Posted by faceynotary on 12/1/06 2:44pm
Msg #163288

Now I am P'Oed...

Okay I called the infamous NNA... today is d-day to be compliant meaning- having your background screening results back in by today, December 1st. It does not mean it's d-day to sign up last minute. I asked for the number of the company that does the bgc and yes it's the same company afflicated with Lexis Nexis as somone mentioned. I had this number before and I lost it, now all of a sudden the NNA doesn't want you to call them.

I had about a 10 min bout with the person who answered at the NNA, she was very defensive when I was laying out my concerns because she just turned me off by her tone. Their adverstising sucks... If you are an NNA member with an NSA section, your section will be taken down until you do the bgc. It will be put back up once your results come back as "PASSED." You will also have to reinsert your info.

She went on to say that they don't make a dime, blah blah blah, and the mortgage companies listed, firserve, land america, etc.... will not call you to do signings unless your are "compliant."

I told her that I personally know notary signing agents who work for these companies who have not been coerced into bgc's and I also know notaries who have been offered background checks for free by these companies... and some of these same companies have sent out emails to their notary signing agents explaining to them that the bgc is not required, and they have had to change the wording "required" and they accept other ways of doing the bgc, and will keep everyone posted as to the conclusion of this dilemma.

I also told her that the NNA makes it seem as though this is the be all end all. She got defensive and said it's not them it's the companies. They just wanted to be a voice for these mortgage companies, as they make up 80% of the mortgage business, and notaries can do a one stop shop at their site (how convenient), and they will not hire non compliant notaries, and whole bunch of other BS.

Okay ppl, I have read and sat back and listened to most of your general concerns. I've read opinions on other sites and I was frankly sick of hearing about it as many of you were.

But now I am ticked, NYC style. LOL

I am just airing out my frustrations and I know you talked this in to the ground, but after speaking to the NNA today about this... I am personally p-oed.

I am on the fence about this and was already to actually go ahead and get it out the way, but NNA has not been very professional, not just about this issue but other issues I've experienced personally.

That's all I have to say about that... I know your ears have bled on this topic, but oh well... thanks for listening- the check's in the mail (wink wink)

Reply by SueW/Tn on 12/1/06 2:49pm
Msg #163291

Facey...

The majority of the membership here is waiting for Harry to put his program together. It's my personal opinion that the more you deal with NNA, the more apt you are to get po'd (as opposed to being peed on). They continue to swell in the ranks because people continue to go to them regardless of what they read. I did NOT renew with them and have no intention of ever trying to find their website again. THEY ARE CREATING HAVOC!

Reply by faceynotary on 12/1/06 2:54pm
Msg #163292

Re: Facey...

I am beginning to believe that Ms. Sue. The other issue I spoke about was a program that I assertively sought and everything was confirmed and then I never heard from them about it again. That was in August. I contacted the head of that program and he has not yet responded. So I am truly disappointed.

I was about to renew my membership and e&o with them... but I am not so sure about that anymore. Many of my calls are not from my NNA listing but from other reputable notary and non-notary sites I am affiliated with... It's just such a shame as when I went to their workshop- they came off as so friendly and positive. I never fathomed them acting this way.

I haven't participated in your discussions about this because I've been gathering info from you all and the other sites and been doing my research... when I finally work up my nerve and concede anyway- I guess peed on as you put it...

Thanks for your those Ms. Sue.

Miss P'Oed NYker...

Reply by faceynotary on 12/1/06 2:55pm
Msg #163293

Re: Facey...

And furthermore to take down our sections that we've paid for. Their reasoning was that these mortgage companies won't call. Well it's not just mortgage companies that peruse the NSA section... Okay... let me stop before I go postal at work.

Ms P'Oed Nyker.

Reply by VickiWA on 12/1/06 3:06pm
Msg #163301

Re: Facey...

I do get a considerable amount of calls from the NNA sight. I am waiting to see what happens before I act on the BGC thing.

I paid for the NSA certification and membership last April so they better not do anything with my listing. It is what I and many others paid for.

Reply by Nancy Korb on 12/1/06 3:26pm
Msg #163314

Re: Facey...

If you paid to be there then they have to leave you there, don't they?

Reply by jojo_MN on 12/1/06 3:26pm
Msg #163318

Re: Facey...

You would think so. You should get the service for which you paid. To have your name listed on the webpage.

Reply by jlissem on 12/1/06 7:19pm
Msg #163408

Re: Facey...

