Posted by rengel/CA on 12/3/08 3:25pm
Msg #271030

Your profile needs to be truthful!

I was perusing notary profiles at ActiveRain and came across one that had this info in it:

"I am a Certified Notary Loan Signing Agent through the State of California, I also am Certified in Reverse Mortgages.

I am certified by the State of California School of Notary Publics and have GLB clearance through the National Notary Association."

Since when does the State of California certify loan signing agents? Sorry, it doesn't. I have a feeling that it is an NNA certification, which is NOT the State of California.
And the State of California School of Notary Publics? It is the California School of Notary Public - a private company, not the State of California.

Please get your facts straight before putting things like this in your profile, it really makes the public question if we all know what we are doing or not. But on the other hand, if your profile is so unprofessional, the rest of ours will stand out more!

My .02

Reply by JandB on 12/3/08 4:10pm
Msg #271038

He/she probably closed 50,000 loans in the last 12 months as well.

Reply by John_NorCal on 12/3/08 5:02pm
Msg #271045

**I have a feeling that it is an NNA certification, which is NOT the State of California. **

I believe you are correct. I know a Realtor who considered herself a "Certified Notary Public" when I told her there was no such thing she told me that she had been to an NNA class and that's what they told her. I asked her if they had also promised $50,000 a year in signings, she had no comment. Wonder why?

Reply by rengel/CA on 12/3/08 8:27pm
Msg #271054

I have also seen, "licensed" notary public. Licensed?????

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 12/3/08 9:34pm
Msg #271058

Yes... a lot of people call it that....

People refer to it as a Notary License, as if they would for a Real Estate Agent or something else. People have no idea that a commission is not that same as a license.

I explain it to people like this: A commission is an authority from a governing agency to act on their behalf. It's much like the idea of how a sheriff appoints a deputy, or how someone in the military is appointed to a new rank. A commission often comes with a charge to do something and often acts as a representative of the commissioning organization. A license, though, is simply permission to do something such as a business, real estate, doctor or drivers license. Someone with a license is not acting for any specific agency or authority, they simply have permission to act in a certain way or perform certain duties. They are not necessarily charged with any kind of duty per se.

I finish by explaining that's why (at least in CA) notaries are not allowed to turn down reasonable, legal requests for their services. Notaries are public officials who are appointed. Those with licenses are private individuals given permission to act in private enterprise.

When I took the new exam in October, I sat right in front of a woman who referred to it as a "notary license" and I just cringed. Too many people just consider it to be something it isn't.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 12/3/08 9:51pm
Msg #271061

Commission vs. License. Exactly, Marian. Public Service vs

Free Enterprise.

Thanks for your analysis.

Reply by MikeC/NY on 12/4/08 4:56pm
Msg #271131

In NY, the Dept. of Licensing controls the notary commissions, and the material you need to know for the test is called "Notary Public License Law". So, technically, we're both licensed AND commissioned here...

Reply by Alice/MD on 12/3/08 5:47pm
Msg #271046

Notary Public appointment in Maryland is based on their known good character, integrity and abilities. In the state of Maryland, a notary public is an officer of the state. The duties of a notary public is held to the same high standards of pubic trust as other appointed and elected state officials.

Your profile should reflect your true qualifications. I worry about this profession and where we are headed.

Reply by 101livescan on 12/4/08 1:14am
Msg #271067

The English major in me, not PUBIC trust, but PUBLIC trust....made me giggle. For years I typed for the City of Thousand Oaks, ordinances that were for the PUBIC safety, health, and welfare, that's why it flew off the screen at me, as this was way before Spell Check and FIND and REPLACE in Word.

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 12/3/08 6:15pm
Msg #271048

"Certified Notary Loan Signing Agent through the State of California"


Oh, dear.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 12/3/08 7:43pm
Msg #271049

This is really good stuff. I support busting the over-

staters, or resume-stretchers, fibbers, gullible Gurties, or, whatever they are.

I remember a call about five years ago from the owner of a service. She asked if I were "certified," and when I said "no," she said, "good." We both laughed and talked about the real world.

Just because the NNA keeps telling people they get "certified," doesn't make it any truer today than it was back when they hatched this scheme.

The BGC scheme isn't in stone either, thank goodness. Notice how the 'big clients' who 'demand' NNA-only BGCs never keep that restriction very long, or allow for refusals from the jump.

Great post!

Reply by Michelle/AL on 12/3/08 7:51pm
Msg #271050

Speaking of Profiles, Susan I just read yours...

I think it's great. Personal and Professional. But this is the shocker. You mean to tell me that you can't get a FedEx out after 2pm (or 1:45 or whatever your profiles says)? Unbeweaveable! I'm not saying you're lying. I'm just shocked! Does this mean you do more faxbacks than perhaps the rest of us? Does this also mean most of your appointments are in the morning? Do tell. An inquiring mind would like to know. Thanks.

