Posted by confused on 12/19/04 4:09pm
Msg #14106

NNA & NSA membership - New agents beware!

I just realized there are two different memberships. I don't know what the difference is. When I first received my appointment a couple of weeks ago, I immediately signed up with NNA, paid for 1 year membership ($45). Today I decided to take their course but when I input my NNA membership number, the order was kicked back. Later I realized that I needed to be an NSA member (for $39) before I can take the course and test. As an NNA member, I noticed that my name is listed in their directory.....so what would the NSA membership benefit me? Can anyone explain this to me?

I certainly will contact NNA tomorrow....I felt like I've been ripped off because I did not see the membership options 1. NNA; 2. NSA when I signed up....was this intentionally hidden?

Reply by Lorraine2/FL on 12/19/04 6:06pm
Msg #14121

Hi. There is a difference - although I understand your confusion. NNA is sort of the parent company, and is specifically for general notary information, training, supplies, and such. The NSA (section) membership caters to the needs and supplies of the Notary Signing Agent. It also hosts an extensive (from what I understand) listing of NSA's that some companies certainly use to obtain notary names and contact info. I've gotten supplies from the NSA section, and I've taken the NSA certification test, and even attended an NSA seminar. Everything is EXTRA $. They also have three new section memberships that they are promoting, seems like: Immigration, Business, and E-commerce.

There are some on this board that don't care for the NNA, primarily because they've aggressively advertised joining the ranks of the NSA's with a EARN BIG MONEY campaign. The advertising campaign has gone very well, and they have thereby effectively flooded the market with thousands of new NSA's - some to the point of saturation.

You might also want to be aware that NNA's printed materials MAY not always be in compliance with your own states laws. One area in particular that I recall is their spin on what is considered a notarial act. NNA's Florida Notarial Law Primer is in direct opposition to what the Florida SOS says regarding this issue, and it becomes extremely important when calculating your taxes. When in doubt call your SOS, not NNA.

Having said all this, I still think that there is a place for the services that NNA has to offer. I'll renew when it's time...if for no other reason but to keep my listing in their NSA section and re-up on my E & O insurance.

Reply by confused on 12/19/04 10:58pm
Msg #14138

What I still don't understand is does membership with NNA alone get my name on the list? I did get a call last week for an assignment and they said they got my name through NNA (unless I misunderstood the caller). At that time, I haven't ytet registered with NSA.

I noticed that in order to become and NSA member, one has to be an NNA member. How tricky!

Reply by WanderWomn on 12/20/04 12:58am
Msg #14140

I recall before obtaining my Commission, it was the NNA that alerted me as to the dates by sending me the commission dates, my name, etc., pre-printed on a marketing directive that I order all my supplies from them. When I then ordered my seal, etc., from Notary Rotary, NNA sent me a second notice to order the Seal.

When I faxed to join NNA, I heard absolutely nothing from them in response in snail or email. Calling days later, I find out that I was a member, but was never mailed ANYTHING to confirm this, although they already had my name & particulars in their files. They claimed they would mail me a membership card, but to date never received any such animal. I guess you only count when you buy their large package deals.

Reply by Lawrence Goodwin on 12/20/04 8:44am
Msg #14152

I think it is high damn time the NNA does some backstepping. This organization needs to take a long hard look as to why it was originally founded. They have definitly forgotten this purpose.

Reply by Ron/VA on 12/20/04 9:24am
Msg #14157

Forgotten purpose or not: I joined NNA-NSA last Monday and got two calls for Notary service already.

Reply by Stephanie/CA on 12/20/04 1:34pm
Msg #14185

Re: NNA & NSA membership - New agents beware!...Ron

Ron:

The NNA has always been an asset for my business; I am glad you have experienced a positive effect so soon after joing the NNA.

Stephanie

Reply by Stephanie/CA on 12/20/04 1:40pm
Msg #14186

Re: NNA & NSA membership - New agents beware!/confused...

Confused:

When I took the NNA Certification course, once I passed the exam, I received a year membership with the NSA Section.
That is, if my recollection serves me correct.

