Posted by 101livescan on 8/1/09 2:48pm
Msg #298354

Argh! CA notary Commission Renewal Snag

Any one else having issues getting commission renewed in CA? I took the test on April 20, 2009 (I actually instructed the class too). Had my passport photo, my certificate and completed the application, paid the $40. Yesterday, July 31, 2009, I'm thinking I have not received my commission in the mail. I call the SOS Notary Division Office and hold for 10 minutes to get to a real live person. I tell them when I took the test. I'm on hold while they look for my application, can't find it. FFS!! Probably in someone's inbox that doesn't even work there any more with all the staff cuts.

I went to the post office this morning and mailed duplicate application, certificate and passport photo via Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested.


Can you believe this noise? Anyone else having this issue. Geez, I've been a notary for eons, where the heck can my original package be. So April 20 to now, 3 and one half months, and still no results...They did mail my test score to me! They have to have that much information in their files.

Reply by LKT/CA on 8/1/09 3:06pm
Msg #298357

Someone said that you will get the new commission 30 days before the current one expires. When I send something to the SOS without it being certified, I never hear back from them and no one at the SOS knows where my paperwork is when I call. If I send it certified, I get results.

Reply by Shoshana Roller on 8/1/09 3:10pm
Msg #298359

I just drive to Phoenix (about 30 minutes away) and personally submit it!

Reply by 101livescan on 8/1/09 3:43pm
Msg #298361

I can't get very excited about getting into my car and driving to Sacramento to hand deliver my application, photo and certificate, but I did send certified. We'll see what kind of results I get next week. Looking for that executed receipt by Friday, but I'll call on Wednesday any way, give them a day to look into it. The number of notaries renewing has dropped significantly, as well as the number of new notaries, in CA. Most people don't want the responsibility.

Reply by Shoshana Roller on 8/1/09 3:07pm
Msg #298358

Move to AZ! It's only 4-6 weeks. Better yet, pay $25 to expedite it and you'll get it in about 3 -5 days!

Reply by 101livescan on 8/1/09 3:45pm
Msg #298362

I would be parched like a dried up leaf if I lived in that weather. This Norsky can't handle heat, even 80 degree weather is difficult for me....I'm always in the shade with misters running over head!

Reply by John_NorCal on 8/1/09 3:46pm
Msg #298364

I renewed mine this past April. The first passport type photo I submitted had the a blue instead of white background so I had to change the background to white courtesy of my photoshop. You would have thought that the person at the test site would have told me that. I did receive the new commission 30 days before my expiration date. I hope they find your paperwork.

Reply by John_NorCal on 8/1/09 3:47pm
Msg #298365

Make that: I hope they don't lose your paperwork! n/m

Reply by Grace Gully on 8/1/09 7:22pm
Msg #298373

Same thing here, I took the class and test on 8/13/08, commission expired 03/09. Received the pass notice via email one week after testing, I didn't get my commission by mid of Feb. sent a letter no response. Half ticked off I sent a certified letter end of Feb. I received my commission on March 5, nine days before I expire. Good Luck!

Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 8/1/09 9:05pm
Msg #298379

Commission Time

Lately (the last 3 months) CA notary commissions have been coming approx 4-5 weeks after passing the test. That assumes that you had your fingerprints taken at class or very soon after and your photo is good and application & fingerprints pass muster.

We lost 32,000 notaries in 2008 and I won't be surprised if we lose another 30 thousand in 2009.

One detail: for CA notaries who are renewing after July 1, 2009, he/she will only have to take a 3 hour classroom/or home study course instead of the 6 hour program.

Reply by RickG/CA on 8/1/09 9:34pm
Msg #298380

Re: "lost 32,000 notaries" = just trimming the fat!!! n/m

Reply by LKT/CA on 8/1/09 10:00pm
Msg #298382

Re: Commission Time

<<<We lost 32,000 notaries in 2008 and I won't be surprised if we lose another 30 thousand in 2009.>>>

Most likely the get-rich-quick crowd left, as did those who couldn't pass the DOJ/FBI checks. Oh well, more for us!

Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 8/1/09 10:46pm
Msg #298384

Re: Commission Time

I'll make a statement here and will be held accountable by members of this board, that I think CA will loose another 20,000+ notaries in 2010.

There is very little interest in becoming a CA notary and less in becoming a loan signer.

Reply by CH2inCA on 8/2/09 12:05am
Msg #298387

Re: Commission Time

ISHHH!!

I feel somewhat selfish because I'm glad to hear that!
I'll need to renew 2011, so I'm just beginning but I'm practically fixated on being a 'master' NSA! I guess I'm a little relieved that maybe all this hard work will have a market...

Ever hopeful, yep that's me.

:0)

Reply by JanetK_CA on 8/2/09 5:15pm
Msg #298404

Re: Commission Time

I think you have a point, Joan. I'm still meeting other notaries on a regular basis, however the ones who are just becoming a notary are now more likely doing so because of an on-the-job need. And more and more often, I'm meeting people who have been notaries for a while who have decided to not renew. That is usually because of some combination of increased fees, difficulty and liability.

Frankly, I think that is probably a good thing in a couple of ways. One of the places I recently met someone who just took the exam was in a law office to notarize some estate plan related docs. I mentioned to the attorney that the acknowledgment verbiage would need to be changed to reflect legal changes and he was surprised. He said that he had had other notaries help him before and no one else had mentioned it! These changes went into affect 1 1/2 years ago! Too many people have casually decided to get their notary commission just for convenience and haven't made the effort to keep their knowledge fresh and current.

Secondly, these changes will only mean increased business for those left who DO take their responsibilities seriously and conduct themselves professionally. Unfortunately, I'm sure that many will still be persuaded by XYZ to fork over money for training and materials that they will seldom, if ever, use. Hopefully, the majority of the population will be better off as a result.

Reply by ME/NJ on 8/2/09 9:13am
Msg #298391

2 years ago CA lead the nation with Notariies

There were 5/notaries per block avg in CA.. And you wonder why people will work for 40/bucks a shot. No need to travel far if a company looks hard enough and I bet someone will work cheap (always do no matter the area)

Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 8/2/09 9:40pm
Msg #298423

We have always had the fewest per capitia in the U.S.

For instance Florida has more total notaries than CA. Fl has approx 18 million population and CA has 38 million.

Reply by ME/NJ on 8/2/09 10:25pm
Msg #298425

Joan same line you used 4 years ago..Bunch of BS then n now.

Post from Joan 2005.....

What makes you think we have too many notaries in Calif. when we have the lowest per capita ratio in the U.S.

We have 1 notary per 146 people in Calif in July 2005 compared to New York that has 1 notary for every 73 in that state and in Florida there is one notary for every 57 people and to take it to the most overpopulated notary state look at Kansas that has a notary for every 22 people.

The reason we have so few notaries in Calif. is we have to take a 6 hour course study/classroom and we have to pass the most difficult test in the United States. The notaries that are whinning about too many notaries in Calif. don't know how to market themselves.
Please explaim to me how we can have the fewest notaries per capita in the U.S. and be over saturated?

Reply by ME/NJ on 8/2/09 10:32pm
Msg #298426

link to 2005 post

http://www.notaryrotary.com/archive/forum/2005/August/Decision_to_become_a_notary.html

Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 8/4/09 12:13am
Msg #298594

It's 2009 what did I say that isn't true in my post in 2005?

Since 2008 we have to have our fingerprints taken every 4 years and a passport type photo attached to our application.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 8/4/09 6:22pm
Msg #298689

Re: We have always had the fewest per capitia in the U.S.

As anyone who has read the whole thread linked by ME/NJ could hopefully get, the issue of over-saturation in certain areas has never been about the number of notaries, but about the number of NSAs.

Further, as long as there is a steady stream of newbies being enticed into this business, there will always be a supply of people to be taken advantage of by the likes of companies like SOX, 21st Century (and too many others to mention). This allows them to stay in business and continue their unethical business practices. That's not something I'd want to be a party to.