Posted by Jill Hupp on 10/29/12 3:58pm
Msg #441104

Certification

I am currently certified by NNA. It is $79 to renew. I am wondering if there is a point to this?

Reply by ToniK on 10/29/12 4:08pm
Msg #441108

many of us dont support NNA.

Reply by JPH13/MO on 10/29/12 4:11pm
Msg #441110

Re: Certification - no need to renew to keep it

The renewal is to remain a member of NNA. The cert is good forever, background check if included for I think 2 years. I didn't renew as they are a font of advice that doesn't always apply to your state and can end up causing you problems. When you need advice come to this forum instead.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 10/29/12 4:51pm
Msg #441133

Re: Certification - no need to renew to keep it

If that's so, then it's a welcome change in their policy. The beginning of my long-ago falling out with them was when I got the bill to renew my "certification" with them after two years. I was "certified" before I ever did my first signing. Then two years later, when I'd begun to really figure out what I was doing, they wanted me to pay again for my basic membership, pay again for a separate membership for the NSA section, and then pay again for renewing my certification - even though there were no new materials or updates provided. And the two memberships were a prerequisite to getting the certification.

I certainly do hope that's no longer the case. But it's one of several reasons why many of us became disillusioned with them. One of the other biggies was when they published recommended minimum fees of $65 for edocs. There were other factors involved, to be sure, but it was at that point that we began to see a significant slide downward in fees that many companies were willing to pay. Also, they were heavily advertising NSA classes all over the country and flooding the markets with newcomers so that the lowballers would have a steady supply of people coming into this business who would work for cheap.

This was all long before there was any discussion about background checks. But when they first came out with them, both memberships and the certification were also prerequisites (with the associated fees) for a notary to purchase their BGC!

Clearly, this is an oversimplification, but many of us were turned off by their business practices and have moved on without feeling any negative impact. (For the record, this is all JMHO.)

Reply by jba/fl on 10/29/12 4:55pm
Msg #441136

In total agreement w/all you said. JMHO too. n/m

Reply by JPH13/MO on 10/29/12 5:10pm
Msg #441145

Re: Certification - no need to renew to keep it

I was certified last year by them back when I was new and didn't know where else to go. Only the background check shows an expiration date, which makes sense. I can say I am NNA certified for those companies who still believe that matters, forever as far as I am concerned. I will eventually need a new background check and will not get it through them unless I have enough companies asking me to do so, which I hope would not require me to also become a member again, I haven't looked into that.

Reply by Lee/AR on 10/29/12 5:31pm
Msg #441149

It will be the whole enchilada. It's all about the $$$ n/m

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 10/29/12 4:16pm
Msg #441115

Jill, I think you'll find that the majority here don't really support that organization, for a variety of reasons. I'm indifferent to them myself, but I can can tell that I am no longer a member and have no intention of ever renewing. But I will still monitor things they put put out.

They've been known to give out bad information.

And, my biggest pet peeve with them? One that most people don't realize... is that they will certify a notary signing agent without actually verifying their notary commission. There are people, especially in California, who are waiting on their notary commissions who have "passed" the NNA background screening and become certified as a signing agent, but do not yet have their notary commissions from the State of California. To me, that's a big problem.

Reply by NVLSlady/VA on 10/29/12 7:27pm
Msg #441180

For those of us on the fence . . .

I appreciate the comments here from the industry veterans, especially since we here a lot about FEES FEES FEES STARS STARS STARS. All of which are important factors in making decisions about who to work with. So to hear posters actually mention the value of the organization is, well . . . Refreshing.

That said, if OP is really asking what myself and maybe some other indecisive ones are: Will I get a better value joining xyz (could care less about what THEY think or assert their worth to be)? Will it help MY business/bottom line?

Even if an NSA thinks it really doesn't matter, but the SS looking at our profiles think it DOES, then why wouldn't a budget-conscious individual slap on the "xyz certified" "background checked" boy/girl scout seal these companies want to see - all for under $100.00! Who decides when Principle dictates over Profit? Practicability?

