Posted by Larry/Ca on 10/10/06 10:56pm
Msg #151587

First one of these things...

i've received from anyone i work for. this message was in the signing confirmation. anyone else received any notices from companies they work for.

NOTARY ADVISORY - OCT 1,2006. WE STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT YOU READ THE
FOLLOWING INFORMATION ON THE NATIONAL NOTARY WEBSITE. STRICT NEW
FEDERAL
SCREENINGS ARE GOING TO BE REQUIRED OF ANY NOTARY THAT HANDLES LOAN
DOCUMENTS AS OF JANUARY 1ST 2007. WE STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT YOU READ
THE
INFORMATION ON THIS LINK SO WE DO NOT LOOSE YOU AS A RESOURCE ON
JANUARY 1ST
2007.

Reply by Poppy on 10/10/06 10:57pm
Msg #151588

Three so far.... n/m

Reply by Kate/CA on 10/10/06 10:59pm
Msg #151590

Re: Three so far....

Which ones?

Reply by Larry/Ca on 10/10/06 11:21pm
Msg #151596

Mine was from...

superiornotary.com. it was my first. you know if these companies are going to drop me from their database i might be forced to signup with NNA for the background check. i would like to stand on principle, but i really need to do whatever makes business sense to me. dropped from a few databases would be o.k. but if it gets to a significant number i would have to think about it.

Reply by Jenny_CA on 10/10/06 11:32pm
Msg #151600

CA Notaries RE: Gramm-Leach BG Clearance Compliant cert.

Have you considered faxing the form that Dan Jones put together?

For those of you who have read it any thoughts?

I don't want to break the rules and advertise other sites and my scanner is down....does any one else have it and can post it here? He handed them out at the SO CA luncheon and are free at his website.

Reply by BarbaraL_CA on 10/10/06 11:36pm
Msg #151603

Re: CA Notaries RE: Gramm-Leach BG Clearance Compliant cert.

I signed it, scanned it, and put a link to it on my website contact page under Credentials along with my commission, bond, and e&O docs.

Reply by Larry/Ca on 10/10/06 11:41pm
Msg #151608

Barbara, it's my understanding....

that the California screening does not include a criminal check in other states. wouldn't that keep this from being acceped by national companies.

Reply by BarbaraL_CA on 10/10/06 11:49pm
Msg #151611

I'm not an attorney....

so I can't really answer that

Quite frankly, I'm just "waiting it out" and see what develops.

Reply by BarbaraL_CA on 10/11/06 2:06am
Msg #151649

I've been thinking about this, and...

when you look at the obvious, we are performing notary acts in the State of California and NOT in other states through out the nation, therefore, I would think we follow CA law. The criminal background check is by the California Department of Justice for CALIFORNIA notaries....not nationwide notaries.

Reply by Larry/Ca on 10/10/06 11:36pm
Msg #151604

I have a copy of the pdf....

but don't know how to attach it to a post on this board. can anyone help me?

Reply by SvetSFBay on 10/10/06 11:46pm
Msg #151610

Re: I have a copy of the pdf....

I have the file as well, but not sure how to attach it either. But I have the direct link to it, I think..

http://www.notaryclasses.com/backgroundclearance.aspx

Reply by Stamper_WI on 10/10/06 11:45pm
Msg #151609

Antitrust?

This could get messy if we are led to believe that one organization is the only resource for this. And that to get it we had to join or buy other things.
I was led to believe I had to join an orgaization to get private health insurance. I had to pay 35 a month to that organization. Well guess what. The Organization and the Insurance co got sued and I got my money back. Check came in the mail with an explaination. Wasn't even aware it was illegal let alone there was a lawsuit.

Stop acting like its a company store and go somewhere else and ask for the services. Others are attempting to do this give them a little time. I am sure Harry is all over this. Contact these companies that are telling you this and ask for an alternative resource. They are scrambling to meet a deadline and this one company has what they want. Ask what they need to know about you in detail, then go find it.

