Posted by LisaWI on 9/19/07 4:21pm
Msg #212067

I Just Had a Thought.......

all that fuss that was made from companies that SA's had to have a BGC done in order to get work from certain companies really seems like a hoax now.

For the people who received one, they are probably suffering just as much as everyone else and are in the same ranks as everyone else. No better off than the rest of us.

So does it matter now that they have one? Did it make them immune to what is happening in the Signing biz because they have a BGC? Or is it bettering their chances on getting Signings today?

What are your thoughts?

Reply by WDMD on 9/19/07 4:27pm
Msg #212074

I went ahead and got one done through NotRot. To my knowledge it really has not made a difference, but that could be because companies would see I already had it done when they looked at my profile. Regardless, even if I didn't really need it at least it helps support this site. This is where the majority of my signings come from.

Reply by ReneeK_MI on 9/20/07 3:23am
Msg #212184

Good point ...

Despite biz being slower, I have had new clients who found me here and since the BGC logo IS highly visible - they wouldn't need to ask.

Reply by LJ on 9/19/07 4:28pm
Msg #212075

I have been very busy this entire year Without a BGC. When Jan 07 came, I thought I would play the wait and see game. It never has become an issue and I have never lost a job due to not having one, in fact, I have never even been asked if I had one. I would have done one if I was repeately asked or lost work because of it.

Reply by CaliNotary on 9/19/07 8:47pm
Msg #212152

Same thing here, I've never been asked once n/m

Reply by Charm_AL on 9/19/07 4:30pm
Msg #212077

Hi Lisa! Hope all is well. I have not had one done. It has not affected biz, as far as I know.
Never had the request of a company to get one either. It's just slowed for everyone, I'm hanging tough and marketing during the slow time that's been thrust upon us.

Reply by LisaWI on 9/19/07 4:38pm
Msg #212085

Re: I havent had one either

Hi Charm. Hangin' in there. Doing the same thing. Marketing and I found a new website that I really like. A real positive place in such a negative market.

Curious about those though that did have one and if it seems worthy with the way the market is now.

It seems to me the market slow down isnt prejudice.

Reply by Linda Spanski on 9/19/07 6:23pm
Msg #212117

No, and glad I didn't

One must pass the CA SOS's BGC in order to get commissioned. No one has ever asked me for more.

Reply by ToniK on 9/19/07 4:34pm
Msg #212080

Got one through NNA (being that I went through the training there) but my employment history for the last 5 years doesnt warrant me to spend money on a BGC. Being that I hold a security clearance and polygraph, to me that would be a waste of money getting a BGC.

Reply by HARRY_PA on 9/19/07 4:43pm
Msg #212093

I paid for a background check because one title company requested it just this month. Have not had a signing for them since. Just keeping my options open.

Harry

Reply by Teddog/CO on 9/19/07 4:42pm
Msg #212092

Lisa, my personal opinion is no. I feel like you do about BGC, just another way for "people" to make more money off notaries. Why one background check is not enough for some companies is beyond me. Anyone that tries to force notaries to use NNA for BGC or they can't work for them is just goofy. I have told people to take my information out of their system for that very reason. Poor SS's anyway, so no loss. If $200k in E&O and a BGC from another company is not enough that's just to darn bad. It has not effected my signings because I've been doing this a long time (or) I'm just lucky. lol
It is just very slow right now, not only for us but everyone in the USA. I do not know a business that is not suffering right now because of the state of the economy. Luckly that I started another business last year or I'de be starving to death. Sure glad I listened to that "little voice" and took the plunge.

Best Regards

Reply by Todd/OH on 9/19/07 4:44pm
Msg #212095

I paid a few $$ for a BGC. It didn't do great things for my business.

Reply by ReneeK_MI on 9/19/07 4:44pm
Msg #212096

I got one here ...

Back when the whole NNA BGC thing hit, we all had a fit about it and rallied for someone to give us an alternative source. So ... when that alternative source was provided, I signed up - more in support of the amount of effort it took to do that than any other reason. I was and am hugely grateful that Harry did that, and buying it was (I thought) the best way of saying "hey, thanks!"

I did have a general notary job where the woman printed out my listing from here and brought it with her. She showed it to me, pointed to the big check mark NP logo (the BGC logo) and she asked me what it was - so I told her. She said "Well, I didn't know what it was, but that's why I picked you - it looked so official and important." =)

Reply by PJM/MI on 9/19/07 5:14pm
Msg #212107

Re: I got one here ... ME TOO and..

Since I'm doing different "gigs" since the slow down, I've been able to use my BCG for them.

Reply by BetsyMI on 9/19/07 6:03pm
Msg #212113

Re: I got one here ... ME TOO and..

Had one new company I was signing up with ask for it on their application, but no others since I got the BGC in March.

Reply by cntrlcalntry on 9/19/07 7:50pm
Msg #212146

Re: I got one here ... ME TOO and..

I did the BGC and yes have had new business.

Reply by christiSocal on 9/19/07 10:25pm
Msg #212162

Only have had 1 ss ask

and that was servicelink. They do not give enough business/pay for me to do it for them. However, like Renee I want to support this site, so I will get it here at some point.
Thanks for asking the question Lisa, I was kinda wondering if that would help pick up business. On the whole, doesn't sound like it...

Reply by JanetK_CA on 9/20/07 2:17am
Msg #212179

I didn't get one either. The only companies that have asked me for one are those that have slashed their fees, so I didn't care. I'm not aware of having lost any business because of it, although I probably wouldn't have any way of knowing. However, as slow as it has seemed to me, from what I'm reading here, I guess I've been pretty lucky so far with my volume of business. (It's still no where near what it was last year.)