Snapdocs really impresses me. They are new, successful, popular, yet everybody I know is complaining bitterly about them. It’s like Uber. You either love’em or hate’em. I was reading a Notary Rotary post where two reps from Snapdocs answered questions. Wow! Such good service! So, below are my comments on Snapdocs.
1. Snapdocs does cattle calls.
This is an automated feature that is convenient for the Title company, but a pain for the Notary. If you answer a cattle call after more than a few minutes have gone by, the job will probably have been filled.
2. Offers are generally low
Offers from Snapdocs are usually not very well paying. On the other hand, this makes it a great opportunity for newer Notaries to put some notches on their belt. I always tell newbies to work for cheap until they have proven themselves with a few thousand signings.
3. Are they scaring away seasoned Notaries?
One Notary on Notary Rotary’s form claimed that Snapdocs was scaring away seasoned Notaries. In my opinion, a system that is optimized for price and convenience is not suitable for an experienced and higher priced Notary. I just hope the good Notaries don’t get put out of business with all of the low fees that have become the norm in today’s Notary industry.
4. But, can you negotiate prices?
Yes. You can respond to emails and make a counter offer. If someone offers you $55, you can say, $155 — take it or leave it. Do you want experience and credentials or do you want to take your chances? In my opinion, Notaries do too much self-pitying and not enough negotiating. Give those signing and title companies a run for their money. Ask for what you’re worth. Our veteran Notary Ken always makes counter offers and demands up front payment on Paypal and usually gets it too!
5. Snapdocs eliminates the middle-man (or woman)
Signing Agents have been dreaming for years of a time when signing companies (who they perceive as being worthless) are weeded out of the situation. Well, now they have been weeded out in this playing field — but, prices are still dismally low. So, the Notaries still lose. But, in my opinion, a Notary who gets paid well earns that pay with merit which includes rich experience, multiple certifications, good marketing skills and businesslike communication habits.
6. Does Snapdocs let Title blacklist the Notaries?
Not exactly. But, feedback about the quality of the work done can affect the Notary’s ranking on this site.
7. Is Snapdocs better than the Notary directories?
In my opinion, Notary directories offer a better quality Notary than Snapdocs, and also offer more in depth information about the Notary.
8. Snapdocs will not help the Notary get paid.
Snapdocs operates for the benefit of the signing service,not the Notary. On the other hand, they don’t charge the Notary. If you don’t get paid, that is your problem. If they did guarantee payment, there would be expenses associated with that which would cut your fee down by 5-15% based on how other similiar models work on popular freelancer sites on the internet.
You might also like:
Has anyone used snapdocs?
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=15831
Snapdocs, good for the notary or the signing service?
http://www.123notary.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6744
They have not contacted me yet. But, when they do; they will receive a place of honor and distinction in my cell phone – call drop list.
Comment by Kenneth Edelstein — February 29, 2016 @ 4:34 am
Thanks for writing this detailed post, and thank you the compliment. I wrote up a quick response/addition for each of your bullet points. I hope this helps clarify things.
1. “Cattle Calls” is an innacurate name for a system that lets notaries respond to an available signing with the click of a button. The problem you’re addressing is that we need to be more targeted with the messages so only one or two are sent per signing request. This is something we’re actively working to improve.
2. Perception on this issue is skewed because people are much more likely to complain about low fees than they are to write about fair fees. The average notary fee on Snapdocs is over $90, and many companies are paying over $100. Many of our clients know how important it is to pay notaries a fair rate if they want high quality.
3. The quality of the notary signing agents on Snapdocs is really important to us, and we’re actively working to improve the notary’s experience. This is true for both seasoned notaries, and good notaries just getting started.
4. This is accurate, we have built pricing negotiation into the platform, as well as feedback on availability.
5. We don’t eliminate signing services, most of our paying clients are signing services. We have title company clients as well, but these are typically the larger ones that have internal signing service divisions.
