Posted by droman_IL on 10/4/06 10:53am
Msg #150144

NNA Ripoff- make your complaint!

I am STEAMIN' about the re-certification costs for being a CNSA! When I logged in to retake the exam to be re-certified (which was only supposed to cost $45), I got this message instead:

Your Notary Signing Agent Certification will expire within the next 90 days or has expired. To recertify, you simply need our new all-in-one Notary Signing Agent Recertification package, which includes:

Online recertification training course
Certification exam
The required background screening

Total cost for the training course, certification exam and background screening is $99. Your certification and background screening will be valid for a full two years.

This fee was of course, in addition to the $40 renewal for the NNA membership, PLUS the $40 renewal for the NSA membership, for a grand total of $180 (give or take a buck or two). And of course, even though my membership doesn't expire until NEXT MONTH, I still have to pay it at the time I'm taking the course and test.

First, I am HIGHLY upset that I even have to be recertified, as NO NEW LAWS occurred in Illinois over the past two years that changes what I already know as a signing agent. Then to see that I have to pay to take a recertification training course AGAIN adds fuel to my fire. But then to insist I pay my membership fees EARLY (meaning I don't even get the full year I PAID FOR) has really got my goat!!

I took the all day training seminar and paid for all the bells, whistles and supplies, which set me back almost $400 when I started several years ago. NOW they want to tell me I have to take a training course AGAIN? FOR WHAT?? There isn't anything NEW in this training course that I didn't learn the first time around, is there? I asked the NNA rep if I have to retake the training course, does that mean it's because what they taught me the fist time around is null and void and I'm now to expect a REFUND?? I'm sure you can guess what the answer was. To add insult to injury, in two years, we'll have to pay all this money AGAIN because the certification only lasts two years. And if I'm understanding their Web site correctly the background check has to be redone in two years as well. If I recall, most jobs where background checks are conducted only require the initial check once you are hired. You aren't subjected to a background check every two years during the duration of your employment. Am I reading this wrong? Can someone weigh in on this here?

I'm calling on all notaries to send an email complaint to the NNA to stop gouging us notaries will all these fees. I can understand if you are a new notary and need to take the training course to get your certification. But if you've taken an NNA certification training course and only need to recertify your CNSA designation, you should only have to pay to take the test. To email your complaints, here is the email address:

[e-mail address]

Let our voices be heard!!!

Reply by rengel/CA on 10/4/06 10:58am
Msg #150147

Why on earth would you want to waste your money getting re-certified? Just say "no"!

Reply by GrNstNotary on 10/4/06 2:07pm
Msg #150240

I called NNA today to ask about the Background investigation. My membership does not expire until May of next year and I am certified with another company. NNA stated that I must recertify, take their course and test as well as the BC check with them for 169.00. It would seem that each email that I read the price changes and the information being given is capricious at best. I did a www search regarding the investigation and found nothing from any site regarding NSA, LSA, etc background investigations.

Reply by BrendaTx on 10/4/06 11:00am
Msg #150149

Re: NNA - just drop your membership period.

That's what I did two years ago.

Reply by MistarellaFL on 10/4/06 3:16pm
Msg #150284

Re: NNA - just drop your membership period.

that's what I am doing this year.

Reply by larry Schaffer on 10/4/06 11:30am
Msg #150160

I think that you need...

to consider how much business you get from the NNA listing. If most of you business or a good deal of it comes from them then perhaps you need to re-up. There are very few schools or coursework that you one needs to continue to retake to keep certification. I graduated from college once, I do pay to renew my contractor license but don't have to be re-schooled. My NSA certification does not expire. I'm not NNA certified and will not get on that merry-go-round. Everyone's outrage seems well justified. Having said that, i guess I'll never know what being NNA certified would do for my botton line.

Happy signings, Larry

Reply by DellaCa on 10/4/06 11:41am
Msg #150164

Re: I think that you need...

