I have a client selling a piece of property and they wanted me to be the notary. The only way WTF Title would work with me was if we went through Snapdocs. I’m a member of Snapdocs. My fee is $150 for this particular assignment. I never had the chance to discuss the fee when I received a notice for the signing that I provided to them btw, for a fee of $90, $60 less than the fee we would normally charge. The settlement statement had 2 items of $150 for both notaries used for this assignment, one for my service and one for the other notary. I couldn’t answer my client’s question as to the line item, which was why the $150. Where is the $150 going or where is the $60 difference going.
My question here is, if anyone could clarify, shouldn’t the title company have explained the reason Snapdocs posted a $90 fee automatically to me? I’m going to count this as a learning experience and accept it for what is and move on. The fee was reasonably fair but not what I charge, it’s the principle of it I guess. I would have appreciated a convo regarding the fee. Any thoughts…?
Somebody dropped the ball (on your toes). SnapDocs charges a (variable-by-clent) flat rate. TC gets difference between what they charged the B & paid you. I suspect the idiot/s who ball dropped AND AI (SnapDocs IS weird that way) were involved in this mess-up. Regardless, I would definitely have a polite-as-possible discussion with your client & the TC about how they cheated you–who brought them the business! While I agree it is about principles, it’s also about being cheated out of your ‘agreed-by-client’ money. Talk to them nicely–I really do think they’ll do right by you.
Please let us know outcome, hey?
My personal opinion and why I don’t take orders from SnapDocs is their fees are FUBAR. Using initials but old military comment when situation is messed up. I never take an assignment after initial fee offer is reasonable and then attempt to change offer down. Contact initial person that placed offer and state “due to fee change please remove me from assignment”. Don’t accept bait and switch offers.
Outcome they won 
. I had three signings the same week as the Snapdocs signing. All paid within a week except one…hmmmm? Now I have to admit I was in a precarious position. A person in a networking club I belong to asked if I would be the notary on a transaction. Title would only work with me if I was on Snapdocs or another similar service. I’m on snapdocs and they sent me the order with a fee that was frankly a joke for what I charge for my services. I had to accept for a couple of reasons. I don’t have enough leverage yet and someone was doing me a huge favor! I’m just entering my second year so I value the much-needed signings I can get under my belt even if it is a loss leader. The week however was very profitable with the other assignments.
When you received the assignment through WTF Title, there is a message area where you could respond to let them know the agreed upon fee was $150.00. If they rejected that, you could have rejected the assignment and get your client involved since they wanted you to do it.
Hence forth the challenge I didn’t want to get my friend /client involved. I just chalked this one up to… don’t look a gift horse in the mouth kinda of thing. If I deal with Snap Docs again w/o friend/client involved, I will proceed differently. Thanks!!
WTF? Or WFG? I had to laugh. And don’t look at the notary fee on the CD and think that’s what they planned to pay a notary. Sometimes it’s listed at $600. But that has to cover any required resigns as well.
Interesting. I’ve never seen $600 for a Notary Fee. That would be some serious mistakes built in, I guess it makes sense they will just amend the #. The other day I did see $150 Messenger fee just below my notary fee of $250. I really was tempted to ask about it, or at least say the client asked me to.
im deceased I haven’t seen FUBAR since the early 2000’s!
off subject today was the first time I saw on the ALTA that I was getting 75% of the fee and the SS only 25%. I wish I saw a 600 notary fee lol.
No one should look at notary fees thinking they get paid that fee. I did a signing last night and the signers had to initial a payment invoice for ME - at $50 less than I actually got paid. But the service that hired me paid me more than I usually charge for a local contract and they pay in 15 days so I didn’t care. I’ve also seen ALTA statements with 600 for a notary and then the closing disclosure has 300. Which they do not give 100% to the notary. I would never ask a title company about the line for notary fees. Because really the numbers in the package are not our business.
Ok, thank you for the perspective.
I would consider working with a SS and a 75/25 split in my favor. I have not heard of one. Usually, I have found that it is the other way around in the SS favor. I personally will not work for fees that I perceive as not profitable. I’m finding that it is working in my favor to maintain the integrity of my business and stick to my guns about my fees. Any hints as to who the service is??
oh I absolutely do. I was very pleased about it, I definitely got a good deal on that order . I would rather not say who the company was as they found me on here.
agree, I hate it when I see 600 knowing full well I’m not getting that and I feel deceptive almost sitting next to the signers wondering if they think I am making that.
Hi Chandie ~ since I was born in 1949 have a lot of old abbreviations in my vocabulary. I married twice to military men (both deceased) and worked as civilian ships movements for USN. Lot of interesting quotes. Totally don’t understand today’s young people abbreviations on texts, etc. World continues to change. 
Dear kevin2,
Snapdocs is only the platform. The signing agencies are the one’s actually calling the unfair shots. I’ve had plenty of signings through Snapdocs but problems arose when these signing agencies representing title companies, lawyers etcetera, would UNDERPRICE the signing fees for you and I. Their goal is to get the greatest share possible of YOUR hard earned money and effort.
For ex., a well known agency out of California contacted me through Snapdocs. I read the assignment top to bottom and in between and accepted the closing. However, when it cam to my fee, this agency had the GAUL to TELL ME what my fee was to be making excuses of “the buyers aren’t THAT FAR” from me. I kindly reminded her of MY BUSINESS ETHICS and fees I impose due to the nature of expenses we as Notary Signing Agents incur. This young lady then got ‘P-O’d’ that I took it upon myself well in advance to chart distances, traffic, weather, gas, everything a business will tally due to expenses.
Needless to say, you MUST stand your ground when YOUR MONEY and TIME is about to be used wisely performing loan signing services or someone trying to USE YOU, my friend.
Also and very important; if I read correctly, the individual asking “questions” about this signing, they must be informed to contact their lender. We CAN read verbatim WHAT a document is. The NNA has many PDF’s for help. The absolute BEST is the script (free of charge) of what each part of the loan document is in simple terms. “This is your ‘NOTE.’ It is a written promise to pay a sum of money at a started rate during a specified time.” BOOM!! You’ve just gave her the information she needed in concerns as to what the document is she or he is signing and so on.
Stand your ground with your fees, kevin2. If your signing services command $200, STAND ON IT! HELOC or Refinance Loans are big money for all of us. Here in Georgia, these signings BY LAW are to take place within the company of a lawyer’s office. Now, if a lawyer calls me directly, he’s already printed the documents and needs my services, COOL! I’ll charge him $175! He’s cut a GREAT portion of time consuming duties out of my schedule for the day!!
I know that was a lot. But always remember what we can and cannot say and do. You’ll be fine. Just don’t let these platforms like (fictional only) “Joe Sausage-head Notary Signing Agent Platform” TELL YOU what your fees are. We can come to an agreement, but never let then UNDERSELL your services just to take great portions of your hard earned money.
I’m outta here!
Marcus
I thank you for your feedback! I agree with your sentiment. Respect we earn it and we expect it back in return! kk peace! 
In my area if you expect a $200 fee, you are not working. That’s the way it is realistically. One notary can’t change a region’s pay scale.
I no longer receive notifications from Crap Docs. Too much junk or signings that are out of my area. I keep my listing on there but no longer waste my time on the platform.
I recommend rethinking your need for that platform.