Posted by 101livescan on 12/15/13 10:23am
Msg #496171

The Real Deal!

How can you tell if a company intends to stay in business and grow their business?

Has a real address, not a Maibox USA, commercial po box, or UPS store box. Has a real name, not a made up name.

Entity formation, partnership, corporation, sole proprietorship

Has a current fictitious business name statement

Has a current business license on file in the city where they operate their business

Has a TAX ID No.

Has a land line, not just a cell phone number

Owner is a notary commissioned in the state of CA him/herself

Answers the phone

Has a website other than an out-of-box site whipped up with GoDaddy or similar low cost investment

Pays as agreed (we'll see!). Not 45, 60, 90 or 180 days. And the check is good! (Thank you for sending me the check and not sending it to the borrower by mistake.)

Doesn't arm wrestle you for $60-$85 for edocs, faxbacks and 200pp.

Doesn't ding you because you didn't follow their instructions for timeliness in actually printing the documents, copying the documents, getting fax backs in, calling to say you're in the driveway, sitting in the borrowers' dining room, out of the driveway, on the way to your office to faxback, out the door to fedex, and stopping for gas along the way. Swinging through Starbucks drive through on your own time.

They've been in business longer than two years and they have a great reputation among professional notaries. There is no Non-Disparagement Clause in their IC agreement they want you to sign. Yes, imagine, you're agreeing that they can sue you if you tell the notary world they mistreated you!

Some three star companies need to hang up their shingles. AVOID all 1 and 2 star companies in SC, they are sure to live up to their reputations of low pay, slow and/or no pay.

Have a great Sunday, everyone. On a warming trend here...40 last night, not 20 like last week. Love the new energy efficient Avalon Arbor wood burning stove my brother installed for me in October, just in time, too.

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 12/15/13 11:25am
Msg #496175

This is mostly all true, though there are exceptions to every rule when it comes to business. You have to look at the big picture to determine legitimacy. For example, I run two different businesses. They are legit, licensed businesses, with fictitious business name states, etc. However, I try to run all of my business mail through my PO BOX. That doesn't mean I'm hiding.

Why? My business is run out of my home office. It's a licensed business, but my city zoning laws are pretty strict. But also... you know what? The letter carrier who delivers to my home is kind of a doofus. We tend to lose mail and it gets delivered to the wrong house all the time. It's really just that simple... my mail is more secure in that PO BOX and I'm assured of getting it. That's part of the joy of running a business out in the boonies.

Of course, that's not to say that people can't look up my actual business address if they need it (or they can just ask) but it doesn't do much good since zoning rules prevent me from conducting "foot traffic" business at my office. My city is very aware that I run a "mobile" business and trust me... they check up on it. I have to even have a city business permit sticker on my rear window since they consider that to be my "office" for the purposes of physically conducting business.

On a side note... I actually have a third hobby (and I have to call it a hobby) that some of you know about, making jewelry. I do metal work and such. But, I can't really expand it because of the rules of the city I live in. They prohibit manufacturing of goods in a residentially zoned areas, and that includes sewing, jewelry making, etc. Even if I take it elsewhere to sell, or sell it online... it's not allowed and I can't get a business permit for it. If I wanted to, I'd have to go through a very long re-zoning process with the city to get approval, and that would include having all of my neighbors sign off on it and have the whole town know about it. I don't know about that, because I don't want people knowing how and where I store the precious metals I use. It would be like saying, "Hey thieves...come get and get it!" My aunt is a seamstress and a baker... she's not allowed to sell anything she makes out of her studio at her home because of these rules. If she wanted to do that, she'd have to rent an office or commercial studio space in town. We think it's ridiculous, but that's small town politics.

At any rate... this is a good list to consider, but I wouldn't write off a business worthy of working with if they don't meet one or two of the standards... a professional business owner will have no problems answering questions. Of course, if they don't have the basic business licenses or can't even figure out how to file a FBNS... then you might want to run anyway. In many cities and states, businesses are required to display these permits and licenses, or provide copies upon request. In the case of a FBNS, that's pretty easy to look up in county records, since (at least here in CA) that has to be recorded with the county clerk.

Of course, if a business is not willing to answer or appears to be hiding...THEN things like a box mail address and the rest start to get hinky.

