Posted by Joan_SLO_CA on 11/9/04 9:03pm
Msg #11083

Background check - GAC

I got a call and a follow up fax from GAC. They want to do a background check on me. I have to pay them $30 for this that they will subtract from my vendor check. They say that this a requirement of GAC for all of their "approved" vendors. I have to provide them with my SS# and my last residences within the past 7 years. I would be willing to do this if I get more work from them, but thought I would put this out there for discussion. What do you think of this?

Reply by Jan Kohake on 11/9/04 9:25pm
Msg #11084

Got the same thing, Joan. Don't get that much work from them, maybe one or two a month so I'm not willing to give them the required information. It's just not a big loss.

Reply by Ali-IL on 11/9/04 10:37pm
Msg #11090

I was told that after the first signing I would be given the choice. I haven't received anymore signings.

Reply by Jon on 11/9/04 10:38pm
Msg #11091

The State of California already did a background check when you became a notary. I would not pay for them to do a background check. I think it is just a way for them to get more money from the notary.

Reply by PAW Notary Services on 11/10/04 6:36am
Msg #11098

Besides that, what kind of "background check" are they getting for $30.00. They cost a heck of lot more than that when I was working in corporate America. Unless they are only covering their administrative expense to file that piece of paper.

Reply by FLNOTARY on 11/10/04 8:03am
Msg #11102

GAC has contracted with a new client that requires anyone that closes loans for them, has to have a background check. I spoke to Jennifer at GAC and this is totally optional. Basically no background check no signings for this particular client. I chose not to have my information checked out.

Reply by Dogmonger, Ca on 11/10/04 10:41pm
Msg #11159

It appears to me that you are supplying the lions share of

your own background check from the PDF file they sent me. I like the others, told them in no uncertain terms that notaries in the State of California have to submit to a Department of Justice background check and that if that would not suffice their client, then don't bother calling me:-)

Reply by Bob-Chicago on 11/10/04 8:05am
Msg #11103

The e-mail that I received referred to one specific new client requiring the check.
If you want to do work for the new cllient, then you must have the check.
I signed and returned the authorization.
The portion of the cost to be paid by the NSA is $30.00
To my mind , one additional assignment would more than pay for the check.
Considering the nature or our work, I believe that these checks are justified, although, I would rather not pay any portion of the cost.
I would like it if all the lenders , title cos, etc. could get together and centralize these checks, so that we don't have to keep paying for them to each CO. Maybe in my next llifetime.

Reply by PAW Notary Services on 11/10/04 9:09am
Msg #11105

Let's do the math. How many agencies, title companies and lenders do you work with? Let's guesstimate at 250. Now, if each and everyone of them wanted a BG check at $30 a pop, that would mean you would be laying out $7,500. That's not chicken feed, that's $7,500 that's NOT in your pocket for your work.

I know, not everyone is requiring this, but the principle remains the same.

Has GAC said who this mystery client is? Remember TUSS did the same (at $40 a whack) and I never heard who the client was that is "requiring" this check. Has anyone ever received a copy of the check that was performed? Let's face it, you paid for it, you have a right to get a copy of it.

I still contend that a background check cannot be performed for $30, not even $40. I didn't submit to TUSS and I won't submit to GAC on principle alone. (I don't mind them doing a bg check, but I do mind that I have to pay for it. It is THEM that want it, let THEM pay for it. Every employer and vendor that I have worked for in the past who wanted a bg check, paid for it. Why should this be any different?)

Reply by BrendaTX on 11/10/04 1:10pm
Msg #11117

I have a subscription to PublicData.com and I paid $25 for 250 look ups in the criminal database/voter's registration/DL's/VINs, etc. (but for other than criminal and voter's reg, I think you have to have a reason which will be presented before you can search. )

Prices and the states they cover (nearly all of them I believe--didn't count or check) are shown below. Another site: URAPI.COM also has a similar price strategy.

