I was in a UPS store the other day running an errand and a guy came in behind me needing a notarization. Since they were standing right next to me, I couldn't help but overhear it all. The guy's DL was expired... issued more than 5 years ago and didn't have another for of ID. (Mind you, the guy drove in and parked right next to me as we were coming in... yikes!)
The UPS notary immediately went to, "If you have to people who aren't related to you, we can use them as credible witnesses."
They went back and forth, and me being the buttinksy that I am... had to speak up. The UPS notary was insistent that the CWs could not be related to him in any way.
I told them that wasn't true... then I went in to my spiel about every other possible form of ID the guy might have. Asked if there was a way he could go get his current DL. He said, "Nah, I have no intention of renewing right now." (WHAT??)
The UPS guy said, "No, family members can't be a credible witness."
I told him that they could... they just couldn't have any financial interest in the document he was signing. I then continued my speech about the requirements for CWs (in CA).
So UPS dude goes to his drawer and breaks out an NNA primer... from 2008. I pulled up my phone which has the PDF of the current state handbook and showed him the requirements.
It all turned out well, and the guy decided he was going to go get him Mom and Brother to vouch for him and come back.
The whole time, though, I'm guessing UPS dude was pretty ticked off at me. Whatever... I probably actually ensured that they'd make $10 on the guy when he came back, rather than outright turning him away with bad information.
It just has me wondering... what are these CA instructors telling these people? I swear, if the CA Notary Assn ever gets off the ground, one of the first things I'd want to push for would be changes in the education requirements. |
