Many notaries ask us how they can get paid by signing companies. Dealing with signing companies can be tricky. But, there are some basic rules of thumb you need to understand.
(1) You need to screen companies before you work for them.
That way you avoid the really bad ones and cut your losses. No notary gets paid 100% of the time, but if you avoid bad companies, you will raise your percentage for how often you get paid. Notary Rotary and 123notary have excellent resources in our lists of signing companies and the forum. You can read the gossip about hundreds of companies before you get involved. Stick you toe in before you jump if you don’t want to get in trouble!
(2) Don’t give too much credit to companies
Notaries get in trouble when they let a company rack up a huge bill. You need to keep track of the payment regularity for each company who you work for. If someone is delinquent on even one payment, don’t work for them until they clear that up. You need to keep your personal records for all signing companies on your person at all times just in case they call offering you work. I wouldn’t offer more than $400 credit to companies with a good rating on our list of signing companies. Don’t offer more than $200 credit to others who are either not ranked, or have mediocre rankings. If they want more work from you, they can paypal you funds up front or pay faster. No money, no honey!
(3) Visit our resources page.
There is a “how to make sure you get paid” page in our resources page. In that page there is a letter from hell which is a template for a demand letter. It works most of the time. But, if the company is out of business, even our demand letter might not work. Don’t get strung along to that point. Settle your finances quickly so that you don’t end up with a company owing you $3000 who is out of business. Keep track, and stay out of trouble.
http://www.123notary.com/notary-public.asp
(4) Your attitude makes a big difference
When I talk to notaries who have trouble getting paid, I notice a few things. First of all, all notaries have trouble getting paid from time to time. But, if a company is low on funds and can only pay a few of the notaries they owe money to, they will pay the ones they intend on using in the future. If you are a bad notary, or are a headache to deal with, you are LESS likely to get paid. Keep that in mind. Be pleasant and professional. One guy who didn’t get paid interrupted me each sentence. I couldn’t finish my thought without being interrupted. No wonder he didn’t get paid. The signing company must have gotten complaints about him. That is not a legitimate excuse not to pay him, but signing companies typically don’t care about what is legitimate or not! They do what they feel like.
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Comment by personal loans for bad credit — December 2, 2013 @ 7:32 pm
I will call you again, 123 Notary! I do want to register with you. I just need to work out a kink after an accident on my way to a signing last week so I can be back on the road again.
Comment by Rhonda Anthony — September 20, 2014 @ 8:13 am
When a company that owes me money calls to offer another job I ask them about the job they owe me for. Sometimes I get another phone or e mail to contact regarding it.
Comment by Margaret Paddock — October 7, 2014 @ 2:27 pm
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this sensitive topic. With all due respect, it should not matter if a SS considers a notary to be good, bad, or mediocre. Likewise, whether the notary is “chatty” should not have anything to do with getting paid in this field or any other field. Getting paid is not based on social skill, it’s based on the work we perform. And, a deal is a deal. If the SS agreed to pay a certain fee- that agreement should be honored. If not, report them to the BBB, file a complaint in small claims court (just to teach them a lesson)- and lastly, wipe the dust off your feet, move on- and NEVER do business with such unscrupulous people again.
“if a company is low on funds and can only pay a few of the notaries they owe money to, they will pay the ones they intend on using in the future. If you are a bad notary, or are a headache to deal with, you are LESS likely to get paid.”
In my opinion, this philosophy “re-victimizes” the victim (the unpaid notary) of a dubious business. This is America, where countless faces before us fought for fair wages and other labor laws since the turn of the 20th century. No American (notary or not) should ever tolerate not getting paid- regardless of how an employer perceives them.
Comment by Kathleen — October 8, 2014 @ 8:10 pm
One company with a terrible reputation agreed to pay me up front via Paypal. However, by them instructing me to bill them, the Paypal fee came out of their payment. It wasn’t a lot of money but I wonder if there was another way to do it without sticking me with the Paypal fee. At any rate, I know for next time to increase the fee by a few dollars to cover Paypal’s fee.
Comment by Terry Kelly — October 8, 2014 @ 8:42 pm
What is the name of that company who paid you up front?
Comment by David Notary — December 2, 2014 @ 6:18 pm
I have 100% collection of my service fees for the only reason I stay with companies that pay upon disbursement. There is no way I can afford pay cycles of 2-4 weeks, besides my fee is part of the closing disbursement process. If all notaries would take that stand as well as stay with a reasonable fee not allowing the company to negotiate for a lower fee we’d all be more productive. I am worth my fee as I am both meticulous, and professional. Love your blog and use it to check companies out. Thank You
Comment by Margaret McCoullough — February 14, 2015 @ 1:13 pm
I have never had a problem getting paid by a signing service. I always ask up front about their payment schedule, if I am unfamiliar with them. 123notary.com is a great resource to vet out the good ones. Good advice here.
Comment by Jay Schankman — July 22, 2016 @ 12:33 pm