Posted by Signing_Doc on 1/15/07 12:50am
Msg #170823

I think this is bogus...opinions welcome

I have a friend who is looking to made some extra income. She signed up for a course offered by Community College of Southern Nevada (CCSN) called Notary and Beyond. This course is costing her $115 and promises to "...provide a list of companies that have an immediate need for notaries." The link to the page in questions is provided.

http://www.ccsn.edu/pages/1192.asp

There are two courses, the aforementioned one for $115 and the one below it for $99. My opinion, it's a scam. There is NO requirement for testing or classes to become a notary in Nevada. I am going to meet with her next week to discuss this class and I would like some opinions (besides my own) to offer her. Please go to the website listed, read the course descriptions and tell me whether or not you feel it is a waste of her time and money. Thanks.

"Doc" Stuart

Reply by Lee/AR on 1/15/07 1:15am
Msg #170825

For openers, what makes me think that XYZ is involved in this? Could it be the claim that, as a Notary, your income is unlimited? Let's face it, being a Notary is not rocket science. Everything you need to KNOW is in your state handbook. Everything you need to know about being an NSA is in message 32335 (or whichever--somebody will correct me). As to the 'list of companies', well, that's here and on the internet--you just have to do it. I think your friend would be much better served spending that money on the equipment needed to do this job and the time spent in class would serve him/her better researching the demand for a Notary in the area before anything else is done. How much competition in the area?

Reply by Larry/Ca on 1/15/07 1:22am
Msg #170827

I don't think community college courses.....

are a waste of time. especially if you are motivated to learn something new to make desired changes in you life. They can be what catapults you into an exciting new future.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 1/15/07 1:51am
Msg #170830

Larry, take off the rose colored glasses. Sure, CC classes

are good things, and sure, people can learn new things and better themselves. But from what I read about this class - about documents, income potential, and the general tenor of the blurb, it looks to be XYZ.

Lee's advise is spot on. You don't need a college course to do this work - especially if it is an XYZ course.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 1/15/07 12:39pm
Msg #170870

oops! 'advice' , please excuse. n/m

Reply by Linker Mobile Notary Service on 1/15/07 1:50am
Msg #170829

Only she can determine if it's a waste of money. Some people need structure and learn better in a "classroom" environment. They may not be disciplined enough to learn on their own. If she is this type of person, then it might be worth the money.

I didn't see much difference in the $99 and the $115 class description. Scam? I doubt it. There is no reference to the instructor so you can't check on their experience and credentials.

Reply by MistarellaFL on 1/15/07 8:42am
Msg #170838

I am with Barbara on this

I think the CC would be a better educator than the XXX, and probably has a better course curriculum. Many people are not motivated enough to learn on their own (you've seen it here, folks). When I was learning this field I would have preferred to have an instructor that I could have asked questions and had them answered, rather than read a notary forum.
I also doubt it's a scam.

Reply by MelissaCT on 1/15/07 8:50am
Msg #170839

If this is true, then she isnt' the type to do this business

"Some people need structure and learn better in a "classroom" environment. They may not be disciplined enough to learn on their own. If she is this type of person, then it might be worth the money."

If she can't learn without a classroom setting (per your example), then she won't be motivated to run her own business and be successful. She doesn't have the entrepreneur attitude, resoursefulness and spirit to do what it takes to succeed.

Thus, it is a waste of money & a scam, in my opinion.

Reply by Gary_CA on 1/15/07 10:13am
Msg #170851

$100 aint so bad for a CC course

Slow pace but good learning usually... I haven't done one in a while. Being in the "learning environment" may be the boast she needs. Obviously to make it in this business she'll have to become self-winding, but this might be an okay start.

Yeah, the list probably isn't worth $16 but taking a notary class might be... and the price isn't sky high.

And at the CC she might meet a nice young lad, broke and vulnerable.

Reply by John_NorCal on 1/15/07 10:47am
Msg #170858

I don't think this is a scam per se. But based on their claim of income potential I would feel differently if were sponsored by the XYZ or any other private organization. Actually I think someone has probably read all the claims by the National Nincompoops and decided to sell the idea of the course to the community college district. Why not? It gives them a job, right? This isn't rocket science as Lee has mentioned, find a good book and you can learn all you need to know about notarizations, first stop of course is your state handbook. Scam? Not in my opinion. Waste of money? Well, you can spend your money more wisely.

