Posted by JLG/CA on 12/9/10 1:34pm
Msg #364475

are you "just a notary?"

while there are numerous things that separate a professional from a rookie, a major one is taking your business seriously.

i have recently received nasty grams from a few signing agents demanding payment. lengthy emails, carefully worded and threatening. upon review of each payment request, i not only locate a payment sent months ago but also that the check had been cashed by the signing agent. i find it inexcusable to have such poor record keeping, especially when there are free accounting software options out there.

what software are most of your using to track your appointments and payments? i'm currently using quickbooks pro 2010 and i find it really helpful, but as a bookkeeping professional i use far more features than most.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 12/9/10 2:16pm
Msg #364481

Who are you?

And what does bookkeeping have to do with "just a notary"...

Just curious...

Reply by JLG/CA on 12/9/10 3:05pm
Msg #364490

Re: Who are you?

Hi Linda, I'm a notary located in California. Full time I manage a bookkeeping and tax firm.
Bookkeeping relates to running a business. If you're business is offering notary services, bookkeeping is an essential part of your business to track money you're owed and track expenses. If you take your business seriously, you maintain accurate records. This separates those in this line of work as professionals instead of someone who is "just a notary".

Reply by sueharke on 12/12/10 1:47pm
Msg #364772

Re: Who are you?

I am a CPA and mobile notary. Depending on the size of the business, the type of accounting records vary. I personally used an excel spreadsheet for several for notary work as it contained all the necessary information for the IRS and state taxing agencies to show income and expense. I also kept the supporting records for the income and expense.

Now I am using Peachtree 2010 as it does the same as excel, but produces better financial statements timely. I don't use Quickbooks for my business accounting as it is a good program when you know how to use it properly. I have seen a lot of bad results from good attempts at records keeping using Quickbooks because the user did not understand how to use the program properly.

The IRS record keeping rule is that the records match the size of the business and record the income and expenses. They do not say the accounting records must be computerized.

Reply by John Tennant on 12/9/10 4:50pm
Msg #364505

Linda, she is n/m

Reply by John Tennant on 12/9/10 4:57pm
Msg #364506

Re: Linda, she is - oops too soon

Jessica is listed as working in the settlement department, in San Diego, for Direct Settlement Services. As far as managing a bookkeeping and tax firm, she is not listed by the State of California as a registered CRTP. She is listed with NOTROT as a non-premier member. Why she posted this is beyond me.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 12/9/10 5:24pm
Msg #364510

AAhh...I know who this is...thanks John n/m

Reply by JLG/CA on 12/9/10 6:42pm
Msg #364536

Re: AAhh...I know who this is...thanks John

i find it unusual that people here feel that they know who i am, like i'm hiding it and they know all about me. there are some false presumptions, but i guess that's game we're all playing.

Reply by JLG/CA on 12/9/10 6:25pm
Msg #364523

Re: Linda, she is - oops too soon

i am not a registered crtp and i also don't prepare taxes since i'm not certified to do so. i work with a cpa attorney whom is a crtp in my area. i'm working on my enrolled agent designation, but testing doesn't re-open until may 2011.

i was laid off from direct settlement in may...thank you! oh, i never suffered as much abuse at any job i've ever worked for as i had for this company.

the post was just my opinion, i believe we're all entitled to that.

Reply by Donna McDaniel on 12/9/10 5:31pm
Msg #364511

A/K/A Mrs. Josef Fox owner of Performance Closings. n/m

Reply by JLG/CA on 12/9/10 6:18pm
Msg #364520

Re: A/K/A Mrs. Josef Fox owner of Performance Closings.

a little presumptious to label me as mrs. josef fox. my legal name is grisafi, which is my maiden and was restored after my divorce from james west. i'm not currently married.

Reply by Donna McDaniel on 12/9/10 6:39pm
Msg #364532

Re: A/K/A Mrs. Josef Fox owner of Performance Closings.

http://registry.weddingchannel.com/cs/searchresults.action?auid=950&ainfo=search_box&cr=registry_search&sec=navbar&fu=http%3A%2F%2Fregistry.weddingchannel.com%2Fcs%2Fsearchresults.action&et=10&st=wc&cm_mmc=Affiliate-_-WC-_-Search-_-Reg&pageidoverride=guest&incoming_div=1&rfn=Josef&rln=Fox&x=14&y=8

Reply by Donna McDaniel on 12/9/10 6:43pm
Msg #364537

Hit enter too soon..what are the odds? n/m

Reply by JLG/CA on 12/9/10 6:49pm
Msg #364539

thank you for that donna...

i didn't realize that my personal life would be interesting enough to be dragged into this forum. it's really not appropriate, either but i'm not responsible for you desicion making.

