Posted by Prosperity on 7/5/09 5:04pm
Msg #294667

Just Blowing Off Steam

Did a signing on Friday at a local Base in DC. Kind of thought I would need to go through extra security so I arrived about 20 minutes early. No extra instructions on Confirmation so thought it would be routine. Confirmation also did not have borrowers' number so along I went with blinders over my eyes. Got to the gate & was told I needed to call "my sponsorers". I found the number on the 1003 & was told the wife would be there to get me. She showed up about 15 minutes later & told me that I needed my driver's license, current car registration, and proof of insurance. My insurance card was old & they told me that I needed to provide proof that my insurance was current. Called my insurance company & had them fax. Fax came through blank. I called & asked them to fax again & it came through blank again. Security insisted that I was the fax & not their machine. Finally had to get the borrower take me to their home in her car b/c I could not drive onto base. All of this took about 40 minutes. To add to my misery, the borrowers signed an "illegible signature" but insisted it was their legal signatures. The TC was clear that the borrowers must "sign exactly as their names appeared". The borrowers would not budge. It did match the signatures on their drivers' licenses so I surrendered.

Reply by Ilene C. Seidel on 7/5/09 5:39pm
Msg #294669

You should be ok.
Are you joining us on the 16th at Coppin State College?
Let me know,

Reply by Prosperity on 7/5/09 5:44pm
Msg #294671

I can't come on the 16th. The whole thing is stressing me out & I don't stress out easily. I will call you.

Reply by parkerc/ME on 7/5/09 6:01pm
Msg #294674

Can sympathize with your military gate issue . . . I used to work on a base and when I go back on now, I make sure my car insurance card is my latest. Have had to go through the fax routine twice . . lesson learned. I also may end up with issues from the TC on the borrower's signature from a signing last week. When he signed, it looked almost like just his initials. At first doc, I reminded him that he needed to sign his name as typed on the docs, and he said that was his signature and sure enough his driver's license showed the same. Wonder if TC will come back to me with that issue. Silence will be golden!

Reply by Shoshana Roller on 7/5/09 6:15pm
Msg #294677

Sorry to hear about your security issues on the base. It's a good heads up for all of us.
About the signatures, I actually prefer the illegible ones. I will ask the signer if this says John Q Smith (as printed below the signature line)? They always say yes. Thus, if ever asked by a TC if this signature says John Q Smith, I can say yes. To date, l after almost seven years, I have never even been questioned once.

Reply by Bob_Chicago on 7/5/09 11:36pm
Msg #294700

Same practice and same result for over 11 years.

If name on dox is John S Smith and they sign J Simpson Smith,
I sugest that they get closer to writing out "John" , just to
avoid a resign

Reply by Regal/NC on 7/5/09 7:32pm
Msg #294678

Count your blessings....

That you weren't stop by the police and issued a ticket. Now you are aware of the procedures to enter the base. I would suggest you always call the borrower to confirm and verify location and any other things of interest. If the borrower states the signature given is their legal signature, then so be it. Hang in there, you did and great job and gained so wisdom along the way.

Reply by Linda Juenger on 7/5/09 8:38pm
Msg #294684

I live just outside a Air Force Base. It is always, always

such a hassle no matter the best laid plans. 2 weeks ago I was called to go on base. I accepted the assignment IF and only IF they met me at the visitor center. I was not going to go through the hassle of trying to get on. Been there, done that even with all required papers :license, ins card etc. We met at the visitor center and used a room there. Worked perfect. It also depends on what security level they are on that day and that could change in a heartbeat.

Reply by Teddog/CO on 7/6/09 5:12am
Msg #294704

Re: I live just outside a Air Force Base. It is always, always

Same here Linda and like you I learned the hard way years ago. They either meet at the visitor center or off base at any other location. You can waste hours of your time waiting in lines of traffic. Like you said the security levels can change in a heartbeat. Then they start closing gates leaving only one open. Talk about traffic jams. Yikes

Everyone have a great week

Reply by Stamper_WI on 7/6/09 7:38am
Msg #294708

Re: I live just outside a Air Force Base. It is always, always

I meet them at the visitor center. There's a copy machine there if they haven't made copies of thier ID's if required.
The few times I actually had to go into the base was confusing to me. I swear the guys at the gate send me off in the wrong direction on purpose. I was on base the first day of the Iraq war and was lost, so I asked a kid with a gps in his hand for directions and he said "Ma'm all I know is that I am in Wisconsin". His officer gave me directions which led to a patch of woods leading to a firing range. Soldiers came out of the woods with guns and stopped me. One finally gave me the right directions.
The other place I meet them if I have to go on base is the pizza restruant. All parties seem to know where that is including myself. Also there is one dorm that they have to carry their guns at all times. I have to meet them there.

Reply by Prosperity on 7/6/09 10:17am
Msg #294726

Funny n/m

Reply by Liz/OR on 7/6/09 8:22am
Msg #294714

Yeah, I HATE getting on the military bases n/m

Reply by MW/VA on 7/6/09 5:08pm
Msg #294787

That's a lot of extra hassle. We are a huge military area. I'm not military & don't have a pass.
I don't meet with the borrowers on base, and we always meet outside the gates. I'm sure there are others in the area that have base access & provide that service. I had only one situation where a guy was restricted to base for disiplinary reasons & had to go through a lot of red tape to get some divorce docs signed. Never again.