Posted by Matham on 4/5/11 11:35am
Msg #378728

Background Checks

Some of these companies are asking for a background check, or if one has been performed by the NNA. However, the only background check that I had done was the one required by the California Secretary of State to determine if I was notary-eligible. Am I expected/required to do another background check? Should I request the background check report from the CSoS?

Reply by kcslaw/MA on 4/5/11 11:41am
Msg #378729

I was wondering the same thing ~ I had a background check in 2004 for my admission to the bar. Obviously, that was some time ago and therefore I'm not sure if I need to get something more recent? Any advice would be appreciated!

Kelly

Reply by Frenchie/TN on 4/5/11 12:14pm
Msg #378736

There was a discussion about this a few days ago. If you need a BGC you can get a FREE one at this link:
https://personalreports.lexisnexis.com/access_your_personal_information.jsp
This is the same type of thing as being able to get a free credit report once a year.
Use the link because if you go to the lexis nexis website it is very hard to find the free report. It takes about two weeks to receive your report.

Reply by MW/VA on 4/5/11 1:17pm
Msg #378745

XYZ wants renewals every couple of years on cert/bgc. That's when I dropped mine. My bgc was from 2007, so I recently did NR's bgc ($39) and completed in 3 days. It's simple but covers all the issues. Good luck.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 4/5/11 1:51pm
Msg #378750

Many companies won't accept the NR BGC

not slamming NR by any means, but that's what I've been told by many - nope, not good enough - not extensive enough...<<shrug>>

Reply by Harry [NR] on 4/5/11 2:20pm
Msg #378756

Re: Many companies won't accept the NR BGC

Linda, if you are told by someone that our check is not "extensive" enough, can you please forward their contact information and exact statement to us? If that's what they're saying, it could actually be a tort crime and grounds for a lawsuit.

For the most part, all commercially available checks are performed the same way and are essentially commodity products. Companies like us contract with background check vendors who take applicant information (names, addresses, DOB, SSN and DL information) and run them against various data sources. The SSN is verified against an SSN database to confirm its validity and then run against credit bureaus to obtain address and AKA histories. An MVR check is run using the driver license information, which returns driving records. National criminal, sex offender and "terrorist name" lists are checked for the presence of the applicant name. Finally, jurisdictional court records are checked based on names and dates of birth, either electronically or in person by a network of sub-contracted court runners.

To my knowledge, that's how everyone does it and the checks (provided they are all run) are comparable among companies. When I asked our current background check vendor what their opinion was on companies who are demanding that checks be performed by a specific entity, he said, "Oh, you can bet they're getting greased. Back-end kickbacks." I have no idea if there's any truth to that but, if there is, it would help explain the high costs, the exclusivity (i.e. "you can only use the company we recommend"), and your suggestion that people are disparaging our product.

As a final note, our background check partner is very well respected in the industry and has direct relationships with several very large signing services, who have no problem using their background check. We've also been receiving referrals from other organizations, which have increased quite a bit in the last month. So, again, we'd like to know who is claiming this background check is not "extensive" enough.

Harry
Notary Rotary

P.S. Once I find the time, we'll be reducing the cost of NPBC checks for Premier Members - probably to the $20 range.

Reply by Linda Hubbell on 4/5/11 2:28pm
Msg #378757

Harry, this was some time ago, and right off the top

of my head I don't recall who it was - however, I *DO* recall telling Traci about it on the phone - again, quite some time ago - she said she was going to look into it.

I don't mean to offend, so please don't take it this way, but most companies who ask for a BGC from me do not accept yours...they want NNA or their own.

Reply by MW/VA on 4/5/11 2:56pm
Msg #378761

I'd heard that also, but let them try that with me. I

haven't had a bgc requested recently & chose to update on my own. If I get one co. that insists on an XYZ bgc I will go to the DOJ about that organization. IMO the bgc is more than adequate & I can't imagine anyone refusing to accept it. Thanks Harry & staff.

Reply by Matham on 4/5/11 3:02pm
Msg #378762

Re: Harry, this was some time ago, and right off the top

I'm sorry, but if my state government is doing a background check in conjunction with the federal government, and because my notary commission is an indication that I passed that check, why isn't it sufficient enough? What would make the NNA's background check significantly different than what the federal and state government did?

