I was contacted by Notarize247 for a closing on July 12th they told it will only require scan back and they pay $75.00 I accepted however, when I downloaded the documents, it required 288 pages including the client’s copy. This package required scan back and overnight FEDEX of the hard copy. I had to purchase a waterproof envelope and take the package to a FEDEX drop off sight.
They required scan back of the list off critical document from the list they sent. A few documents needed corrections, but I was able to contact the title company and they sent a copy of the documents I need to correct and that went well.
Notarize247.com sent me a list of their payment schedule and I would say that is slave labor payment which is ridiculously low I did it for the experience
Wow! I guess you now know not to accept future assignments from them unless your willing to do all these steps for free. Also, I’ve never seen instructions to purchase a waterproof envelope. That would be been my first and last red flag to send the assignment beck for reassignment.
Both UPS & FedEx have plastic (waterproof–m/l) envelopes stashed in the top of dropboxes. You can also go online & open a free account with both carriers and order free supplies thru your account.
While I understand you ‘did it for experience’, hope you realize you most likely will never be able to raise your fee.
(CA) “A few documents needed corrections. . .” Generally speaking, there should be NO documents that need corrections. But, it happens and I’ve certainly had my share of goofs on documents so no criticism from me. The real reason for this post is that accepting a job for whatever money the signing service is offering to pay is a hit or miss proposition at best, especially in these awful times. Calling it “slave labor” is, however, a pretty rough term for an assignment that was willingly accepted and only marginally performed (as was admitted).
If one accepts a job and it turns out to be not worth it, one should negotiate for more $$ or simply reject it. And, there is never a need for the notary to pay for a “waterproof envelope”.
I took jobs knowing it was for the experience when i first started and basically knew i was working for free. Now that I’m experienced, If i could go back in time, i wouldn’t have accepted such minimal payment because I did do the work and should be paid. If all notaries didn’t accept lowball offers, we would get decent wages and lowball offers wouldn’t exist. Not only do we do the work, we invested in supplies, insurance, car expenses, gas etc.
Be careful with some of these companies and read the small print before accepting. In their terms, sometimes they will even ask you to “hand deliver” these to another city far away.
The plastic pacs are free at Fed ex. However, I would suggest opening up an account with fedex, they will deliver your supplies for free and are quick to deliver them. Also beware, some companies will specifically ask for plastic paks and doc you $10. If you don’t use them.
I recently blocked Notarize247 as it took 73 days and 3 requests to receive payment. In your case after I received the docs and seen how many pages I would have asked for more money. You’ll definitely learn your worth quickly. Good luck on your journey!
I have actually worked for them multiple times and I must say every time that I work with him they have been very easy to negotiate decent prices with!
Thanks for the heads up. I am big on fulfilling a promise to showcup as agreed. However, if the package is not as represented and the requirements are many morecyhan normal, i am not above renegotiating (they will almost always reassign) or just flat turning it down at the last minute. Of course. You will be off their list forever.
I put Notarize247 on my personal Black List a long time ago. I had trouble twice getting payment from them. I will not work for that kind of company. As far as the fee goes, I will not leave my house for less than $125.00. In these slow down times some companies will have cash flow problems and some will go out of business leaving the Notaries unpaid.
Almost all the signing services dropped their rates. I’m dealing with mostly low balls now. My regular that paid me $120 per signing dropped to $100 and now $75!! The real estate transactions have slowed due to higher interest rates and no refinancing flush, leaving many notaries accepting the low amounts. I’m countering and no luck. I don’t get it. For such low fees many notaries would make better money at a regular job. The math is off. I think they take the low pay just to have the flexibility and whatever cash they can get. The real estate companies are taking advantage, they’re even worse and low ball the notaries too. I wish there was a better standard in the real estate notary market which bans these low balls. Im planning to contact the state and see if we can get a bill in order which prohibits real estate notaries to be paid so low in this state. It has to be put into notary law for the low ball unacceptable offers to end. I wish the NNA pushed for this more legally. Closing cost only went up but the notary fees down. Gas and inflation went up over 9% but the fees are much less than I started. It is ridiculous.