That may be the situation in your case.
It may not be as tricky as you think.
Doublecheck your registration form and other documentation for the certification course that you attended.

Stephanie

Reply by Stephanie/CA on 12/20/04 12:56pm
Msg #14180

Unlike most Signing Agents that frequent this message board, I have greatly benefited from the NNA; they are yet another resource tool & I benefit from all of the resources available to me (us).

As a Signing Agent, knowing California notary Law, I know when Signing Agents on this board or the NNA are incorrect when stating California notary Law.

Again, I have been happy with what I gain from the NNA; many Signing Agents are upset due to the fact that the NNA has pushed the career of a Signing Agent and many feel infringed upon....that their business is greatly reduced due to the saturated market.
Many areas, not all saturated new Signing Agents are experiencing a slower time; I personally don't think it is due to a saturated market.
I am located in the san Francisco Bay Area - there are many Signing Agents in myarea; yet, my business has flourished, so I have to wonder why others are facing slower times.
**Can we blame a person for choosing a career that we ourselves chose???

I think not.
Sorry that was so long, but I just had alot to say.

Stephanie

Reply by CaliNotary on 12/20/04 1:46pm
Msg #14187

I think it's the long term effects that most of us are concerned about. While your business may be flourishing now, things might be radically different a year or two from now. The flooding of the market with new signing agents WILL affect you. Lower fees will become more common and there will be a bigger pool of workers fighting for those fees. Just read the posts on this board about companies trying to go as low as $25 in their fees.

It's simple economics. Think of us as DVD players. A few years ago it cost $300 + to get one because they were new. Now there are a zillion companies making them and you can get one for under $50. There are still more expensive players being sold, but most people are happy with the lower cost model as it achieves basically the same result. I know the analogy isn't perfect but I think it makes my point (even if it was plagarized from Brenda).

There is no problem with people choosing to do this job as a career. The problem I, and many others, have with the NNA is that they are actively recruiting people to do it. And their recruitment methods are questionable at best. They should be serving their current members, not hurting them by creating more competition. Their primary goal is to put more money in their own pockets and they don't really give a crap about how if affects the rest of us.

Reply by Roger/OH on 12/20/04 2:05pm
Msg #14188

It's not about the career choice...

It's how it is presented by NNA. They are in the fairly unique position of being able to continuously manufacture their own new members pretty much at will with their "Full-time income, part time effort" type ads. This attracts legions of people who have no idea of the history, sanctity, or reponsibility of the office of Notary Public; they only know you have to be a notary to do Signing Agent work, where they can earn $50, 60, up to $125 per signing (they used to say $125/hour, but they finally changed that wording)!

Granted the quality will eventually rise to the top, but the NNA will still have their dues, the ss their $40 NSAs, and the mistakes will keep occurring until lenders get fed up and more states become attorney only.

Reply by JanetKB/CA on 12/20/04 4:17pm
Msg #14191

Re: It's not about the career choice...

(I heard this board was where the action is and decided to come over here. I guess that was right!!)

All excellent points, Roger!! I agree that it's not so much about them promoting their training as it is the misrepresentation that seems to routinely go on there. (And the multiple memberships could be interpreted as an example.) Some people are getting into this field for the wrong reasons and we're all kidding ourselves if we think this won't have an impact on the profession as a whole. Others come with the right intentions, but find out that the reality doesn't match what they were told, and feel cheated, as a result. I find that unconscionable by this type of organization!

The entire purpose of a notarization is to secure the integrity of a transaction, so the notary office should personify integrity. When a major organization that purports to represent the interests of the notary public community operates with questionable integrity in some of it's practices, it becomes part of the problem and not part of the solution!

My other objections to the NNA include giving out wrong information (even in California!) and not allowing NSA members access to see how their listings are presented - both visually and in numbers of competitors. Anymore, before I pluck any money down to be listed in a registry, I want to see how and where my listing will show up - or IF it will show up at all. Just my 2 cents....

