# Are we all experiencing ridiculously low offers? **URL:** \ **Category:** Uncategorized\ **Created:** [July 24, 2025, 9:53pm UTC](https://forum.notarycafe.com/t/are-we-all-experiencing-ridiculously-low-offers/53027 "2025-07-24T21:53:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![brucem1213](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forum.notarycafe.com/brucem1213/32/34315_2.png) [@brucem1213](https://forum.notarycafe.com/u/brucem1213)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2025, 9:53pm UTC](https://forum.notarycafe.com/t/are-we-all-experiencing-ridiculously-low-offers/53027/1 "2025-07-24T21:53:45Z")
So, I just had an unnamed signing service contact me for a no notice (meaning the signing needs to be done immediately) signing. The person who needs the documents notarized has them already in their possession and they are in 2 binders. Each complete set needs notarization. I as the notary have to bring 2 witnesses. The following is the list of documents: a last will and testament, a modification of a revocable trust, a proof of continuous marriage document, a lady bird deed, a quit claim deed, a health care power of attorney, a durable power of attorney, a final disposition of remains form (a document that allows the designee to claim your remains after death), an anatomical donation agreement and a real estate closing packet-seller side. The signing service provided me an address that is a 75-to-85-mile one way trip (depending on route) and it is a 1 hr. 45-minute drive as it is rural roads. Additionally, I have to provide 2 independent witnesses for the will, lady bird deed, trust documents, the powers of attorney forms and the closing. So, we have 3 hours 15 minutes in drive time. We have a notary and 2 witnesses who must all come in the same vehicle (as per request) and based on my past experiences in doing a signing/notarization of these types of documents, at least 50 notarizations (25 in each binder) and the witnesses will be signing at least 16 times. The signing alone is an almost 2-hour job because they need 2 sets notarized. The only good thing is that I didn’t have to print anything. I do have to drop one set at FedEx after signing. I as the notary have to pay the witnesses. I quoted a price of $475.00 for what is basically a 7-hour affair with travel and docs drop. They countered at $150 for myself and the 2 witnesses. 3.5 hours of driving, at least 2 hours of signings and notarizations, a FedEx drop at the center and I am to pay 2 witnesses all out of $150.00 I said no thank you. The signing service said my price was totally "ridiculous and unreasonable " Your thoughts would be appreciated please. ---
**Author:** ![LindaH-FL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8baadc/32.png) [@LindaH-FL](https://forum.notarycafe.com/u/LindaH-FL)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2025, 10:52pm UTC](https://forum.notarycafe.com/t/are-we-all-experiencing-ridiculously-low-offers/53027/2 "2025-07-24T22:52:21Z")
I was going to say $450 and thought that was actually too low. ---
**Author:** ![cNsa5](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forum.notarycafe.com/cnsa5/32/33381_2.png) [@cNsa5](https://forum.notarycafe.com/u/cNsa5)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2025, 12:09am UTC](https://forum.notarycafe.com/t/are-we-all-experiencing-ridiculously-low-offers/53027/3 "2025-07-25T00:09:11Z")
> [@brucem1213](#): > > I quoted a price of $475.00 for what is basically a 7-hour affair with travel and docs drop. @brucem1213 Great question! ✅_ **Thanks for the details!** _ 🎊 Of course, **Pricing** differs from _region-to-region_ across the US. I often express the recommendation: "Create your own individualized [Schedule of Fees](http://forum.notarycafe.com/t/important-guideline-for-creating-your-schedule-of-fees/42539). _I believe you have already created one._ . _In this instance, take the ‘baseline’ Fee you’ve already created in your Schedule of Fees & extrapolate that to include:_ - The multitudinous number of notarizations - The extensive amount of Time & Travel - The Notary Witness Fees (\*2) - Any required Turnpike, Ferry, Parking, etc. Fees - Additional required out-of-pocket expenses . When I reached the **End** of your Original Post [OP] & **read** the quoted Fee, my initial response (_before beginning to put pencil to paper_), **W H O A !!** _ **Way Too Low . . .** _ 🦢 ---
**Author:** ![Arichter](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forum.notarycafe.com/arichter/32/35077_2.png) [@Arichter](https://forum.notarycafe.com/u/Arichter)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2025, 12:16am UTC](https://forum.notarycafe.com/t/are-we-all-experiencing-ridiculously-low-offers/53027/4 "2025-07-25T00:16:47Z")
I would put them at the very top of my list of NO-GO/Do not respond. ---
