Posted by Nerdyfem/CA on 1/8/05 12:53am
Msg #15806

What Would You Have Done? First call for Notarization...

Got my first call 7:15 PM tonight, 1/07 asking for Acknowledgement Notarization. Arrange to meet at a Kinko's about 15 mins away. It's pouring out. Young guy shows up with his father.
Has an employment contract he has signed, however, the document information is BLANK awaiting fill in by a web company online and located in Hawaii. No name of company, salary information, job description is on this contract. I refused to sign. The two gentlemen offer no compensation for my travel, etc., and I say nothing, in hopes they wouldn't follow me home. He asked for card, which I gave. Was I a nerd or what? I filled in the info in my journal indicating that it was a blank document. Was that ok?
Thanks for your input.

Reply by CaliNotary on 1/8/05 2:34am
Msg #15808

I'd say you were correct in not notarizing a blank document. I don't know why you did the journal entry though, you didn't notarize anything so there was no need for that. The journal is to keep track of your notarizations only. If you want a record of all of your activities beyond that you should really keep that separate IMO.

Reply by Nerdyfem/CA on 1/8/05 2:54am
Msg #15811

CaliNotary, thanks so much for your reply. I agree that this info does not belong in the Journal. Instinctively, I wrote his info in light pencil and didn't have him sign the Journal. I shall keep it in my files and definitely erase the entry.
Nice of them to offer travel payment (sarcasm). Strangely, the Hawaiian company e-mailed him a copy of an acknowledgment done by a Notary in WA State as an example of what he needed. They also asked for and got his bank account #. <sigh> I told him he should close the account. Thanks again for your response.

Reply by CarolynCO on 1/8/05 10:44am
Msg #15845

Did you discuss travel payment up front? You are the one that refused to sign the acknowledgment, rightly so because it was incomplete, so I wouldn't have really expected any compensation. BTW, travel costs must be agreed upon *before* signing/notarizing the docs.

Reply by Tony (FL) on 1/8/05 6:04am
Msg #15815

One thing that you could have done when the call was received is to find out what you would be notarizing pointing out that the document must be completed in its enitirety (containing no blanks) in order for the notarization to take place.

http://floridaloancloser.com

Reply by MI_Notary on 1/8/05 8:45pm
Msg #15903

I'm not sure about CA Laws, however, in the State of Michigan I could get fined and no longer be a notary if I was to notarize a blank document. When I notarize a document, I put n/a in all spots (even extra blank lines for borrower(s) signature) to protect myself and the borrower(s). That way I am doing what the law states and protecting that no names get added after the fact.

Reply by JanetK/CA on 1/8/05 11:35pm
Msg #15920

CA law says the same thing, but I limit any writing I do on a document to the notary block. I have the signer fill in the N/As as needed. I don't worry about extra blank lines, though, unless it's in the body of a Signature/Name Affidavit, for example. I just have them fill in something (at least on the next line) to indicate there is nothing further so that nothing can be added after the fact.

I agree with the rest about disclosing the travel fee and terms up front. (I learned that the hard way, too!)

Reply by Nerdyfem/CA on 1/9/05 12:38am
Msg #15930

Thank you all very much for your valuable input. I did tell the person upfront what the costs would be. He even put his wallet on the table, however, after I refused to notarize his document, he never offered to compensate me for travel and my instincts told me to just let it be a lesson. Next time, I'll ask for the travel expense before I ask them for ID. Is this done?

Reply by DEEANN DEZERAY on 1/9/05 12:38am
Msg #15931

I AM A FIRM BELIEVER IN ASKING A LOT OF QUESTION <BEFORE> THE APP. NO MATTER IF IT'S FOR JUST A SIMPLE 1 PAGE FORM TO BE SIGNED OR A FULL SPAN CLOSING.

IT WILL SAVE YOU TIME & MONEY! I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU DECIDED TO MEET OUTSIDE YOUR HOME BUT, WHENEVER A PERSON OR BORROWER IS WILLING TO COME TO MY HOME, I ALWAYS WELCOME IT. YOU CAN FEEL THEM OUT ONLINE AS TO THEIR M.O. WITH THE LINE OF QUESTIONING YOU SHOULD BE ASKING THEM ANYHOW. THEN IF THINGS DON'T WORK OUT, YOU HAVE LOST NOTHING BUT A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, WITH-OUT HAVING TO LEAVE YOUR HOUSE. IF I CHOOSE NOT TO NOTARIZE THEIR DOC FOR WHATEVER REASON, I WOULD NOT CHANGE THEM. I FEEL IT'S UP TO ME TO ASK THE PROPER QUESTIONS FROM THE START.

MY RULE OF THUMB IS "WHEN IN DOUBT, DON'T NOTARIZE IT" AS FOR YOU JOURNAL. WHENEVER I NOTARIZE ANYTHING OTHER THEN A CLOSING, I ASK THEM FOR A COPY OF IT FOR MY FILE'S. I NEVER HAVE ANYONE REFUSE! THIS WAY IF FOR SOME REASON IT ENDS UP IN COURT YOU HAVE AN ORIGINAL COPY TO PRESENT TO THE JUDGE.


GOOD LUCK TO YOU. PLS FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME EITHER ONLINE <[e-mail address]>
OR <321-480-2039>

DEEANN