Reply by confused on 12/20/04 11:34pm
Msg #14214

New Signers Take Note!

I got a reply email from NNA today. While they made no comment as to the remark I made with regards to the lack of clarity for new members when signing up for membership, they informed me that in order to be placed in the Loan Signing Directory, one needs to be an NSA member...and in order to qualify for NSA membership, one has to be an NNA member first.

The NSA certification test, I believe, is open to any NNA member. However, the training course is only for NSA members (or vice-versa...whatever!). Therefore, in order to be a certified NSA with NNA, it cost $45 NNA membership + $39 NSA membership + $129 for training and exam. The NNA home page is certainly misleading. I had no idea that my membership with NNA only had my name listed as a notary but not a loan signing agent.

Now, having said all that, I would like to say that people are noticing my notarial services through my listing with NNA. I received several calls for notarial jobs (other than loan signing). In fact, I just did a signing today for a seller. She said she got my name through NNA. I do believe, therefore, that it is worthwhile being an NNA member and perhaps with NSA membership (which, for me is in the works), I will get good referrals as well.

For those of you who have already done several signings, getting NNA certification may be pointless now. For the rest of us, it just helps us get our phones to ring and some companies are willing to pay a slightly higher fee for certified signers. It can help give us confidence to handle the job. I received my notarial confirmation 10 days ago and so far I've received 4 calls for loan signing (2 of which were through NNA's listings) and 4 simple notarial signatures. So if you're wondering "where your listing will show up or IF it will show up" I have no doubt that it's up and up for me.

To those who complained about NNA's "wrong information," has anyone brought this to their attention? Being new in this field and new to the NNA, I can't say anything about their <<<questionable integrity in some of their practices>>>. For those who are concerned about competition and worried that NNA will or has flooded the market with NSA, all I can say is do the best job you can and your clients will stay with you. NNA has been around a long time. I'm sure some credit is due to them for this new "career" of ours.

Happy signing!

Reply by HisHughness on 12/21/04 12:27am
Msg #14216

Re: New Signers Take Note!

confused patronizes:

***To those who complained about NNA's "wrong information," has anyone brought this to their attention? Being new in this field and new to the NNA, I can't say anything about their <<<questionable integrity in some of their practices>>>. For those who are concerned about competition and worried that NNA will or has flooded the market with NSA, all I can say is do the best job you can and your clients will stay with you. NNA has been around a long time. I'm sure some credit is due to them for this new "career" of ours.***

I've got to say, confused, that for someone who has been a notary public for a whole 10 days, you managed to develop record levels of audacity in record time. There are people on this board who have done thousands of signings, who have worked in all phases of the mortgage/real estate industry, who are lawyers, who have either been members of or acquainted with both the NNA and its practices for years. Think it might be a tad presumptuous of you, under those circumstances, to lecture them about what their attitude toward NNA should be and how they should handle their business?

I'll say this: That takes arrogance that even I don't think I could muster.

Reply by confused on 12/21/04 1:03am
Msg #14220

This one's for you, Hugh.

Maybe I'm not so gullable!!! Do you think that just because I am new at this that I have to accept and agree with YOUR opinion? And that's what they are mister....just your opinion of the NNA!!! Where do you get off? I'm just as entitled to voice my opinion as you are.

A simple comment merely to say that I had no comment in the subject, in other words can't say I agree or disagree - how does that make me presumptuous or that I was lecturing people who have done thousands of signings?

If you think you have such authority here, why do you act so defensive?

I hate to burst your bubble, Hugh...but there are also people on this board who have done "thousands of singnings" who have good things to say about the NNA and how it has helped them in their career. But I don't see you barking at them. No, you chose to attack me, because I'm new. Sorry, you picked the wrong guy to be arrogant with!