6. We do allow companies to blacklist notaries they don’t want to work with again. They can only blacklist internally. We also give notaries the ability to blacklist companies they don’t want to work with.
7. Snapdocs is 10x better than notary directories, because Snapdocs allows notaries to build work history and reputation. When a company uses Snapdocs to source a notary, they can know if the notary has real experience, and that’s critical for working with a good signing agent.
8. Making sure notaries get paid in full and ontime is one of the big problems we’d like to help fix in the industry, but its a tricky one. We hope to have some progress on this front in the future.
Thank you for taking the time to read my responses. If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to reach out: support@snapdocs.com
Comment by Tristin — February 29, 2016 @ 10:00 pm
Personally I don’t think you like the compition. Yes some time Fees can be low. Either negotiate or don’t lake the job. Of all Notaries refused the low paying jobs, prices would come up.
Comment by Gloria roberts — March 10, 2016 @ 4:09 pm
When I get an e-mail from SnapDocs, i look to see who is the company which hired them, then I go directly to that company to negotiate my fee. If I don’t already have that company in my card file, I look them up through Google and sometimes thru 411.com.
Occasionally, SnapDocs is actually the one paying, in which case I reply with my availability and fee directly to them.
Comment by Theodore — March 10, 2016 @ 4:33 pm
Love snapdocs, secure, fast way of obtaining docs and updating orders.
D.L. South Florida
Comment by D. — March 10, 2016 @ 4:39 pm
I get their texts and I also get calls from companies offering very low fees. They usually will not negotiate.
Comment by Carol — March 10, 2016 @ 6:53 pm
I have previously posted on prior discussions about SnapDocs and the signing services that use them in the LA area (your experience will probably vary in other less densely populated areas). Some comments on the points mentioned:
1. Cattle calls – in the LA area, they can contact several hundred notaries at once. You generally have a maximum of 3-5 seconds to respond before the assignment is gone. NO OPPORTUNITY FOR NEGOTIATION. They know this so the price paid stays low (75% of the SnapDocs signings are controlled by Coast 2 Coast Signings, a notoriously low-paying and slow-paying signing service). They have the ‘uber’-advantage of being able to contact hundreds of notaries at once for signing that are often 1-2 hours drive time each direction and they don’t care (they only info they provide after you click on the link from the text message is the zip code, pay and the type of signing). The model is working for them and they have no intention of changing it since there appears to be a glut of desperate notaries (at least in LA).
2. Eliminating the middle-man/woman (signing services)?! The only participants in SnapDocs ARE the signing services.
Comment by BobH — March 11, 2016 @ 1:16 am
I love Snapdocs. Snapdocs is a software platform, not a signing service and they are never the one who pays or hires the notary. There are companies who found me on Snapdocs who now call me first for signings and if not available, then send the text message out. As a newbie, the platform helped me get started. Great use of technology. In my opinion some notaries need to get over themselves! There are many good features with Snapdocs. If the fee is too low either counter or don’t accept. If you are getting the text messages you must’ve signed up if you’re unhappy then delete your profile
Comment by Terri P-T — April 3, 2016 @ 9:20 pm
Love Snapdocs! It’s been a really helpful tool for me launching my business. Like others have said – I started out receiving Closings on Snapdocs and now I am highly rated and the signing companys are calling me directly. Everyone has their own opinions and experiences with SD, but it’s been a huge blessing for me!
Comment by Christina Diaz — July 20, 2016 @ 10:09 pm
I have to agree with Christina Diaz, I started accepting signings from SD and now I stay busy every day and Title Co and Banks are calling me direct. They do have reviews of your work and as long as your work is efficient and you are professional your rates beginning to rise. I have yet to not get paid by any comments associated with SD.
Comment by Debra Serpa — September 15, 2016 @ 1:27 am
I love snap docs too. I frequently get signing paying over 90$ and have become a preferred notary which means I have had a few signing for over $175. I also can keep track of signings. My income and expenses are tracked. Couldn’t be Happier
Comment by Ann Quade — September 16, 2016 @ 11:07 am