**Author:** ![CherylM](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forum.notarycafe.com/cherylm/32/34748_2.png) [@CherylM](https://forum.notarycafe.com/u/CherylM)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2025, 12:30am UTC](https://forum.notarycafe.com/t/are-we-all-experiencing-ridiculously-low-offers/53027/5 "2025-07-25T00:30:56Z")
Yes! Old Republic just sent me its agreement out of the blue claiming I’m certified by the NNA for their offers. They offer only $95! Here was my response to them: “When I began in 2010 doing signings, we were paid $100-150 depending on experience. (Agencies also lowered payments after the 2008 collapse). It’s been 15 years and there’s been no effort whatsoever to compensate notaries fairly for our work. ORT lowered the fee to $95 that’s just another slap in the face. The lack of cooperation to provide notary signing agents with provisions for profiting in our businesses couldn’t be more obvious. It’s highway robbery! We pay the NNA yearly fees to renew certification and get background checked. With inflation being high now our overhead for paper, toner, and gas in California isn’t satisfied with $95 payment. The NNA influenced the mortgage signing agent notaries from getting paid for each notarized signature as it should have been. It’s highway robbery. No thank you!” ---
**Author:** ![steves11](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forum.notarycafe.com/steves11/32/34877_2.png) [@steves11](https://forum.notarycafe.com/u/steves11)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2025, 12:37am UTC](https://forum.notarycafe.com/t/are-we-all-experiencing-ridiculously-low-offers/53027/6 "2025-07-25T00:37:43Z")
No, it’s THEIR price that is totally ridiculous and unreasonable. You can’t reason with these people, so just say “no” and be done with it. ---
**Author:** ![brucem1213](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forum.notarycafe.com/brucem1213/32/34315_2.png) [@brucem1213](https://forum.notarycafe.com/u/brucem1213)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2025, 1:11am UTC](https://forum.notarycafe.com/t/are-we-all-experiencing-ridiculously-low-offers/53027/7 "2025-07-25T01:11:57Z")
I agree with you totally and I did refuse the offer, especially when they came back at me with the statement that my price was ridiculous. I have been doing this for a fair amount of time, since 2002 in 3 different states, Kentucky and Ohio (I lived on the border so I could gain commissions in both States) and now here in Florida. It just threw me a bit as I have never had a company say that my request for fair compensation was ridiculous. Usually, I can work with a company and come up with a fair resolution. However, I have never been absolutely called out so aggressively. I just wanted my peers to take a look and honestly give me an opinion as to the amount of work and driving involved, the two witnesses that I would have to pay, and the time commitment, if this was as the service said an unreasonable offer. You should have heard their subsequent telephone call to me. It was absolutely vile. ---
**Author:** ![brucem1213](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forum.notarycafe.com/brucem1213/32/34315_2.png) [@brucem1213](https://forum.notarycafe.com/u/brucem1213)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2025, 1:16am UTC](https://forum.notarycafe.com/t/are-we-all-experiencing-ridiculously-low-offers/53027/8 "2025-07-25T01:16:21Z")
Thanks for the response. I do have a schedule of fees and I have it posted to my website, and to all signing services that I currently do business with. So you have that absolutely correct. Your list of additional considerations (the 5 bullet points) are all very valid and well reasoned. I posted this not to put this signing service on blast (as I didn’t name them), but hopefully to help notaries that participate in this forum, to raise awareness and to hopefully point out that we as a professional are worth our time and efforts and deserve fair compensation based on the work performed plus our expenses added in. This one was so far outside of the norm, that I wanted to share the experience. I appreciate you cNsa5. ---
**Author:** ![brucem1213](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forum.notarycafe.com/brucem1213/32/34315_2.png) [@brucem1213](https://forum.notarycafe.com/u/brucem1213)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2025, 1:17am UTC](https://forum.notarycafe.com/t/are-we-all-experiencing-ridiculously-low-offers/53027/9 "2025-07-25T01:17:38Z")
Great point. I certainly have done just that. This is a signing service that maybe uses my services 4 times a year. Not a big account at all. ---
