ComplaintsforCamellia Notary Public

• Initial Complaint

  04/08/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On April 4, 2024, I sought notary services from Camellia Notary Public, booking an appointment for an hour later. The notary indicated that they had full availability for the day. Upon arrival, I encountered a marijuana-scented environment with a reality TV show playing in the background. The notary proceeded to charge $100 for notarizing a single document, significantly higher than the typical $1 to $10 range in ******Upon questioning, the notary justified the fee by claiming it was for a "rushed service," despite no such request or disclosure. This lack of transparency, and professionalism as an agent of the state of *****, as well as the violation of **************** Code, Section *******, which specifies the fees that a notary is able to charge prompts this complaint.

  Business response

  04/24/2024

  Please see attached. 

  Customer response

  04/24/2024

  Complaint: 21540802
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  

  I never sent text messages to this person... The photo that she posted was completely fabricated. I have attached a record from AT&T of my actual phone number. I am not sure if I can pull text message records between her and I, but I will surely try. You can check any record, and you will see that I do not own a 512 area code phone number. I also never called her any names. 

  The date that I contacted her, I asked her what she had available... She laughed and said "it does not work that way." She told me that she had full availability, so I booked an appointment for the next hour. Not once did she mention that she had other clients. Not once did she mention that she had a full schedule.

  When I arrived at the first location that she mentioned, I was right next door to her "place of business." Instead of saying that, she told me that I was too far north. I drive a bit further south, then call back for her to tell me that I am "too far south." During that call, I asked for clarification, where she told me to come to the corner of ********* and ********. This is the exact same location that I was at to begin with, so I let her know by describing my surroundings. I let her know that this was exactly where I was when I first called you. She responds, "you're still too far north." So I drive slowly back south, to realize that she was located literally right next door to the shopping plaza she lives next to. (Maybe she was too stoned to put the words together?)

  In terms of her waiving fees, when I originally called her to tell her where I was, I was a few minutes early to the appointment. Her inability to say "I am next door to the plaza you're in" caused me to be late. 

  I get my preemployment affidavit notarized. She charges me $100 for one signature and one stamp on a single document. I do not question the price in the moment due to frustration. I leave the premises. 

  On my way home, I begin to realize that the price for that should not be close to $100. I research the fees for requesting a notarization service should be no more than $10 per signature/stamp.

  I call her upon realizing this, and ask for a refund. She then tells me that I requested a rushed service and that her service "fees" are posted on her ****** ad. They were not at the time, and I did not verbalize that I want a rushed service. 

  Going beyond this, I did omit some truths on my ****** review. If you can imagine, it is not convenient to submit such a long response into a review using my phone as a typing media. I did go back and edit my response to clarify to those who might read it to beware of this person taking advantage of others, and using the state of Texas as a tool for nefarious acts. 

  There was a strong marijuana odor within her place of business. I included it with the BBB complaint because this piece of the account might benefit you more to know that the readers of ****** reviews.

  Regards,
  
  ***********************

  Business response

  04/29/2024

  The attachment shows that the policy and fees were posted on March 16, 2024. Approximately two weeks prior to the date of this appointment. It is listed in the "update" section of the ****** business page. There are not advertisements for my business as ****************** states. I do not advertise this business. Again, the $10 State fee that ****************** believes he should have paid for a Saturday morning appointment was waived. Additionally, I attached a screenshot of how the physical building appears on Google.  

  Customer response

  04/29/2024

  Complaint: 21540802
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  It appears that you do indeed have some agency over what is displayed on ******* which advertises your business... The location that is now posted to your ****** ad, was not reflective of what was shown when I initially sought notary services, and again, the fees that you charge are not readily present on the advertisement nor are they permissible by the state of Texas. 

  Regards,
  
  ***********************

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