Posted by Bob_Chicago on 10/1/09 6:08pm
Msg #305867

Went to a local currency exchange to get a document

notarized regarding my Mom's estate.
After I signed the doc and passed it into the cage, she notarized the doc
without looking at it, which was ok with me.
She copied down my DL info in a journal. Even though, not required by
Il law, I did not object.
I did object when she proceeded to make a copy of the notarized doc together with my DL.
Asked why she was doing that. She said the "It is required"
I replied, "By whom?" She said "My Boss".
The doc contained significant personal info including account #s, my address ,
Phone # , my mom's and my SS #.
After a brief, though heated discussion, she returned the copy to me.
I was prepared to call the police, but thankfully , that was not necessary.

Reply by Michelle/AL on 10/1/09 6:32pm
Msg #305868

Wow! I wonder where she keeps all those copies?

Is it under lock & key? What's her disposal policy? Shredder? Incinerator? Man-o-man, if the wrong hands get a hold of that information she's maintaining. Hmmm....scary stuff.

Reply by MW/VA on 10/1/09 6:47pm
Msg #305871

Are you reporting it to your SOS?

Reply by Bob_Chicago on 10/1/09 8:35pm
Msg #305880

Are you reporting it to your SOS?

Saw no reason to report.
What she wanted ot do is neither prohibited nor required.
Very secure location and did not think that they were doing it for an evil purpose.
She did not even know what doc contained as she never read it.
Apparently they do it routinly if there are ?? later.
Just did not want it done with my doc, especially this one.
Seldom need anything notarized and I'll just go somewhere else next time.

Reply by CopperheadVA on 10/2/09 6:14am
Msg #305899

Re: Are you reporting it to your SOS?

This same thing happened to me when I went to my local bank to have my signature notarized on a permission to travel document for a trip my daughter was taking last summer with her youth group.

The bank did not want to make a copy of the doc, but they did want to make a copy of my driver's license to "keep on file". Of course they told me this after the notarization was completed (well, not quite complete, the bank notary failed to notice that venue was not on the form and she did not write it in; she also failed to give me the oath for jurat) and this request for copy was after the bank notary had already given my D/L back to me.

I asked what do you need this for, since it's not required by the state and I'm not comfortable with you keeping a copy of my license for this purpose (she had already written my D/L in her log, which is not required in VA but I also keep a log so good for her on that one). Was told "it's bank policy". I refused, and asked her how we were to proceed? She consulted with her manager and then they decided not to press it any further.

I did contact my secretary of state notary division, and expressed my concern with this policy. I was told that notaries are encouraged to keep a record of their notarial acts, and if this was the way the notary chose to do so, that was the notary's prerogative. The SOS then went on to say that perhaps I should ask the notary about this prior to having them notarize my signature. Well, that's all well and good but that would never have occurred to me, especially since another notary at my bank has notarized my signature several times before and not even used a journal.

Personally, I feel it's the notary's responsibility to tell the signer BEFORE the transaction if they will be requiring a copy of my D/L to "keep on file". Then the signer may make the decision to allow it or go somewhere else.

Reply by Bob_Chicago on 10/2/09 9:10am
Msg #305913

I was far more concerned about her attempt to keep a

copy of the signed and notarized doc, which had a bunch of
personal info.
I don't require a copy of DLs at signings, unless reqd by lender/TC,
but if bwr has one I will take it after checking original
Never had a bwr claim later that they did not sign dox, but it is evidence
that I was with someone who had the original license and signed just like
the DL signature.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 10/2/09 2:13pm
Msg #305936

Re: I was far more concerned about her attempt to keep a

A thumbprint and signature in a journal will accomplish the same thing and I think would be much more difficult to misuse. Seems to me that that's the whole purpose of a journal - to record enough information to prove what took place. The personal contents of another person's document should be none of our business, so I totally agree with you, Bob. However, I don't like the idea of someone keeping a file full of copies of DLs, either. If a particular document ends up in court, a comparison between the signature in the journal and what is on the DL could then be done. (I also on take copies if requested to do so.

Just because it's at a bank wouldn't give me much more comfort with those types of copies being kept. I would feel like that was a flagrant invasion of privacy.