... than individual notaries b!tching here and on other forums, so I commend you for your efforts. Some comments:
1. There's more than one way to skin a cat. Sometimes, it's best to start with shaving it.
2. The individual notary is under a statutorily mandated duty to protect confidential information of signers (though here in Texas, the restrictions are far less strict). However -- and it is a huge however -- even if an SS operator is a notary, he/she has NO duty to protect information that comes to the SS from another notary. If ID or financial information is included in a notarized document that the SS has to handle, it would appear to be open season on that information as far as a notary's statutory duty is concerned, though there may be other duties that extend to the SS through the lender/TC. Obviously, that obvious breach of confidentiality should concern the SOS.
3. I would focus on that aspect in any petition to the SOS. As evidence for the need for some scrutiny of SS practices, AND ONLY AS EVIDENCE OF THAT, I would mention the bad eggs who have gotten so much exposure here of late (let's all bow to Cheryl) and the many instances of notaries getting stiffed. It is not the role of the SOS to act as our collection agent; it is the role of the SOS to make sure that notary functions are handled appropriately, and characters like those mentioned don't give much confidence that they are handled that way.
4. If you want to address the question of notaries getting stiffed, I would think that whatever state body is concerned with regulating real estate <would> be concerned with that. It stinks up the whole industry to have miscreants operating in a significant area of it. But that should be a second petition, and THAT petition should ram home the message about scammers.
5. I'll be happy to help with any such effort. Will somebody get in touch with Brenda, send her some of Cheryl's coffee, and dragoon her into spearheading an effort in Texas? |