Maybe the letters should be sent to the BIG companies using them for the background check, letting them know
#1 We don't need the background check (we already do this in Ca.)
#2 How they rip us off

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 10/4/06 11:38am
Msg #150163

You know - it's funny you posted this now - I have the BGC in my shopping cart at the NNA website - I read portions of the GLB Act this morning and feel NSA's fall under the provisions of those providing real estate settlement services. We ARE privvy to some very sensitive and confidential information and I'm not so sure a BGC is a bad thing. As to its necessity at this precise moment, no, I don't think it's really necessary, and it's certainly not mandatory - but if companies the likes of Stewart Title, First American, FiServ (yes PAW, they're listed there too) have engagd the NNA to do this for them, then this tells me something (btw - according to an ALTA article I read the BGC's are going to be mandatory). I don't want to be the one left behind and having to tell any company that calls me "oh, sorry, no - I didn't get the background check done; yes, I realize it's required but I didn't agree and didn't want to pay more money for it".

I respect everyone's opinion about this - both pro and con - but to me $39.00 is a small price to pay to NOT be precluded from doing loan signings. I enjoy what I do, and I don't want to have to give it up.

And yes, I'm the one who said I'm so tired of paying NNA any more money - the crow I'm eating is very good with a lil salt and pepper - tastes just like chicken!!,..<G>

Reply by droman_IL on 10/4/06 11:54am
Msg #150169

If $39 were all that I needed to pay, I wouldn't be making such a gripe. But EVERY NNA fee seems to amount to $39 - all those $39s ADD UP!!

Reply by CaliNotary on 10/4/06 11:59am
Msg #150171

So why on earth do you keep doing business with them? It's quite possible to be successful in this business without getting anywhere near the NNA. The reason they keep doing crap like this is because people like you keep paying them more money when they pull this crap.

You can't rape the willing.

Reply by CaliNotary on 10/4/06 12:03pm
Msg #150176

PS

I also agree with the others about re-certification. The certification itself is meaningless enough, but if you've got a couple of years in the biz already it's even more meaningless. You'd do better to use that money to buy a nice cigar and light it with a flaming $20 bill.

Reply by Tina_MA on 10/4/06 12:00pm
Msg #150172

Instead of using the NNA for your BGCK, why not contact your appropriate government agency and have an official state BGCK done?

I am. I refuse to give the NNA any money for anything. I dropped my membership last year and will never renew with them again. The Notary supplies here, in Harry's store, are cheaper and are better quality ~ and I received more work from my NotaryRotary listing than from the NNA site, ever.

You cannot tell me that companies will not accept an official BGCK with the great seal of your state on it.

Reply by Pamela on 10/4/06 12:23pm
Msg #150183

Tina, Re: NNA Ripoff- make your complaint!

Tina,

Two weeks ago I telephoned the NNA and talked with a supervisor and
"Lead" Customer Information Specialist as great length. According to
these people, background checks must be completed through the NNA.
That most title companies will not accept any other clearance.

However, I refuse to do so and will take my chances on own
(as I also have my real estate license and the CA Department of Real Estate
does a very extensive background check).


Please read the following NNA e-mail sent to me this a.m.:

As a measure to protect private and sensitive information of consumers, the federal government will soon require that all persons involved in the lending process undergo background screening and compliance training. The requirement will affect every individual with access to borrowers' financial information and includes Notary Signing Agents as well as employees of lenders and title services firms. This mandate is spelled out in the Gramm-Leach Bliley Financial Services Modernization Act and applicable Interagency Guidelines.

In the months ahead, all Notaries who handle loan document signings will need to participate in background screenings and compliance training. In fact, many lenders are already placing this requirement on title and signing services in order to comply with the federal mandate. These lenders now require that all Notaries handling their loan signings have background screenings, and the title and signing companies have responded by implementing their own processes. This independent approach has created a downside for Notary Signing Agents: the difficulty of applying for, and submitting to, multiple screening — one for each company — in order to pursue their careers.

