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June 9, 2016

A comprehensive guide to Notary Pricing

It’s been a long time since I have written an article on pricing, so I feel it is high time! Most Notaries want to have a fixed fee and make tons of money. This is not always possible. The Notary market is a market with lots of little ups and down that a smart Notary needs to constantly adjust to. It’s smarter to have systems and formulas worked out ahead of time so you know how to react to these fluctuations.

There are fast days and slow days, monthly highs and lows, as well as changes in the market that happen over the years. There are also changes in who is competing with you in your area at a particular time. The key is to be flexible and learn how to charge accordingly. Here is how I would set my prices.

1. Time Involved
A smart Notary should charge based on how much time is spent. Notary jobs during rush hour involve more time. Jobs that involve printing more than the average amount of pages should be billed accordingly. Smart Notaries ask who the Lender or Bank is. This is because the name of the Lender can determine with some accuracy the size of the package. Signing companies lie about package sizes which is why smart Notaries ask. Additionally, there are many loan types and some require more time. Refinances are faster, while Construction Loans are longer but have more professional and businesslike signers. Reverse Mortgages, VA, and FHA take more time. Piggy Backs are double signings and have double the pages and double the Notary work. Time for doing a signing is based on these components:

Negotiating Time — Some companies are easy and pleasant to deal with. If it is fast getting assignments faxed or emailed to you and easy to confirm with the borrower, take notes of that time. It can differ from company to company.

Printing Time — Notaries should charge by the page for e-documents. Printing takes time, and often involves waiting for documents to be ready which can be hours if you work with irresponsible companies.

Driving Time –Factor in how much time it takes to get from point A to B. Keep notes so you’ll know how to charge for jobs to particular cities in the future.

Signing time — Some Lenders have loans that get signed quickly. Some Lenders answer the phone and get situations handled quickly while others don’t.

Loan Type Influences Time Spent — VA & FHA signings are just plain longer. Reverse Mortgages are for the elderly who are less businesslike and might need a lot more time to sign. Power of Attorney signings are the most likely not to fund, so take that into consideration. Piggy Back loans are double the signatures and double the notarizations. But, once everyone has sat down and you have your journal out, it goes quickly.

Fax Back Time — Fax Backs are a pain in the rear, but they serve a purpose. Signing companies can hire newbies and get away with it, because the signing company can check your work before it gets sent back to Title. They no longer need experienced Notaries. However, fax backs take time, so if your time is worth something, charge for each page faxed back.

Cancellation Rate Time Waste — Factor cancellation rate and billing time into the price.

Billing Time — Some companies pay on the first request while others require hounding.

2. Expenses Itemized

Printing Documents — is not only time consuming but costs money. You are using up paper, toner, cartridges, ink, and using up your time to restock what you used up. Charge accordingly.

Car Expenses — Driving a car is not free. Tires wear down, brakes wear out, plus you need to change the oil, filters, shocks, transmission, and more. So, in addition to time, try to work a mileage fee into your pricing in addition to charging for time.

3. Track Record & Risk of Not Getting Paid

Late Documents — If the signing company or title company was late getting your edocuments in the past, make a note of that. Keep detailed records of each company. Record how fast they paid you on each job. Recalculate their average days to payment every month just to keep records updated. Also, keep records for how late they are sending edocuments or how incompetent they are about keeping their borrowers informed. If you are dealing with a flake, charge more.

Unknown PartiesIf you accept a job from an unknown lender, or one with a bad reputation online, you might charge more, or make them pay up front. You should always charge extra when there is any type of risk involved. . These signings assume risk. Some of the risk is spending an unpredictable amount of time or not getting paid at all.

4. Payment Terms
If a Lender will only pay you if the loan funds, you need to charge more. Some Lenders will not pay your printing fee if the job gets cancelled, so make sure you know what the terms of the agreement are. Some will pay part of a travel fee if the job gets cancelled mid-way. However, the signing company booked your time, and you can’t give your leftover time to some other company at the last minute just because they needed to cancel. You have to commit your time to them, but do you make companies commit to paying you?

I personally feel that Notaries should set their own terms. You are not a bank, and it is not your job to gamble on whether or not a loan funds. You should be paid before, or within 72 hours of a signing in my opinion. But, you can make your own terms. Beginners have to accept the terms dictated to them, but old pros can make their own terms and get away with it. However, if you do accept terms that limit your ability to guarantee payment, charge a lot more.

Recommended Reading:
Issues to consider when creating a signing agent services contract
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=2593

5. Travel Fees for Non Loan Signing Work
Most Notaries charge $25 to $50 travel fee, and more if it is for jails or hospitals. You also charge by the signature on top of the travel fee. Charge based on how valuable your time is worth. If you are desperate for work, charge less. If your time is limited, charge more. If you have lots of other things to do, you have less supply of time so you can charge more — this is a strategy to consider — so stay busy my friends.

