I got a call from Rai’s Mobile Notary last week. It was for one POA done at a nursing home. He was paying $50, which is my bare minimum. When I got to the nursing home the signer’s wife asked me if I minded telling her how much I got paid for the signing. I told her that I know what she paid would be a lot more than what I got, but I was getting $50. She was shocked and told me that she paid $450 for me to come out and notarize. Not for document preporation or anything else. I am also shocked. I believe Rai’s Mobile Notary takes advantage of elderly people who don’t know how to search for services online and need to get things done fast. I looked it up and you can report excessive charges for services to Adult Protective Services if they are elderly or the Attorney General otherwise. Let’s not stand by and watch people get ripped off.
Thanks for sharing. This is a huge shocker. I did some title closings back in ‘24 but only got $100. This is pretty disturbing to hear for 1 POA.
Personally, I don’t tell anyone what I get paid for a contract. Also - since when should we decide to not work for an agency because they pulled a higher margin than seems fair? Are they slow pay or no pay or just making too much money on a contract.
If they pay a notary what is agreed on when it’s agreed on - how is anything else our issue?
I don’t agree that a sky high margin earned by a service is my concern. IMO. Sorry.
@canoli1978 
Thank You for sharing your direct experience with that particular business entity.
Many other Notary Cafe members have reported very similar direct experiences (see referenced threads below). It’s very helpful to all members when others share items like the ones that follow below. 
There is charging for a service and then there is gouging. This guy didn’t prepare the document…he merely hooked the lady up with a notary. And if this is how he charges, it is just obscene. Not sure what state he’s in but I would report him for ripping this lady off. This lady should do it too. JMO
Nice answer Jennifer
You are going to call up who exactly and say oh no this company just made way too much money on this notary deal. It was just obscene and shouldn’t be allowed.
That’s so far away from the job, it’s breathtaking.
And you would let a sworn public servant/officer bilk the public without so much as a how-de-do? THAT to me is breathtaking.
There are laws in place for this type of practice for a reason.
I don’t have access to anyone else’s books. How do we know someone was bilked. If you quote a price and they say yes when they could say let me shop around - there’s a law that’s been broken?
The service probably offered $50 not imagining that would be accepted as fair and reasonable. We know every detail of the transaction? No.
I am simply not inclined to think I am the police for this industry. I am still surprised someone thinks they can file a complaint that x company charged too much money for x service thinking they have traction to do that.
If you re-read my original post, I said the lady should report him. Consumer Affairs for the state would be a good start.
And then the notary is also reported for discussing fees - in the state of WA discussing fees with signers can be viewed as Unauthorized Practice of Law/Finance. While generally applied to discussing loan signing fees - there’s a reason we don’t discuss our fees with signers. Because that’s where the entire conversation started - a notary’s willingness to discuss fees when every hiring service we work for states pretty clearly we are not to do that.
So much is avoided when we just stay in our lane. JMO.
@johnsonps306 – Obviously you don’t believe in or adhere to the “SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING” campaign.
This isn’t see something. This is have a conversation about fees.
“in the state of WA discussing fees with signers can be viewed as Unauthorized Practice of Law/Finance.” - can you cite you source for this please.
You know, I think you may have missed something in that original post. That lady asked HER what she was being paid - so this lady already knew something wasn’t quite right about the whole thing…she had her suspicions and acted on them - I can make an assumption that she told someone how much she was charged and they said something about it (like “that’s outrageous!!”)
Also, a POA in a nursing home…. if the signer was elderly, this could fall under elder abuse/exploitation.
So I’m with OP
@earl226 are you aware that some states have specific provisions in their notary laws that require notaries to advise people of their fees in advance or if asked? So if an SS tells me not to discuss my fee, I’m following my state laws
Companies tell you not to discuss your fee with signers because they don’t want signers to know just how much they are getting. Show me a state law that tells you not to discuss your fees…especially if you’re asked directly by the person paying the fee!! I’ll wait.
My goodness, y’all. Arguing about the propriety of fees and it’s only the 4th of January. Here’s a tip: it might be a good idea to keep some of these issues to yourself. Reaching conclusions without having all the facts is just presumptive and, as one can see from the commentary above, not particularly helpful. Nobody’s right and nobody’s wrong.
Take it from one guy who’s been around a while, the fee issue will never be solved and trying to convince others that one’s fee structure is correct/accurate/preferable/etc. is just spittin’ in the wind (pardon my verb). Too many variables to take a position on what is the right fee. Everyone has their own minimum and if they lose money or break even, well, that’s their business. I stay out of those posts because I have a ton of competitors in my region and the last thing I want them to know is what I get for a job. I’ve said too much already. Happy New Year, everybody 
She was asked a question by the client and did not give legal advice.
thanks for sharing. This is helpful to review.
What state? Just had a new guy start up here. Fancy truck, signage, facebook social media blitz. Wondering where this new money came from as signing services are notoriously tight.
My thoughts exactly. Competition jumped and pricing is down. Hard to know what to offer anymore, so just keep up with my costs and my prices. Chips fall where they may. Low ballers, newbies will eventually price themselves out of business.