In New Jersey we call it a contract.they made me an offer I could'nt refuse

Reply by Jolene Lien on 12/1/06 3:03pm
Msg #163296

I am an NNA and NSA section member. I will not be doing their BGC. If they remove my webpage from their signingagent.com section, I will start a class-action lawsuit against them and I would hope that any other notaries affected will join in. We paid for their separate section soley for the purpose of being listed on the website. Not every company that looks at their website is buying into their BGC bull.

Reply by SueW/Tn on 12/1/06 3:06pm
Msg #163300

Atta girl Jo Jo

nothing makes my day better than to see someone with backbone come forward! Get em! While I'm no longer a member I'll support you!!! Changing plans in the middle of the road is NOT the way to win friends or members!

Reply by VickiWA on 12/1/06 3:09pm
Msg #163305

You posted faster than I did and I agree with you Jolene

I am on board with you. This is getting ridiculous.

Reply by faceynotary on 12/1/06 3:16pm
Msg #163309

Well Ms.

Jo Joe, Vicky and Sue... this is what I was told. My NNA/NSA membership is not up until next year. However since you can get the NNA for 39 & NSA for 29 , now until it goes up, I was going to have that done...

The lady said we will take "it" down. I am like come again-" take what down???" She said well as you know, your info gets placed in the NSA section when you become a member, well... that comes down until you are compliant with "PASSED" results. I bet my eyes were bulging out of my head. I think my boss saw it LOL.

When I called this summer they said that your info will be in there. It just won't say "BGC" compliant or whatever but it will still be listed.

Ladies. I am not happy.... and yes that is fraudulent.... I work hard for the ducats. Whether at my day job or in an eager borrower's face. I work hard for da money. They are screwing with my money. I may call back to speak to someone else... As I've also encountered with the NNA that some ppl are not trained and just don't know what to say when you put feet up their a$$es.

I am so done ladies....

Miss P'Oed Nker.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 12/1/06 10:57pm
Msg #163431

My suggestion: ask for a refund!

First of all, this is not legal advice and is just my opinion, yada, yada, yada... It seems to me that when you paid for those memberships there was an implied agreement for them to provide a service for the fees you paid. This reminds me of the neighborhood thugs advising you that your protection fee just went up! In effect, they are saying that they won't provide you the service you paid for unless you pay for another service. There are lots of more effective ways of marketing your business (IMO). I don't know about you, but I kinda resent extortion tactics.

Sooooo, I recommend you all send them a registered letter requesting that they pro-rate your membership fees and refund you for any unused portion starting at whatever point they remove your listings. If enough people do that, watch them start backpeddling again.

BTW, I have not done anything about the BGC situation and have no intention of doing so anytime soon. It may be because I'm in CA where a BGC is a precondition to receiving a commission, but I'm still getting calls from any of those companies that I worked for regularly in the past. And I have yet to receive a request for a BGC (except from one co - and I've only ever done a couple of signings for them; not exactly in my fee bracket).

The take away lesson (and I guess we can't say this often enough): Don't take the NNA's word for anything - or at least proceed with a great deal of caution!!! (JMHO - again!)

Reply by Dennis D Broadbooks on 12/1/06 3:08pm
Msg #163304

I Wouldn't Worry About This Topic...

...ever being "talked into the ground" The NNA marketing machine perpetually marches on & as a result there will always be newbies to educate as to their real goal...MONEY & lots of it! To have one of their reps say the NNA "doesn't make a dime" is beyond laughable. It almost makes one cry! The biggest joke of all is to go their web site & read the following:

"The National Notary Association is the nation's professional Notary organization and has been since 1957. Dedicated to furthering the role of the Notary, the NNA works nationwide to instill in them, as public officials, the highest ethical standards of conduct and notarial practice. "

The last sentence of their "motto" should (if truth in advertising would prevail) be amended to conclude with: "and we'll continue to fleece them for their money as long as gullible Notaries are to be found!"

Reply by faceynotary on 12/1/06 3:19pm
Msg #163310

Re: I Wouldn't Worry About This Topic...

Their advertising is a hoax... They never said in their million and one articles about the BGC that "your nsa section will come down."

I told her that you are falsely advertising and this is why many notaries don't hold you in high regard. She was uncomfortable on the phone and sure did not know how to respond to my concerns.

Miss P'Oed Nyker

Reply by jojo_MN on 12/1/06 3:26pm
Msg #163315

Re: I Wouldn't Worry About This Topic...

I was told that you did not have to have the certification to have the BGC, that you just had to specifically ask for it. I spent over half an hour with a CSR about it at the NNA this week. She said that whoever said that is wrong and you DO have to have to be certified to get it. I even went on to tell her that there have been no major changes in laws since I was certified by them four years ago and they are still using the same book, not to mention I have completed over 1800 signings since then, so I will not be buying another book and re-taking their course. She then said "then you can't have the background check".