6. Jails & Hospital Notary Jobs
Charge more for jails and hospitals because these are the jobs where there is a lot more that can go wrong. You also will not be dealing with the cream of the crop. You can get stood up at a jail. Inmates do not have ID and your credible witness or ID carrier might not show up. ID’s might be expired. Hospital patients are often drugged making it impossible to notarize them. Half of them can’t even hold a pen, so how can they possibly sign? Consider this when deciding upon your jail & hospital travel fees which should be $60 to $150 depending on how greedy you are! Some Notaries are afraid to go to jails, but it is safe, and that is where you can make money fast. Just make sure you have them read their ID to you over the phone including expiration date or you will be very sorry. Also, get your travel fee in cash at the door BEFORE you see the signer. They might not be available or might not want to sign! Be prepared!

7. General Pricing Models
Keep in mind that a few years ago, Notaries could get paid a lot more. With Snapdocs and lower demand, companies can pay a lot less and get away with it.

Situations where you charge more or less
(1) Charge less during the first 17 days of the month. It is slower, and you have more time.
(2) Charge more during the end of the month. Additionally, you can charge more if you schedule a job several days in advance because you might miss out on a better offer. Additionally, jobs scheduled in advance in my day had a 25% cancellation rate which will wreak havoc on your schedule.
(3) Charge less if you are having a slow day and someone needs a last minute signing. If you are doing nothing, why not sell that time.
(4) eSignings have less physical pages, but often take longer because the signer and their spouse need to take turns looking at the computer screen not to mention the chance of delays due to technical issues.
(5) Charge extra if there are three or more signers on a loan.
(6) Charge more if the company cancels a lot
(7) Charge less if a company has a good track record and is easy and fast to deal with — or pleasant!
(8.) Charge more if there are lots of signatures to notarize.

Pricing Recommendations For Beginners. 0-500 signings

Basic Signing $60-$80
E-Documents: $10-$25 extra per double set or 7 cents per page
Pickups: $25 extra
Dropoffs: $20 extra — there is less waiting time during dropoffs
Reverse Mortgages: $100
Piggy Backs: $100
Regular Notary Work Travel Fee: $30 if within 30 minutes
Jail & Hospitals: $50

Pricing Recommendations for Intermediates. 500-3000 signings
Basic Signing: $80-$120; E-Documents: $20-$40 or 10 cents per page; Pickups: $30 extra; Dropoffs: $25 extra; Reverse Mortgages: $125; Piggy Backs: $125; Regular Travel Fee: $40 if within 30 miles; Jails & Hospitals: $70

When to charge in advance
You are not a bank and you should not offer endless credit to any signing company. Some of them will string you along and not pay you or play games with payments making it unclear which job they are paying for. Decide in advance how much credit to give each company and keep records. If you have a six month track record with a company and they pay you on time, you might offer them credit for six jobs. For all others, do one or two jobs, but don’t do any more until you get paid. It is not a bad idea to charge up front with Paypal, but few companies will pay a beginner up front. Ken, our seasoned Notary always gets paid up front, but he is a pro.

(1) New Companies — do one job, but don’t do a second until you get paid for the first unless they have a stellar record for payment on the forums.
(2) Some Track Record — do two jobs, but don’t do a third until you get paid for the first.
(3) Good Track Record — Watch out: good companies can turn bad if they experience financial difficulties or labor shortages. Do not offer credit for more than six jobs no matter what. A good track record should be over at least six months.

Don’t complain
There are many Notaries who have gone out of business because there is too much competition for too few jobs. If you are getting paid, getting experience, and staying afloat, you are ahead of the game. Many Notaries have this idea that they should get $125 per signing ever time. Unfortunately, it no longer works like this. So, take what you can get and just do your best! If you get more experience, you will be worth more in the long run. Additionally, the market could have an upswing at any time, so keep a positive thought.

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Notary Marketing 102’s guide to negotiating Notary fees
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Notary Public 102’s guide to Notary pricing
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Comments (13)

June 7, 2016

And Drop Off The Package

Filed under: Ken Edelstein,Popular on Facebook (comments),Popular on Linked In — Tags: FedEx Airbill, Illegible Airbill — admin @ 9:44 pm

And Drop Off The Package
You did “almost” everything right. The call was logged and scheduled. You confirmed with the borrower. The signing went smoothly in every respect. All required “pick ups” were included. When you printed the docs you also printed a separate PDF with the FedEx airbill. You slip the airbill into the pouch, seal the envelope and, well prior to pickup time, the package is dropped off. Mission accomplished, check to follow.

Perhaps not, considering the rather outspoken title person making your cell phone’s speaker vibrate violently. “We got our delivery, it was not delivered; where did you leave it – at a local bar?” That’s certainly not the case. It was only yesterday afternoon; you clearly recall bringing it to the local FedEx office – NOT a street side drop box. There was a long line for the sole representative on duty at the time. Usually you hand it over the counter and ask for a “drop off receipt”. But, as this was so very routine, and the wait would be long – you slipped it into the drop box IN the FedEx office. You have done this dozens of time before, never a problem.

Without a drop off receipt to scan and email, you have no proof of drop off. So, you make the trip (as demanded by title) to the FedEx office. It’s a long wait, but eventually you get to speak to the office manager and explain the situation. “I have good news for you”, sayeth the manager, “I have the package, let me get it and return it to you!” Not really good news, but better than no news. Soon the manager returns and hands you the envelope. “Why did you not ship it? – it has a prepaid airbill”.
“That may look like an airbill to you but it is totally illegible! My staff was not able to read the account that would be paying; also the scanner could not read the bar code. We were hoping you would return to claim it”. Groan. You know that if you had waited for the drop off receipt, it would have failed the scan – while you still had time to do something. Now it’s the next day and the title people are having fits. Of course the blame will be on you. They will claim that you did not print the PDF properly. They will ask why you shipped an illegible airbill.

