59pm
Msg #414885

I'm sure others will say that you should stand your ground on this charge..I, too, charge for faxbacks if I'm not told in the beginning. If, as part of negotiations, they state that there will be fax backs, then the charge should be part of your fee.

Reply by Gary Williamson on 3/14/12 1:12pm
Msg #414894

Thanks, I agree with you, if I know in advance there are required fax backs then no problem I take that into consideration when stating my fee. When I do not know until I receive the confirmation and instructions after we have agreed upon a fee is when I call back and state $1.00 per page. I have had one agency that needed the entire 183 package faxed and I quoted $150 for that and received the fee because it was a title company requirement. Premeir Lending Services is the only one that got upset with me for asking for a fax fee after receiving the confirmation with the original agreed signing fee.

Reply by ME/NJ on 3/14/12 1:21pm
Msg #414898

With PLS you shot yourself in the foot

Yes there are fax backs on the app (20 pages or so) but you stand to make it on both ends. Why bicker about it when you can make a couple hundred off one Borrower.

Just me, ten minutes of time just cost you some money, unless you are busy doing other work.

Of course there is a bad side to apps too, last week 4 of them went south for one reason or another and one appointment changed mind when I confirmed the appointment so 4 bad deals in a week. Two of them I had been to BO's home before and nothing so that makes 5 trips and 1 cancelled before I traveled.. All part of our business need to hustle to make money in our line of work, can't wait by phone all day.

Reply by Moneyman/TX on 3/14/12 4:31pm
Msg #414924

Re: With PLS you shot yourself in the foot

If I may ask, roughly how many (or a rough %) of your application signings with PLS actually turn into a second signing (the RM signing)?

I also accept both application and RM signings from PLS.

Reply by ME/NJ on 3/14/12 5:11pm
Msg #414928

almost every app that is completed

PLS calls me first if it comes to table, problem is if I am booked already they will find another local notary.

Reply by jba/fl on 3/14/12 6:26pm
Msg #414934

Almost all if I am not elsewhere. n/m

Reply by Gary Williamson on 3/14/12 6:09pm
Msg #414930

Re: With PLS you shot yourself in the foot

Actually I did not shoot myself in the foot. PLS understood and will call me if they have signings in my area again and agreed to state up front if there will be fax backs required or not. At least we left on good terms. As for the 2nd signing after the application. I have not seen a lot where I get both. They, as all signing services usually shop around for the cheapest notary they can find. In these hard times I do see notaries low balling the price to get business. I am not into that, I feel I charge a fair price for my services and I do not plan on dropping fees to get business.

Reply by Lee/AR on 3/14/12 1:20pm
Msg #414897

To me, and I believe any rational person, faxbacks (like edocs) require an increased charge due to increased time/labor.

One wonders how they'd like it if we all just increased our fees to cover edocs, faxbacks, split packages, 3 copies of docs JUST IN CASE these were included in the assignment.

Reply by jba/fl on 3/14/12 1:44pm
Msg #414900

I had one call saying that docs would be overnighted to BO. When I got the confirmation, it said $XXX + $10 edocs if I had to print. I didn't think anything about it (my fault) then got email saying docs ready to print. When I called the TC (no less) she said they would pay this time since it was so late and time for the signing, but... I let her know that the scheduler said it would be sent to BO. She informed me they never do that, then puffed herself up and said not to worry, she would just find someone else.

Fine with me - changing the rules mid-stream is just not to my liking anyway. I guess I should have just called when I got the confirmation. Live and learn.

Reply by A S Johnson on 3/14/12 2:35pm
Msg #414909

No. It is not part of the game. Charges for extra services.

Reply by LKAmikeVa on 3/14/12 2:41pm
Msg #414912

Yesterday I was called and asked all the pertinent questions which is probably the reason they called me back 5 minutes later and advised me that there would be faxbacks. I asked how many and they said the entire package. They were only willing to pay $10 more and I kindly declined the signing. It would take me a half hour each way from signing back to my house and then another half hour back to town to send package out. Not including the time it takes to fax an entire package.

Reply by FTNOTARY on 3/14/12 4:17pm
Msg #414922

We are not in the buisness of giving free service. I charge for fax backs and I am always paid. I make sure When I get that phone call to ask if there is going to be fax backs before I accept the assignment. If there is fax backs then I indicate my price according to the amount of fax backs ranging from 20 and up.

Reply by Luckydog on 3/14/12 4:46pm
Msg #414926

I try and separate all the fax back they need, and put on top of package. Once they are signed, I send the realtor off to scan or fax and I continue on with the closing. Usually we are all done at same time. I do not normally charge for fax backs, but if unexpected and I am busy, they may have to wait. I have unlimited phone line so is no cost to me.

Reply by FeliseSoCal on 3/15/12 1:05am
Msg #414979

I charge extra. I tell them it's not included in my base fee. It's time consuming to collate and run them through.