blog
entries are strictly the opinion of Carolyn Bodley and may not reflect the opinion of others
(to see archived blog
entries, click on the links to the right of the top blog)
Some photos are compressed or removed in archived blog postings,
leaving only a description of the photo. The blog postings remain complete and unchanged.
I am a true believer that you really do get what you pay for, and the consequences
are noticeable:
Hire a public defender or hire a $200 plus an hour attorney. What outcome are you going for?
Hire someone that types 30-50 words per minute whose initial rate on paper is far less expensive than my 120 wpm rate
-- however, it will take 3-4 times (or maybe even more) longer to complete, and you will end up paying more for the "cheap"
rate.
Calling around for mobile notary services -- making the appointment and then calling around some more for
a cheaper notary. Again, what is the final outcome you are going for?
I am a business person and know the
costs of doing business. My business is not a kitchen table setup where I do this for fun, or some pocket change to
jingle in my pocket. I know what my business licenses and registrations cost, what my business expenses/costs are, what
my business insurance costs, what my taxes cost, and what my equipment and supplies cost. My clients ALWAYS get
more than what they are paying for. My costs are fair and reasonable for the service(s) I'm hired to perform.
Shop around and you will find plenty of people charging less than me. Check their skills, experience, knowledge
and expertise -- ask yourself if you are you paying for the lack of same?
I don't operate a business on the
"auction" theory -- so please don't call after initially hiring me to say you found someone cheaper and ask
if I want to counter their offer -- BECAUSE I WON'T. If you are dissatisfied or unhappy with the outcome of a cheaper
service, consider why they are cheaper. [end of blog]
The situation occurred in another state -- a "mobile" notary is contacted
to meet an individual (less than 10 minutes away) at 10:45 p.m. to notarize a one-page document. It may not be a brutal
rape, however, it should be considered a crime -- this notary quoted a fee of $125.00. This particular state allows
a notary to charge $10.00 per notarization, plus REASONABLE time/travel charges.
Please be advised that the Colorado
Secretary of State allows a Colorado Notary to charge a fee of $5.00 per notarization. If you come to me, the notarization
charge is what you will be responsible for -- if I come to you as a "mobile" notary, you will be responsible for
the notarization charge plus a REASONABLE travel charge.
For any person in need of a general notarization,
do some price checking. [end of blog]
I should have been skeptical when I received the signing call -- what with today's
mortgage market, the over-saturation of notary signing agents, and the companies that once paid well - now wanting to cut
rates drastically. The reason for the skepticism -- being offering just under $300 for a "single" a couple
of miles away -- where in 2007, it has become more the norm to be offered $100-$125 from title companies, or less
than $70 from signing services.
The first indication that there was going to be a problem with this signing was
when I placed my introductory call to Borrowers. The contact number was a fax. After obtaining an alternate
number, the voice message was in Spanish -- I do not speak Spanish. Advising that I couldn't do the signing,
the loan officer assured both the Escrow Officer and myself that there would be someone at the house that spoke English.
Since loan documents are date-sensitive (and it is against the law to backdate), after having the documents
for two weeks and no contact from Borrowers, I shipped everything back to Escrow. The very next day the loan officer
calls to tell me that Borrowers are ready to sign the documents that day.
What a surprise when I read
about the very same signing a couple days later. It seems that Escrow, already knowing, from my experience, that the
Borrowers speak no English, hired another notary signing agent without confirming whether they could speak/understand
Spanish. Being misled into a signing where they speak no Spanish, the notary posted the assignment on an open
forum looking for a Spanish-speaking signing agent.
I honestly believe that, two weeks ago, the loan officer never
told Escrow that Borrowers didn't speak English. However, Escrow was well aware of it when they hired
the second notary signing agent and failed to tell them that Borrowers spoke only Spanish. Initially, I place 90% of
the fault on the loan officer -- however, with the second attempt to get this loan signed, I place the entire fault on the
Escrow officer. [end of blog]
With a typing speed of 120 wpm, Carolyn Bodley began
offering independent contractor/secretarial and transcription services to the Denver metro legal community in 1992.
I am not a court reporter or medical transcriptionist and I don't
videotape depositions -- I'm strictly a legal transcriptionist which means putting spoken words on paper. All my
transcripts contain a certification stating that to the best of my knowledge, belief and ability, the audio/video I received
has not been altered in any way, and the transcript is true, accurate and complete. I have never been
advised that a court rejected one of my audio or video transcripts. If my transcript is rejected by the court,
you will be reimbursed in full for my services. Because I certify that the transcript is true and complete, the
entire audio/video must be transcribed--I am unable to transcribe "just a portion" that you need.
I guarantee that your transcripts will be typed confidentially, accurately and with attention
to detail at a fair price.
Discovery
is often turned over in a format other than hard copy. This discovery includes, but is not limited to, recorded telephone
conversations, police interviews, depositions, investigations, witness statements, and more. The
audio and video "words" need to be put to paper, and your already overworked legal staff often don't have
the skills, equipment, the inclination or the time.
Discovery
is often the deciding factor of whether a case goes to trial. Most of us hear, but do we listen? Recently I transcribed a
video that had been viewed and listened to several times and by several people before I transcribed it. There was
a one sentence statement that not one person caught -- this one sentence was not the only reason the case was dismissed
one day before trial--however, it carried quite a bit of weight -- and I'm the only one
that "heard" it. Had the video never been transcribed, how many other words would never have been
heard?
Unauthorized
reproduction or distribution of this website, or any portion of it, without first obtaining the express WRITTEN permission
of CAROLYN BODLEY, may result in severe civil and criminal penalties, and will be prosecuted to the maximum extent under the
law.