It kinda sounds like a 60 yard touchdown run, only to trip over one’s untied shoelace at the one yard line. The call to title yields the expected results – colorfully. They insist that you, while at the FedEx office – FAX the entire package immediately. You must also rent some PC time to print a replacement airbill so it can be shipped while you are there. This time they explicitly ask for a FAX of the drop off receipt. They consider you a klutz that needs micromanagement.

With demands accommodated, you return home to reprint that PDF with the airbill. Just as you suspected it was sent as garbage – nothing you could do would make it print correctly. However, if you had given it a glance at “doc print time” you would have noticed the problem. At that time you would have been able to call the sender and get a replacement PDF, or, at least the proper charge code to use on a hand written replacement airbill. But you did not catch THEIR error.

When I was a kid we used to play Tug of War. A long thick rope, us kids holding on each end with a gigantic mud puddle in the middle. The team captain would be at the end of the rope, with the rope tied around the captain’s waist. The losing team kids would let go prior to the mud puddle. Being last in the chain, like a signing agent; the team captain was dragged into the mud.

Comments (4)

May 31, 2016

Changed! Form 4506 Request for Copy of Tax Return

Filed under: (4) Documents,Ken Edelstein,Popular on Facebook (shares),Popular on Facebook (some),Popular on Linked In — Tags: Form 4506, Form 4506 Request for Copy of Tax Return — admin @ 9:43 pm

Changed! Form 4506 Request for Copy of Tax Return
Also changed is the similar Form 4506-T. Both forms being reviewed are September 2015 (look in upper left hand corner). The big change is the addition of a Mandatory check box next to the signature area. The signer must check box to attest to having authority to sign either form. “The form will not be processed and returned to you if the box is unchecked”. So, heads up about this – make sure they check the box when they sign. As we are there to make sure forms are completed correctly – take a few minutes and read the instruction page.

Most of the time the package will include Form 4506, but, perhaps not. The 4506 now has a fifty dollar fee per year requested, in addition to the above mentioned check box. There is another new option for the 4506. It’s a check box (at the extreme right) “If the copies must be certified for court or administrative proceedings”. That is probably necessary if the document is to receive an Apostille, but not sure. Either spouse may sign the form, or both may sign – I usually try for both.

Form 4506-T is quite different, rather than requesting a “copy” of the actual return; it requests a “Transcript” of the entries made on the return. This one is processed free. Oddly the contents of the 4506-T are specified on the 4506. At the top of the 4506 it states “The transcript provides most of the line entries from the original tax return and usually contains the information that a third party (such as a mortgage company) requires”.

Form 4506-T contains several options (again with check boxes on the right hand edge). Line 5 (where to send it) probably should be completed with the address of title or similar; otherwise the info is sent to the taxpayer. Prior to the check boxes the choice of which form must be entered – most would probably enter 1040. Then it’s on to selecting what type of transcript is required. It’s all on the form, so I’m not covering options 6-a to 6-c. Line 7 is interesting – here you request from the IRS proof that you did NOT file a return for tax year(s). Line 9 is where the tax years requested are specified.

The attestations of authority checkbox and signature areas are basically the same on both forms.
So, with the 50$ fee for the complete copy; many are likely to move to the 4506-T, processed at no charge. Thus, it would be wise to print them both each has only one page of instructions. Read the instructions carefully and understand the difference between the two. It’s unlikely that the borrower will know what options are required on the 4506-T. It’s best when you see it to review your instructions for what options are wanted. If no information is given, call for details. It appears that 6-c and option 8 provides the most complete information.

Fortunately, neither form requires notarization, yet? What sets us apart from the “bank notary” is our dedication to keeping up with changing requirements and understanding the need to have forms completed properly. Make sure that line 5 (shipping address) is not overlooked. And, if you have a 4506-T to work with, know what entries are required – don’t guess. And don’t rely on “them” to pre-enter the necessary information. Get it right the first time and be the one they call regularly.

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Comments (6)

May 29, 2016

You lose $37.50 each signing you don’t answer the phone.

Filed under: Marketing Articles,Popular on Facebook (comments),Popular on Facebook (shares),Popular on Facebook (some),Popular on Linked In — Tags: Answer the Phone, You lose money when you don't answer the phone — admin @ 10:38 pm

If someone is shopping around for Notaries and you either don’t answer your phone — or worse, you answer only to tell the caller that you can’t talk because you are at a signing, you will not be at the top of many people’s list unless your work compensates for your poor phone etiquette.

Signing companies don’t have time to waste. They might have to call twenty people to fill a job. The faster you answer your phone, the more headache you are saving them. If you are at a signing, that is not the only signing you will do for the rest of your life. To keep in business, you will need other signings. By not answering your phone, you might be losing out on a new clients who will give you five jobs a week for the rest of your life, but you blow it by not picking up. Or, it might be someone who used you once before who will become a regular, but not if you say, “Sorry I can’t talk, I’m at a signing.”