As far as price, here's my dusty old figures from ten years ago:

In the mid 90'sI did criminal record searches by hand at the ol' county courthouse and had a pretty good business making as much as $800-$1100 per month during my lunch hour when I stopped doing the job and left the area and was based elsewhere which was unhandy and my financial situation changed took some of the pressure off of me to keep up the pace of that era of my exciting courthouse lurking days. (At the time, I was a legal secretary and the courthouse was two blocks away--walked over at lunch daily. )

Back then it paid between $5 and $21 per name to go back 7 years in both the county court and district court. I did this for 3 years and it started to evolve into also digging into the deed records and UCC records--not so much for the purpose of chain of title, but for background checking on stand alone liens and judgments against individuals and business. In other words, I was not moving backwards from one owner to the previous one to create a chain. I used the county database 70% of the time which was online at the property file room.

I was a subcontractor and they were making around $40-up to probably $150 per order, if I remember correctly, depending on the required records to be searched. My main business came from Austin, Florida and the Dallas area. One of my regulars back then, believe it or not, was Equifax. I am pretty sure that now, most of those guys use databases that they purchase or lease. So that's my story, and I am sticking to it regarding background checking .

By the way, I have this subscription for reasons other than background checking. I needed to do a good background look on a person (with his permission) during an arrangement that included my mother's assets. Well worth the $25. I am not sure if being a background researcher requires a certain kind of license of not to be a credible search. I was always the one doing the legwork - not the clearance, except for myself and my mom in the situation referenced.

Anyhow, here are a couple of their prices quoted from publicdata.com....I think for $19.95 per month, it is unlimited.

Blurb from their site:

>>>Individual Year Access Plan - Just 10 cents a query! $25.00 a year For just $25.00, have low-cost access to the databases for the entire year. This plan entitles a user to up to 250 look-ups per year. Payment can be made by charge card (MasterCard, Visa or American Express).

Standard Individual Use Plan - This is a remarkably low price of 5 cents per look-up. $9.95 per month $9.95 per month allows a user to perform up to 200 look-ups a month. The standard individual-use plan guarantees that you can get to the data you want each month. Payment can be made by charge card (MasterCard, Visa or American Express).<<<

States covered on publicdata.com are as follow. I am not sure about Urapi.com:

Criminal
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Maine
Maryland
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Wisconsin
BY DOB

Please understand that I am only sharing info and I am not trying to belie what anyone has stated or to argue the $30 fee from GAC.

I have seen where people with database access are charging pretty light charges of as little as $10 online, but you never know how current these collections of records are and a Walk-in search is really a good idea to use in addition to a database online if your business is truly clearing a person's criminal history. JMHO.

Reply by PAW Notary Services on 11/10/04 2:24pm
Msg #11127

Doing a simple records check is **not** a background check, in my book. If that's all they're doing, an on-line simple records check, that's one thing. But they state a "background" check, which to me is a heck of lot more than just looking at the county records on any given individual. Criminal checks, military checks, financial checks, etc. are all a part of a background check to me. Maybe we need to get someone from GAC and TUSS to tell us specifically what are they checking? Does it include a credit check (hit on your credit score too)?

Reply by BrendaTX on 11/10/04 2:54pm
Msg #11132

PAW NS said: "Criminal checks, military checks, financial checks, etc. are all a part of a background check to me."

We are in agreement. It would run into a good bit of time AND money. Even with the old figures I quoted from 95-97. I feel that my criminal record searches were only a piece of some of the in depth searches that took place.

Apparently their client is not concerned about much except criminal checking online, plus a quick look at credit history. If so $30 could be doable for that type of search.. It would be great to know what it involves and who will handle it...online, or legs to clerks office.

Well, now, listen to me run on like I have a clue! I don't. I know nothing about this!

Reply by Question on 11/10/04 11:18pm
Msg #11161

GAC uses signing services all the time. Will each notary getting the orders from a signing service, notaries GAC has no direct connection or control over, also have to pay for this check or will it just be their direct notaries who they have an established relationship with?

Reply by Tony (FL) on 11/10/04 12:33pm
Msg #11112

I will not pay any company for doing a background check. If they want it they will have to pay the fee. GAC is becoming a nickle and dime company like Service Link became awhile ago.