Posted by NMSBTB/TN on 5/25/12 7:19am
Msg #421832
Quoting pricing for General Notary work
Frustrating. Lately calls come in for my mobile services that take approximately 30 minutes drive one day in non rush hour traffic - so most assignments have you booked for 80 to 90 minutes for the travel, service etc.
Last night's call wanted me to notarize 4 docs at approximately 11:15 p.m. at night in an apartment complex , no less that 1.5 hours time involved for travel, meeting and the actual notarizations.
Quoted a very reasonable sum. She said she had 1 more location and would get back. Called back to say they would do it for $15 total. My fee was much higher than $15.00. Turns out she would pass the area in the morning on the way to work and so she would drive to their location. All she will remember is my fee was more than $15.
This is the 9th time in less than 9 days I've encountered this mindset. Anyone else have similar issues?
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Reply by Don Courtney on 5/25/12 7:40am
Msg #421833
Unless the customer is specifically looking for a traveling Notary you will not be able to obtain a decent fee when they are shopping price. I recently changed my Google ads to include the word "Traveling" in all ads. That seems to work better than prior ads with "Mobile".
If they are willing to drive and the first question they ask is how much, I simply steer them to the UPS store.
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Reply by Cheryl_NV on 6/10/12 6:30pm
Msg #423116
I love it, I am going to change my ads to traveling right now, this happens to me daily.
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Reply by bronxnotary on 6/12/12 1:37pm
Msg #423269
You hit the nail right on the head! I too had to specify that I am a "traveling" notary. Anyone who contacts me knows that there will be a travel fee involved.
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Reply by Lee/AR on 5/25/12 8:49am
Msg #421835
All the time
GNW is mostly very frustrating. They call because you will travel, but don't want to pay the travel fee, so I let them know they can eliminate that by coming to me (am quite easy to find on major highway) or, preferably, just send 'em to their bank...because--
One of two things will happen: they'll make an appt., but don't show OR they do show up somewhere within 2 hours before or after the 'appt. time' and about 2/3 of the time only have $100 bill to pay for $5 or $10 notarization fee. Keep lots of change on hand!
And they have a lot of misconceptions about notarization: signer not present; have no valid ID; no Ack or Jurat and think you're nuts because you can't/won't just 'stamp & sign'. Telling them signer must be present with valid ID seems to have no effect.
The exception to the above statements are the truly housebound folks--they are wildly grateful and don't play the 'only have $100 bill' game.
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Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 5/25/12 9:03am
Msg #421837
You can eliminate the $100 bill game....
Just get Square! It's cheap, easy and very convenient!
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Reply by Linda_H/FL on 5/25/12 9:18am
Msg #421838
Does it have to be an iphone or does it work on any
smartphone? This looks neat
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Reply by Linda_H/FL on 5/25/12 9:19am
Msg #421839
Never mind..my apologies..all I had to do was scroll down
and READ!!!
<<blush>>
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Reply by Lee/AR on 5/25/12 10:40am
Msg #421845
Oh, heck, Shoshana, $100-bill-people don't have credit cards
For some reason, this is a game I've seen a lot around here. Am just grateful to the federal gov. that the largest bills in circulation are only $100s!
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Reply by LKT/CA on 5/25/12 12:44pm
Msg #421856
Wouldn't be any game on my watch
I have no problem whatsoever stating MY policy in certain circumstances, i.e., "I collect payment in cash and upfront *before I open my briefcase* and I will give you a receipt so please have exact bills." That would end any $100 bill game or any other game. Though, I'm in a saturated city and getting change is not an issue.
I use very specific statements while talking to the caller. During the discussion, I say, "Okay, since you state that you're the only signer and you have two documents, the total fee with travel for TWO documents will be $XX.
And when I arrive, I review the paperwork first, in case they have six documents instead of just the two they mentioned on the phone. I then say, "Okay, we have six docs instead of two we spoke of, so with travel the total is $XX." I smile and look the client in the eye and say, "I'm collecting the $XX NOW and will write you a receipt."