Reply by HisHughness on 12/21/04 2:06am
Msg #14224

Re: This one's for you, Hugh.

confused mounts his high horse and rides off in all directions:

***I hate to burst your bubble, Hugh...but there are also people on this board who have done "thousands of singnings" who have good things to say about the NNA and how it has helped them in their career. But I don't see you barking at them. No, you chose to attack me, because I'm new. Sorry, you picked the wrong guy to be arrogant with!***

confused, you didn't get spanked because you were new. You got spanked because you were inexcusably bumptious. You said in your original posting, after your extennnnnnnded tenure of 10 days as a signing agent, >>some companies are willing to pay a slightly higher fee for certified signers.<< Go back to the very first post on this board, confused, and read up to the present. You will find many threads addressing the question of whether signing/title companies are interested in hiring notaries who are certified.

You said, >>For those who are concerned about competition and worried that NNA will or has flooded the market with NSA, all I can say is do the best job you can and your clients will stay with you.<< This flung from the lofty perch of 10 days of experience.

You said, >>To those who complained about NNA's "wrong information," has anyone brought this to their attention?<< Perhaps, if you had spent your spare time reading previous threads on this board rather than striving to reach new levels of impertinence, you would have also run across an extensive thread in which many "anyones" sought to bring "this to their attention."

I do have to commend you on one thing, though. At least you didn't identify yourself as a "newbie" (the reason for that comment would also become apparent if you devoted some time to exploring past threads).

Reply by confused on 12/21/04 2:43am
Msg #14226

Re: This one's for you, Hugh.

Just because I've only been a notary for 10 days you think that I can't be intelligent enough to handle competition? I must say then that YOU must be new to competition.

FYI, I have gone back to the very first post on this board and read the threads addressing the question of whether signing/title companies are interested in hiring notaries who are certified. So what? Do you think that because I am new I shouldn't make up my own mind? In my very own experience (not yours or anyone else), some signing companies offered me a higher fee if I was NNA certified. So there, straight from the horse's mouth.

Spanked? Who spanked me? You? Why do you think you spanked me? Here you go again, implying your authority. Oh Pleeze!

I had a good laugh because you addressed everything in my last post but my question to you as to why you're being so defensive. Why is it that a question "if anyone had notified the NNA about their wrong information" seem like an attack to you? I was interested to know what the NNA did about it. I had hoped that you would say they took the appropriate action to correct their mistakes. Instead, you chose to come back all defensive. You have issues, man.

Reply by JanetK/CA on 12/21/04 12:33am
Msg #14217

Re: New Signers Take Note!

I'm glad you got clarification on your membership from the NNA and that it seems to be working for you. I'd be interested to know where you are located. In my county, the NSA section (to which I used to be a member) had well over 500 signing agents listed many months ago. A few years back when I was newly listed (and certified) I, too, used to get calls, then they tapered off eventually to nothing. I have no idea how far down the list my name was or even if it was still showing up and no way to check it. That hasn't been my experience on this and other directories, so I decided it was no longer worth my investment. If you're in an area where the NNA isn't holding classes every month and other training companies aren't advertising NSA classes on the radio, maybe you'll have a much better experience. I hope so. BTW, since I'm a new poster on this board, so you don't think this is just sour grapes, I've been a full time NSA for more than 2 1/2 years and had a record month in November. I'm just a bleeding heart who doesn't like to see people get ripped off...

Reply by confused on 12/21/04 2:11am
Msg #14225

Re: New Signers Take Note!

I did feel like I was being ripped off in the beginning. But I'm quite satisfied with NNA's explanation. Although I wished that they were a little more upfront about the levels of membership.

I understand what you're saying. I'd probably feel just as upset if the NNA was saturing my market.

I am very familiar with competition. I've been in business for 20 years. When I first started out designing/creating handcrafted items and having them manufactured overseas, there were only a handful of us doing the same. Every year, dozens of new companies pop up at trade shows doing the same thing. These days, manufacturers overseas are coming directly into our markets and exporting their products to the US, cutting out the US importers. The market has certainly flooded. But we learn to deal with competition with dignity, just as you have. And I have respect for people like you. I have never, not a single time, felt it necessary to bad mouth anyone because I was loosing business to the new comers. Everyone are just as entitled as I am. In every business, there will always be competition. There is no need to be hateful towards anyone when competition builds up. Angry, perhaps, but not hateful.