**Author:** ![brucem1213](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forum.notarycafe.com/brucem1213/32/34315_2.png) [@brucem1213](https://forum.notarycafe.com/u/brucem1213)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2025, 1:18am UTC](https://forum.notarycafe.com/t/are-we-all-experiencing-ridiculously-low-offers/53027/10 "2025-07-25T01:18:04Z")
All valid points. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![steves11](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forum.notarycafe.com/steves11/32/34877_2.png) [@steves11](https://forum.notarycafe.com/u/steves11)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2025, 2:51am UTC](https://forum.notarycafe.com/t/are-we-all-experiencing-ridiculously-low-offers/53027/11 "2025-07-25T02:51:40Z")
Old Republic was paying $150 a few years ago. Now they’re offering $95. I managed to get them up to $115 on a couple of orders, but they’re following the pattern of lower fees that I’ve seen with other previous “better-paying” companies. ---
**Author:** ![johnsonps306](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forum.notarycafe.com/johnsonps306/32/35090_2.png) [@johnsonps306](https://forum.notarycafe.com/u/johnsonps306)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2025, 3:00am UTC](https://forum.notarycafe.com/t/are-we-all-experiencing-ridiculously-low-offers/53027/12 "2025-07-25T03:00:37Z")
ORT does respond well to counter offers in my area. ---
**Author:** ![nopanotary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4bbf92/32.png) [@nopanotary](https://forum.notarycafe.com/u/nopanotary)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2025, 3:50am UTC](https://forum.notarycafe.com/t/are-we-all-experiencing-ridiculously-low-offers/53027/13 "2025-07-25T03:50:31Z")
> [@cNsa5](#): > > Schedule of Fees I just received an offer for a signing 30 minutes from the time the request went out. $40. I’m new to this, but I declined. ---
**Author:** ![cNsa5](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forum.notarycafe.com/cnsa5/32/33381_2.png) [@cNsa5](https://forum.notarycafe.com/u/cNsa5)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2025, 12:49pm UTC](https://forum.notarycafe.com/t/are-we-all-experiencing-ridiculously-low-offers/53027/14 "2025-07-25T12:49:41Z")
@nopanotary An **Excellent** Business decision! ✅ It’s integral to your **Success** to create your own individualized **Schedule of Fees.** _For more information & guidance_ on the Steps to Create a Schedule of Fees, **Review** my [thread](http://forum.notarycafe.com/t/important-guideline-for-creating-your-schedule-of-fees/42539) on the topic. . 🦢 ---
**Author:** ![cNsa5](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forum.notarycafe.com/cnsa5/32/33381_2.png) [@cNsa5](https://forum.notarycafe.com/u/cNsa5)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2025, 1:22pm UTC](https://forum.notarycafe.com/t/are-we-all-experiencing-ridiculously-low-offers/53027/15 "2025-07-25T13:22:24Z")
> [@brucem1213](#): > > Thanks for the response. @brucem1213🥳 **You’re Welcome!** 🥳 > [@brucem1213](#): > > their subsequent telephone call to me. It was absolutely vile. . @brucem1213 Noticed in a separate post that their demeanor caused their **Entry** in your **Contacts List** to switch over to the _Do Not Answer [DNA] Category._ . One other item to take under consideration is . . . The difficulty could simply be _ **the Scheduler & their demeanor.** _ . I experienced a similar scenario this week with a scheduler for a Low-Ball business entity. Chose to _‘sleep on it’_ for determining a decision/action. - The next morning made the determination to Escalate the manner in which the call was managed. - Created a **bullet list** (_within an email_) of the queries by the scheduler about my Fee & my responses to those queries - Identified this was the **3rd event** (_and most aggressive_) of this nature while working with that scheduler - Requested they **Review** their recording of the call (_presume they record them_) - Sent it . Within less than **one hour** I received a Response that identified this incident had been _ **Escalated to Operations** _ & it included the following: “_we deeply apologize for the behavior, it is completely unacceptable._” . > [@brucem1213](#): > > point out that we as a professional are worth our time and efforts and deserve fair compensation based on the work performed plus our expenses added in. @brucem1213 **Absolutely!** 🎊 Just like ANY other **business owner.** It has to **make business sense** to provide the professional services. Providing these insights & guidelines to assist others to avoid the pitfalls is the **principal** reason I **donate** SO MUCH of my time, energy, & efforts to the **Notary Cafe** forum. . > [@brucem1213](#): > > I appreciate you cNsa5. @brucem1213💖 **Thank You!** 🤗 😌 \*I’m \*_humbly grateful._ . It’s **Refreshing** to see other **Notary Cafe** members donate their time as business owners in an effort to assist others . . . whether posing queries or sharing direct experiences or providing Alerts/Cautions. 🙏 . 🦢 ---
