Posted by Eric Andrist on 1/9/13 10:54am
Msg #449600

Professional Photocopiers

Hi all,

Took my notary oath yesterday...am really looking forward to starting my mobile business. I'm looking for some other services to offer along with notary. I'm going to be doing Vehicle VIN Verifying and process servings as well.

I stumbled across, when looking at bonds, the term "professional photocopier." I see in California, in order to be one, you have to be a notary. Does anyone know if there is much call for this type of work and what it really entails?

Thanks,

Eric

Reply by HisHughness on 1/9/13 10:59am
Msg #449601

I have never photocopied a professional. Once, though, outside a mall I imitated a mime for about 15 minutes. She finally mimed kneeing me in the groin and I mimed going on about my business.

Reply by 101livescan on 1/9/13 11:18am
Msg #449609

I see you're feeling better today, Hugh. That's a great thing!

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 1/9/13 11:30am
Msg #449613

heh....


http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=bpc&group=22001-23000&file=22450-22463


Per CA B&P Code 22450: " A professional photocopier is any person who for compensation obtains or reproduces documents authorized to be produced under Part 2.6 (commencing with Section 56) of Division 1 of, or Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1798) of Title 1.8 of Part 4 of Division 3 of, the Civil Code, or Section 1158 of, or Article 4 (commencing with Section 1560) of Chapter 2 of Division 11 of, the Evidence Code and who, while engaged in performing that activity, has access to the information contained therein."

Seriously, though, at one point I did question if CA NSAs might be required to obtain this designation since we obtain and print/copy large packages as we do. I never did get a good answer to that. The consensus seemed to be that the designation was really limited for copy and print shops more than anything. And yeah... CA law does require at least one of the "managers" (or maybe just an employee now?) of the shop to be a Notary. The funny part of that is places like FedEx office... which do not offer Notary services to the public.

I touched on it here a few years ago: Msg #292383

ANd in Msg #292440 I noted that I'd made a call to the County Clerk's office. They never did get back to me, I don't think. I think I just got distracted.

It does seem that under the most strict definition, NSAs fall under this, but that we might also be exempt, too. I dunno... it's probably something I might take up again some day. It had always bothered me.

What's worse? In LA County, the registration is $200 and is only good for 2 years. Ouch. In Kern county it's slightly cheaper, and even more discounted if you're also a registered process server.

What gets me is that if Process Servers tend to have to do this for legal documents they receive and print/deliver... how is that different from loan documents we receive/print and deliver? I'm just tossing it out there for discussion purposes. I've not really come to any kind of opinion on the matter.

Reply by Eric Andrist on 1/9/13 12:24pm
Msg #449620

You ask some good questions Marian.

I think one difference might be in that the home buyers and the lenders trust the documents to us. In the case of a "professional photocopier" going into a business to copy documents for a lawsuit, the information being copied might be of a sensitive nature about someone, who hasn't personally given permission to have someone else see it. So the "professional copier" is then sworn to a professional secrecy about what is included. With strict HIPAA laws regarding medical records, if I went in to copy a doctor's patient records, there's a lot of info there of a sensitive nature, unlike loan docs.

But back to my question, I'm just curious if anyone knows how much of a call there is for this type of work, or do law offices just send their own people? I know that essentially you become a "deposition officer" (Evidence Code 1560), and would likely have to be available to testify in court.

Reply by Sheila Meinecke on 1/9/13 1:22pm
Msg #449636

My guess is that legal documents are just that, documents tied tocases, the court system, and court proceedings. The term legal is used too freely, in this business, I do not think that loan docs are considered legal documents.

Reply by Jessica Ward on 1/9/13 2:24pm
Msg #449642

I was asked to perform this service once.

I'm in WA and I'm not aware of any similar laws, but I did have a similar request.

I was asked to go to a company (subject of a lawsuit), supervise the pulling of files, and the copying (on the company's machines) and ensure that everything was copied.

I asked "do you want me to certify all of these copies?"

They just said "no, just ensure we're getting copies of everything." The attorney then reassured me "don't worry, they're compliant and they're expecting you."

Well, I don't know about you, but I know I don't have faith in ANYONE's filing system but my own, but any company who knows they're a subject of a lawsuit and about to get someone in to go through their files has probably already, um "double-checked" the applicable files.

I turned this down because it's really not my business model, and I had no idea how to bill, furthermore it sounded like a wad of liability I couldn't quantify. I'm thinking that's work for a virtual assistant or paralegal.

I wonder if that's a similar request for what you're talking about?

For what it's worth, in 4+ years as a full time notary signing agent, it's the only similar request I've ever had.

Reply by Eric Andrist on 1/9/13 3:16pm
Msg #449659

Re: I was asked to perform this service once.

There is actually a legal distinction here in California called a "professional photocopier." You have to have a $5000 bond, and get registered with the County Clerk.

Reply by Jessica Ward on 1/9/13 6:12pm
Msg #449688

I gathered from your post, my commentary was on demand

That said, since presumably the task can be performed by a wider group of people in WA than in CA, you likely have more demand. It's a very interesting business line.

Take care.