Posted by Bill Hampton on 5/10/11 3:42pm
Msg #382782

Back ground check

Hello everyone , just wanted to know if anyone has been called by LSI in regards to a back ground check and asking for notaries to pay a fee to work for them , I live in Virginia and or back ground check has been done by the state I reside in . I think that if you were issued a notary Lic. then that should be enough of a statement to do a signing. Why is it that these companies try to cost us money. Should we as SA plan on charging more because of there said back ground fees.

Thanks , Bill

Reply by MW/VA on 5/10/11 3:51pm
Msg #382786

I'm a little confused by your post, Bill. VA doesn't do a bgc when we apply for our Notary Commission.
Also, we're not "licensed" either, and there's no state certification. Almost anyone who meets basic criteria can become a notary. You can thank the NNA for selling the cos. on the idea of bgc, even when most involved in the mortgage industry weren't required to have one & weren't licensed either. I'm actually in favor of bgc's, because we handle sensitive personal info about the borrowers.
I recommend the bgc right here from NR. It costs $39 & is completed in about 3 days.
IMO if a co. wants a particular bgc it should be on their dime & not mine. Otherwise, they should accept a complete one (needs to include criminal bgc, etc.). G
Good luck.

Reply by Bill Hampton on 5/10/11 4:08pm
Msg #382793

To start off with ,I am lic. as a Bisiness and Bonded also . Now for the requirement of bgc's I am sure there has to be some way that Virginia has done a bgc because I have listed my pastor as a person that knows me , and he was called some ( years ago ) since I have been in this business.

Reply by MW/VA on 5/10/11 4:40pm
Msg #382797

They do ask for character references, but that's not the same as a bgc. I also have a business license. I'm not sure again about your reference to a bond, because we don't have those in VA either.
I wish it was a requirement, because then that whole CRESPA issue about "handling funds" would go away too.

Reply by CopperheadVA on 5/11/11 5:20am
Msg #382830

When I first became a VA notary in 2005, we had to list two references on the application. I seem to remember that the references had to also be registered voters? We also had to have a recommendation signed by a judge on the application, but all you had to do was go down to your local courthouse and the clerk took care of that.

When I renewed my commission in 2009, the VA notary application had been revamped and the references and judge signature were no longer required. As far as I know, they do not do a BGC on us here in VA. They may have access to checking the state criminal database but really I have no idea if they do or not. We do have to sign a sworn statement that we are not convicted of any felonies.

Reply by Roadie_MD on 5/11/11 8:50am
Msg #382838

I was a little miffed at first too, but I get quite a lot of business from LSI, which more than pays for it. I find that more and more companies are asking for it. I got mine through Lexis Nexis and it cost somewhere around $50-$55. There is a free one you can order but it is not comprehensive enough for their needs.

Reply by CopperheadVA on 5/11/11 10:03am
Msg #382848

LSI accepted my free one from LexisNexis (this was Nov 2009). I sent in all 30 pages or so. There was a criminal check included on there.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 5/11/11 10:10am
Msg #382849

Well, they didn't accept mine... n/m