Posted by mtnotary on 11/21/08 1:08pm
Msg #270237

Are they serious?

I have to do a signing for a company that I have worked a long time for. There is a new form entitled out of office Notary. They want a copy of my journal sheet that I did todays notary on a copy of my stamp and for me to sign a piece of paper giving them authority to change my notary if there should be any problems.
They also want a copy of the borrowers drivers licenses. Ok that part I will do.
But I am not giving them a copy of today's journal nor a copy of my stamp nor my ok to change my notary if I make a mistake.
I have been a Notary for manyyears as well as a Signing Agent chances are pretty good that I am not going to make a Notary mistake.
Have you ever seen this form and how did you handle the situation?

Reply by Tonya Washington on 11/21/08 1:27pm
Msg #270240

I've just read an article yesterday and I got a bulletin on giving someone a copy of your stamp. The suggestion was to tell them no. This is was the article said: "You should never affix your seal to anything other than certificate wording —whether preprinted or a loose certificate attached to a notarized document — that has been properly signed, completed and notarized. Not only is it against the law in some states to use a seal for anything other than a formal notarization, but the seal impression could be copied or used to commit fraud. "

Also, a pending case: The Notarial seal of a Philadelphia Notary has been copied and used on acknowledgments of forged deeds. Five forged deeds have been discovered to date. The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office has been notified and an investigator has been assigned to work on the case.

On all 5 deeds, the buyer's name is Sherese Brown. The notary seal used on the acknowledgments is in the name of Philip Polizzi as a witness and the Notary. The actual person "Philip Polizzi" has nothing to do with the forgeries.

Just my opinion....

Reply by MW/VA on 11/21/08 1:36pm
Msg #270241

What an outrageous request! You will, of course, tell them "no can do". What they asking for isn't legal. Some companies tried to ask for an "extra" blank acknowledgment for a while. You know your notary laws & have to adhere to them. We learn a very important lesson that tc's & ss may ask us to do something illegal (like backdating) but it will fall on us because we're on the ones breaking our notary laws. It is your commission & reputation that's at stake. Why not send them a copy of the excerpt of the law that says you can't provide a copy of your notary stamp & a copy of your journal.

Reply by Lee/AR on 11/21/08 1:54pm
Msg #270249

My POV...

I take this to be a 'test'. The dumb ones comply; the smart ones ignore. Ignoring makes it just go away. No harm. No foul. No wasted time.

Reply by JandB on 11/21/08 2:32pm
Msg #270257

The journal and agreement to alter the acknowledgment are beyond stupid. I have given lenders a stamp but I always deface it with a couple of lines through it. I figure if they want my stamp, all they have to do is create some dumb document and attach an acknowledgment to it. I'm so used to dumb documents I wouldn't think twice. Besides, anybody can have a stamp made. I get mine at Staples. They don't ask for proof I am a notary.

Reply by HKB on 11/21/08 2:40pm
Msg #270259

I had mine made through Staples too, they told me that they will send it for verification and then make the stamp. They also asked for a copy of my commission to send with the stamp request.

Reply by davidK/CA on 11/21/08 2:48pm
Msg #270261

Once again CA leads the way (maybe). To get a Notary Public Seal (the rubber stamp that shows your name, the words California notary Public, your commission number, the date of expiration and the County you registered in along with the State Seal of CA) you have to get a letter of authorization to print a seal from the CA SOS and then send the letter to an authorized seal manufacturer (such as Notary Rotary) who then produces the seal.

The seal contains a code on the left edge that indicates who manufactured the seal so it can be traced back to the manufacturer. No authorization letter, no seal.

Theoretically it makes it difficult to create a fake seal, but of course if someone really wants to do that it can be done with regular rubber stamp making equipment. Fake name, fake commission number, etc and you are a fake Notary. Just like being an illegal alien and driving without a license in a car without insurance. Easy to do.

Reply by Derrick/MT on 11/21/08 2:52pm
Msg #270263

Peggy, I would just ignore the request and if they press you on it send them a copy of notary stamp with a line through it. When it comes to wanting a copy of your log sheet you can always make a copy of it and black out all the other peoples info photo copy it and send it in that way. Of course the request for your promission to alter your notarization is stupid on there part. If you do make a mistake they will be quick to ask for a loose acknowledgement.

Reply by LKT/CA on 11/21/08 4:45pm
Msg #270275

The way I handle situations where company personnel make requests (after a too many alcoholic drinks)....is NOT to ignore the requests but to respond with the law, that way they know that their requests are being denied based on the law....

Reply by Ernest__CT on 11/21/08 4:53pm
Msg #270278

NO WAY! ABSOLUTELY NOT. n/m

Reply by mtnotary on 11/21/08 6:54pm
Msg #270294

Well besides not doing the request (other than a copy of borrowers ids) I drew a line through it and told them no can do in Montana.
Hope they get the message. I was just amazed that they would even ask.

Reply by jba/fl on 11/21/08 8:35pm
Msg #270299

"I was just amazed that they would even ask."

Why? I see 18-20 yr. olds out trick or treat-ing, but I am not amazed they would ask. Goes back to "Ask and you will receive" which goes along with "nothing ventured, nothing gained". Someone will do it "just this once" and that is enough for those who are too lame to apply ethics and scruples to their business plans and/or lives.

This country is so screwed up in their attitudes and expectations - anything goes anymore for some.

Well, another whole conversation....

Reply by MistarellaFL on 11/21/08 8:41pm
Msg #270303

Julie, I wonder if I could get away with that

Trick or treating, that is.
I am a chocaholic, and can't really afford my vice.
Under the new admisnistration, maybe the little ones will have to give me a portion of theirs.
Maybe not........

Reply by jba/fl on 11/21/08 8:43pm
Msg #270304

of course Misty, best to send your grandkids out

then declare all chocolate "unfit, tampered with, spoiled, package damaged and ortampered" - you get the drift...

Reply by MistarellaFL on 11/21/08 8:57pm
Msg #270306

Been there done that

The 3 oldest won't go for it...they're too smart already.
Best I can expect is all the Mounds and Almond Joys.
They don't care for coconut, yet, but I love it.

Reply by jba/fl on 11/21/08 8:59pm
Msg #270307

Better put choc on your Christmas list then... n/m

Reply by Ilene C. Seidel on 11/22/08 1:51pm
Msg #270341

I wouldn't give anyone the authority to correct my work. I would think the Dept that issues the commission would frown on it too. Actually a company in the past asked me to sign a release to change errors I drew a line thru it and didn't address it with them. They got the picture.

Reply by PAW on 11/23/08 7:11am
Msg #270363

Changing a notarial certificate is a violation of FL Statute

F.S.A. §117.107(7) and §117.107(8)