Reply by GA/Atty on 12/3/08 8:51pm
Msg #271055

I hardly ever send the package out the day of the closing

even if it is a 10:00am appointment.

It's because I spend the day traveling to and doing the signings themselves, then in the late afternoon or evening or early the next morning, I complete the package, invoice and drop them. So they don't go out usually until the next day.

Lots of title companies act like the world might end if they don't receive the package back the day after the signing, but any of the ones that have ever given me any volume of work never raise a whisper about it (at least not anymore).

Reply by Susan Fischer on 12/3/08 9:44pm
Msg #271060

It's true. And nothing on weekends. Haven't seen a DHL in

a long time. (Well, UPS *can* provide Saturday service, the cost is outta sight.)

UPS has a 2:45 deadline, although sometimes, I can find a truck enroute somewhere in town until about 3 or so.

I don't do many fax-backs - I charge for scan 'n email backs. Faxes over 5 pages cost more.

Appointments are generally sun-up to sundown - I hate to drive at night anymore. I'll still do eves, because my little smart has great lighting and frog lights for added illumination, plus other goodies. I just hate the glare of oncoming lights.

I tell clients upfront that morning appts can ship same-day, afternoon ships next day. Ususally not a problem.

I love the rural life.

Reply by TRG_wy on 12/4/08 8:26am
Msg #271078

Re: This is really good stuff. - ...before the NNA

"Just because the NNA keeps telling people they get "certified," doesn't make it any truer today than it was back when they hatched this scheme."

Actually they didn't hatch this scheme. They bought the program from the company that did.

Their program was originally the product of National Association of Signing Agents out of Silverton Colorado. I ordered their program back in 1999 or 2000 to give it a look through. It was about two years later that the NNA announced that they had purchased the rights to the program and were adding it to their chest of services. Just in time for the big boom. That original course material is still collecting dust on my office shelf.

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 12/3/08 7:54pm
Msg #271051

I also wanted to add that I find it amazing that people stretch the truth with their rates. For example... and this is CA based:

"I charge the California-standard rate of $10 a signature..."

"The following fees are for the performance of basic notarial duties. These fees are set by the State of California..."

"State-regulated Notarization Fee, per signature: $10.00"


"We follow the strict guidelines and schedule of fees as established by the California Secretary of State"


And for a giggle...

"For mobile there will be the stranded notary service fee (the fee set by the California Secretary of State)"





The point being that they give the impression that the State has set the fee to $10, when in reality that's not exactly true. $10 is the maximum, but a notary can charge (or not charge) as much as he wants up to the maximum. But, when notaries start implying that $10 is *THE* fee mandated by the State (or SoS), then it makes me question their overall knowledge as a notary. It's not a terribly big distinction, but it is enough that it confuses people. It's the little things that make up a reputation.

Reply by jba/fl on 12/3/08 8:00pm
Msg #271052

This truly is a giggle, or three!

""For mobile there will be the stranded notary service fee (the fee set by the California Secretary of State)"
"

Reply by 101livescan on 12/4/08 1:17am
Msg #271068

Re: This truly is a giggle, or three!

STRANDED or STANDARD? he, he, it's late, I need to hit the sack.

Reply by Doris_CO on 12/3/08 8:01pm
Msg #271053

"For mobile there will be the stranded notary service fee (the fee set by the California Secretary of State)"

What is the "stranded" notary service fee in California? We probably could use something like that in Colorado, especially during a snowstorm. :-)

Reply by Sharon Taylor on 12/3/08 9:08pm
Msg #271056

How about number of closings done?

i.e. someone says they've done over 20,000 closings. So divide 20,000 by 20 years = 1,000 closings a year divided by say 325 days of work out of 365 a year = 3 closings a day.
Has that person been a mobile notary or working some job that required him/her to do closings for 20 years? Could that person really have managed 3 closings a day for 325 days every year for 20 years? OK, so sure not every day saw 3 closings, but if some days were less or none, then the number of closings on other days would have to increase to keep the total up.
What if the person has been a mobile notary for 15 years instead of 20? Or 10 years instead of 20? That is a LOT of closings on a very steady day after day basis.

Reply by Bob_Chicago on 12/4/08 12:28am
Msg #271065

I have been in this business for about 10 years, and have..

done approximately 16,000 signings. I believe that some Notroters
have done even more.

Reply by 101livescan on 12/4/08 1:18am
Msg #271069

Re: How about number of closings done?

That would be me, Sharon, and yes, many days there were 20 closings a day....people lined up out the door to get their documents signed. If they were five minutes late, they got "bumped" to another vacant slot, which might be at the end of the day.

Ah, yes, those were the days, my friend.

Reply by MichiganAl on 12/4/08 10:30pm
Msg #271150

I guess I'm one of those as well

I've averaged 1000 closings a year for more than five years.