Reply by faceynotary on 12/1/06 4:09pm
Msg #163345

Re: I Wouldn't Worry About This Topic...

Okay well obviously they are disorganized and untrained to deal with people who continue to make them rich- us.

I am so tired of their craziness... You call and get a different story.

Reply by Nancy Korb on 12/1/06 3:31pm
Msg #163320

Re: I Wouldn't Worry About This Topic...

I copied out and saved alot of their advertising. They've made alot of claims and had to backtrack on some of them. I had already taken a class and I didn't want to have to take another, but I was charged double what I had originally paid because to take their test I had to take their class. To take their test I also had to submit to their background check.

I got my money returned from the class that I took, but they were representing the NNA and had a contract with them, or so they thought. They were as shocked as everyone else was.

Reply by SueW/Tn on 12/1/06 3:23pm
Msg #163312

Well said Dennis

They are marketing pro's, that's for sure. When I first started unfortunately for me they were the ones that came up first in my google search. I didn't find other boards until months afterwards, months and money I might add. In two years I got one call from them and that was one I wouldn't/couldn't do. Since I could write that expense off I prefer to look at it as education within this industry. It is definitely dismaying to see how they keep specific information a hidden secret but then let's face it...IF they were honest they wouldn't have the business they have. Half truths....yep yep. Their line is plausible IF you know what the hell you're doing and have alot of help. I was certified through them and had never seen the first document! Holy smokes! Thank heavens I didn't go out right away without doing one heck of alot of research, asked a zillion questions and then was lucky enough to find an SA 200 miles north of me that invited me up to go out on signings with her. And the kicker? I learn new things each and every day thanks to the great posters on this and other boards!

Reply by faceynotary on 12/1/06 3:26pm
Msg #163317

Re: Well said Dennis

Well said Ms. Sue...

They are def. a business- a shiesty one at that....

Reply by faceynotary on 12/1/06 3:29pm
Msg #163319

I don't know if you all are encountering this problem. I am trying to logon and I can't get in. I've seen error on their sites before. I wonder if they will beging to purge. They must want their a$$es beat.

Reply by SueW/Tn on 12/1/06 3:31pm
Msg #163321

Facey, go down a few posts and have a drink!!! n/m

Reply by faceynotary on 12/1/06 3:32pm
Msg #163322

Re: Facey, go down a few posts and have a drink!!!

Will due Miss sue... shoot I will be the last one left at the bar.

Reply by MikeC/NY on 12/1/06 3:48pm
Msg #163328

** "If you are an NNA member with an NSA section, your section will be taken down until you do the bgc." **

Did she say they will actually remove your listing? I know they have added two new icons for CNSAs and NSAs with the bgc completed and that those appear higher on the listings, but they never mentioned anything about removing anyone who didn't get the bgc. Is this something new?

Reply by faceynotary on 12/1/06 3:52pm
Msg #163331

Mr. Mike,

This is what this lady told me and she was adamant about my questioning her. I was about to go Brooklyn, but realised I am at work.

Yes she says your NSA section is taken down for today is the day to be "compliant" not sign up and those who are not "compliant" will be removed then put back on when "compliant." Man oh man... My blood was boiling.

I am going to call back in a few mins, because that sounds so bogus.

Miss P'Oed Nyker.

Reply by jojo_MN on 12/1/06 3:54pm
Msg #163334

I just tried logging on and can't get on the site at all.

Reply by faceynotary on 12/1/06 3:57pm
Msg #163337

Yes I've tried several times Ms. Jojo, they suck . n/m

Reply by Lisa Prestegard on 12/1/06 4:11pm
Msg #163346

Facey...

I was thrilled to read your post. Yes, it seems that the BGC thing has been beaten to death, but I don't mind... we have newbies on here daily that really need a quick education on this sort of thing in particular.
What made me happy when reading your post is that you've been reading and learning and reserving judgement before forming your opinion (which happens to be spot-on!)
So, KUDOS to you, facey... now, go get 'em!

Reply by faceynotary on 12/1/06 4:16pm
Msg #163348

Re: Facey...

Yes Ms. Prestegard-- I 've learned in my years of professional and personal experiences that observation is the best teacher... I am about to call the NNA again since I can't logon to see if my section has been removed. Then it will be on and poppin' for them.

I don't jump on bandwagons and I don't concede just because it's the norm. I do what I need to do for myself.

I've learned much from this board and others I belong too and have been steadily building my business. I've networked with great notaries here in NY and nationwide.

Thanks for your comments Ms. Prestegard.

I loved your post about Land Amer.

Still Po'ed....