NNA has been around since 1957. This NSA job nitch started only in 2001. I woudn't be surprised if the NNA has helped created the awareness of NSA services and instilled its popularity amongsts lenders, title and escrow companies.

Something my dad had said to me that had stuck with me forever. You never have to blow out someone else's candle to light your own.

You started out with NNA's support. When it no longer worked out for you you quit. Today you are having record months. Based on the little info you gave about yourself, I'd say you began with a great foundation. Kudos to you!

Reply by JanetK/CA on 12/21/04 3:18am
Msg #14227

Now I'm confused....

I didn't see anywhere in my previous post, that you quoted so many times, any mention about competition or about losing business to newcomers. That's of little concern to me, as I no longer work for agencies paying the kind of fees they try to get away with paying newbies (you should pardon the expression.... I didn't read that thread.) The only times I'm certain of having lost business to someone else was when I was asked to do an inappropriate notarization and was told they'd just "find someone else to do it", which I'm sure they did. That kind of business I'm happy to be without!

My intent was to express dissapointment in the way that I've seen the NNA conduct their business, and you've apparently missed the point. (And I would hardly describe my attitude toward them as hateful - or towards anyone else, for that matter!) If you've had a positive experience with them, more power to you. I hope that continues to be the case. But as someone who cares about the profession I've chosen, and who doesn't like to see people be ripped off (which you admit you felt in the beginning), I have spoken up. And yes, of course, many of us I'm sure, have tried to bring errors to their attention. All too often, the response is defensive, instead of making the effort to correct the error. Another dissappointment.

One example of an NNA error, BTW, was a topic I saw referenced here recently, but didn't have time to respond to. For those of you in California who are new, per the SOS office, the paper extension to a driver license does NOT count to make an expired DL acceptable ID, per CA notary law, contrary to what is stated in the CA notary Primer the NNA puts out. If the ID card has been issued within the last 5 years (which will very seldom be the case), it is acceptable on it's own merit, and I believe this may be what they are referring to, but the way it is worded is misleading, at the very least. (I don't own a copy - just going from memory.)

When we are new, we don't know what we don't know. And while getting certified is certainly an advantage over being completely ignorant, it's only the beginning. It doesn't make someone an expert. In your last paragraph in your previous message, you said: "Being new in this field and new to the NNA, I can't say anything ..." You might have been better off stopping there, and staying in the learning mode, rather than trying to offer advice yet. I know that that can be hard to do when you have lots of experience in other fields, but you might be better off, if you do.

As for the saturation issue, my point was that the NSA section blocks us from viewing any NSA listings, including our own. I know of no other signing agent directory - including Notary Rotary - that does this. I don't see how we can make an intelligent decision about the value of our investment in their directory without this information. ('Course, as I've mentioned elsewhere before, if they did, they probably wouldn't be able to sell as many memberships in California as they have been... Again, the integrity issue.)

For the record, I DO believe that there are many things that the NNA does do well. I just wish they would put more effort into those, rather than being so marketing oriented. Once you've been around for a while, you may find that their reputation isn't what it used to be, sadly. And I suspect you may be in for a rude awakening...

Reply by confused on 12/21/04 5:27am
Msg #14228

Not a place for guidance.

Janet:

I've never been on other forums before but it seems as if it is very easy to be misinterpreted. I'm not sure why. However, I do detect that you have a different approach in answering questions or making comments....one that is more civilized! Thank you.

My comment about people being hateful was not toward you. But you can make a second guess who it was meant for.

When I mentioned "competition" and "loosing business to newcommers". This was in response to your previous post that the market is saturated where you are due to NNA's marketing and the radio adds....thus putting out more NSAs. But you've made your point clear what the intent of that comment was with regard to the integrity of the NSA listings.