To ease this burden on Notaries of multiple background screening, several of the nation's leading title information services companies — First American Lenders Advantage, Fiserv Lending Solutions, LandAmerica OneStop, National Real Estate Information Services and Stewart Mortgage Information (a subsidiary of Stewart Title) — have agreed to employ a National Notary Association-developed solution. The NNA's strengthened NSA Certification Program eliminates the need for multiple background checks and provides a confidential, single-source screening system. Notaries may enroll with the NNA's program beginning October 1, through the Association's Web site, NationalNotary.org/NSACertification. Participating title services companies will require all Notaries they use to enroll with the NNA's program by December 1 of this year.

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Reply by MB_AZ on 10/4/06 1:14pm
Msg #150208

Pamela Ca..I agree with you

I'm also a realtor and in AZ. The AZ Dept. of RE does background checks for new and renewals of licensees. I have that in my NotRot profile and haven't been asked for an "official" NNA bgck." I too will let my NNA cert expire....no more feeding the piranhas.

Reply by Tina_MA on 10/4/06 1:55pm
Msg #150234

Re: Tina, Re: NNA Ripoff- make your complaint!

>>>Two weeks ago I telephoned the NNA and talked with a supervisor and
"Lead" Customer Information Specialist as great length. According to
these people, background checks must be completed through the NNA.
That most title companies will not accept any other clearance.

However, I refuse to do so and will take my chances on own
(as I also have my real estate license and the CA Department of Real Estate
does a very extensive background check).<<<


If these companies refuse to accept an official BGCK from my state government, with the great seal of MA on it, then they also shouldn't accept my Notary Commission which also has the great seal of MA on it.

It's not logical. These companies cannot tell me that the official BGCK from my state means less than one done from some third part company that my state has big time issues with.

Reply by PAW on 10/4/06 2:21pm
Msg #150250

The NNA can't get their story straight!

>>> Two weeks ago I telephoned the NNA and talked with a supervisor and "Lead" Customer Information Specialist as great length. According to these people, background checks must be completed through the NNA. That most title companies will not accept any other clearance. <<<

FiServ will do the check if you don't want the NNA to do. They even post that on their website.
http://www.fiservlendingsolutions.com/content/affiliates.aspx#closing

"We will accept a CBC through either our own internal CBC program or through the CBC program offered by the National Notary Association (NNA). We do not require Closing Affiliate/Vendors to be members of the NNA to be part of our network. "

Reply by BrendaTx on 10/4/06 3:17pm
Msg #150285

Re: The NNA can't get their story straight! Thanks, Paul!!! n/m

Reply by JanetK_CA on 10/5/06 3:01am
Msg #150416

Read their response carefully...

<<"...several of the nation's leading title information services companies — First American Lenders Advantage, Fiserv Lending Solutions, LandAmerica OneStop, National Real Estate Information Services and Stewart Mortgage Information (a subsidiary of Stewart Title) — have agreed to employ a National Notary Association-developed solution.">>

It does NOT say that the NNA-developed solution is the only one those companies will accept. The NNA have carefully drafted their wording to imply that their offering is the only solution. Naturally, that's what they'd like for us to believe about all their offerings. I decided a long time ago that I was getting little or nothing from their membership. The only calls I was getting from membership in the Signing Agent Section were low-paying signing services. And I couldn't even view my own profile to see how it came up on searches for notaries. I like to know what my money is paying for. I didn't notice any differnce in my business volume from dropping them. I'm certainly not going to run back to them now, with the deceptive tactics they are employing!

I predict their deadline will come and go with barely a ripple for most of us. It's very telling that the only source for these new "requirements" is the NNA. Have any of you heard about this from the named companies themselves?? So far, I haven't heard anyone mention that hey had...

Reply by MistarellaFL on 10/4/06 3:18pm
Msg #150286

Fiserv paid for my BGC.
I won't pay for one unless one of my regular clients require it.

Reply by ME/NJ on 10/4/06 12:33pm
Msg #150186

NNA for Newbies only

Please if you still belong to the NNA see a shrink..

Reply by Charles_Ca on 10/4/06 2:38pm
Msg #150263

The best way to be heard is by not paying them anything! n/m