If you answer your phone (and please do,) give the person calling you some respect. Give them ninety seconds before you cut them off by telling them you are at a signing. If you start the conversation by saying, “I’m at a signing.” They will feel pressured, uncomfortable, rushed, and not like talking to you. People do this to me all the time. I just say, “Never mind, I’ll talk to someone else.” What I have to tell them might really help their career, but they’ll never know because they didn’t give me a chance.

How much business do you lose each average hour you don’t pick up? If you do $200 in signings per day and the calls come in little by little, you are losing $25 each hour you can’t pick up. So, if the signing company instructs you not to answer your phone, tack on an additional $25 to the total cost, or don’t agree to those terms. If a signing is 90 minutes, you lost $37.50. My numbers are based on my experience back in the day and might not be representative of today’s world or your world. But, they make a point. The point is that your time is valuable and so is your ability to communicate with the rest of your species. Think about it!

Comments (4)

May 24, 2016

Disgusting – Nobody wanted the Notary Job

Filed under: Ken Edelstein,Popular on Facebook (A little),Popular on Twitter — Tags: Affiant, notaries, notary job, Protect the Affiant — admin @ 9:41 pm

Disgusting – Nobody wanted the Notary Job
I write this with a combination of sadness and rage. First, let me clear up the use of the word disgusting. That refers to the “so called” “Notaries” who flat out refused the assignment that will be the topic of this entry. I hope some of them will read this blog entry and, perhaps, change their ways.

The call was from a distant location, one that would require double my local fee. Initially, prior to learning the details, I informed the caller about 123notary and Notary Rotary. I suggested they search using their zip code to find a closer agent who could process their job more efficiently and at a lower fee. About an hour later they call back to report that none of the “Notaries” they contacted would accept the assignment. Intrigued, I asked why.

The job entailed 4 one page documents, and a 12 page document. All were to be notarized. So far, routine. However the affiant was both blind and partially disabled. The affiant had already had the documents read aloud, and was totally able to understand the contents. They related to investments. Not wanting to work for someone who has perfect ID and is rational (actually highly intelligent) is, IMHO a notary sin. The MINOR limitations could be accommodated and the notarizations could proceed quite legally.

I established some “ground rules” to protect the affiant. While I was in route to the location the documents were to be read aloud – slowly. Every word. I was informed he could sign if the arm was supported – the affiant was able to use his hand to sign. Each document contained a statement by the “reader” as to reading the complete text aloud. I required that this take place prior to my arrival, and again in my presence. That process added an hour, of course at no additional charge. The appointment was confirmed and I began the lengthy journey.

I met a person who awed me. Not being the least bit negative as to physical condition. Cheerful, bright and witty were the initial impressions. Only later did I learn the depth of intelligence. My client was an investing genius. What Stephen Hawking is to science, my client was to investing. I felt an inner glow when my client told me that my fee for travel was fair; and it was understood that the extra time the procedure took was not part of the fee. How kind it was to hear that spoken.

I was told that the documents were already completely understood; and that my insistence at being present for an additional reading was both appreciated and unnecessary. I’m passably intelligent, but I know enough to appreciate the vastly superior intellect before me. With the formalities completed, double and triple checked; we chatted a few minutes. We discussed the notary function, and I was able to cover some of the regulations and procedures mandated by NY State law. The conversation turned to investing and market trends related to the upcoming (2016) elections. I learned a lot.

To the heartless, self centered, poor excuse for a “Notary” who dismissed this assignment; I say “shame on you”. Not only did you miss an EASY job, but you also missed some very useful investing advice that is sure to yield me profits far greater than a mobile notary fee. Back to that fee. I did consider charging my local rate. But, that would be treating this client “differently”, and bringing up the subject might be viewed a pity; something neither needed nor appropriate.

Some might consider my client “handicapped” or think (to themselves) “there but for the grace of God go I”. I prefer to think it’s a routine assignment, costly due to distance, lengthy because we are all different; and important because we are all human.

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Comments (7)

May 23, 2016

My interpretation of how the Notary industry went South

Filed under: Marketing Articles,Popular on Facebook (comments),Popular on Facebook (shares),Popular on Facebook (very),Popular on Linked In — Tags: Notary Industry, Snapdocs — admin @ 9:57 pm

It is sad to see what has happened in the Notary industry. Notaries who were getting paid a comfortable living are now working for peanuts or have left the field altogether. Some people blame signing companies for lowering fees. Others attribute the problem to SnapDocs. A few claim that the lack of volume of jobs in the Notary industry combined with too many signers has caused a drastic lowering in fees.

Why are fees so low?
If you ask me, there are several things going on here. Yes, SnapDocs created an automated way to get Notaries for cheap which involves very little work for the signing or Title company. Additionally, in the old days, Title companies used to pay a lot more than signing companies. These days, many Title companies are paying low fees as well. Yes, there are too few jobs and too many Notaries. And yes, the interest rates haven’t changed much in seven years since the Mortgage crash. The bigger fact is that due to the Mortgage crash in 2008, banks cannot lend money unless you have good credit. Since our government is eating up so much money by borrowing it to fund its insatiable hunger for cash — that might be the reason there is very little left over to lend to homeowners.