My advice to people about "doing the best job" in dealing with competiton is a legitimate advice, I feel. Bottom line, the quality of service is what becomes important. This is true in whatever business one runs. I was not trying to "lecture" NSA's who have done "thousands of signings" (quoting from another post) how to become a good or better etc. NSA. If anyone thought that, please accept my apologies. By no means did I ever intended to imply anything like that at all.

I understand that being certified doesn't make someone an expert. If anything, it increases our chances as a new NSA in getting assignments, getting our foot in the door, so to speak. It's like applying for any job. Your resume has to look good so that you can land yourself an interview. How you perform in the interview gets you the job. Once you get the job, your performance get you promoted. I see the NNA certificate as a "decoration", if you will, for your profile to get you the assignment. After that, it is all performance.

Thank you for sharing with me (since I did not read previous threads) the concerns with the NNA that may have been circling this board- such as the integrity of the so called "list" and the misinformations, such as the ID issue. Some posters seem to just act paranoid and bark at the people asking for explanation.

Just a question, not an attack....has anyone ever challenge the NNA about the integrity of the "list"? I presume the listings are only available to the lenders, escrow, etc. Since you have been an NSA for 2 1/2 years, you may have established good relationships with title/escrow companies. Can they tell you what they see in the NSA listings?

Reply by Jon on 12/21/04 11:22am
Msg #14240

Re: Not a place for guidance.

" Since you have been an NSA for 2 1/2 years, you may have established good relationships with title/escrow companies. Can they tell you what they see in the NSA listings?"

My understanding, from the title and escrow companies that I deal with, is that the NNA is not a list they frequently use to find NSA's. The NSA's in NNA directory don't have the knowledge or experience that most title and escrow companies want. That is not to say that no one in the NNA directory has experience, just that the general perception is that they don't.

Reply by JanetK/CA on 12/21/04 4:17pm
Msg #14262

Re: Not a place for guidance.

That's my impression, as well. Most of the calls I got from there were from low-paying signing services. Frankly, I don't really care anymore about their list. However, Confused's comments about the NNA database remind me of major frustrations from when I started out as I was trying to use their company list... There was lots of bad data there, and I was left with the impression that it was a very poorly managed database. I sent them several emails with suggestions and never received a reply. They also changed the member access capabilities for the client list early on, which I thought made it less useful.

Reply by sue on 12/21/04 7:51am
Msg #14229

Re: New Signers Take Note!

...This NSA job nitch started only in 2001. ...

I'm not getting into an argument with anyone but that statement is absolutely false. I believe 2001 is when NASA sold their business to the NNA. I for one started 'signing' in 1997 and I believe it started earlier on the west coast.

Reply by Jon on 12/21/04 11:11am
Msg #14238

Re: New Signers Take Note!

Confused posted:

"This NSA job nitch started only in 2001."

That is an incorrect statement, made on a website by a person who is also out to get as much of the notaries money as possible. This job nitch started as far back as 1991. I personally know someone who was doing signings at that time. I started in 1997. 2001 is the year that the NNA bought NASA, I believe, and started to market their "Certified" status.

Reply by Jon on 12/21/04 11:05am
Msg #14236

Re: New Signers Take Note!

I have personally talked to many people at the NNA regarding the erroneous information that they give out. The response is "We don't see it that way". There was a post in regards to the NNA stand on another message board in which the NNA came on the board and said that the FL SOS was wrong in their interpretation of FL law, and that they would call to straighten them out. How can the governing body of notaries in FL be inncorrect, while the NNA is correct????!!!!!! I had the Director of Marketing tell me (after cornering him on several flatout lies in one of their publications) that they didn't really have any thing to offer me, as I was able to do research on my own.

If you read any of their publications, you will find that they use the "Model Notary Act" as the final authority on all things notary. The problem with that is that the "Model Notary Act" was invented, written, and published by them, with no regard to individual state laws. I have told them REPEATEDLY that they need to differeniate between their OPINION(aka the Model Notary Act) and the laws that actually govern notaries. They tell me that it is not important, as their opinion "is accepted notary practice" and therefore they can't be specific about individual state laws. If you continue to press them, they will say that we need to go by state law. However, they never change their position in any of their publications.

