Latest Cause

So, if Nick ever gets his interview at the U.S. Embassy in London for his K-1 Visa, he’s going to need to provide a notarized letter of intent from me that basically says that we’re still planning to get married and our status hasn’t changed.

Normally I get things notarized at the Town Hall in Westborough, which is actually really great – I always get things done successfully there without much hassle.  However, the Cambridge Town Hall is far away and only open inconvenient hours, so I did some research, saw that UPS notarizes things, and went to Store 1520 at 1770 Mass Ave.

I also did some more research, and saw that pursuant to Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 262, § 41, notaries, as public servants, definitely cannot charge more than $1.25 for signing that my signature is authentic on a single sheet of paper that is about me marrying Nick.

So, that’s where the trouble starts.  At the UPS today, all they did was check that my driver’s license identified me correctly when I signed the form.  They also recorded my name in a little book (the “official journal” that notaries have to keep under Executive Order 455 § 11).  That was it.  I’m pretty sure the guy didn’t even look at the letter he notarized, other than to check that the name matched my driver’s license.

But they charged me $5!  I paid, but looked at the receipt later.  There was a charge for $1.25 for “Notary,” and a charge for $3.75 for “Notary Service Fee.”  What is a “Notary Service Fee,” and why do I have to pay it?  (For that matter, why did I pay $1.25 for “Notary” – I didn’t buy a notary, did I?)

So, I’ve sent them a stroppy email pointing out that they’re systematically violating Massachusetts State Law, and saying that I want them to either (1) give me a detailed explanation of what I got for my “Notary Service Fee” or (2) give me my $3.75 back.  (Okay I really want 2.  But curiosity would lead me to accept 1 as an alternative.)  I’m not expecting a response but I might get one – you never know.

Unfortunately, there’s no place on the MA website, or on the MA Secretary of State website, to report misbehaving notaries (some states do give you a place to report right online).  If I get more wound up maybe I’ll write them a letter.

So now this is my latest campaign (not that I expect much to come of it).  If I end up getting fired from all my jobs, my new plan is to initiate a class action suit against UPS for their totally illegal “Notary Service Fees” (which I think they use in other states, too – not just MA).  Stay tuned for that…