Posted by gcn3 on 3/8/10 6:56pm
Msg #325989

Notary Identification Verification Form

Anybody get one of these as part of the loan package? This is a first for me. You are asked to fill out form with two forms of photo copied ID to go back in package. The first ID being your D/L and the second - birth certificate, voter registration card or property tax bill. This info is being asked for by a mortgage company. Is this beyond ridiculous or what?

Reply by LKT/CA on 3/8/10 7:49pm
Msg #325996

Yes, I see the form from time to time but am not asked to provide MY license or anything else. It asks for the basic info from my seal, i.e. name, commission number, county of bond/oath, expiration of commission, etc. I just fill it out and send it back.

If "they" wish to verify my commission, I will direct them to the county clerk or the SOS. I do not and will not provide a copy of my ID.

Reply by Lee/AR on 3/8/10 7:50pm
Msg #325997

beyond ridiculous and an uncalled for privacy invasion and then some. Sheesh. You're sure it's your info they want and not the B's?

Reply by Lita Caddick on 3/8/10 8:16pm
Msg #326000

Yes, the form wants this info from the Notary. It looks like they took the ID form for the borrower and just changed the name from borrower to Notary. Seen this two times in the last month. When I questioned it the first one said just give copy of commission, second (signing company) told me to ignore it, then after the fact called and said they needed a copy of my drivers license and commission. I sent it, but did not feel good about (dr lic) it at all. I'd like to know what can be done, if anything, about this. I hate sending a copy of my drivers license for any reason and am very temped to send it with the # blacked out, but what do you do if you want work and they want that info ????? I guess you can ask them what they need it for, then try to address their issues, but most of the time there's no time to call and have conversation about it. Any thoughts?

Reply by John/CT on 3/8/10 8:53pm
Msg #326006

Re: Notary Identification

When asked for a copy of my driver's license, I block out the number and date of birth. Anyone looking at my picture there ... as well as in my profile ... should easily recognize I'm way past the age of majority, and well into the seniority.

Reply by Cari on 3/9/10 7:01am
Msg #326039

Which lender or TC is using this form? Curious.... n/m

Reply by desktopfull on 3/8/10 9:04pm
Msg #326008

Never seen it, would never comply. Your personal info is none of their business, if they want a copy of my commission that's fine, but that's all they will get.

Reply by cawest/PA on 3/8/10 9:35pm
Msg #326017

same here ... considering all the ID thefth going around I would never send more than my Commission which all the companies I work for have.

Reply by Lita on 3/8/10 9:40pm
Msg #326019

Don't want to lose work, but don't believe this is a valid request. Maybe I'll print up a standard statement and attach it with my commission to the form and see if I get anyone calling, if so I can then ask exactly why they need this info and address their exact concerns. To bad the SOS doesn't have our backs on more stuff like this, i.e. the background checks I hear are now being requested and paid by us to provide (no good reason since we had that done by the FBI & DOJ when we renewed/applied for our commission). I haven't had to deal with this yet but have heard of a few that have.

Reply by cawest/PA on 3/8/10 9:33pm
Msg #326015

nope never had that as the companies for who I do jobs have all my info.
Are you sure it was not for the borrower?

Reply by Lita on 3/8/10 9:47pm
Msg #326020

Postive it's not the borrowers ID form. In the pkg I had there was one for the borrower and one for the notary. They were the same except where it said borrower it now said Notary's ID AND it was to be filled out by the closing agent who of course wasn't there. I guess if the company who hired you for the job has your drivers license they can send it off if you don't, but if the lenders pkg has the form in it and the lender doesn't have your info they will want it. It's not right.

Reply by cawest/PA on 3/8/10 11:14pm
Msg #326023

no all the companies I work for have a copy of my commission and my background check. Nobody never asked for my dvl.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 3/8/10 10:20pm
Msg #326021

There are several forms that are being used, especially

lately - some that have a notarial certificate to notarize the notary's signature (!), some that appear to try to 'certify' the borrowers *are* the borrowers, but no signature lines for the borrowers under their ID info (again), and one that says to stamp as 'proof of commission.'

1. For the request to notarize my own signature, I attach a sticky that says I can't legally do that.

2. For the ones that want a notarial cert for no borrower signatures, I have the borrowers sign next to their ID info, and notarize their sigs.

3. For the ones that want a 'sample' of my stamp as proof, I write the expiration date, because it is not legal in Oregon to use one's notarial stamp for any purpose other than a notarial act - which, this is not.

Just go back to your rules for guidance. Does your state have a notary handbook?

Reply by GOLDGIRL/CA on 3/8/10 10:36pm
Msg #326022

This has been discussed a couple of times already if it's the form from Prospect Mortgage. I couldn't believe it the first time I saw it - then, when it finally sunk in that they were actually asking for my DL and another form of ID - like birth certificate, voter reg card or property tax bill I said (to myself) NO WAY and included a photo copy of my commission. It is beyond preposterous they ask for this and I would never provide it - especially after the signing had been completed.To have a copy of your DL floating around some Prospect Mortgage office is scary. Maybe because in some states where all you need is a pulse to be a notary they might be concerned about who's doing their loans. But in CA and other states where we're fingerprinted and checked out by the FBI and DOJ and pass tests and classes and are bonded and on and on, it's not their business. Of course, they can say it is ... I wonder if they ask this of the escrow officer?

Reply by cawest/PA on 3/8/10 11:21pm
Msg #326025

I agree with you that a copy of our commission and background should be enough.
Also if this would occur to me (still never seen this form in one of my packages), I wouldn't give out my DVL and if non pmt for services would occur I do believe that this would be one I would challenge in Court.
If we are Notaries/signing agents we did not get there by taking a course out of a cracker jacks box and if we have a commission from our State it indicates that we were checked so I do not see why we should have to give out the info and would challenge that one.
I read in my State Book and nowhere does it mention that I have to disclose private information about myself and of course it discloses that I cannot notarize my own signature ... what will those companies do? Have one of their notaries certify it when the package comes in? That would be fraud as well.

Reply by Lita on 3/8/10 11:59pm
Msg #326032

Prospect is the company who asked for this the second time, but don't recall who asked for it the first, regardless, I totally agree and will not be giving anything more than a copy of my commission. I just put together a cover letter explaining why my commission for CA is enough and will attach that to the ID form when I return it blank. We'll see if this request is picked up by other companies and if it prevents work down the road.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 3/9/10 3:20am
Msg #326036

I've never seen one go quite to that length, but I have seen one lender (or tc?) that asks for my address, phone, commission expiration date & I forget what else. They can have the last two, but I don't even give them my address. I just put the county where my commission is recorded along with all the other info that becomes a matter of public record. Oh yeah, the other thing they wanted was my E&O policy number and coverage amount. Talk about an uncomfortable feeling! It's almost like they are planning in advance to sue! I figure if they have a problem and need that information, they can find what ever they need to know about me from the county.

Anymore, I don't bother asking, I just fill it in that way. We are not the ones who are applying for credit. If fact, we're among those issuing credit by providing our services in advance and hoping we get paid. We are also independent contractors. I agree that the only information they should require is our commission number (or a copy of our commission) proving that we have met the requirements to become a notary in our given states.

I also get requests for a sample of my stamp - even from companies within CA, where that is prohibited, as well! If I have a chance to talk to them, I'll let them know that it isn't allowed here, but on a written request, I just add a note explaining that that use is prohibited by state law.