Posted by Diane M. Elting on 7/17/13 4:38pm
Msg #477195

DO NOT WORK FOR LIST

Does anyone know if there is a list of companies that notaries have worked for and not gotten paid (that would be my main reason for not wanting o do business with them)? If not, there should be. We need to have a way to put them out of our reach. Please respond

Reply by 101livescan on 7/17/13 4:53pm
Msg #477197

A mental list for sure...where to begin.

Reply by Luckydog on 7/17/13 5:04pm
Msg #477200

It is on here called "company ratings" Sign on and see what others have to say about the <3 star companies.

Reply by Priscilla Witman on 7/17/13 5:10pm
Msg #477202

I tried creating a "No-No List" when I first started out, based on a lot of different factors. Reputation, pay offers, personal experience, etc.

Do you know what I learned? It was a lot easier to create a "Yes List" based on those same criterion. I started off by reading the forum every single day and researching the list in Signing Central as far as I could trace each company. This included looking at the star rating, looking at the comments, looking at the linked forum comments, and looking at the company's website, if they had one. I created a list from that. Now, I add and subtract companies from that list daily as my experience grows. There is so much value just here at Notary Rotary alone. It has saved me a lot of heartache and I have learned so much.

I don't base my decisions on any one thing, but on a combination of things. But...do they pay is a very significant factor. What I have found, personally, is there are some companies that are just bad to the bone and don't pay anyone, and some companies that look good except for a few "they didn't pay me" comments here and there. I think the key is, what ratio of good-to-bad are you willing to take a chance on? For example: A company that has 100 5-star ratings : 5 2-star ratings. I would probably take those odds all things considered. What I have also done (for companies like the example that may have just a few crappy ratings among a lot of good ratings) is PM those that have left unfavorable ratings and find out what their experiences have been. That has been the deciding factor on a few companies for me.

I don't think you're going to find just one all-inclusive "bad" list because everyone has different tolerance levels. But however you do it, good luck to you!

Reply by NVLSlady/VA on 7/17/13 5:32pm
Msg #477205

YES List

My thoughts are same as Priscilla's. Work for who you KNOW. My "Yes" List may be small, but I'm OK with only forming business partnerships with the "tried and true" and am in NO hurry for involvement (and headaches) with unprofessional, poorly run, low rated companies.

It's easier in my opinion to spend time learning what a genuine paper bill looks like; then I'm more likely to spot the counterfeit ones.

Don't have time for the Catch Me If You Can game that some companies are playing.

p.s. Same thing goes for choosing friends, teachers, spouses, etc. What I want in a ________ is:

Reply by BeachGirl on 7/17/13 5:43pm
Msg #477208

Re: YES List

This is so true!

Reply by pat/WA on 7/17/13 5:50pm
Msg #477213

Re: No list

I don't know what is happening. I was just offered $33 to travel 30 miles each way and do a signing. There comment was you don't have to print documents.

Reply by Diane M. Elting on 7/18/13 9:10pm
Msg #477373

Re: YES List

Thanks to all who responded. The comments and suggestions were all good and I will take into consideration.

Reply by Christine/OK on 7/17/13 6:15pm
Msg #477219

LIKE!! :D n/m

Reply by JimAZ on 7/17/13 5:54pm
Msg #477215

Use your smart phone to create a contact list of 5,4, and 3.5 star companies. Set these companies up on a unique ring tone that you answer immediately. Then all others on default ring go to voice mail. It takes some time, but definitely worth it. In the end you only answer calls from companies that are going to pay you for your work.

Reply by Priscilla Witman on 7/17/13 5:55pm
Msg #477216

JimAZ, that's how my contacts are set in my phone. :-) n/m

Reply by GOLDGIRL/CA on 7/17/13 6:54pm
Msg #477222

When I first started out in this biz, I was shocked, SHOCKED I tell 'ya, to learn that there were hiring agencies who had no intention of paying the NSA! So, I started to make a hand-written list every time I read on NR about some scummy outfit. This soon went on for pages. It became too time consuming to go through all the pages and pages of deadbeats every time I got a call. Were they on the list? Were they *not* on the list but I still had to beware? etc. etc. So the best thing to do is market yourself to only the best and work for only the best ...(this will be only a handful and thus a lot easier to keep track of).

Reply by 101livescan on 7/17/13 7:16pm
Msg #477225

Like! PS:

Only work for companies who respect you as a notary and hopefully you'll end up working for some that will be in business beyond the current slow down.

Bad boys outnumber the good guys, so be careful, cuz a couple 4 star companies are offering $70, substandard fee.

Reply by Drosato on 7/18/13 7:43am
Msg #477260

LIST

I will take a closing from a company if I'm out on the road and can't check SC, but when I get home, I check them out. I don't have any qualms about calling them back and telling them that I cannot accept the assignment if they have bad ratings and comments on SC. For those that have lied to me about payment and/or pay super late or I had too many issues with....their calls are simply blocked. They just don't get through anymore. I will not have them waste my time.