Posted by Leon_CO on 12/4/08 8:17am
Msg #271075

I'm certified. But I'm not certified.

I have parted ways with a large notary organization because of practices which I consider unethical and monopolistic.

I passed their recertification exam back in March 2008. My certification is valid until April 2010. But if you view my profile on their signing agent website it will indicate that I am NOT certified.

Why?

Because my background screening through them expired in the meantime. They have called me on the phone twice offering to renew my background screening. Each time I told them no. To them it doesn't matter if you have a background screening through another company.

What this means is that you will have to get their entire package in order to be recognized as a certified notary signing agent. That means 1) membership dues to their organization each year 2) membership in the signing agent section each year 3) certification test every 2 years, and 4) background screening (through them) every 2 years. That's a lot of money in dues.

It's like that song, 'You can't have one without the other.' And they are capitalizing on it.

My membership in their organization expires in January 2009. My membership in the signing agent section expires in February 2009.

My thinking is: What is the point in renewing my membership if they won't recognize me as being certified unless I have a background screening through them?

If you are a title company or signing service, you should know that there are a lot of qualified loan closers who don't belong to that organization, and don't have a background screening through that organization. Don't hold that against them when you need someone to close your loans.

Reply by Negrete on 12/4/08 8:19am
Msg #271076

I never have and never will Leon.

Wait, someone might construe this a being advertising if I post here.

Anthony J Negrete

Reply by TRG_wy on 12/4/08 8:52am
Msg #271081

Right on point Leon. Same situation here.

I have decided not to renew anything there this time around. The re-certification test is a joke in itself. There were at least five questions that required an incorrect answer to get it correct and trying to get them to fix it was a joke.

As someone who works everyday doing this, I am more on top of anything new than they are. I am more familiar with my state requirements than they are.

My BGC and E&O are better spent here. I can see the need for E&O but having to go through recurring BGC's to satisfy some make believe requirement is beyond me.

Reply by Cheryl Anderson on 12/4/08 9:54am
Msg #271085

I agree as well. However, in my case, it took them nearly 6 months to post my complete profile, after many emails and phone calls, they finally got it right...without proration, then 1 month before my expiration date, they removed my entire profile because I didn't "renew."

Reply by Claudine Osborne on 12/4/08 10:01am
Msg #271086

I am certified with another forum, my background screening is thru Not Rot and E&O yet another place (share the wealth ) I received an email this am from LSI that they will accept this background screening!

The cost of getting all of this things is expensive and I try to find the best deals for myself!

Reply by JanetK_CA on 12/4/08 4:30pm
Msg #271129

Recommendations to NNA

<<As someone who works everyday doing this, I am more on top of anything new than they are. I am more familiar with my state requirements than they are.>>

Excellent points! I dare say that the majority of the best on this site feel the same way. As I've intimated many times before, I think they shot themselves in the foot with this policy by alienating the best of the best. Their plan seems to be directed to the lowest common denominator, rather than encouraging excellence, as they would have you believe.

I was certified with them once, before I ever did my first signing. There's no way any reasonable person would believe that I was better qualified then than I am now after six years of experience, with no NNA certification!

Off the top of my head, here are a couple of suggestions to the NNA if they care a hoot about winning back tons of old-timers as members :

* Hire someone who knows how to manage a data base and keep it accurate and current.
* Unbundle requirements for individual memberships, services and certifications.
* Get rid of so-called "minimum" fee standards and acknowledge that expertise has value.
* Eliminate deceptive marketing practices.
* Improve quality of help-desk, especially in relation to differing state laws.

I think it's reasonable to assume that if many of us hadn't been so disillusioned with their business practices over the years, we'd have a different attitude about membership. I would probably reconsider their basic membership for the magazine, the signing agent section, if the database was managed better and worked differently and who knows what else. I'm sure there would be lots of notaries (probably most outside of CA) who would be interested in their BGC service if they didn't need to get squeezed with all the memberships and recertifications.

As for the "recertification", I can see that they wish to have some way to separate out those who just took a test, then put the book on the shelf and never did anything. (And I'd bet there are thousands out there.) But surely there is a better way than having to re-buy everything each time at the full fee. Even if they had a short, timed on-line exam (that would be easy to administer) and a modest renewal fee, I feel it would be better received.

I'm sure that many of you could add to the list. Of course, the problem is that they apparently don't care a hoot. Oh, well...

Reply by Les_CO on 12/4/08 10:18am
Msg #271088

I too used to be a certified member of the NNA... I am no longer. In my opinion the NNA has done more to hurt the "Signing Agent" business than the recent economic turndown. It is an organization driven by greed alone.

Reply by Ernest__CT on 12/4/08 11:15am
Msg #271091

Well said, Leon! n/m

Reply by Claudine Osborne on 12/4/08 10:05pm
Msg #271149

Re: Well said, Leon!

Well said Janet.

I do believe the NNA has gotten rid of the "suggested fee schedule" I could not find it..(I'm certain if someone finds it they will let me know!)