Low interest rates caused by artificial market conditions
I feel that low interest rates are artificially maintained because the government will go out of business if interest rates rise even one percent. That means there won’t be any more America, no more USA flag, no more hamburgers — okay, there will still be hamburgers, but nobody will be able to afford them. By preventing people with average credit from borrowing, that leaves more money available for the banks to lend the government. The government refuses to lower its spending on wars, military, jails, interest payments, education, infrastructure, etc. If we would cut military spending and put the people in jail in a penal colony where they could work for a living, we could pay off our debt, and not go out of business as a nation.

Reasons for lowered fees:
(1) Banks aren’t lending much >> too few jobs
(2) Too many Notaries
(3) SnapDocs facilitates low-balling
(4) Low skill of most Notaries

Low skilled Notaries
I spent four months in 2015 testing Notaries over the phone. We got our total count of Notaries from 1600 to 2000 which was a huge victory for 123notary and for those who passed our test. However, I noticed that most Notaries had no clue what they are doing and didn’t understand Notary law, signing agent knowledge, and couldn’t even follow directions properly not to mention not having much common sense. For signing companies hiring Notaries, if you limit yourself to hiring good Notaries, your selection will be really small. So signing companies got smart and started planning for incompetence. This is why they prefer to hire unskilled Notaries, and then have them fax everything back to double check their work. Instead of hiring a pro like Carmen for $175 per signing, they can hire a complete novice for $40, double check the faxes themselves, and make a huge profit. I don’t like what the signing companies did, but this is the fault of Notaries not knowing what they are doing. Had Notaries educated themselves, this fax back system probably never would have evolved. It evolved through dealing with incompetent Notaries who in my opinion should not even be Notaries. The state Notary divisions are run by fools who don’t test or double check their Notaries’ work for the most part outside of CA, NY and LA. And the Notaries in the states with testing are not that proficient either. In my opinion a skilled Notary is worth $100+ per signing. But, an unskilled one (unskilled by my standards not yours or NNA’s) is worth $40 per signing and don’t even deserve to work. So, there you have it, that is my point of view which you might not like!

Unfortunately, many of the high skilled Notaries have had to lower their fees or leave the industry altogether (which was horrible for 123notary) because of the lowered fees and fax back system. Many are still around, but they have to charge $85 to $100 instead of $125 to $150 which is probably what they are worth.

The future of America
As I mentioned before, the government seems to have manipulated the banking industry to make huge amounts of cash available to borrow at low rates. This is actually not a bad thing, because it prolongs the amount of time that America can be a nation. The bad thing is the stupidity that led up to this huge 19 trillion dollar debt is the thing that should borrow you (or bother you.) In real life you cannot keep borrowing and borrowing and borrowing. It has to end sometime and when it ends, you could lose some, most or everything you have. As an individual you can recover, but how can a country recover? Are we going to click the reset button? It is not China and Japan that lent us most of the money — they lent only 15% of the money. The majority is from banks and some local investors. If America can’t pay its debt, the banks will be insolvent. That means not only no more America, but no more financial system like we know it today. Sure, we will still be here, and hopefully won’t starve, but it is not predictable what will happen.

My spiritual guru predicted that America would experience some devastating natural disasters, go broke, and fail to be a nation. We would be fifty states. These fifty states will not have much of an ability to borrow money to function after the big crash, so expect massive poverty. Whatever problems you have now are nothing compared to what is going to happen.

The future of Notary work
It looks like Notary work will continue on being slow for the next few years since there is not much money lying around to lend to house buyers. Sure, there might be blips and temporary fast times, but for the most part slow. This will continue until our country goes off the waterfall, or has a huge war or financial restructuring. After the crash, it is completely unpredictable how the world’s financial system will be. I’ll have to meditate on that one. In the mean time, just do your best, and try to be more of an expert at what you’re doing.

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Comments (15)

May 14, 2016

Trusted Signing, Inc.

Filed under: Popular on Facebook (very),Signing Company Gossip — Tags: Inc., Refinances, Trusted Signing, Xome Signing — admin @ 5:26 am

Here is what the Notaries have to say about this company
http://www.123notary.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6833

ollile
“On 02/12/2016 we posted comments about Xome Signing. We also said that if they remitted we would let you know. Well, today they remitted! We received the balance of the agreed fee.
By-the-way, we used the letter that is available to us via 123–worked like a charm.
Will I work for them again, yes I think I would, if they offer?”

Fuzzy1955
“Xome just shut me off from receiving business not because of problems with files but because I raised a potential security issue with them. Xome solicited me to sign up for direct deposit. I did so by Faxing them my personal account information as I did not want it to be sent across the internet via email. Sending unsecured information across the internet is the very reason we go to various internet sites to pick up documents – SECURITY of personal data!

Once they connect your direct deposit they send you an email (in my case 2) in which there is a link to a PDF attachment of the document I filled out, which includes my account information!

They did not seem to understand that this is an issue to me. I tried several times to explain why this was a problem but the lady on the other end kept insisting all the big companies have audited them and they are in compliance for security. While I appreciate the notice that the connection has been made, there is NO reason to INCLUDE THE ORIGINAL FAX I SENT SO AS TO AVOID THIS VERY ISSUE!”

