Posted by Erwin/CA on 2/14/10 10:31am
Msg #322765

Info about Notary requested

Two of the signings this week that I completed had a form that requested the ID info of the notary that performed the closing. At the bottom of the form there was a certification to be signed by the escrow officer stating that she/he had seen the IDs and had verified them. Has anyone else seen this form and what did they do?
Erwin

Reply by Lee/AR on 2/14/10 10:54am
Msg #322767

Never have seen a form wanting MY id info (beyond Comm. #). Have had a few that wanted my 'address'. I would 'assume' that the 'escrow officer' is to sign that form after looking at copies of ID provided w/package. In any case, you are not the escrow officer.

Reply by Notarysigner on 2/14/10 11:11am
Msg #322768

Like Lee, I have never seen that form either requesting the certification. CitiBank loans req notary info but not certification. I usually either fill out the info or attach a business card with all the requested info on it. My take on it, contact either the SOS or check here, that it. IMO

Reply by JamesLee/VA on 2/14/10 11:34am
Msg #322771

Must be Prospect Mortgage

I will not fill out that information. I usually take it and discard the sheet so they do not believe I have missed it. My position is I am not applying for a loan from them, so they are not entitled to my personal information. I have no problems providing my Notary Certificate to which my Identity was verified by the clerk of court. Besides I believe its illegal for them to require a copy of my personal ID information if I am not applying for a loan or their services.

Ive done several and never have been questioned on it. I think they know it but they ask for it to see who will comply.

Thats my take on it. I may be wrong though.

Reply by GOLDGIRL/CA on 2/14/10 12:57pm
Msg #322776

Re: Must be Prospect Mortgage

You're not wrong, JamesLee/VA - if indeed it's Prospect Mortgage. The form is truly astounding. It's called a "Notary Identity Verification Form" and starts out: "The Closing Agent must make a copy (in color, if available) of each Notary's identification, when signing and notarizing any of the documents as part of this loan closing. The copies of the documents used to verifiy the notary's identity must be returned with the signed loan documents."

It goes on: "At least two forms of identification must be reviewed and documented including at least one Primary form of ID and one Primary or Secondary form of ID. Important: All forms of identificaton must display notary's name and the information noted below must be exactly as indicated on the document viewed."

So, the acceptable forms of primary ID are the usual ... DL, passport, military ID, and acceptable forms of secondary ID are (get this!) birth certificate, voter registration card and propery tax bill.

Then the closing agent must sign this statement: "In connection with the closing of the loan number referenced above, I certify that I have personally verified the notary's identity and accurately recorded the information from the documents identified above, and have reasonably confirmed the identity of the notary."

Plenty of notaries probably will send in copies of their DL and birth certificate or whatver, but it's a mystery to me why Prospect wants this. The only thing I can think of is that there are states that require hardly anything for one to become a notary - as compared to other states, like CA, that require classes, tests, livescan fingerprinting, DOJ and FBI checks, photos, etc. If they want to go this route, why don't they be like Fidelity and put you on an "approved notary" list and be done with it???? Or maybe they're looking for the scam notary in cahoots with a strawbuyer or something like that. In any case, it's all moot, because at least 99% of the time the Closing Agent would never be able to complete this form. As for me, I just attach a copy of my commission...

Reply by JamesLee/VA on 2/14/10 3:33pm
Msg #322794

Unfortunately VA is...

One of those states where anyone with no felonies can be a Notary. There are a few of us who actually know what we are doing. We still are sworn in by the clerk of court and along with our ids being verified.

Hah!! Can you imagine requiring the clerk to provide you with a copy of their DL or Passport to swear you in? In essence that's what Prospect is doing. We are performing a paid service as is the clerk.

I guess it doesn't hurt to ask though.

Reply by Alz on 2/14/10 9:38pm
Msg #322820

Yes, the form is included in all of their loan packages.

At least, this has always been my experience with PM.

Reply by cntrlcalntry on 2/14/10 1:19pm
Msg #322778

I had one of these of Friday. It was a Prospect. I just sent it back. Figured if they need anything I can just fax it on Monday. But yeah it was the first time I had seen it also.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 2/14/10 4:40pm
Msg #322798

Maybe they've had too many incidents

f assigning to a notary only to have that notary subcontract it out - maybe that's their QC that the notary they contacted is who showed up..

I don't necessarily agree with it, and would also refuse to provide the info as they have no need of it, but it's just a thought.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 2/14/10 6:02pm
Msg #322801

Re: Maybe they've had too many incidents

If someone swapped notaries, that would be evident, I'd think, by the name on the notary's stamp. I wouldn't provide it, either. In fact, on those forms that ask for the notary's address, I typically put the name of my county where my commission is registered. If they really find they have a need for that info, they can look me up with the county.

The original poster was from CA. Someone pretty accurately outlined all the check a notary has to go through, but it also pretty darn difficult here for someone who hasn't been approved by the SOS office to order a stamp. So possession of the stamp itself should be adequate, I would think, here in California (although I guess no company ever modifies their forms or procedures by state even though they probably should in some cases).

Reply by LKT/CA on 2/14/10 6:51pm
Msg #322805

Re: Maybe they've had too many incidents

<<<< Maybe they've had too many incidents of assigning to a notary only to have that notary subcontract it out - maybe that's their QC that the notary they contacted is who showed up..>>>>

A way to stop this subcontracting of signings is to put a provision in the confirmation that states:

"If the documents are returned to the TC and the notarizations are completed by a notary who was not contacted by and contracted with the hiring party, all fees will be forfeited by both the original notary hired and the notary who completed the closing. If the hired notary is not able to complete the loan signing, they must contact the hiring entity directly so the scheduler can re-assign the job."

Such a provision in the confirmation to the hired Notary will stop all subcontracting. If I were an SS, that's what I'd put in my confirmations if I were an SS owner.

Reply by GOLDGIRL/CA on 2/14/10 8:01pm
Msg #322810

Re: Maybe they've had too many incidents

It's one thing to want to avoid subcontracting - or handing the signing off to your spouse - and another being asked to show and then provide color copies of your DL/passport and your birth certificate to an escrow agent.... seems something else is going on here. Do they ask this private info of the escrow agent - the appraiser - the Realtor? The Prospect LO was present at my signing last week and had no idea what was going on with this form, as well as with a bunch of other new forms that looked like they came from the Prospect legal dept. that had waaaaay too much time on their hands. I thought that was funny - that Prospect would have all this stuff and then not tell its workers what was going on ... maybe this LO was on vacation when all this came down ...

Reply by Ernest__CT on 2/14/10 11:45pm
Msg #322827

Never, never seal anything ...

... on which you have not notarized a signature. There are a couple of companies out there who want a copy of your (embossing) stamp and (rubber stanp) seal. Just don't do it!

As for copies of my identification, not only "No." but "Hell no!" NFW.