Reply by jojo_MN on 1/15/07 11:06am
Msg #170859

If you never saw a loan signed, you should get some (Long)

education regardless if it is a community college, and internet course, or on-the-job training with a mentor.

When I started this business, I had a cousin from Michigan that was in the business for many years. I have an aunt in Iowa who was just starting in the business. I was a single parent working too many hours in two jobs and barely making ends meet. My aunt and cousin told me about this business and told me about different options to get started. I looked on the internet and found the dreaded XYZ. I used their home study course and after six months reading in between jobs and being a mother, I finally took the test. I did not try to do any signings until after I passed. I did not know about rotary forums. I just stumbled onto this one after being in business after three years.

What I am tryig to say is that everyone should have some kind of training. It's just too bad that the XYZ has to continue to recruit more and more notaries,saturizing so many areas of the country.

Reply by Joe Ewing on 1/15/07 5:19pm
Msg #170906

Unlimited income? If these rule (see below) applied to California Notaries I could only charge $20 to drive from San Diego to Oceanside round trip in peak traffic (3-6PM).



Nevada...

Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, a notary public may charge the following fees and no more:



For taking an acknowledgment, for the first signature of each signer.......... $5.00

For each additional signature of each signer............................................... 2.50

For administering an oath or affirmation without a signature.......................... 2.50

For a certified copy................................................................................................. 2.50

For a jurat, for each signature on the affidavit................................................... 5.00



2. All fees prescribed in this section are payable in advance, if demanded.

3. A notary public may charge an additional fee for traveling to perform a notarial act if:

(a) The person requesting the notarial act asks the notary public to travel;

(b) The notary public explains to the person requesting the notarial act that the fee is in addition to the fee authorized in subsection 1 and is not required by law;

(c) The person requesting the notarial act agrees in advance upon the hourly rate that the notary public will charge for the additional fee; and

(d) The additional fee does not exceed:

(1) If the person requesting the notarial act asks the notary public to travel between the hours of 6 a.m. and 7 p.m., $10 per hour.

(2) If the person requesting the notarial act asks the notary public to travel between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., $25 per hour.

Ê The notary public may charge a minimum of 2 hours for such travel and shall charge on a pro rata basis after the first 2 hours.

4. A notary public is entitled to charge the amount of the additional fee agreed to in advance by the person requesting the notarial act pursuant to subsection 3 if:

(a) The person requesting the notarial act cancels his request after the notary public begins his travel to perform the requested notarial act.

(b) The notary public is unable to perform the requested notarial act as a result of the actions of the person who requested the notarial act or any other person who is necessary for the performance of the notarial act.

5. For each additional fee that a notary public charges for traveling to perform a notarial act pursuant to subsection 3, the notary public shall enter in the journal that he keeps

(a) The amount of the fee; and

(b) The date and time that the notary public began and ended such travel.

*Unless it was a notary job then you could add an extra $50

Reply by BrendaTx on 1/15/07 8:45pm
Msg #170946

Two thoughts:

1) The course syllabus states: "Furthermore, it provides a cost effective and efficient solution to certifying legal documents."

Well, isn't that the cat's meow!!!

Certifying legal documents HOW?
Cost effective and efficient compared to WHAT?

2) I think it is a real class with a very marginal teacher. As notaries like myself find it more difficult to earn a steady income in the business due to circumstances beyond our control there will be many to whom it will not occur to find a means to support themselves through honest measures. Rather I predict what you will see is notaries ripping off new and pre-notaries to keep from getting off their @sses to make a living.

This one took the cake: I was contacted by another notary to provide my RM Notebook to her to reproduce and include on a CD she was creating. Other resources will be included on this CD which she said she will be developing.

She will then market this CD for $59.95 and I would get $9.95 of it which is the price I charged to begin with. I said, "no thanks." $59.95 is a ridiculous price to charge for this type of information which can be mined from the internet. Shameful.

There is not $59.95 worth of information one needs to know about how to notarize a rev mort loan.