Update on Notary Memphis

As reported here several weeks ago, I found a full-time job, leading to my taking a break from providing notary services, both general notary work directly with the public and notary signing agent work for clients.

To update my status, work seems to be going well. I made it through new hire training and department-specific training and into actual productive working with cases. While there is additional training coming up later this month that will scramble my schedule again, it looks likely that I will be able to do well at this job (knock on wood).

The hours are such that my weekdays and nights are basically spoken for.

So, what does that mean for Notary Memphis?

Right now, it means that I am only offering notary services on Saturday with a possibility of urgent / emergency services on Sunday. If you want me to notarize for you on Saturday, please text me at the number on my Contact Page or send me a message via the Send an Email Message page.

I am considering the idea of offering “very early notary” services (as in, between the hours of 1:00 am and 5:00 am), as it seems that I am awake and away from work then most days. This idea is still under consideration, so I am not definitely doing it yet. That said, if you are looking for a notary during those hours, please let me know so we can discuss the details.

Notary Memphis business card

Advertisements

Closed Until Christmas

Due to my full-time job, my available hours for notary services have already been reduced to Saturday only.

Last night, my employer advised us that we would be working 14 hours of overtime per week for the next three weeks, including part of a shift on Saturdays.

So, please be advised that Notary Memphis is closed until Christmas.

If you need a notary in Memphis during this time period, I recommend PakMail at 2809 Kirby Road (in the shopping center with Kroger on Kirby just a bit north of Quince).

Or you can try your bank or credit union, the nearest UPS Store, or any number of mobile notaries listed on 123notary.com or notaryrotary.com or notarycafe.com.

On Standardized Fees

Why an Industry-Wide List of Standard Fees for NSAs is Not Available

First, that would be price-fixing and probably illegal.

Second, you’d have people who were quite happy to work for 5 or 10 dollars less if it meant they could undercut the rest of you.

Third, everyone has the right to set their own fees — we are independent contractors.

Fourth, trying to educate people on their costs so the fees they set will actually make them money is a worthy goal. It is focused narrowly enough that it does not run against any of the other points I’m making in this piece, so I support anyone who wants to help with that.

I realize many notaries want an industry-wide standard set of fees. You’re not going to get that for a host of reasons.

Please learn your own costs, do market research in your own service area to see what you can charge without losing business or breaking your state’s laws, and set your fees accordingly.

Please stop going on Facebook and other social media to ask your competitors or those in different service areas to tell you what you should charge. It’s not a question that one professional asks another who is in the same line of work.

How I Eliminated No-shows on Mobile Notary Work

How I Eliminated No-shows on Mobile Notary Work

1. For Notary Signing Agent work, I don’t print documents or travel to the signers unless I confirm the appointment with them myself.

Two exceptions: If the client refuses to provide a useful phone number or if the signers don’t answer, I will print and go IF the client is willing to guarantee a full fee. Or, if the client is on my A List of exceptionally good clients, I’m willing to go with a print & trip fee of no less than half the full fee.

2. For General Notary Work, the person making the appointment must understand that this is serious business, not play. While my mobile notary services are freelance, that does not mean that the service is free. So, I require that they send me certain details via text or email to confirm the appointment with me.

If it’s not for the same day, I follow up with them before I head their direction to be sure their plans & needs have not changed.

(The details I require are simple:

• Name of the person requesting my service;
• Name of the person(s) who will be signing;
• Exact location where I am expected to meet them, including room number or lobby or other specifics;
• When they want me to meet them;
• How many documents they are having notarized; and
• Their understanding of and agreement with my fees. )

I’ve never had all that many NSA no-shows, but I used to have regular GNW mobile notary ones. Since I added the above requirement, no-shows on mobile notary work has been eliminated.

I am sure that I’ve lost some business as a result of adopting these methods of dealing with people who seem to be unclear about the value of my time. The positive benefits have been much less frustration and wasted time and expense.

Whether these methods would work for you is a question I can not answer.

Taking a Break from Notary Memphis

This is to announce that I have landed a full-time job.

Starting on Monday, July 9th, I will be working for FedEx Trade Networks as a customs broker.

As this is a big change from what I have been doing for the past 15+ years, I am going to have to focus on learning everything I can in order to be successful at my new job.

So, effective Saturday, July 7, 2018, I will take a break from Notary Memphis. This means no general notary work for the public and no notary signing agent work for my clients.

(I DO intend to keep writing about notary topics and it is my fervent hope that this change will allow me to complete and publish the books which I have mentioned here several times over the past. )

Once I have completed training and settled into my new job, I will decide whether I can come back to providing notary services and what my hours of service for that will be.

It has been my pleasure to serve Shelby County and her citizens and visitors for these past 20 years as a notary public and for over 15 years as a notary signing agent.