Accepting Low Rates

[teresagray]

Hi Rod would you kindly send me a copy of your spreadsheet as well?
Thank you.
Teresa

[lydia_notarysa]

Definitely negotiate the fee based on distance, number of pages, if scans are required. This job is not by experience you are already qualified. Negotiating is part of the package so don’t accept low fees. Good luck don’t get discouraged.

[cryman.notary]

Absolutely NOT! They will continue to expect your low ball rates and will never pay what they should. Are you in it to make a profit or run the roads for free?

[cryman.notary]

Here is a perfect example of what is going on in my area…today, December 19, 2024. I received a request to take a closing 1 hour away, 55 miles. The offering pay was $20.00. Twenty dollars…not $200.00! My response…“Only serious inquiries please!”

[Arichter]

It’s the same everywhere. They must take great delight in looking like they’re working hard by bugging everyone within 200 miles of a signing location. What a huge waste of everyone’s time the platforms are.

[cNsa5]

To ALL Notary Cafe Members who receive blast requests from these types of platforms:

• These configurations are designed via algorithms.

• The algorithms DON’T take into account the topographic data (remote signing locations, etc.).

• The algorithms calculate the travel distance to be as the proverbial crow files, NOT the actual miles you’ll need to drive. Normally, the physical address isn’t provided during the blast request.

• Nor do the algorithms take into account the construction zones and other extended impediments to our progress enroute to and from a signing location.

• It’s vitally IMPORTANT to your success for you to factor into account all of these items when determining the Schedule of Fees you’ll charge for the professional services you provide. See my Guideline in regard to creating your individualized Schedule of Fees here:

IMPORTANT => Guideline for Creating Your List of Fees

Here is a guideline for those new to this business sector that is quite helpful to create an individualized List of Fees for professional services provided in our industry . . . NOTE: Current IRS mileage rate is = 65.5 cents/mile It would be in your best interest to jot down all of the expenses associated with performing the services you provide within your service region to determine a baseline operating cost. Then, at that point, you can calculate the fees that will generate a net profit to …

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All these algorithmic foundational elements work against you.

Want to reclaim some of it?

Here’s one simple (but impactful) suggestion:

• When you receive a blast request, jot down the number of miles the algorithm has identified for travel to the location.
• When you receive the Signing Order [SO], calculate the actual miles to that signing location.
• Compare that resulting number of miles to the number of miles the algorithm had identified for travel to that location.
• If the actual mileage is 2X or 3X greater (or more) than the number of miles the algorithm identified in the blast request, calculate your actual Fee to provide professional services to that identified location for the actual mileage.
• Draft and Send an email that Requests a Fee Revision for your professional services.

[stamped.inked]

I understand that you may be concerned about the low rate, but please know that it affects everyone.

[nancyj2305]

I agree. I won’t do it

[nancyj2305]

I completely agree, it already happened to me once that I felt like they cheated me with the fee, they should have paid me more for what I did.

[nancyj2305]

Thank you for your words, I am learning a lot.

[nancyj2305]

Yep, I can’t understand how they can expect to pay a low fee with all the requirements and if you make a mistake they can also deduct up to $40

[nancyj2305]

Hello colleagues, I tell you that I have already 80+ signing. I am not accepting low rates, but it has been difficult because I receive many offers and having to reject them or seeing that they do not accept my counteroffer makes me feel discouraged sometimes, but I keep myself optimistic and focused. Thanks for your support.

[stamped.inked]

I reject the offer and counter offer for a larger fee. Then I see the price go up for what I’m requesting and it states this signing has been filled however, it was given to someone else. This is very frustrating.

[stamped.inked]

I’m sorry, was this for me?

[stamped.inked]

I’m sorry was this for me?

[LindaH-FL]

It does too, Earl - and we’ve been down this road before. I’m sorry you can’t see that.

[earl226]

No, I don’t see that because we are free to accept what ever we want.

[johnsonps306]

I remain Team Earl on this issue. People are not making anyone else’s job more difficult by taking a fee someone ELSE thinks isn’t reasonable. No one will ever convince me someone accepting the low ball offers that will drive them out in a couple of years impacts my own calendar. Sorry. I don’t even agree with Earl on that much - but this absolutely. Just like no one is being “insulting” on fees. It’s not personal. So we don’t have to take it personally.