Posted by VBNotaryVA on 7/2/07 11:18pm
Msg #198270

FASS Issue

I just did a signing for FASS and in complying with VA's new law effective July 1, I placed my stamped notarial certificates on the documents that had loose certificates. Even though I

1)sent them my own cover letter with a copy of the VA law explaining with I did this,
2)called them and informed them of the new law, and
3)got an OK from FASS to do it this way, and told them they might want to remove the unsigned loose certs to avoid confusion, I received an email telling me they were not done correctly because I didn't fill out the loose certificates.

Any feedback is appreciated.
Thanks

Reply by Lee/AR on 7/2/07 11:49pm
Msg #198275

All I can think of is to call 'em again (and probably again & again). Ya' can't fix stupid.
You might try going as far up the food chain as possible.

Reply by CaliNotary on 7/2/07 11:51pm
Msg #198276

You reply to the email and restate that the law in VA has changed and that what you did is correct. Then repeat 1000 times if necessary.

Reply by sue_pa on 7/3/07 6:30am
Msg #198287

several years ago I did an out of state loan for FASS. The notarial language on the Mortgage was no where close to being PA compliant so I added a loose cert and notated near the preprinted cert to see the attached PA compliant cert. About 2 years later I received a call asking for a loose cert as I failed to notarize a mortgage. Having been in this business a while, I keep notes of anything 'different' on each order. I saw what I did and I assumed someone removed/lost my cert. I of course told them they were full of it and told them I would be happy to go out and have the Mortgage reacknowledged. I asked for a copy of what they had and my assumptions were correct. Next person who calls says I can just send in an ack - everyone does it. I tell them in PA we can't do that - I did it right the first time and I'll go get it redone properly the second time. Next person calls and 'attempts' to berate me by saying if I used the preprnited act none of this would be happening. (What, 2 years after the fact a nonperfected lien is my fault?) I very kindly suggested to him if I had used the preprinted cert and the recorder was doing their job properly, the mortgage would have been rejected because I failed to comply with PA law. Several more calls and I told them to let me alone unless they wanted me to go back to the borrowers. They had Kiana (sp?), one of the nice ones, call me. I then was tired of this. I had the president of our state notary association contact them and I had an attorney from our SOS office contact them telling them what they were asking me to do was not allowed in PA. Finally, about 2 more months pass and they send me back to the borrowers. I always wondered if the lender realized they had no lien on a very expensive beach house years after they loaned the $$$. Good luck dealing with FASS. Tell them to pound sand.

Reply by Jackie Blankenship on 7/3/07 7:41am
Msg #198288

Re: FASS Issue/ Here is what happens when you close for FASS

FASS, is the signing service owned by First American Title. They are not trained as to the Lender requirements on the signing's, they are to just get a notary assigned. The people you need to get with are the people that sent you the email, or as they are called " The Lender Specific Team". See when the docs are returned to FirstAm, they are reviewed in Final Docs. If there are no errors, the docs are sent on to scanning. If the reviewer finds something questionable, they put the file on ALERT status, informing the Lender Team there is an issue. Then the Exceptions Team, or problem solvers, take the file. They contact the Lender informing them of the issue, then contact the borrower, and notary if needed. They are the ones that report back to FASS, and put notaries in FASS Quality, which is there I'm telling on you system. Reply back to the email, and let them know about the law change and request that they let the Lender know as well, as that is who draws up the docs. I am speaking first hand here as I spent the past several years with them as the Exceptions Team. Hope this info helps!

Reply by Jackie Blankenship on 7/3/07 7:45am
Msg #198289

Re: FASS Issue/ Here is what happens when you close for FASS

as the Exceptions Team Lead for NSS- TX! sorry that got cut off!!!

Reply by JohnnyB on 7/3/07 7:59am
Msg #198291

Re: FASS Issue/ Here is what happens when you close for FASS

Shouldn't FASS people notify the change in the law to the Lender Specific Team? Are they robotic and untrained? How is the signing agent supposed to know this this company works?
First American has always had a weakness in communication, as well as a teamwork issue here.

Reply by VBNotaryVA on 7/3/07 8:11am
Msg #198292

Thank you all for your very helpful responses n/m