Recent Posts

Topic: Free Driving Directions via Cellphone

Don’t have a GPS? Dial 347-328-4667 from your cellphone….you’ll receive a text message directing you to your destination – for FREE !! You won’t forget the number, just remember DIR-ECT-IONS

Topic: Copy Certification by Document Custodian

How much a copy certification would cost?

Topic: Answer Your Phone

I have my phone with me and will answer it at all times, whether I’m doing dishes, at the grocery store, or waiting at the dentist office. I will not answer my phone while serving a notary customer. They are paying me for my full attention at the appointment. To answer the phone and start negotiating deals while I should be notarizing their paperwork is rude, in my opinion. They are not paying me to take the next deal. They are paying me to notarize their doc and pay attention and focus on the task at hand. If I miss a call, oh well, my loss, but I will NOT shortchange the customer by taking my attention away from them for a phone call. For loan signings I will inform the borrowers ahead of time that an incoming call may be the SS or TC and I may need to answer my phone. But for regular notary work…the calls can go to voicemail until I am finished. I hate it when people are on the phone when I am their customer, therefore, I will not do that to others. I am willing to lose a client on the phone because the person sitting in front of me I value as #1 and a top priority.

Topic: Answer Your Phone

I always answer if it is an unrecognized number. I have several numbers that I know the prefix too and know they are companies I do business with, I then also answer my phone. I do know that it is rude at times but I then explain my line of work “they call once if no answer they move on down the list”. Usually everyone understands. ( except my kids who think it’s rude)

Topic: Raising Prices

I do agree with texnotary to do a e-doc signing does not really cost much more than 1 year ago. So, why now raise e-doc fees. If anything do what the lindah did and raise your fee altogether. If it is more than 20 miles, raise your price. That makes more sense everyone knows the price of gas. I live in the Antelope Valley which covers a large mass of land and several cities. So I now ask immediately for the zip code. Yes, I agree that when I say no because of the low price they know they’ll call the next Notary and she or he will say yes. There is not much negotiating these days. There are some great signing services that will negotiate and I appreciate them.

Topic: Raising Prices

I don’t get it. I just got another signing request for $65.00! I do NOT think so!

But there must be those willing to accept.

Topic: best printer

hello all – I’m shopping for a new printer and hoped to get some feedback - I want a color laser – preferably with two trasy – but definitely a printer that prints envelopes without a hassle – I’m trying to stay under $1000

anybody got any suggestions?

Topic: How to best advertise your Notary Public services online

PAY PAL is a great service and this is how my monthly dues are paid.

Topic: LDC National Closing Coordinators LLC

Many times when SS’s are on their way out, they still contract Notaries for signings and agree to the Notary’s fee however high it is, because they never intend on paying the Notary….they just abscond with the money.

Topic: Raising Prices

UCLA, so far no

Topic: Raising Prices

Lindah,

Have you gotten any static about your fee increase?

Topic: Raising Prices

I raised my home county fee by $5 and my outer county fee $10…I also removed one county from my service area due to the distance required to get there.

Topic: LDC National Closing Coordinators LLC

New Port Richey, FL – Out of business – in following up on an overdue invoice I found out today the telephone number was disconnected – contacted title who told me Laura had advised them last month that she was closing down – apparently invoices for services over the last two months are in question…..makes me sick that she probably knew on 4/26/08 that she was on the way out…AARRGGHHH!!

Topic: Raising Prices

Back to the original subject of this thread….

Are any of you guys raising your fees?

I just feel like $100 is not a fair fee anymore. It just isn’t worth it, especially for a last minute E-doc job!!!!

Topic: If You Accept $50 Signings

I totally agree with you lkthornton! If we all stuck together and expected what we are WORTH, we would not have someone trying to pay us $50 for a signing!

I just had the unfortunate experience of turning down a job last night. Signing Service wanted me to do a job for $100. It was for E-docs and it was a rush job. I told them that unfortunately, I couldn’t accept anything under $125. I have done business with this company before for $100 but with the way gas is now a days, I just CAN’T do it!

Topic: If You Accept $50 Signings

I disagree with both you and Kelly for this reason to paraphrase what someone else on another board wrote: When signing agents take $50 assigments, this increases the expectation of agencies that we should ALL take them for $50 and it devalues the work we all do.

It doesn’t matter that the docs were overnighted to the borrower who lives next door….it still devalues/cheapens the profession. I don’t believe a signing agent should accept less than $100 for O/N docs under any circumstances – and with gas at nearing $5 per gallon, that fee could be raised to $125, but they have a right to run their business at a loss if they so choose…...JMHO

Topic: New to Notary Depot from NC

As for signing up with companies you can Google notary signing agent directory and you will find several lists of companies that would like to have you in their database. Keep signing up and signing up. Of course, you should go onto a site such as Notary Cafe and they have a Complaint Board. I would check the companies on there that have quite a few complaints and SKIP those when choosing to sign up with services. Just dedicate time each day to the computer and getting your name out there.

Topic: Notary suffix

I believe that Certified Notary Signing Agent, Certified Loan Signing Agent and Certified Signing Agent are a few of the titles that Notary Publics can add to their titles. I do believe that now a days more and more lenders and escrow want a Notary Public that is specifically been trained on the loan docs. I have even had to fax my certification to a loan officer before. The most widely recognized is from the NNA.

Topic: Notary suffix

I believe “Public Notary” is a common mistake the general public makes. So common in fact that the Yellow Pages cross references Public Notary and Notary Public. Do a search in Google for a Public Notary and you’ll see what I mean.