Reply by MW/VA on 4/5/11 3:14pm
Msg #378765

You're so right about that. I can only guess that XYZ, who

is also based in CA, got their bgc idea from that state's requirements. At any rate, they sold the idea to major lenders & tc's, and then sold the requirement to their members. It was because of them that some companies started requiring it. Don't get me wrong, I actually think a bgc is a good idea & IMO it adds credibility to our profession.

Reply by TacomaBoy on 4/5/11 3:20pm
Msg #378770

BGC Copies

Harry, I've been BGC many times. I have never received a copy of the report, even after several requests. Why Not?? I think it's important to see what these companies have to say in their report, so corrections can be made to inaccurate information. Inaccuracies can be fatal to people in our industry!

Reply by Harry [NR] on 4/5/11 4:18pm
Msg #378798

Re: BGC Copies

You are always entitled to a copy of your background check and your right to request that inaccurate information be corrected could fall under the FCRA. Everyone who was been checked through Notary Public Background Check (http://www.notarypublicbackgroundcheck.com) has online access to their report. However, I don't see that you have ever ordered from us. You should contact the entity that ran or commissioned your report to obtain a copy of it.

Harry
Notary Rotary

Reply by LisaWI on 4/5/11 3:23pm
Msg #378771

Re: Harry.....

I get emails on a weekly basis stating I need to have a BCG from the NNA.

In my opinion, a contractor should be able to choose which provider they want to use for a BGC. After all, it is our personal information we are putting out there for the check so shouldnt we be able to go with a company we feel is competant to have our personal info? I dont know about the rest of you, but just about anything business I do is first done with research and that includes any company who is going to have my personal info.

Reply by BrendaTx on 4/5/11 5:19pm
Msg #378803

I wonder how we can change that?

It is quite possible that the ones who ask for the bgcs are not aware that there are other terrific sources.

There should be a panel of BGC sources to choose from. It would make the askers a whole lot more credible.

Reply by LisaWI on 4/5/11 6:31pm
Msg #378813

Re: I wonder how we can change that?

Usually when I talk to someone at a particular company that is requesting one about a BCG, they are very adamant about it being either choice A or B. And take your pick, A or B is usually the NNA BGC......

This really shouldnt be any different than picking who your insurance carrier is going to be.....if the companies that are doing the BGC's are legit companiess, then there really shouldnt be a problem with these companies accepting the choice we make on who we hire to do the BGC.

Reply by ReneeK_MI on 4/6/11 1:16pm
Msg #378903

Nice to hear, Harry - I'm almost due to update again.

Maybe I'm not the most perceptive, but even though I KNOW the BGC is available here (this will be my 3rd BGC through N/R), I still have a tough time finding it on the site.

I was just looking the other day, making sure it was still available for when my current one expires - and it really hid from me for a bit. HUGE relief when I finally found it.

Reply by LKT/CA on 4/5/11 7:28pm
Msg #378820

Matham, you are correct!!!

<<<I'm sorry, but if my state government is doing a background check in conjunction with the federal government, and because my notary commission is an indication that I passed that check, why isn't it sufficient enough? What would make the NNA's background check significantly different than what the federal and state government did?>>>

EXACTLY!! Anyone saying the CA Dept. of Justice and FBI background checks are not sufficient have a few marbles missing. IMHO, no CA notary should spend a cent on any additional background check, nor is it necessary to waste time getting a free one. A long time ago, a company told me that I needed "their" affiliates background check because the ones run by the CA SOS were not good enough. I told them (in so many words) to take a long walk off of a short pier.

Reply by ReneeK_MI on 4/6/11 1:21pm
Msg #378905

Just a little word about CA BGC's

CA is to be commended for their stringent processes - BGC's, and classes and an actual manual that gets updated ...they're a stand-out, for sure.

However, do realize that those BGC's done upon commission 'age' along with the rest of us, and I believe your commissions are 6 years? It's for that reason that it's just not cutting any ice with those entities that require BGC's from signing agents. The closer it gets to that 2 year mark, the less a BGC holds any water.