My guess is that signing services exist because escrow officers are too busy or lazy to search for a signing agent themselves? Another guess is that owner of the signing service has some type of intimate relationship with the escrow office?
2 Likes
I think the full time scheduler/ docs preparer jobs are gone.
@cNsa5, Yeah, this was just a matter of time. Just another hit to our ability to negotiate fees now that they’re cutting out human contact. These companies are really good at finding the easy money these days.
4 Likes
@cfletcher " . . . just a matter of time . . ." 
Indeed! In essence, it’s heartless communication . . .
.
Title companies can and do use the Platforms, too, but those who do offer fees as low as SS. When I get a non-platform TC call or e-mail, they are always very professional, respectful and grateful and never try to lowball.
1 Like
Banks are concertrating all this and the guy with 6 digits income is a key to it. They don’t want us at the table. We should collect crumbles. We have inflation and money are withdrawn from the economy. We have less but should pay more for everything. So why we sign mortgage modifications now. Let see where the big guys will guide us this time? They all know the money tricks better.
No, thankfully it is not. I just renewed my Notary Commission and LSA credentials, bonds and membership. With no reasonable paying loan signing opportunities this month, I am having buyer’s remorse. The last offer was $25 for a one page document, 37 miles away…unbelievable! I love meeting people and feeling fulfilled that I am providing a professional service that helps secure their goals. However, it is discouraging when the offers are so low that I can’t afford to accept them.
When they contact you directly, their fees are better than when going through the platforms. That actually goes for signing services too. When they call you on the phone they are usually open to negotiations.
2 Likes
look into Arise , its work from home stuff. They have full and PT positions in different fields .
3 Likes
@chandie.kent 
Very Helpful! You’re Awesome 
1 Like
I have somewhat a double sided answer. Yes, it’s the majority of my personal income. Now that said, I don’t necessarily have to work. My husband can keep us comfortable. I like to work so we can have more extras. I am choosy though and make sure my work day will be worth it.
1 Like
This has noting to do with inflation. It is the law of supply & demand. I have been doing loans for 15 years and I have not seen fees increase, in some cases they seem to have gone down.
Why?
As long as social media exists and people are selling the dream of getting rich as a NSA and people are willing to pay for the information to do so, there will be an endless flood of hungry new notaries getting into the business. There is a high cost of entry and many are just trying to get their initial investment back. They will undercut the competition to do so.
I have a minimum fee. I won’t work for less. I refuse to renew my NNA certification. Take it or leave it. There isn’t enough money in my area to justify a needless expense like that.
How does that work out for me? I turn down more work than I accept. Of those that pay my unreasonably high fee, one in three signers tell me I am the second notary to complete the signing because the previous notary messed it up.
I once had someone from a signing service tell me if I cut my fee in half they would send me twice as much work. I laughed. You want me to do twice as much work for the same money and double the expenses. If you want to pay half my fee I’ll refer you to my competition. That’s how I run them out of business.
So now I do loans occasionally, maybe one a month. There are just too many people willing to do it for less. People with absolutely no business sense are excited to get paid $30 to print 400 pages and drive 30 minutes one way to get them signed, then fax them back, then drop them for same day pickup. As long as these people exist the fees will never increase. As long as social media exists, these people will always exist.
Do I blame the signing services? Not at all. Why pay more when someone will do it for less. Sure, you get burned with redos a few times but if that happens you just don’t pay the first notary or if it is minor maybe make them fix it for free. (maybe you still don’t pay them)
1 Like
Here’s a legitimate situation in California. Next year, gasoline prices will rise to approximately $8.50 a gallon. In contrast, this morning, in Illinois, gas prices on average are $2.67 a gallon. I filled up my mid-sized SUV (4cyl turbo non-gas guzzler) yesterday and it cost me exactly $99 for 18 gallons of premium. Try that on once or twice a week as a mobile notary.
How will the Calinutia gas prices affect the mobile notary business or the entities that use mobile notaries? (i.e., title companies, lenders, escrow companies). Will those entities foot the bill, as it were, and cover the increased gas prices for the notaries? If they do, will 100% of the gas price coverage go to the mobile notaries or will certain unscrupulous signing services out there take an undeserved cut?? We’ll see.
1 Like
OUCH! 
1 Like
Time to buy a bicycle.
{{so may more comments to make but don’t want to start a political firestorm}}
1 Like
Bobby I drive a Tesla, charge with solar panels and limit my service area to 15 miles from my office and I still lose money. But all (old) people need something to do to feel like we’re earning that Social Security check.
1 Like
Once or twice a week? I fill up almost every day. But my car has a little 13 gallon tank. I get about 35 mpg. I buy on the Reservation where it’s minus the state tax paid $3.43 yesterday.
1 Like
I earned my social security check but it won’t pay everything. Took retirement early. Need the extra money. Have sort of given up finding a decent full time job. They aren’t hiring 64 year olds. Even though they should - we know how to actually work.
4 Likes
1 Like