You did it for the experience. Us LONG time Notaries know that fee $75.00 means U worked for FREE actually if U add everything UP including miles & gas it probably coast U $ . And by new Notaries accepting these fees Title then wont have to pay a FAIR FEE. So NOW EVERYONE LOSSES, EXCEPT TITLE WHO MAKES THE SAME $$$$$$.
I understand that everyone hates the fact that the title companies are low-balling notaries but what can we do? We can’t just not accept the signing because they are low-balling. If we do, all they will do is fine another notary that will take the signing. There is always someone who will take it. So we either take the fee or someone else will and that means we lose either way. So I’d rather take the low fee, at least I can still pay my bills and keep gas in the car. The only way to beat them at their own game, is if every single notary will take a stand and we know that will never be the case.
A great many Newbies take your advice on this platform. To suggest that a fee you accept early in your career will follow you your entire career, and you’ll probably “never” be able to raise your fees, is not only inaccurate, it does a disservice to those that consider you a mentor.
Over 2 months ago, they canceled a job on me a few minutes before I was walking out the door to leave to complete the job. They notified me by email (not even a phone call) that said" due to unforeseeable circumstances we will have to cancel this signing".
The original job assignment as well as thier policy states we will receive a print fee of the job is canceled after printing. I sent 2 emails, still have not received a print fee.
I have done jobs in the past for them with no issues on payment , so this is a new experience for me with them. Definitely wont be working with them anymore.
It’s amazing how long the topic of “lowball fees” have been discussed over the years in various social forums. The best teacher in any profession is real life experiences, it’s how everyone learns new skills and develop knowledge as employees or entrepreneurs. As for shipping material in this business, it’s normally free from the shippers. Understanding how fees are computed by the title and signing companies are topics not discuss very much, unfortunately. I found this information from a title company’s certification training resource “Fees are set within markets by other local signing agents. Fees can be set by product, county, city and/or zip.**” From my experienced, most of the signing orders I worked or received were based on zip codes, product, and market competition. Companies explained if I accepted assignments outside of my designated zip code, that was my choice and fees were not adjusted. Of course, I would attempt to negoiate, when I went further than 15 miles radius. I am located in Duval county, Florida, where there’s an over saturation of loan signings agents. So to hit my financial benchmarks, I had to get a large volume of signing orders. So I had to go outside of my zip code. Now in today’s economy that is not very feasible, due to the increasing operational costs. Now I have to work more efficiently and reduce my travel mileage to basically a few zip codes. Fees for mobile services have been cut almost by 50%. I am now focusing on RON and adding other lines of virtual services. I am mentoring other loan signing agents on how to duplicate my results.
Ditto to most of what has been said here about them. I put them on my black list some years ago, but they are still at it and have many tricks. I found that they lie about their package sizes and offer very low fees. They don’t respect notaries as partners. This assignment would warrant 4-5x what you were paid. If they don’t like that, which they won’t…too bad. None of us can afford to work for a net negative. There are plenty of companies that will pay a fair fee.
What can we do? I do not accept the low ball offers. Period. I click “Pay is too low” and put in a fee that I will do the job for. I will never drive to a signing feeling like I am being underpaid just to have a job! If it costs me money to do a signing then I am not making a living, not able to pay the bills, gas, ect… I let the other notaries take the job and in a few months they will be out of business. Just this past week I must have turned down 10-12 jobs that would have cost me to do and I kept 7 well paying ones. I Won’t Cheapen myself and give into them (that’s how I feel). Have respect for yourself and your craft/industry.
Hi have been wanting to touch bases with you regarding a recent uptake in signings for property purchases in AR. People selling homes in WA and moving to AR. Used to be frequent flyers were for AZ and TX but people now selecting other states. I have no plans to leave WA ~ for the most part do not have extreme hot climate. Each to their own 
And that’s why you don’t accept $75 signings.
I also received my first offer of an assignment from Notarize 24/7. Their base fee was 75, but they were quite willing to adjust their fee when I indicated the fee offered was too low. Even if you are just starting out in this business, know your worth.