Some people are surprised that they have a notary coming to their home sign their important loan docs. They've never experienced the first class concierge service of having someone come to them. They say they've refinanced for years and never had the personal in-home or business office service we offer.
"What do you call yourself?" I say, I'm a mobile notary loan signing specialist (specialized in real estate transactons primarily, but I do other notary work).
"How long have you been a mobile notary?" All my adult life, I say, which is true, long before the advent of the Notary Loan Signing Agent designation. I've been a notary for over 40 years, when all that was required was to pay a $30 application fee (no exam fee) but to take an open book test in front of another notary) until the 90s when this changed, $5000 bond and no E&O, no background check, and no membership because we're commissioned by he Secretary of State.
"What special licenses are required to be mobile loan signing specialist?" Well, I'm commissioned every four years by the SOS, I must of course, pass a background check annually these days, maintain automobile insurance and a clean driving record, that if I don't maintain avalid drivers license and a clean driving record, I may not be able to obtain the background check. All the things that could knock me out out of the ballpark are amazing (to mention a few, being a convicted sex offender, prostitute, driving the wrong way down a one way street, erratic driving, talking on my cell phone or texting). Besides these, it helps to have experience in lending, escrow and legal documentation so that we are more informed about what we are presenting to clients, but it is not our job to act on the lender's behalf. We notarize your signatures on the documents, and make sure you sign everywhere you're supposed to sign.
Who would know that today, folks are fighting over what to call us. NSAs, CSSs, BSs.
It's all a bunch of BS to me because after all, those of us who've been doing this for years are very clear that we are first and foremost background checked, knowledgeable and current with our commissions and licenses, otherwise we wouldn't be on the field, signing loans for clients.
So, my question, what should we be called...what should our designation be? I wonder if that's why the SPW is out to lunch right now (site is down). I wonder if they're trying to figure out what the next big designation is for 15,000+ loan signing agents. |