A charge from www.budgetnotary.com on your bank or credit card statement is a payment to Budget Notary Services, Inc., a Tallahassee, Florida bonding agency that processes notary public commission applications and sells notary bonds, seals, and supplies to notaries in Florida and Texas.1Florida Department of State. Notary Processors If the charge is unfamiliar, it most likely came from someone in your household buying a notary commission package, renewing a four-year bond, or ordering supplies through the company’s site.
Why the Charge May Not Look Familiar
A few things make this one easy to forget. The billing descriptor can show up as “www budgetnotary com,” “budgetnotaryinsurance.com,” or a similar variation that doesn’t obviously read as a purchase. Notary commissions in both Florida and Texas run four years, so a renewal charge often arrives long after the last one, when the company name has slipped from memory. And if a spouse, parent, or roommate is a notary, the charge may simply be theirs.
What the Charge Likely Paid For
Budget Notary is an authorized processor registered with the Florida Department of State, meaning it is approved to submit notary commission applications electronically to the state’s Division of Corporations.1Florida Department of State. Notary Processors Its Florida commission package costs $87 plus tax and shipping, which covers the $39 state filing fee, a $7,500 four-year surety bond ($28), and a self-inking notary seal ($20). Shipping runs $9.95. First-time applicants can also add a three-hour education course for $22.2Budget Notary Insurance. Florida Notary Commission Packet
The Texas package is $78.50 and includes a $10,000 four-year bond, a self-inking seal, and a notary record book. Texas shipping is $12.95. The company also sells Texas errors and omissions insurance policies from $34 (for $10,000 of coverage) up to $204 (for $100,000), along with individual items like stamps, embossing seals, and handbooks.3Budget Notary Insurance. Texas Notary Commission Packet
If your charge matches one of these amounts, or a smaller supply-order total, that is almost certainly what it is.
What to Do If You Didn’t Authorize It
Start by checking with anyone else who uses the card. A single notary purchase covers four years, so a household member may have used the card once and moved on. If no one recognizes it, contact Budget Notary Services directly at (877) 298-8274 or mail@budgetnotary.com to ask them to identify the order tied to your card.1Florida Department of State. Notary Processors The company is listed on the state’s official processor directory under contact Kerry Berger, with a Tallahassee mailing address.4Dun & Bradstreet. Budget Notary Services Inc Company Profile
If you still can’t account for the charge, dispute it through your bank or card issuer. Card networks generally require disputes to be filed within a limited window from the statement date, so don’t sit on it once you’ve decided the charge isn’t yours.