Posted by Paul-CA on 1/18/05 1:19pm
Msg #17217

Knock Knock

I've been reading through the posted messages on this forum for the past few days and have learned quite a bit, not simply about the details of this business but of the personalities involved, the rewards inherent to the work, the day-to-day "practicals" (what to do and not do), ... Along the way, I've also picked up on some rather strong feelings of concern regarding the future of the business and the (perhaps unintended but still inevitable) impact of having the position of Notary Public marketed as "easy money" (as, apparently, has the Signing Agency business).

My name is Paul. I live in Sonoma County, California (Santa Rosa, to be more specific). I'm ... what's the right term for this? Pre-newbian? -- somehow that doesn't quite sound right! -- meaning, simply, that I've got a foot in the door and I'm looking around but I haven't quite made it across the threshold (although I'm taking the required training and state exam later this week). I guess that makes me worse than a newbie.

Still, I'm fifty-something-ish, have spent the majority of the past 25 years designing and writing software (mentioned only to suggest that I'm not suffering from anything that might be confused with brain-bypass surgery), and have been through the purchase, re-fi and selling experience personally. I do details pretty well, hate mistakes (especially when I make them), can't imagine the remorse one might feel from having screwed up someone's home loan and never, never, never want to find out for myself ...

I have some concerns about the future of this business, enough that I'm not as positive about my prospects for a long-term career in the field as I'd like to be. There doesn't appear to be any federal oversight on the industry, nor does there appear to be any national organization for notaries with enough respect and clout to make any difference. Certainly, the NNA has deserted its mission and gone off pursuing greener pastures. The facts that there are so few (no?) protections for the individual notary and no substantial penalties for unscrupulous signing services is appalling. So, too, are the lack of required (and adequate) training (standardized across the nation). Coupled with the "get rich quick" hucksters, this is a foolproof recipe for "bad times ahead."

I have other concerns specific to my own ability to do this job well. This is to be expected, though ... xenophobia prevails. I'll deal with those as I actually start doing the work and hopefully not waste anyone's time asking questions with answers I can easily find myself.

So, I'm standing in the doorway, pretty sure I want to come in but really wondering what it's like in there ...

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P.S.: A Note To NotaryRotary:

Your forum software is pretty lame. I don't know how you see it, but I would consider the people who post questions and answers here as your most valuable asset. Giving them a forum that is easy to navigate would only make the wealth of information you've collected more valuable. As with most forums, yours suffers from the newbie vs. established-clique problem (although I've seen much, much worse). You could ease up some of the tension by adding something equivalent to a Newbie FAQ to your site. A page for rating Signing Services would also help (especially if your members could do the ratings and add comments). A page for "off-site links to additional information" would also help.

Reply by unknown on 1/18/05 1:28pm
Msg #17219

On the top of this page theres a signing services box, click on that and it will give you some of the ratings for companies.

Reply by Paul-CA on 1/18/05 1:54pm
Msg #17221

Thank you. I'd looked at that a few days ago and forgotten about it. This is not exactly what I had in mind, though (and probably why I'd forgotten about it). As presented (granting that I'm not signed up so I can't see what someone logged in would see), this list is worse than useless.

An average rating? One person giving a 5-star rating is vastly different than 100 people giving a 5-star rating even though the averages are equal. And what is the basis of the rating? (No pay? Slow pay? Sloppy work? Applicable nationwide or just in some areas?) How recently has it been rated? ...

Ratings like this completely miss the point of what an online community has to offer -- opinions made accurate by many contributions and kept accurate by allowing the community to refine its collective opinion over time as things change.

Reply by jlynn on 1/18/05 2:00pm
Msg #17222

I understand what your saying

Reply by sld-IN on 1/18/05 4:32pm
Msg #17240

"So, I'm standing in the doorway, pretty sure I want to come in but really wondering what it's like in there "

If you go into this having done your research and knowing that it is not an overnight get rich then you should do fine.

I was in the Title industry for 20 years (started when I was still in diapers) before I decided to fly solo. So when I started woking full time as a signing agent I knew everything there was to know about Title and escrow. But what I failed to remember is that our jobs, just like the employees of the Title industry, are very dependent on how the economy is. I am in Indiana so I also have to take into account the weather. The winter months are very slow here, in fact many of the Title companies are cutting the hours of their employees or laying employees off. You will see cycles in this business and if you plan for it and market yourself and your services you will be able to weather those cycles and keep yourself busy.

When the cycle is up you will start hearing complaints about how busy they are. It seems that we are never happy....

Go ahead cross over but be prepared to give it a year.

Reply by CarolynCO on 1/18/05 7:29pm
Msg #17254

Re: Welcome, Paul-CA

Welcome, Paul! It sounds like you have a pretty good head on your shoulders, which is refreshing. I'm glad you've been reading past threads/posts and researching on your own. You've even told us where you are from without us first having to ask.

I agree that the NNA has deserted its mission and gone off pursuing greener pastures. I'm going back and forth deliberating whether I want to renew my NNA membership the end of February. For 7-8 months I've been getting renewal notices that I have been throwing in the trash compactor without opening. I'm having difficulty knowing that I'm lining their pockets and enabling them to mass produce notary signing agents that *possibly* may not be ready for signings. If I do decide not to renew, I know that it won't hurt the NNA, because they will cookie cut someone else to take my place.

As for getting around the forums, have you tried a different view option? Sometimes that helps. As for the rating system for the listed Signing Services, it is based on the comments and ratings of Premier Members. I don't know how many comments/ratings have to be collected before they get star(s). I do know that there are several companies that say something to the effect that not enough information has been obtained to rate.

Reply by Paul-CA on 1/18/05 9:57pm
Msg #17270

Re: Welcome, Paul-CA

Thanks, Carolyn. Glad to be here.

I've been "cruising" the NNA site. To a degree it appears they are interested and, to some degree, participating in the discussion of issues that matter (or will matter). On the other hand, they are, for example, currently making a big to-do about identity theft while not (as far as I've seen) doing anything to protect or even advise notaries in regards to signing services that want personal ID information (e.g., driver's license #'s, SSNs when the notary has an EIN, etc.). I see, though, that they are making quite sure that you won't miss the fact they are offering "identity theft insurance." It's this aspect of their "operation" that concerns me most at the moment. They seem more interested in getting more funding than protecting and serving those who are funding them.

In regards to the forums here, yes, I've tried the different view options. At the very least it would be nice if they'd automatically show you the entire thread for a selected message instead of having the reader click on and view each message individually. Having to back all the way out of an old thread I've been reading so I don't lose my place is aggravating at best. I've seen dozens of messages suggesting to newcomers that they read all of the messages in the forum and can understand the benefits of doing so. It would sure be nice if the forum software would make that easier to accomplish.

Thanks for the "welcome." It's appreciated.

Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 1/18/05 11:20pm
Msg #17283

Re: Welcome, Paul-CA

Welcome Paul

The companies that actually have a rating on this site seem to me to have the correct rating. I can only judge that on my dealings with these companies and the comments on the chat lines.
When I looked at the list just now I didn't see any "no-no companies" listed, but maybe I overlooked a bad company.
I think this is a good list to sign up with!