Posted by Bev on 9/14/04 1:08am
Msg #7881

Certified Signing Agent

I just took my oath today, and wanted to order some business cards. I came across some that said "Certified" Notary Signing Agent. How do you become "Certified"? and what is the difference between Notary Signing Agent and Certified Notary Signing Agent?

Reply by susan on 9/14/04 7:43am
Msg #7883

I don't know about that. But Iam told that in the state of Va. They don't recognize the certifcation. I been certified for a long time. Now it does me no good

Reply by KimE / NJ on 9/14/04 8:10am
Msg #7887

"Certified" is a designation given by a few different organizations once you pass their test. A couple of the organizations are the NNA and 123Notary. My husband and I took the NNA certification. I can't say it helped us get started, but I can't say it hurt us either. You will get varying opinions on the board regarding the topic though. My **personal opinion** at this point would be to try and get started with out the certification. If you don't get any calls for signings, or if you are being asked if you are certified, then go ahead with the certification. As of today we have never been asked if we were certified or not.

my $.02

Reply by Tess/ME on 9/14/04 8:40am
Msg #7888

I have been asked by only one SS if I were "certified", I replied "no" and they gave me the signing along with further ones.
I don't think it really matters if you "know your business".

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 9/14/04 9:48am
Msg #7892

You are right Tess. It doesn't really matter.
As a signing service, the last place I look for a signing agent is the NNA signingagent.com, and then I don't look at the certification. I look at the profile. The NNA certification means nothing to me.

Reply by melinda sloan on 9/14/04 10:28am
Msg #7898

hey sylvia - hope you made it through Frances all right - we were all worked up about Ivan and now he is headed away from us - whew! - I was wondering if you are looking for any signing agents in the Tampa Bay area?

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 9/14/04 10:37am
Msg #7899

Thanks Melinda
We made it through with minor damage compared to a lot of others, one of my neighbours (3 houses away) her property was condemned, too much damage.

Send me an e-mail with your info. I do have some experienced signing agents in that area I rely on, but can add you to the database, as sometimes my usual signing agents in that area are unavailable.

Reply by melinda sloan on 9/14/04 12:48pm
Msg #7909

thanks! by the way, looks like Ivan will miss us here . but now there is TS Jeanne - yikes!

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 9/14/04 12:52pm
Msg #7911

Yup - am keeping an eye on TS Jeanne!
We do not need any more hurricanes in Florida! We were warned that this year was going to be a pretty active one for hurricanes, and from what I heard on the radio this is going to be the case for at least a decade.

Reply by CarolynCO on 9/14/04 9:51am
Msg #7893

Tess said: "I don't think it really matters if you "know your business"."

That one sentence says it all.

Reply by Loretta Reed on 9/14/04 11:04am
Msg #7904

Regarding the Tess statement. Being in the title business and a licensed title producer, I can say with confidence, that I will NEVER hire anyone to do my closings who do not "know their business".

Reply by CarolynCO on 9/14/04 2:23pm
Msg #7925

You need to be a notary first and a signing agent second.

Reply by Jon on 9/14/04 10:51am
Msg #7901

If you are looking on the NNA website for cards, the difference is about $300 plus membership to the notary signing agent section.

Reply by Lawbaby on 9/14/04 8:31pm
Msg #7963

The Commonwealth of Virginia does not certify but the differance in the fee that I have seen through non-Virginia certified agents and non-certified: $0.00

Reply by Jon on 9/14/04 10:09pm
Msg #7968

Perhaps I wasn't clear, the $300 difference is what you pay the NNA for no difference in the pay you get for the jobs you do.

Reply by CaliNotary on 9/15/04 2:47pm
Msg #8008

Yeah, but the NNA would like you to think that there IS a difference in pay for the jobs that you do.

Reply by Jon on 9/15/04 4:19pm
Msg #8015

I know, $65 a signing if you're certified!! Let's hope they continue to only alert the notaries of these "policies" so the title companies don't follow suit at the "recommendation of the NNA."