The games and tricks can easily be thwarted if the notary clearly state's their policy upfront on the phone and follows through at the appointment.
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Reply by MW/VA on 5/25/12 9:46am
Msg #421841
I don't know how rural your area is, but I wouldn't
consider gnw that was anything but close to where you are. Maybe you need to set a mileage limit for that work, and set your fees accordingly. I also wouldn't accommodate a 11:15 pm signing for gnw.
These are rarely "emergency" situations.
BTW, when I get calls for gnw (I do that mostly as a public service) I first find out if they really need mobile services. Many times I can refer them to a place where they can walk in.
Otherwise, the notary fee in VA is $5, and I have a minimum fee w/travel of $25. It's usually calls from home-bound seniors or at a nursing home, etc. I keep my fees reasonable & affordable for that very reason.
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Reply by Penney/CA on 5/25/12 10:56am
Msg #421847
Re: I don't know how rural your area is, but I wouldn't
I do the same thing. They are quite appreciative to find a local place that does notarial work without the travel fee.
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Reply by Roger_OH on 5/25/12 11:11am
Msg #421848
You're a service business...
and like any other mobile service, there's a fee for the convenience of your coming to them, day or night, often 7 days a week. You have to determine what pricing works for your profitability plan.
I tend to keep GNW requests within a 10-15 mile radius, unless there are a lot of documents or it's an unusual situation. I usually quote around $30 or so for something close, and more often than not, I hear "Really, is that all?" - those folks often throw in a little extra as well.
Outside my radius, and particularly for a single document, I have a strong network of notary colleagues around the metro area (who actually know what they're doing). I'll usually refer the caller to one of them who is closer, or give them the option to meet me at McDonald's or Starbucks near me for a reduced travel fee. I do not have people come to my home.
Most UPS stores here don't offer notary services due to the liability, and they're happy to refer folks to me. Same with FedEx stores - they all have my cards.
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Reply by anotaryinva on 5/25/12 6:19pm
Msg #421875
Unfortunately in Virginia
We can only charge actual travel charges, not $25, $50, or even $100 as I have seen on some fellow notaries websites. Actual travel charges to me means 55 cents a mile as the allowance given by the IRS. I wish I was wrong and could just charge a flat fee of $25 to go 5 or 10 miles but I think it's against the rules in our handbook. I decline 99% of the calls I get. If someone is truly unable to get to a UPS or Parcel Post I charge $5 a signature and 55 cents a mile roundtrip.
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Reply by Cody on 5/25/12 6:57pm
Msg #421879
Re: Unfortunately in Virginia
What about charging for your time?
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Reply by MW/VA on 5/25/12 7:25pm
Msg #421882
News to me. I never saw that in the handbook. Page #? n/m
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Reply by anotaryinva on 5/26/12 6:43am
Msg #421905
Re: News to me. I never saw that in the handbook. Page #?
Page 5
[By law, a notary is not required to charge a fee. However, he or she may charge up to $5.00 for each paperbased notarial act performed.
The only other payment a notary may request is actual travel expenses if the notary is required to travel away from home or office to perform the notarial act. In this case, the notary and client must agree on the payment to be made.]
Maybe I'll check with the SOC about how exactly they define 'travel expenses'. I doubt that $25 three or four miles away would fly but if they say it's okay I might entertain doing these again, otherwise no thanks.
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Reply by sigtogo/OR on 5/26/12 11:28am
Msg #421924
IRS .55/mile does not equal "actual travel expense"
your handbook does not say you can only charge the IRS allowable travel write-off, it says your "actual travel expense." I would interpret that to say you must compute your expenses and have client agreement with your determined fee. Oregon law is similar but doesn't use the word "actual." Still, to me, my acutal expense would be everything involved with the maintenance, gas, insurance, depreciation of my car, as well as my business licensing, insurance, etc required to provide mobile services. Seems to me there is plenty of room in that definition to include a time for travel charge since time is an inherent cost to run a business.
please let us know what your SOC says.