BucksMSA
“First, even though 123Notary’s own blog has aptly informed it that Trusted Signing is now XOME, the newest signing company lists this as “Trusted Signing” instead of XOME.

Second, when they switched to the XOME App, my app did not work on my iPhone initially since it was a iPhone 4S. Now that I upgraded phones and reinstalled it the app does work but it has no ringtone or chime I can associate with a new signing. But that did not even matter because one day while I was looking at my iPhone I saw an order came in and immediately replied. But I did not get the assignment. Obviously, there may be time delays die to cell phone transmission delays.

I used to do a brisk business with them. Since they switched to the XOME app, my business has declined to ZERO. I have easily lost over $1000 in signings since they did this. ”

BigLar
Xome has been sending me offers regularly via their mobile app.
Having said that, there is a fee offered which you can readily accept (and get the signing, btw) or you can reject it by saying that the fee is too low, or you’re busy or whatever.

Their fees are low, IMHO, although they claim that they pay us 72% of the fee but they’re trying to keep their fees low to their customers.
I have accepted some, but rejected others for low fees. I never hear from them in that event, apparently someone is willing to work for less.

It’s clear to me that they do not value the service we provide, nor do they truly realize what it costs for us to maintain our services. I just repaired the water pump on my car to the tune of $672 so I feel the pain right now.
I will say this, they pay quickly, I did two signings for them in December and got paid already for both. ”

retiredkop
“I got a request from them last week for a signing today in a neighboring town for noon today. The day before the signing I didn’t have the documents, I also got another call on an assignment from National loan Closers. I said I was busy at noon so I said It would do it t 2:00 PM, the agreed. I thought it would be a good afternoon with two signings in the same town each paying $150.00. I got an e-mail from National Loan saying the documents were ready, still nothing from Trusted Signing on their appointment. As I printed the documents I noticed they had the same Title 365 number on it as the one from Trusted. I called trusted and they called me backing saying the mistake was the borrowers fault , they applied for two refinances. I know the borrower for some time, they said they only applied with one company, title 365, and couldn’t figure out why they got a call from Trusted, and National Loan wanting to move my signing time to 2:00PM.

I finished the assignment for National and still had no paperwork from Trusted, just lame excuses. From now on if Trusted Signing had a refinance at my next-door neighbors house and offered to pay three times my normal rate I still wouldn’t work for them. Trusted Signing, can not be trusted!”

You might also like:

Dr. Phil moderates a dispute between notaries and signing companies

Dr. Phil moderates dispute: Notaries vs. Signing Companies

What Notaries don’t like about Snapdocs
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=21246

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May 10, 2016

Apps that Notaries have never heard of that could change your life

Filed under: Business Tips,Popular on Facebook (comments),Popular on Facebook (shares),Popular on Facebook (some),Popular on Linked In — Tags: Apps, Get Notary Documents Translated, Scheduling Apps — admin @ 3:04 am

Here are some apps I researched that you might really like. The last app article we wrote was so popular, that we decided to create another one. Let us know which apps you are most “apt” to use in the future!

ORGANIZATIONAL

The 16 best scheduling apps
Just see this list and decide for yourself which one you like the most!
https://zapier.com/blog/best-meeting-scheduler-apps/

4 best shipping apps
These can be used with UPS, Fedex and other carriers. Read the list for yourself.
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/224495

Wave
https://www.waveapps.com/
Create invoices wherever you are using your i-phone. Don’t wait until you get back home to bill that signing company, wave them an invoice right when you drop the package at Fedex. Wave will tell you if your invoices are past due, or have been viewed.

MileIQ
https://dashboard.mileiq.com
Track your miles for the IRS tax deductions with this app.

MileBug
http://milebug.com/
Keep a log and track your expenses on this popular app.

Evernote
https://evernote.com/?var=2
Evernote is a modern workplace that helps you can write notes of any type from lists, to research projects, to articles written by yourself or ones you found on the web.

NAVIGATION

On The Go Map
http://onthegomap.com/#/create
Map your route with On The Go Map with ease. You can even send it to your clients at a touch of a button.

Inrix
http://intrix.com/
Check road conditions at a glance. Map routes, get traffic maps and road alerts.

Waze
https://www.waze.com/
This app is a GPS, and community based traffic and navigation app. Waze will also help you find the cheapest gas on your route.

Beat the Traffic
https://www.beatthetraffic.com/
This app will tell you which route has the least traffic.

GENERAL

Lockify
https://lockify.com/
Send information to your clients encrypted. That way you ensure the confidentiality of the information just in case. Nobody has the key to your info — not even lockify. Your secrets will be bound, sequential, and under lock and key — all lockified up!

123notary.com/s
123notary.com/s
Look up signing company reviews. 123notary already has this for i-phones. It is a page, not an app, but what is the difference right? www.123notary.com/s

Gas Prices in US, Canada
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/gas-prices-in-us-canada/ogiokghpcdfhbhfpmaapaniooojfigga?hl=en
This app helps you find out what up to date gas prices are like in any neighborhood in North America. Of course with gas getting so cheap, perhaps we don’t really need that app appter all…

TRANSLATION

iTranslate
http://itranslateapp.com/
Get Notary documents translated with this app. But, beware, not all computers translate as well as a professional human translator.