**Author:** ![taradbroadway](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forum.notarycafe.com/taradbroadway/32/34912_2.png) [@taradbroadway](https://forum.notarycafe.com/u/taradbroadway)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2025, 1:29pm UTC](https://forum.notarycafe.com/t/are-we-all-experiencing-ridiculously-low-offers/53027/16 "2025-07-28T13:29:38Z")
I don’t drive over 1hr for a notary no matter the price I live in St Louis. ---
**Author:** ![susanfingercohen](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forum.notarycafe.com/susanfingercohen/32/33819_2.png) [@susanfingercohen](https://forum.notarycafe.com/u/susanfingercohen)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2025, 2:56pm UTC](https://forum.notarycafe.com/t/are-we-all-experiencing-ridiculously-low-offers/53027/17 "2025-07-28T14:56:38Z")
Unfortunately there are so many Notaries out there that will accept these low offers that it totally undervalues our worth. The reality is, between their time, supplies, etc, their Net is basically “Not worth the trouble”! ---
**Author:** ![cNsa5](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forum.notarycafe.com/cnsa5/32/33381_2.png) [@cNsa5](https://forum.notarycafe.com/u/cNsa5)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2025, 3:32pm UTC](https://forum.notarycafe.com/t/are-we-all-experiencing-ridiculously-low-offers/53027/18 "2025-07-28T15:32:29Z")
> [@susanfingercohen](#): > > accept these low offers that it totally undervalues our worth. @susanfingercohen **Correct!** ✅ 🙏 **Thank You** for sharing this scenario identifying the **“financial squeeze”** of Professional Signing Agents [PSAs]. . @chandie.kent is correct 🎇 as **demonstrated** in this similar example [ServiceLink RON - #2 by chandie.kent](http://forum.notarycafe.com/t/servicelink-ron/52743/2) . To learn more about the other methods of **“financial squeeze”** that is being implemented on PSAs, **Review** this insightful recent thread: > [@Message from ServiceLink - Real talk!](http://forum.notarycafe.com/t/message-from-servicelink-real-talk/52600): > > Today, I received this email from ServiceLink. “Hi Carl, You were advised on 2/6/25 that you are on HOLD because your fees are 90.00. You will not get any business with those fees in any case Thank you, Kindest regards !” This was my response back - “Hello…, Over the course of my tenure with ServiceLink, my average fee has been approximately $127.00. All businesses are being impacted by the increased costs to operate in the current economic conditions. While I acknowledge that ServiceLink … . 🦢 ---
**Author:** ![kellis3873](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forum.notarycafe.com/kellis3873/32/33624_2.png) [@kellis3873](https://forum.notarycafe.com/u/kellis3873)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2025, 6:22pm UTC](https://forum.notarycafe.com/t/are-we-all-experiencing-ridiculously-low-offers/53027/19 "2025-07-28T18:22:39Z")
That is ludicrous!! The fee they’d given you must’ve been a typo! As I was reading your article, I was pricing it in my head and came up with a minimum of $650! That’s a lot in one setting!!! I’d probably end up saying no. I wonder if someone took that lowball??! If so, all due to respect, he/she was foolish, and shame on the signing agency!! ---
**Author:** ![signingsbytracy](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forum.notarycafe.com/signingsbytracy/32/36077_2.png) [@signingsbytracy](https://forum.notarycafe.com/u/signingsbytracy)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 2:16pm UTC](https://forum.notarycafe.com/t/are-we-all-experiencing-ridiculously-low-offers/53027/20 "2025-07-29T14:16:07Z")
NotaryGo constantly sends offers for a refinance for $60. I don’t know who is accepting these offers. The printing alone on these, assuming it is 300 pages (150pages x 2 sets), cost over $40, and the time and mileage isn’t worth a profit of $20. I rarely get offers from anyone for $100 or more so I don’t do many signing anymore. [Next page](https://forum.notarycafe.com/t/are-we-all-experiencing-ridiculously-low-offers/53027.md?page=2)