Reply by sueharke on 12/15/13 12:20pm
Msg #496184

I run my business out of my home too. I will meet selected income tax clients at my home as I need my scanner and copier for much of the work. Also, for income tax work I may need to research issues that I cannot do in the field. Others, I am a mobile tax preparer.

For notary work, I love McDonald's, Denny's, Starbucks, or any place close to home as my home office is not ADA compliant.

My mail goes to a P.O. Box too as there is too much mail theft from mail boxes in front of houses.

Reply by 101livescan on 12/15/13 12:56pm
Msg #496188

Thank you for your second opinion, and you're right. I have a locked mailbox since it is a long way down the road from my house. Otherwise I would have a PO Box too. My details are a template, rather, most companies have brick and mortar, and it would be nice to know where to find that brick and mortar establishment if you have to serve them with a small claims notice, or go pick up a check.

Our business, unfortunately, is a lot of people operating in all kinds of places, homes, other places of business operation not related to signing service, rented UPS mailboxes, etc.

I had a po box for years when I lived in Ventura county on 20 acres behind Lake Casitas..no mail delivery there.

Reply by sueharke on 12/15/13 3:16pm
Msg #496197

Re: The Real Deal!- Off/on topic

Here is a good reason to use UPS vs USPS for a PO Box:

I met a young lady at the Post Office while getting my mail the other day and apparently she is a victim of identity theft. The mail is messed up coming to her USPS PO Box from the mail service itself. The mail service had no explanation of why it was happening. After talking to her, I suspect someone changed her mailing address online. There is no confirmation when a change of address is made online.

My suggestion to her was to keep her USPS P.O. Box until the time expired so whoever is doing it does not see what is happening behind the scenes. I suggested she get a UPS mail box, quietly write or call and change her mailing address to the UPS store address from anyone she wants to get her mail from.

As to the identity theft, I said to first get her 3 credit reports from "annualcreditreport.com". If there were any issues, to freeze her credit by going to a good website I recommended for instructions and information on the subject. Next, question any error on her credit reports ASAP.

Many times the UPS has benefits the USPS does not. Mail is held until it is picked up. UPS and Fedex deliveries are accepted on your behalf. People who travel a lot for business or are going through a divorce find it is harder to have their mail stolen from the UPS mail box than the mail box in front of the house.

Reply by HARRY_PA on 12/16/13 10:58am
Msg #496242

Cheryl:

When will you understand that GoDaddy among other things is a web hosting site like any other; no better or worse than any other. Your comments are disparaging and always negative. Although I do not work for them, they host my website. Wake up!

Harry

Reply by 101livescan on 12/16/13 11:10am
Msg #496244

Harry, you are certainly entitled to your opinion. I do know many seasoned notaries who use godaddy for their site hosting.

Understand where I'm coming from, a website that has no investment of time and resources is often employed by these SS companies who go in and out of business with no trouble at all. It's pretty easy to have web presence at little cost with no interactivity and unverifiable identity, hence, no ability to collect signing fees because the company operates under the radar screen

And, I'm not negative and disparaging to many, but a valuable, accountable resource of info. There are many fine companies in SC who have made the investment and are building their business. Their websites have been developed by pros, hence they spent some money, and are likely to be in business year to year.

If you find my comments negative and disparaging, I must let you know that fewer notaries are getting burned these days, by calling out the companies who are taking advantage of our fellow NSAs.

Have a nice day, Harry.

Reply by HARRY_PA on 12/16/13 11:12am
Msg #496245

Opinions are one thing. Facts are another n/m

Reply by GOLDGIRL/CA on 12/16/13 12:21pm
Msg #496252

Are you serious, Harry PA??

101's posts are "always negative." ???!!!??? What marshmallow have you been living in? 101 is the most positive, upbeat person on this board. Sometimes annoyingly so to a curmudgeon like me. She puts Pollyanna to shame with her rah rah, let's all look out for each other mantra. You better adjust your rose-colored glasses.

Oh, was cos it she exposed Accurate Signings (among others) that irritated you? If she hadn't been so "disparaging and negative" about that SS, maybe Amanda Kirkish would still be in business, continuing to rip off NSAs. Hmmmmm.....

Reply by HARRY_PA on 12/16/13 2:52pm
Msg #496271

Re: Are you serious, Harry PA??

Reread the post. Only talks about Go Daddy.