Reply by Tess on 12/9/10 6:56pm
Msg #364543

Re: In some ways you are correct, but if someone comes on

here and lies about who they are, it then become more then relevant!

Reply by JLG/CA on 12/9/10 7:02pm
Msg #364545

Re: In some ways you are correct, but if someone comes on

where was i lying about whom i am?

donna located a wedding website with a wedding date of march 2011. since we haven't reached that date, i'm not mrs. josef fox.

Reply by Tess on 12/9/10 7:22pm
Msg #364547

Re: That is a technicality correct, but you were and are

still connected with SSs who have problems paying us NSAs on time, which makes it look bad when you omitted that info. Even if you get blasted, you should state what company you represent up front!

Reply by JLG/CA on 12/9/10 8:27pm
Msg #364549

Re: That is a technicality correct, but you were and are

I think my clients have a right to privacy, regardless of my relationship status with an officer of a ss. I'm not their employee.

Reply by Donna McDaniel on 12/9/10 9:37pm
Msg #364562

Re: thank you for that donna...

I searched you because you were going on about getting nasty grams from SAs saying they were not paid and when asked who you were, your answer was vague. If it turned out you were just a notary and not so condescending in your first post, I would have left it alone.
I am one of those notaries your future spouse and his company lied to, ignored, and put off paying for 4 months. That's inappropriate!

Reply by JLG/CA on 12/10/10 10:50pm
Msg #364672

Re: thank you for that donna...

i believe everyone is entitled to their privacy and opinion. it's not my mission to research the posters on this forum and put them on blast. regardless of my relationship, a client is a client. i have to uphold a certain level of confidentiality or risk losing their business or being sued.

i post because i feel my experience as a signing agent, escrow officer and bookkeeper can provide insight to those seeking advice for running their business. i believe that is why many posters are on here, too.

i'm not going to make excuses for his company. i agree that it's inappropriate for you to wait 4 months to receive payment. it's my goal to improve the company's payment process.

Reply by CopperheadVA on 12/9/10 2:32pm
Msg #364483

The same could be said for some signing services. I don't work for many signing services, but today, yet again, I received a check from a SS that was shorted. I guess most of the SS are used to writing $100 checks for their jobs, but I charge more than that and the confirmation they sent says the agreed-upon amount. So why can't the SS keep track of the correct amount that they are supposed to pay me when they write the check?

That said, I always contact SS in a polite and business-like manner.

Reply by MW/VA on 12/9/10 2:51pm
Msg #364488

Yep, works both ways--good & bad in everything. n/m

Reply by JLG/CA on 12/9/10 3:06pm
Msg #364491

I agree completely. That's one of my selling points to new clients. You would be surprised how this important function is overlooked

Reply by James Dawson on 12/9/10 4:07pm
Msg #364499

I am "just a notary" because I don't use software to keep track of the fact you didn't pay me what we agreed upon. Baring a "glitch" in the software, it is the person doing the data input making the payment error for the amount agreed to. BTW, What software says to pay someone 30 days after you've been paid?

Reply by JLG/CA on 12/9/10 6:31pm
Msg #364526

i'm sorry if you misunderstood my post, but i wasn't indicating that because you don't use software to do your accounting that your "just a notary."

you're a pretty frequent poster on here, definitely a seasoned professional. you must have a system you use to track the work you've done and when you're paid or not.

Reply by jba/fl on 12/9/10 6:38pm
Msg #364530

"you must have a system you use to track the work you've done and when you're paid or not. "

Sure - 2 shoeboxes - one paid, one unpaid. Stacked in date order. When unpaid stack over 30 days, grab those invoices and start hounding, then when paid, attach check stub and move to Paid stack.

Easy, peasy - what could be more simple?

Reply by JLG/CA on 12/9/10 6:51pm
Msg #364541

shoe boxes work just fine! isn't that how accounting originated? data was organized so it could be easily searched.

Reply by Stoli on 12/9/10 4:39pm
Msg #364501

Yeah, me too, James.

I’m just a notary because the Secretary of State says so, not because I don’t use your approved software. I can tell you I’m the Emperor of Japan, but it wouldn't necessarily be so, now would it?

Reply by Donna McDaniel on 12/9/10 4:48pm
Msg #364504

Frankly, how I run my business is none of your business.

I guess I'm not the only one who finds this post insulting. Are you an SS or not? And if you are, do you owe me money????

Reply by bagger on 12/9/10 5:14pm
Msg #364509

Re: Frankly, how I run my business is none of your business.