Most people do not have a problem with competition, but the problem lies with the deceptive practices of getting people to become notaries with the promise of easily making "up to $125 an hour". I have talked to numerous notaries who took the NNA classes and still ask the most basic questions, eg What's a jurat? Do I need to have the signer put their thumbprint in my journal? Can I use an ID that is expired? What are the guidelines for a credible witness? On this acknowledgement, what goes in the blanks? The list could continue. This type of saturation will bring down the signing business in the long run. Companies will get tired of the notaries that can't tell the difference between an ack and a jurat. The public will get tired of notaries doing illegal acts, like backdating, that cause them to lose their home. The legislature will get involved and pass some law to make it appear like they care, and are trying to combat the problem. The attorneys will say that only they should be allowed to close loans as a "protection" for the borrower. The NSA will need to find a new career. What will the NNA do then? Laugh all the way to the bank.

The NNA is about suckering as many people as possible to take their classes so they can make money. They have no concern whatsoever about notaries in general, and only continue to do things that will increase their bottom line. In CA the new education requirement starts in 2005 and the NNA will profit greatly by that. If you ask them, they say that the new education is one of the ways that they have helped notaries, because they "knew that it would cause other entities to start teaching classes, and so they will lose revenue". The truth is that they will increase revenue from notaries that self study simply because their name is most well known. I think that the mandatory education is a good thing, but only as good as the people who are teaching it. The people taking the NNA course are not coming away with solid foundation of notarial laws in the State of Ca.

As far as them getting some credit for the NSA business, when I started doing this in 1997, the NNA had NO CLUE about it. I called to ask a question, and they proceeded to ask me all kinds of questions like, What are you doing? How do you get started? How do you get companies to call you? ect. They had never heard of it before. When they bought NASA a few years ago is when they started to say that they are the authority on signing.

The NNA is deceptive at best, and downright dishonest at worst. They have found a cash cow and will ride it till it dies. They have started new sections, like the immigration section, and don't tell notaries that, at least in Ca, you must be bonded as an immigration consultant to assist with immigration paperwork. If you are an immigration consultant, you are not allowed, BY STATE LAW, to advertise in anyway that you are a notary!!(Gov Code 8223[a]) Tell me, what the point of a notary immigration section is for CA, and why they market so heavily for it??? Make no mistake, the NNA is about the money, period.

Reply by Terri - CA on 12/21/04 12:07pm
Msg #14249

Re: New Signers Take Note!

Touche!

Thank you Jon.

Terri
Lancaster, CA

Reply by NERDYFEM on 12/21/04 2:03pm
Msg #14257

Re: New Signers Take Note!

<<Make no mistake, the NNA is about the money, period.>>

I'm beginning to think this is the case when they go out of their marketing way to sell you their package deals, but when you only purchase their membership for a measly $45.00, you're lucky if they send you what they advertise, such as a card and Membership packet, which I've never received, however, AFTER becoming a paying MEMBER, I did receive a marketing flyer offering a pocket ORGANIZER if I would become a Member. Huh? Perhaps they need the "Organizer" more than I do.

Thanks for taking the time to extol the 'virtues' of the NNA.

Reply by BrendaTX on 12/21/04 5:05pm
Msg #14267

Re: New Signers Take Note!

Jon:

I just got off the phone with another notary in Texas who had a signing question.

And, your note above
>>>"If you read any of their publications, you will find that they use the "Model Notary Act" as the final authority on all things notary."<<<<

is ringing loud and true in my ears at the moment. The handbook was inaccurate in this case. (Unless my notary friend was reading false info to me over the phone!)

Yep, yep and AMEN...NNA needs to distinguish the Model Notary Act (in the Texas Handbook, anyhow) from the rules and regs of TEXAS notaries.

I don't have a Handbook from NNA. I use the Texas notary rules I keep posted on my website: http://www.texnotary.com/texnotaryedu.htm