Reply by Lee/AR on 10/11/06 12:07am
Msg #151619

Stamper... you've got it!

Once again, we are Independent Contractors. Let's act like it, OK? When an unofficial 'organization' that has no legal right to even exist beyond serving its members starts telling a State Office that the laws of that State 'aren't good enough' for that organization... well, I don't even know what to say that's printable! Um, yes, I do. This is America! This is not a dictatorship.

Reply by Stamper_WI on 10/11/06 12:52am
Msg #151635

Re: Stamper... you've got it!

I have a point. I also know that many states are lax in their notarial laws especially since the the events of 9/11. Internet crimes and identity theft techniques have gotten a lot more sophisticated. This is what Gramm is attempting to address as far as handling borrowers information. Don't think its not costing the mortgage industry grief and money to comply. They have to show they are trying to comply.
Unfortunately only one organization has stepped forward with a proactive offer to the mortgage industry and from what I have heard of them, they are taking advantage of this to push other services on those who are required to have background checks to contract with certain companies.

To my knowledge, there is not a federally mandated curriculum or requirement to be certified. TC's and SS see certification as having taken a course in loan document signing. No one has every not hired me because I was or was not certified. I don't think I have ever been asked. Any designations or memberships I have is for improvement of my skills and knowledge and i represent that in my marketing to show that dedication to what I do. I am not required to join a certain organization to be a signing agent.

As it has been pointed out that new signing agents fresh out of these certification courses are no better prepared to sign documents than I am to build a house

I can swing a hammer but that does not make me a carpenter. I can do carpentry but that does not make me a contractor.
There is no power but one organization thought to have a trouble light.

Perhaps we should get busy with our SOS's to tighten up notary law and do extensive background checks as a condition of commission.

Reply by Larry/Ca on 10/11/06 1:01am
Msg #151636

who has the upper hand here..

If we are now getting requests from the companies we work for i think that the NNA has done a good job of selling their product. outrageous as it is, is it worth the loss of perhaps thousands for $40. it seems like a real hassle to try to convince companies that have decided to buy into the NNA product that they really need to be fair and give me an option.

Reply by Ndwa on 10/11/06 1:33am
Msg #151641

Re: who has the upper hand here..

Your option is to be firm with what you believed your service is worth. It does not worth anything if you have to bend, twist, and compromise. Those who rely heavily on signing services to get by are ones panicing from the CBC push. I starved myself of signings for almost 2 months in the early days just to make a statement. I know The only reason a lowballer would afford me now a day is that they want to make up and prove to their client the error made on the last deal was only an oversight, then back to the cheap old habbit.

Standards and policies should never be compromised. They are you bosses.

Reply by Larry/Ca on 10/11/06 1:47am
Msg #151645

Andy, it is not about fees..

but rather , should we pay the $40 for a NNA background check.

Reply by SueW/Tn on 10/11/06 8:26am
Msg #151690

Well I'll tell ya what Larry....

I most definitely did NOT renew with the NNA this year specifically due to the way they've poorly and quite publicly handled several issues. Many SA's do NOT belong to the NNA for much the same reason, little bang for the buck. At present I have not done a lick of work for the "big 5" that the NNA represents and I have been watching the SA's in California cloud up and rain on the parade! Bravo SA's! For those non-members there is one heck of alot of more than $40 involved IF one followed the salmon. Here's some food for thought...what's gonna happen to FedEx, UPS, etc. "dropping" packages of borrowers docs on our front porch, or our neighbors front porch, or next to the closest tree triangulated by the porches in your neighborhood?

Reply by DogmongerCA on 10/11/06 8:18am
Msg #151684

Gramm-Leach-Bliley PDF

http://notaryclasses.com/background10_08_06.pdf

Reply by Lee/AR on 10/11/06 8:28am
Msg #151691

None so far...& I've had calls from

4 of the 5 mentioned by the nna since this nonsense started and have accepted 2 or 3 signings at MY fees. Go figure. I sure can't.