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Reply by Linda_H/FL on 5/26/12 11:48am
Msg #421926
I would also interpret "travel expense" to include
an hourly rate for the TIME it takes to travel to and from....the time it takes me away from other assignments is a compensible expense
JMO
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Reply by MW/VA on 5/26/12 8:21pm
Msg #421988
I guess it's all in how you interpret that. I respect that
the state sets the maximum amt. for notarizations, but it does not establish my cost of doing business. When I get a call for gnw I am upfront about the state fee & what my fee is with travel. The caller has a choice to make. BTW, I know many in this state that won't walk out the door for less than $50. I think that's way too high for gnw.
As an example, I got a call from someone needing gnw to sign off on an out of state car title. I was on my way home, his location was only a couple of miles from me, and I ran by there, completed the notarization, and charged him $10. Since gnw isn't my main source of notary income, I'm always more than fair with the public.
Also, with your reasoning, do you call the SOC & ask them if it's ok to charge a fee of $100 as a NSA?
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Reply by HisHughness on 5/26/12 9:27pm
Msg #421993
Re: I guess it's all in how you interpret that. I respect that
***When I get a call for gnw I am upfront about the state fee & what my fee is with travel.***
We had a similar discussion on NotRot several months ago, and I was astonished at the response of one signing agent.
I often get calls for GNW, as I'm sure do most signing agents. When I do, I always tell the caller that I will be glad to help, but if the caller is mobile, he may not want my assistance. Then I explain that he probably can get notary service at any UPS for $6, but my charge will be far higher because I am a mobile notary. Naturally, most of the time the caller elects to go to UPS.
The signing agent's position was shocking, to say the least. She said she had no responsibility to a caller to explain that he could get notary services much cheaper elsewhere, and felt entirely justified in charging far above the state minimum if she provided mobile service, even if the caller did not need mobile service. That same signing agent has on various occasions ranted against unscrupulous practices by signing services.
For some, business ethics are a flexible matter, depending on how much they stand to gain or lose.
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Reply by MW/VA on 5/28/12 3:48pm
Msg #422068
I agree, Hugh. I usually end up referring the caller to a
storefront where they get walk in for notary work. There's nothing that requires me to do that, but it is the right thing to do. :-)
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Reply by BrendaTx on 5/28/12 10:15pm
Msg #422080
Curious - what about after hours and holiday?
Do you allow walk up? (Anyone, not just you MW/Hugh).
I used to, but if I did now, I would do 10 notarizations on the weekend in my house.
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Reply by HisHughness on 5/28/12 11:23pm
Msg #422084
Re: Curious - what about after hours and holiday?
If they need me, they get me. If UPS works for them, I'm happy to send them there.
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Reply by Cheryl_NV on 6/10/12 6:37pm
Msg #423119
Re: You're a service business...
I love GNW it is a big part of my income. I quote a trip fee for 7 am to 7 pm plus a per signature fee, then from 7p to 7 am my trip fee is doubled plus the per signature fee. I ask ahead of time how many signatures and signers so that I can give a ball park quote, they either make the appointment or not.
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Reply by NMSBTB/TN on 5/26/12 1:52pm
Msg #421946
City not a rural your area so mileage includes the time to
get stuck in current construction, rush hour, etc. The caller needed it that evening for an app for a law enforcement agency that needed it early early a.m. I like GNW and have had wonderful clients. Just happened to have a very weird week!
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Reply by BBuchler/CA on 5/26/12 1:37pm
Msg #421945
I get GNW all the time and really like it. I tell them what our state allows and my travel fee. I will get asked if they can come to me, but tell them I don't have an office. More often I go to them with no trouble, they pay me cash or write a check. I do a lot of work at a local hospital and those people NEVER question my fee, and many times give me a tip (which I try to turn down).
I'll take all the GNW I can get.
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Reply by Cheryl_NV on 6/10/12 6:44pm
Msg #423121
I agree completely.
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