Posted by Carmi/CA on 11/12/07 8:19pm
Msg #220922

Just venting . . . uuurrrrgggghhhhh!!!

I recently visited craigslist to see if a company is in need of a notary. To my surprise, I found a notary in my area offering $50 loan signings!!! And this person is willing to travel up to 75 MILES!!! That's why I'm not getting any calls for the past several days. Whoever you are . . . SHAME ON YOU! He or she, however, did not mention in his or her ad that he or she has E&O insurance or if he or she is certified or background screened. I hope title or escrow companies are checking these.

Sorry to all, I know you heard it before but thanks for listening.

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 11/12/07 9:21pm
Msg #220933

"that he or she has E&O insurance or if he or she is certified or background screened. "

Hmm Notary E&O Insurance insurance only protects the notary. I am not certified nor background screened by the NNA, and have never been asked if I am in all the years I have been doing signings.

However $50 loan signings are ridiculous.

Reply by Carmi/CA on 11/12/07 9:51pm
Msg #220935

Well . . . having E&O insurance, being certified and background screened (not necessarily by the NNA), I believe, is important in California. Most of the SS, TC's and escrow companies I work for require these things.

Reply by NCLisa on 11/12/07 9:54pm
Msg #220936

I'm not certified or background screened either. I work for a lot of companies that require those things of new notaries, but experience is far better than any certification!

Reply by Carmen/123 on 11/12/07 10:47pm
Msg #220944

I am in Los Angeles, Ca. And I have been doing this many years. I have worked with over 100+ title/escrow companies at one time or another. I have NEVER been asked for background screening or E&O from any Title company to date. In fact when I asked my clients about this they have no idea what I am talking about. Many of 123's members from Callie and other parts of the US report that they have never been asked either. The unfortunate truth is that the NNA tried to scare its members into this and it is evident that it worked.

~Carmen

Reply by CaliNotary on 11/12/07 10:57pm
Msg #220946

I'm in LA too, been doing this over 4 years. Never once asked for certification or background screening.

Reply by Carmi/CA on 11/13/07 12:11am
Msg #220956

Hmmm . . . that is weird. Almost all companies I work for ask if I have these things. Oh well. The main point of my post, though, is this person advertising that he or she will do a signing for $50 for up to 75 miles. I hope other notaries in my area will come together and come up with a minimum fee so SS, TC's and escrow companies will have no choice but to choose a notary that is closer not cheaper. :-)

Reply by CaliNotary on 11/13/07 3:32am
Msg #220960

"I hope other notaries in my area will come together and come up with a minimum fee"

I hope I'll wake up tomorrow and magically have six pack abs. My hope is slightly more realistic than yours.

Reply by C_in_OKC on 11/13/07 10:09am
Msg #220976

I once asked for six pack abs. I got keg abs instead.

Reply by BrendaTx on 11/13/07 6:44am
Msg #220962

**is this person advertising that he or she will do a signing for $50 for up to 75 miles. **

I understand, Carmi...there's a "seasoned" notary in Central Texas who will do a reverse mortgage signing for $85, 90 miles. Cheaper is not always better. The LO who originated that loan called me immediately and told me what a farce this notary was...that they were poor at business and not such a good notary signing agent either....talked too much. Almost like they'd take that cheap fee just to be able to get a stage for a "performance".

As far as getting together on fees...do a search here on on Google for the term "price fixing". Bad idea. Just be a better marketer.

Reply by Lora/FL on 11/13/07 9:25am
Msg #220973

You're not alone, Carmi, it happens everywhere-but in the end, you get what you pay for. Now, about those 6-pack abs...just where can I order those??? lol

Reply by Ralph Wedertz on 11/13/07 2:46pm
Msg #221024

Firstly, $50 is absurd. Hopefully they will just go out of business as gas prices rise.

Secondly, here in New Mexico, to sign ANY loans for Fidelity Title, you MUST have $100,000 E and O Insurance. I have to provide them a copy of my E&O Insurance bond.

Thirdly, I ASK people (when they call me for a signing and I don't know them) where they found me and they said they were searching only for Certified Signing Agents now, because of the massive incompetency of many so-called "notaries" that didn't know one document from another. I tell them my rates are a little higher, but they will get a perfectly signed loan every time. And they do come back.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 11/13/07 6:49pm
Msg #221056

If they only knew how little assurance that "certified" label actually affords - especially the much ballyhooed one from the NNA!! (jmho) I'd bet most of the folks advertising their certification are fresh out of a training class with very little experience. Of course, that would definitely beat a notary with no training whatsoever, but it doesn't mean that they actually know what they are doing. Those that know better are looking for experience more than anything else.

Couldn't agree more with your first point...