Posted by walthtz on 5/8/12 11:44am
Msg #420258

Sending the package back

Has anyone been asked to sign the seal of the Fedex/Ups envelope with your signature so the reciever knows if the package was tampered with?
If so, have you complied with he request?
or is there a reason why you should not do this?
Thanks
Walt

Reply by JPH13/MO on 5/8/12 11:48am
Msg #420260

Never heard of this. If you have an account with FedEx definitely don't do it as they then have your name and can charge you for the shipment if the receiver won't pay. For FedEx I use packing tape to make sure it stays shut, so I would tell them that. You can't tamper with packing tape without it being noticeable.

UPS (or so I previously heard) won't allow tape on their packages, so I haven't done it on those but wish I could. Anyone else know about that requirement?

Reply by Calnotary on 5/8/12 11:54am
Msg #420261

Anybody at the shipping place can open your packages and get all the borrowers info and then repack it in a new fed ex/UPS envelope and no body will notice any thing. Identity theft can happen right there. Package with SS #s, copy of ID etc. etc. Many titles, escrows don't want us to drop the packages at the drop boxes, but I think those are safer then the shipping places. JMHO

Reply by jba/fl on 5/8/12 12:16pm
Msg #420264

Myth: Never heard of that UPS no tape requirement

They have envelopes where the sticky strip hits the plastic across the back and those do not seal well. When I take to store they (not me) always run tape across the back and slightly around to the front.

Reply by JPH13/MO on 5/8/12 12:24pm
Msg #420266

Re: Myth: thanks jba - have wanted to do that n/m

Reply by Glenn Strickler on 5/8/12 12:27pm
Msg #420267

One time. I didn't do it. I would like to meet the person who can open up one of those packages and re-seal it without it looking like it's been tampered with. I am fortunate as I have both a Fedex and a UPS hub facility close by.

Does anyone know of a case where a document package was broken into and an identity stolen when it was dropped off at a facility or a packaging center? The drop boxes I can see, as they get broken into from time to time around here. But where you actually put it in the hands of an employee?

Reply by ME/NJ on 5/8/12 12:09pm
Msg #420263

Walt you get all the winners.. thank god not me n/m

Reply by NJDiva on 5/8/12 12:42pm
Msg #420268

There is a very popular, reputable company on here that has

requested that. Is it really that big of a deal? I don't sign it, but I print "Sealed by CEM". I then put slashes across the rest of the seal.

I don't ask why as there must be SOME reason. If it's only taking preventive measures, that's enough reason for me! Sign with your initials, no biggie!

Reply by ME/NJ on 5/8/12 1:18pm
Msg #420272

So many ways to get information

1. Did you go to document via secured website? or just emailed to you. If emailed documents can get hacked.

2. You're email system- emails get hacked all the time, how secure is it.

3. What if person used public place to copy ID- someone could steal it from there.

4. Loan Officer, Title, Notary, Under Writer anyone who has file can use this information.

5. What if you take a picture of someones ID and your phone is hacked, also email on phones. I have all of todays docs on my phone.

6. true mobile notary, someone breaks into car steals laptop, printer (my printer holds memory)

Once I seal a FED EX or UPS envelope you will be able to tell if someone had opened it.

If someone wants something nothing is going to stop them.

Reply by jba/fl on 5/8/12 1:30pm
Msg #420278

If someone wants something nothing is going to stop them.

Truer words never spoken. One of the first questions asked of victims is, "Was it locked?" Locks are for people like us - the honest, careful ones. Thieves don't stop to unlock - they have different tools altogether.

Reply by NJDiva on 5/8/12 2:06pm
Msg #420280

Good point Mike and Jules...

to address your point Mike, if someone at the drop off spots open and puts it into new envelope and you didn't mark (sign, whatever) then no one but the thief will know.

But as said, if a con wants to con or a thief wants to steal, the bottom line is that they WILL find a way and it doesn't matter WHAT the precautions are. I have this discussion frequently with borrowers. Let's face it, anyone can find out anything about us if they really want to. Bottom line. It's just like us checking the identity for our notarizations, all we can do is take due diligence.

My point, though is, what is the big deal? Sign it, mark it or whatever!!!

Reply by Moneyman/TX on 5/8/12 3:39pm
Msg #420298

I've done that on a few packages when I have used an envelop that has already been used once (FedEx legals). I usually write over the tape and envelop "Sealed by NSA" and initial it -- all very large so that it will not line up if someone were to take the tape off and try to reseal it.

I've never been asked to do it, but I don't see any issues with doing so. It adds an extra layer of protection as well as putting the shipping company on notice that they have to notify the recipient if they had to examine the contents. Without something like that, as someone else mentioned, someone could just put the contents in another envelop and place the shipping label on the new envelop and no one would ever know (that is as long as the shipping label was in a plastic pouch and not attached directly to the envelop itself).

Reply by SharonMN on 5/9/12 2:57pm
Msg #420418

Perhaps it is just a way for the title company to cover themselves - with a sealed envelope they are somewhat more likely to know whether they lost a certain document or check once it arrived or whether they can blame it on you.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 5/11/12 1:37am
Msg #420558

This reminds me....

I keep forgetting to post about something that happened to me a while back that I think needs mentioning.

I was the 2nd notary for a split signing a month or two ago (or so...) and the other notary sent the signed docs to me. When I got the package, it was totally open, except for on one end, where the FedEx person had put the shipping label tape over one end. I was flabbergasted! It appeared that the first notary had reused a FedEx legal envelope, but hadn't bent the flap all the way down. So it ended up just bent over on itself, and not closing the package at all. (I hope I'm explaining this adequately.) Fortunately, everything seemed to be intact from what I could tell. It was also probably left in a drop box, as I doubt any of the office staff would have accepted it like that.

In case this person reads here, the docs were shipped to me from AZ (and no, it wasn't Shoshana - or I would have contacted her directly). I wish I had saved the envelope so that I COULD contact this person and hopefully prevent something like this from happening again.

SO... if any of you ever reuse a FedEx envelope, please make sure you fold it all the way over so that it actually seals!!