I wonder if this poster's comments: <<I can say I am NNA certified for those companies who still believe that matters>>
Is really the answer that matters to those considering NNA membership

Reply by NVLSlady/VA on 10/29/12 7:45pm
Msg #441184

Re: For those of us on the fence . . .

Just seems strange (maybe even a little hypocritical) to me to wave the flag, "xyz certified" but deep down hate their guts, detest their business practices, despise what they stand for . . .

maybe someone could come forward and say if NNA had ANY value in their infant NSA stage when he/she had less pride and less purchasing power. Of course, I understand everyone's loyalty to more educational resources!

(earlier post, should have read "we hear a lot")

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 10/29/12 8:59pm
Msg #441187

Re: For those of us on the fence . . .

I used to say that...I freely admit it. Do I think it helped me? Maybe...a little yes. But, not anymore, and especially not in the last 2 years or so.

Does it HURT to claim to be a member? Probably not... I know that the only reason I maintained it for as long as I did was *because* certain clients expected to see it and certain members of the public liked it, too. I'm not a member anymore and I'm working on cleaning mention of it from my profiles just to be sure I don't look like I'm fibbing. It only recently expired... and boy, are they HOUNDING me to renew. It's annoying. At this point... I simply don't need them.

That said, I do appreciate some of the work they've done in advocating for certain notarial laws and such. They aren't entirely horrible.... but like most here, it's obvious that they are only about one thing... money.

And for me, the final straw is the pushing of a Notary Background Check where they don't actually verify the commission status of the notary. In fact, they kind of even admit it on their site...

On the description it says:

"The NNA background screening includes identity verification, residence verification, federal criminal record database search, residence county criminal record search (through court records, not a database), state motor vehicle records search and an Office of Foreign Assets Control (known-terrorist list) check. This comprehensive screening meets the highest lender standards and is far more expansive than other types of screenings."

Yeah... ya know, except for the part where they check to see if you're really a notary or not.

Reply by HSH/WA on 10/29/12 11:31pm
Msg #441205

Re: I'm still a newbie, I like them, use their hot line, etc n/m

Reply by JanetK_CA on 10/30/12 3:16am
Msg #441219

Re: I'm still a newbie, I like them, use their hot line, etc

Well, their hotline is another reason many have become disillusioned with them, as there have been numerous accounts posted here over the years of bad information being given out and inaccuracies in the handbooks they sell. [Again, jmho...]

Reply by NVLSlady/VA on 10/30/12 9:10am
Msg #441241

Thanks for taking the "hot" seat, Marian

Those of us who are new are really at the mercy of you "old guys" (: to give us the DATA/FACTS we need to make informed choices of our own. I have seen this question arise and rarely see a supported answer.

Most associations ARE all about the $$$. I think it's makes them "corporate" (not necessarily criminal). If the public perception is "I want xzy certified," then I think newbies need to consider if this will help get them started (just accept their advice with a grain of salt!).

Now, for those who don't know: There are Other means of obtaining certification (and that doesn't necessarily mean membership in any organiz).

So, is CERTIFICATION something that the senior NSAs (sounds nicer) could comment on in another thread - without being petty, political, warmongering, etc. I know there are some who may have their own agenda in this regard, as they may teach, write manuals, and so forth. But what we need is objectivity and insight from the forum on this.

Reply by MistarellaFL on 10/30/12 9:21am
Msg #441245

NVLSlady don't you dare call us "seniors" lol

We are GONs! And we like it that way!
Msg #401519

Reply by NVLSlady/VA on 10/30/12 11:11am
Msg #441273

Re: NVLSlady don't you dare call us "seniors" lol

Remember seeing that post and thinking how tolerant the GONs (I say that with sincerity 'cause it must be tough tackling some of the "nonsense" week in week out - enough to make anybody grouchy); yet, you've all stuck around to point the newbies in the right direction. Thank you