Posted by CarolF/NC on 2/11/13 4:17pm
Msg #455278

Fees - I have to share this..received

an email from a company today when I asked for my additional mileage fee and in short, Notaries in your area are only charging $75 per assignment and nothing for the extra travel so we will limit your work area." Wow, and this was a 1 1/2 hour trip. Really, people are doing this? Good for them. I guess I will have a lot more time to sit on this board and read messages.

Reply by Ronnie_WA on 2/11/13 4:23pm
Msg #455281

Re: Dummer than rocks. N/M n/m

Reply by Ronnie_WA on 2/11/13 4:23pm
Msg #455282

Re: oops Dumber than rocks. N/M n/m

Reply by Malbrough_LA on 2/11/13 8:57pm
Msg #455347

Re: Dummer than rocks. N/M

This post made me doubly smile

Reply by CarolF/NC on 2/11/13 4:28pm
Msg #455286

and this was a $125 per job company not so anymore n/m

Reply by Yoli/CA on 2/11/13 4:40pm
Msg #455289

Unacceptable. Total lack of respect for notary.

Thank you for sticking to your fees, CarolF/NC -- whatever they may be.

Friday night, I had a signing in Colusa (1-1/2 hr drive from me) for ServiceLink. When I received confirmation, I noticed fax/scanbacks were required. When scheduling, I inquired and scheduler was not aware of any but I informed her there would be a fee adjustment if f/s-backs were required. Requested and was sent and amended confirmation for additional $XX. When, I arrived to signing, was informed by Mrs. that Mr. speaks VERY little English and asked if I speak Spanish. Fortunately, I do and signing proceeded and was completed with no issues. When I got home, I emailed coordinator with info and requested additional pay. This morning, I had not 1 but 2 emails from coordinator with amended confirmation with additional $XX.

This one signing invoiced for well over $300. Here's a company who respects my work and my worth. So, yeah, I'll take assignments and travel for them. And, payment is received within 2 weeks.

Reply by notary4az2 on 2/11/13 4:49pm
Msg #455293

Re: Unacceptable. Total lack of respect for notary.

Thanks Carol for sticking to your guns!

I had the same happen to me, Yoli. When SL asked me to go to a VERY rural area( 1 1/2 hr one way) in my county and I have asked for more money due to mileage and time they have always paid me my fee, No questions asked. They do respect notaries that do their job well and they want to hang on to those notaries by respectfully paying them what they are worth!!!

Reply by KODI/CA on 2/11/13 6:38pm
Msg #455316

Would you name the company?

Reply by CarolF/NC on 2/11/13 6:59pm
Msg #455321

An attorney who is now handling TS work n/m

Reply by MW/VA on 2/11/13 7:06pm
Msg #455322

I'm not always taken in by the "other notaries in your

area...." ploy. If they have other notaries who will work for that, then IMO they wouldn't be calling you in the first place. I think my response would be, "other notaries may be operating as a charity, and I'm not". More & more cos. are looking to increase their profits at our expense. Also, there's a "movement" going on, marketed by one of our own, pitching supplying notaries for $90 fees. Shame, shame. shame!!
Your fee, as you know, has to include your time & expenses--less than $xxx per signing just doesn't cover it, especially with rising gas prices.

Reply by Malbrough_LA on 2/11/13 9:01pm
Msg #455348

MV hits the nail on the head and wins a giant stuffed panda

bear imo. Let's assume the premise that they could find a notary to take the signing. Why are they calling you again? Call one of the notaries that is jumping out of their bones to stamp something like Pavlov's dog just heard a *ding*. It's only a matter of time before "these other notaries" realize that the cost to income ratio is breaking them. If not, they'll wind up in a greyhound bus station's soiled restroom stall utilizing toilet paper as a combustible flesh warming product....Sorry, I had a very long and cynical day, folks. Bear with me.

Reply by CarolF/NC on 2/11/13 9:15pm
Msg #455355

But they aren't calling me. So yes others are doing them.

They removed me from most of my territory so they wouldn't have to pay me any additional fees.

Reply by jba/fl on 2/11/13 9:18pm
Msg #455356

Re: But they aren't calling me. So yes others are doing them.

Because they have people who will work for less. Or, have you changed your mind and now will do more for less?

Reply by CarolF/NC on 2/11/13 9:45pm
Msg #455365

No I'm not taking them. I'm going to invite my notary

neighbors to lunch because I have so much free time and ask what the heck is up

Reply by jba/fl on 2/11/13 10:02pm
Msg #455369

Re: No I'm not taking them. I'm going to invite my notary

There is WalMart and there is Neiman Marcus, and everything else is somewhere in between. Even the rich shop at Walmart at times and vice versa.

Those in between look for areas to excel - to stand apart from the crowd. That is how you should be spending your time - finding your strengths and capitalize upon them.

Reply by MW/VA on 2/12/13 8:37am
Msg #455406

Problem is that fees are based on what the market will

bear. I could decide to charge $$200, but I won't get any calls. Unfortunately, our
fees have to be competitive if we want to work. This is a general statement, and I don't advocate accepting lowball fees because someone is working for peanuts. It's usually a "you get what you pay for" thing, and those taking low-ball fees usually offer lower quality work, too.

Reply by Blueink_TN on 2/11/13 9:29pm
Msg #455361

I received 8 "email requests" today for signings offering a whopping $65!! I can't believe people are actually taking these. Mileage plus print fee plus time, possibly breaking even.

Reply by CarolF/NC on 2/11/13 9:43pm
Msg #455364

And don't forget they are not paying for fax backs n/m