Well, sounds like her 60 second elevator speech flopped.
Bad sales pitch when you insult the buyer.

Reply by JLG/CA on 12/9/10 6:32pm
Msg #364527

Re: Frankly, how I run my business is none of your business.

who said i was selling anything?

Reply by JLG/CA on 12/9/10 6:38pm
Msg #364531

Re: Frankly, how I run my business is none of your business.

it's an opinion, just like you are expressing now. definitely not directed at a particular person. if you don't want to contribute to how you keep your records, you don't have to.

no i'm not a ss, i've mentioned before that i do bookkeeping for a ss.

Reply by Rhonda Luna on 4/7/11 7:16pm
Msg #379092

Re: Frankly, how I run my business is none of your business.

So JLG are you the bookkeeper for your husband to be J Fox's signing company? If so, I am owed for two opened invoices that were promised by your so called hubby to be on 3/19/11 to be sent out via Wells Fargo Bank Checks.

Since you use such a great software system can you make it happen?

Thank you!

Reply by Tess on 12/9/10 5:35pm
Msg #364512

Re: Bad heading to start with. :)



You are correct though about looking professional, verses looking like an idiot when it comes to your business. Just remember anyone, software or not can make mistakes. As one who gets the calls, you must decide if it was a one time mistake or just sloppy accounting on their part. Either way they owe you an apology if they did indeed receive and cash it, or you need to investigate it further with the bank if they say they absolutely did not.

Reply by Linda Juenger on 12/9/10 5:51pm
Msg #364514

Re: Bad heading to start with. :)

Just today I received a check in the mail for a closing that I did not do. I was orginally scheduled to do it, but it got postponed and I was not available when it rescheduled.

Reply by Tess on 12/9/10 5:59pm
Msg #364515

Re: Check sent to the wrong people is a big problem as well. n/m

Reply by Tess on 12/9/10 6:18pm
Msg #364522

Re: PS: If you say they cashed it, and they say no

they did not, be ready to back it up with a copy of the cancelled check!

Reply by JLG/CA on 12/9/10 6:34pm
Msg #364528

Re: Bad heading to start with. :)

if you don't have an interesting heading, how do you expect you get any replies?

Reply by Tess on 12/9/10 6:52pm
Msg #364542

Re: Hopefully by having a relevant subject about this

business.

Reply by JLG/CA on 12/9/10 6:56pm
Msg #364544

Re: Hopefully by having a relevant subject about this

i see lots of posts here about people looking for advice...what should i charge? how do i get paid on time? what about this situation? replies are posted and hopefully their questions answered. i'm just giving an example of my experience with improper record keeping and it's importance.

Reply by desktopfull on 12/10/10 11:30am
Msg #364607

So deception is your game for attention? n/m

Reply by KEK_FL on 12/10/10 9:47am
Msg #364596

Re: are you "just a notary?">>>I use Bus. Quicken Pro for

all my accounting, personal, rental properties, and of course my Signing Business.

I use several of their features as well.

Reply by rengel/CA on 12/10/10 1:05pm
Msg #364621

I am just a LMAO Notary this morning

This thread has turned into quite an amusing break! ; )

My .02

Reply by MW/VA on 12/10/10 9:01pm
Msg #364666

IMO this is a phishing scam. Shame on you for using the

forum this way. You won't be the first co. that tried to sell notaries software for tracking signings or accounting software.

Reply by JLG/CA on 12/10/10 10:41pm
Msg #364670

Re: IMO this is a phishing scam. **i have nothing to sell

so everyone else is entitled to an opinion on this forum but because i'm dating a person who runs a signing service i must be selling something or i'm abusing the purpose of this forum?

Reply by jba/fl on 12/11/10 7:04am
Msg #364690

Two thoughts come to mind immediately

1. If the shoe fits....
2. Me thinks thou dost protest too much.

Another thought:
I got embarrassed about my shoe boxes so I now have graduated to wire baskets and file folders.

LOL

Reply by JLG/CA on 12/11/10 6:01pm
Msg #364741

Re: Two thoughts come to mind immediately

you shouldn't be embarrased by something that works for you! ha ha...i thought it was pretty clever. if you're ever audited, as long as the information is organized then it's acceptable (as in you won't be required to input the information into a computer).

Reply by MW/VA on 12/11/10 8:55am
Msg #364701

Only suspect because of the nature of your posts. n/m

Reply by JLG/CA on 12/11/10 6:03pm
Msg #364742

just trying to spark interesting replies and conversation...

after all, i believe this forum can be educational.