Each state is different. I’ve been a Notary Public in New Jersey and California. In NJ I was “appointed” in CA individuals are required to complete a background check and pass a State mandated exam. I’ve never heard that here in CA that we are “certified” in fact, most instances when I hear or think of certified, I think of a Certified Public Accountant, but not a Notary Public.

That’s my 2 cents :)

www.KosakSigningService.com

Topic: If You Accept $50 Signings

I agree with Kelly, there are times a $50 signing is better than no signing at all and there are times I’ve made as much by doing a $50 signing as I have by doing a $125 when you figure in travel time and a hot-tempered borrower who is upset with the LO.

Topic: New to Notary Depot from NC

Welcome! You may want to post this in the newbie area. Best wishes!

Topic: Calif Cell Phone Changes for July 2008

I just purchased two of the Bluetooth Car Kits, both the BLUEANT (that’s in my car) and the VR3 which is going to my hubby as a Father’s Day gift.

I am not a COSTCO member and ended up buying my items online at $59.99 and $63.00 via Ebay. Shipping included.

Topic: Merchandiser Jobs

I know some have made money off of mystery shops and think that is great, but mystery shopping is not for me. I’m not a good actor and tend to feel guilty when I am told to make up a scenario to complete a shop. Again, it’s just me, others feel differently and I understand that.

The one thing the mystery shopping sites have introduced me to is the field of merchandising. I have always seen these people working in stores and wondered how they got these jobs. Well, now I know and I am one of them.

The most important thing to me during this slow market has been to keep my business afloat and to be accessible to my hard earned, long term clients while trying to keep up with my bills. I had to make a hard decision, like many of you have, and I decided against getting a “real” job to keep my business afloat. I am working hard to find ways to keep my business running and find real earning opportunities so I can afford to keep my clients.

I have been doing field inspections and they have increased, but at an average of $20 per job for me and gas prices on the rise, it’s just not enough to replace the closing business I lost because of the market downturn. Keep in mind; I need a flexible schedule so I can accommodate my long term clients so my opportunities are very limited as I will not give up my business.

I started applying for merchandising positions found on craigslist and through shadow shopper (a mystery shopper and merchandising job site that offers a free membership and paid memberships) and I now have two gigs with another supposedly opening up by the end of the month. One job I work the 1st and 3rd Friday each month for 6 hours per month. The job is easy, but not flexible because I have a set appointment schedule. It pays $15 per hour and is a 1099 position.

My newest position is restocking book departments in Kmart and BestBuy stores. I can complete the restock any time between 6am and 4pm, but this job must be done on Tuesdays because that is when all new releases come out. For this position I am paid $10 per hour including travel time and I am actually a W2 employee.

Again, I’m not getting rich here and I’m not promising you will either, but I wanted to let everyone know that there are real money making opportunities out there. I spent this past weekend compiling a list of companies that hire merchandisers and the list is much like the field inspection list that I offer. You can visit http://floridasnotary.com/MerchandisingCompanyList.aspx for more information.

Hang in there and good luck!

Topic: Join a database for FREE

Those of you who haven’t yet signed up/joined my database, please do so by visiting the NOTARIES page at: www.aquicknote.net FYI, I am always negotiating for a new contract that could potentially provide some notaries with work….Be advised that adding your name to this database is free.

Also, members of UNAA (The United Notary Association of America) will receive preferred selection when this work occurs. http://unitednotaries.org/ (Join today!!)

Please be advised that this is not a guarantee of work. I am simply looking for those of you who might be interested in such work if and when it occurs. Please remember that my Signing Service work is limited and represents only a very small percentage of what I do. I do, however, prefer to be able to provide service to my clients who need such work and am careful to pay notaries well and in a timely manner. I operate this way because I am myself an NSA and understand the value of the work we do.

I hope to hear from you…....

Shannon “A Quick Note” www.aquicknote.net

Topic: Earn More Money-Learn How.

Maverick Signings is in full swing! We are offering interested mobile Notaries throughout the U.S. an opportunity to add an exciting avenue to your income potential. Over the past year, we have been introducing Automotive Dealerships to the most secure way to handle contracts they send off site for signatures. We are currently in final negotiations with two major national Auto Groups. We need trained Notaries now to service our clients. The internet has dramatically changed the buying habits of customers searching for and buying automobiles. Out of state and outside deliveries have been common in this industry and this trend has only grown exponentially. The internet has made it possible for a customer to purchase a vehicle online, therefore avoiding going into the dealership and having to haggle with pricing and unwanted items the dealer offers. It also allows the customer to find exactly what they want, no matter where it is located. No geographic boundaries. We protect the Dealership by securing their customer”s true identity when contracts are signed offsite. Utilizing Notaries that we have trained, we are solving for the Dealer an obvious problem – exposure to Identity Fraud. Our course is geared to prepare the mobile Notary on the basics of automotive contracts, dealership expectations, and protocol. It is essential, as in the mortgage industry, that we offer our clients Notaries that will handle their documents properly and expediently. The signings are much quicker and easier than Mortgage signings, but vary greatly in processes.

Act now and save!Our course is normally offered at $29.00. If your join now, receive a $5.00 discount from our already low price by entering redemption code BZ2008 upon checkout.(Offer good on new sign ups only thru 06/30/08) After completing the course, you will be permanently entered in our database for signings in your area. Maverick Signings can not guarantee the amount of singings in any area. Signings are throughout the U.S and are random when they are ordered. Our client’s customers are everywhere. We service the entire United States and need all areas covered. All areas have the same potential for signings. What have you done lately to up your chances of a signing? For the price of your weekly Starbucks bill, you can invest in your future. We have! Please visit us at www.mavericksingings.com