Google Translate
https://translate.google.com/
This is one of the most renowned hi-tech translation devices. Try it — it doesn’t cost anything.

iHandy
http://www.ihandysoft.com/apps.html
This app will help you translate directly from one language to the other. Just write a word or phrase in the box. It might really help when you have to ask your signer to raise their right hand and swear under Oath. “Tu jura esta documento es correcto?” “Oh, Ci….”

FICTIONAL APPS WE MADE UP

Notaryz
Find a Notary who does it all, and compare scores on standardized tests as well. (sorry, fictional app just for fun.)

Kullect
Trouble getting paid from signing companies? Use Kullect and let us do the work. We’ll harrass the signing companies until they pay you.

You might also like:

Startup apps that could ruin the notary business
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=16579

New Apps for the iPhone7 that you’ve never dreamed of
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=10977

Comments (0)

May 9, 2016

Best Marketing Resources for Notaries

Filed under: Marketing Articles,Popular on Facebook (shares),Popular on Facebook (some) — Tags: Active Marketing, Dormant Contacts, High Paying Notary Jobs, Low-Ball Offers, Mobile Notary, NNA Background Check, Notary Business, Passive Marketing — admin @ 3:19 am

Are you a mobile Notary? Do you want to expand your business? It’s hard to get a lot of Notary business, especially in this economy. However, if you play your cards right, you can do amazingly well. Here are some of our best marketing articles for the new or veteran Notary to get ahead.

ACTIVE MARKETING
Please consider that you need ACTIVE marketing as well as PASSIVE marketing. Active marketing involves contacting signing and title companies one by one in addition to Attorneys, hospitals, and anyone else you wish to work for. Active marketing will be more labor intensive in the beginning of your career as you do not start out by being on any organization’s list. However, once you are on the lists of at least 200 companies, then you will most likely be spending more of your time working and less of your time looking for work.

Also Read: How to start a successful mobile notary business from scratch
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=13340

Getting on board with Title & Signing Companies
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=14851

Dormant Contacts
Even after you are on the list of a company, you still need to contact them from time to time to just let them know you exist and want to work. We suggest that when Notary business is slow in the beginning of the month you schedule time to call your contacts who are dormant in hopes that they might actually use you one day.

Requirements for work
* Certain big title companies like Chicago Title require 500,000 E&O Insurance
* Other title companies want 100,000 E&O
* Some Notaries show off by having a million in E&O which is expensive and makes you a target for lawsuits.
* Others want a current background check from a reputable vendor such as the NNA or Sterling, but not necessarily from the other vendors.
* Some want vast experience as a Notary while others prefer beginners who will work for cheap. If you work for companies that hire beginners they will micromanage you. If you are tired of being micromanaged, try to work directly for companies that hire experienced and reliable Notaries.

Is an NNA background check really necessary to get work?
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=10385

Certifications
Many companies like it when Notaries are certified. But, there are many vendors offering certification and which one is the best? NNA certification is the most widespread and widely recognized in the industry. But, on 123notary, people looking to hire Notaries pick 123notary certified members more then twice as often as they pick Notaries who aren’t. My suggestion is to be certified by three or more agencies — that way you’ve covered all of the bases and will make quite an impression.

Printers
As a Notary, you should have a fast and reliable printer and perhaps a backup printer. Dual tray laser printers are the standard tool of seasoned Notaries. Single tray printers might be okay if you have software to figure out what size paper is for which document. Some Notaries print everything on legal although some Lenders might not appreciate that.

Professional Dress
Business casual is the official dress code for Notaries. No shorts, flip flops, tank tops, jeans or torn clothing please.

Low-Ball Offers
As a Notary, you will receive a lot of low-ball offers. Notaries complain endlessly about this. If you are not an experienced Notary, low-ball offers might be your ticket to getting experience. Personally, I feel that new Notaries do not merit high paying Notary jobs and should work for low fees. However, once you have educated yourself in the “art of the signing” and have paid your dues by accumulating an experience of more than 2000 loans, you should get paid at least an average of $110 per signing otherwise something is very wrong. The economy does change over time and wages change too, so be flexible and work for whatever people will pay you.

Related Content: Low-Ball Signing Companies? How to get biz directly from Title
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=14950

Cattle Call Notary Offers
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=9841

Setting Prices
Notaries need to be flexible and realistic about what they charge. Some Notaries are too snobby to take low paying jobs and end up starving. Other Notaries take too many low paying jobs and miss out on the good jobs because they are too busy working for peanuts and then spending their profits on gas, toner, paper, and other expenses. You need a sophisticated model for pricing that incorporates the time of the month (month-end is busier and should be more expensive) distance, timing, traffic, and how many pages the job will be.

* Base your prices on how long you estimate a job to take including traffic.
* Lower your prices at the beginning of the month when business is slow
* Expect to be paid poorly until you have at least 1000 loans signed
* To get paid well, you need a constant supply of regular clients who pay well which you accumulate over time
* You need to advertise heavily to get a constant supply of new clients in hopes that some will become regulars.
* You need to be on time, be nice, not make mistakes and get docs back on time to get rehired.
* Base job time on the name lf the Lender as packages from particular banks are normally a particular (+/-) number of pages and then factor in traffic on the route you’ll take at that particular time of the day, night or weekend.

PASSIVE MARKETING
Passive marketing involves advertising on directories. Once your ad is out there, companies can find you. However, not all advertisements attract the same amount of business, and not all Notary directories are equal. Online yellow pages are yet another way to advertise as well as Google local, however we do not know much about the results of such advertising. Passive marketing is very powerful as you get motivated buyers calling you when they really need something done. However, most Notaries are neglectful in the creation and maintenance of their advertisements and do not get the full potential of their investment. A good Notary profile has reviews from satisfied clients, certifications, and a powerful and well organized notes section. You need to do everything right to maximize your results.

Where to advertise
123notary, Notary Rotary, Notary Cafe, and Signingagent.com are the four most powerful players in the Notary advertising business — in that order. You should advertise on all four with a paid listing. 123notary offers high placed listings. We suggest that you pass our certification before investing in a high placed listing. High placed listings get you more business as well as better quality (and better paying) Title company jobs — and it means that you will be seen first before people start scrolling deep and shopping around.

How to create an amazing notes section
We have written many articles on this overlooked topic which you should read and study. If you want to get ahead, become an expert at the art of the notes section. Companies read what you have to say about yourself, and if you have very little to say, or just a bunch of fluff, you are not likely to get hired. Notaries who do well have thorough and factual information about themselves that is neatly organized into paragraphs. They cover their areas of expertise, certifications, professional memberships, equipment, notes about what is unique about how they handle business, segments on their professional history before they were a Notary particularly if it has some sort of business or Mortgage related relevance, and more.

Everything you need to know about writing a good notes section
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=16074

2014 excerpts from great notes sections
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=13613

Being 24 hours helps a lot
If you want to get more business, offer service to more counties, and during more hours. It is just common sense — do the math. Some Notaries only want to service their home county during their “flexible” hours of 9-5 while others are 24 hours and cover eighteen counties. If you need to sleep, then limit your hours from 6am to midnight, but the more flexible you are, the more business you can accumulate.

Reviews are essential
We have written many blog entries on reviews and are publishing a comprehensive guide to reviews as well around the same time I publish this article. The important concepts to remember are:

* Six reviews will double your new business from our site
* After you have six reviews you will get a small marginal benefit from each additional review
* Well written reviews count more
* Don’t get multiple reviews the same day or it looks like you wrote them yourself
* Reviews that are three or more years old do not benefit you much, so always get new reviews.
* You might need to ask ten people to get a single review, but it’s worth it.
* Signing & Title companies are horrible about writing reviews since everybody bugs them to do it
* Individuals are easier to get reviews from, so do some jobs for individuals
* Ask for a review when someone compliments you on your work otherwise don’t ask.
* Email requests for reviews in addition to asking in person. Email them a LINK to your review page. That will take the work out of trying to find the page which I assure you people don’t have the time or patience to do.

Related Reading: A comprehensive guide to reviews
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=16290

Company Names
It will help you to have a company name in the long run. But, think long and hard about what you name your Notary business. Names with geographical significance are recommended. Names with notorial or Mortgage significance might be good. General business names that are not relevant to this industry might not be ideal.

Choosing a name for your business license
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=7103

Keep your information up to date
Many Notaries create a listing and forget about it. Your listing is like a plant — it needs to be watered and trimmed from time to time otherwise it will wither. Login to your listing every few months, we require it, and it is good for the popularity of your listing. Browsers can see the date you last logged in. If you login more regularly you’ll attract browsers that care about how well you maintain your listing. After all, if you neglect your listing, you might neglect their loan! Update your # of signings and touch up your notes section regularly with anything new that you learned or any new way you have of expressing yourself. You can also email us for free help with your notes section — and yes, we do free notary notes makeovers.

ADDITIONAL READING

General Marketing

Long term marketing plans
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=15793

I signed up with 200 companies only to get work twice
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=15445

Notary Advertising

Unique notary notes phrases from the Ninja course
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=14690

7 ways to use Facebook to market your notary services
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=5396

Pricing & Income

$40 for a signing 72 miles away?
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=14959

What is the difference between getting 16 clicks per day & 100+?
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=13185

How much more does a 123notary certified signer make?
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=15392

Here is another way to make $4000 more per year
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=14162

Is $75 enough to print 2 sets of docs & do faxbacks?
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=10369

He made $35,000 a month his first year in business
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=3894

Other

Which tasks can you do which are worth $1000 per minute?
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=4113

123notary behind the scenes
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=2499

Comments (0)

May 7, 2016

2016 Most Active Signing Companies

Here are the most active siging companies of 2016. They may or may not be the best ones, but at least they are still in business and actively being commented on!

BNN Services
http://www.123notary.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4694

Diamond Star Notaries
http://www.123notary.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6418

Epic Real Estate Solutions
http://www.123notary.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7107

FASS
http://www.123notary.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2829

Field Choice
http://www.123notary.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4677

Great Lakes Settlement
http://www.123notary.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6802

Loan-Closers
http://www.123notary.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2293

Loan Processing Center
http://www.123notary.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4934

Mortgage Connect LP
http://www.123notary.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3430

N3 Notary
http://www.123notary.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2095

National Loan Closers
http://www.123notary.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3755

National Preferred Notary
http://www.123notary.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6118