Posted by Marian_in_CA on 11/11/13 11:15am
Msg #492259

Is this just inane double talk or....

The NNA directly responded to some of my questions on their Facebook page... here are their responses... I challeneged them to answer, and they did. Not sure what to do with these other than scream at the moment:

"Question 1 answer: The SPW is a mortgage finance industry workgroup of the National Notary Association that publishes standards for Certified Signing Specialists. That is why when you run a "whois" report on the Web site and do deep searches about our directors and vice presidents, you find that connection. This is no secret. Why is it like this? The SPW has a very strict policy on avoiding antitrust issues, and they asked the NNA to set up an industry membership so that they could collaborate properly and legally. The NNA hosts the SPW as an industry trade group, and we provide administration and expert guidance to support it. We are a non-voting member. Here is the antitrust policy: http://signingprofessionalsworkgroup.org/.../

Question No. 2: SPW membership is specifically for lenders and title companies, or other mortgage finance industry bodies that wish to collaborate on setting standards. Notaries need not spend $1,000 to interact with the SPW. A mechanism is being set up for notaries to communicate directly with a SPW subcommittee. When that is established it will be broadcast to all signing agents.

Question No. 3: Under the code of conduct 'Certified Signing Specialists" means signing agents, or Notaries who perform loan signings. Over the years the lenders and title companies have interacted with tens of thousands of Notary professionals, and they based their work in part on that industry interaction. The companies that are party to the SPW are listed on the site."

Reply by Notarysigner on 11/11/13 11:24am
Msg #492261

Boy Marian, you'd think your questions, no.1 thru no.3 were all the same, as in "Please explain" and nothing more. IMO

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 11/11/13 11:28am
Msg #492262

BTW.... here are my original posts to them that sparked the answers... and I admit it to be a little witchy on my part, but honest. I'm actually shocked they responded. Well, not entirely... they do have a history of responding to me when I make noise. heh.

"I'm sure I won't get an answer to this...but what the heck... let's try. I think it's important that other notaries pull the wool up from over their eyes and learn what's going on here. Why is the SPW website owned and operated by the NNA and two of the three chairs are employees/officers of the NNA? Why in the world is SPW membership $1,000 a person per YEAR and only open to people who are or work for companies who are members of the NNA? Membership "proceeds" go to pay for "meetings and administration" which, let's face it...means expensive meeting halls at the annual NNA conference and paying the salaries of the chairs... who are, as previously noted, mostly working for the NNA! Oh, and even if notaries, signing services and education vendors (if they are even approved) could afford to join, they don't even have a VOTE. They're expected to pay $1,000 a year (in addition to paying for NNA membership on top of that) and don't even get a vote? I could go on and on here... but a lot of people are having serious issues with this new group and the NNA. Why is the NNA not addressing the critical questions? Why, when some of this news was breaking and notaries were getting pretty upset did the NNA just post a bunch of Halloween and hug a bear day posts? You guys are not helping yourselves any here. You certainly aren't helping the notaries you claim to serve."

"Also... I meant to ask this, too: on the SPW site, under this Code of Conduct it says, "The Guiding Principles and Standards of Practice are the distillation of interaction between the National Notary Association, thousands of Certified Signing Specialists from every state and U.S. jurisdiction, lenders and the companies that employ Specialists....." "

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 11/11/13 11:31am
Msg #492263

Oops... I can't even past right today. Oh, I need some sleep after a long night.

Here's the last one in full:

"Also... I meant to ask this, too: on the SPW site, under this Code of Conduct it says, "The Guiding Principles and Standards of Practice are the distillation of interaction between the National Notary Association, thousands of Certified Signing Specialists from every state and U.S. jurisdiction, lenders and the companies that employ Specialists....."

How is it possible to interact with "thousands" of Certified Signing Specialists when the designation doesn't even exist yet and nobody has been approved to issue the designation? Who, exactly, are these people and companies and why aren't you willing to give us a list of names?"

Reply by Yoli/CA on 11/11/13 2:27pm
Msg #492277

You're absolutely correct, Marian. Inane double talk - enough to lead one to believe there's something amiss. IMO, if you can't answer a direct question directly, it's best to not answer at all. Double talk only leads to more speculation.

The above link sent me to an "oops" page. Here's the direct link to their antitrust policy:

http://signingprofessionalsworkgroup.org/?s=antitrust+policy&submit=

Even THAT statement is contradictory. Very first line: " ... open and voluntary standards ... " Makes me go hmmmmm ....

Reply by Shawn Choyce on 11/11/13 5:40pm
Msg #492294

There is nothing open or voluntary about the standards if you don't comply the are saying the large banks Citi, Chase, B OF A and Wells Fargo will not allow you to do closing.

Reply by MW/VA on 11/11/13 6:34pm
Msg #492304

I agree. Thanks for your efforts, Marian. Like a lot of

politicians, you never get a straight answer to any questions--just the "inane double talk" you're referring to.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 11/11/13 8:39pm
Msg #492318

Re: I agree. Thanks for your efforts, Marian. Like a lot of

LOL!!! That's pretty much what I was thinking. And like a lot of politicians, they seem to think that just because they say it's so that it will be true - or that people will believe it's true. We know that ain't necessarily so! (Sadly, though, it seems that some do fall for it. Let's hope that the regulators aren't among that latter group...)

Reply by Christine/OK on 11/11/13 2:54pm
Msg #492279

LIKE!! :D n/m

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 11/11/13 7:29pm
Msg #492308

I think I meant doublespeak... eh, whatever... it's still

an annoying response.

Reply by MikeC/TX on 11/12/13 7:39pm
Msg #492447

Smoking gun?

""Question 1 answer: The SPW is a mortgage finance industry workgroup of the National Notary Association that publishes standards for Certified Signing Specialists."

They've been pitching this as if the NNA is only acting as an adviser to an industry group that was responding to requirements from the CFPB.

You just got them to admit - in writing - that the SPW is part of the NNA, and not an independent industry group they were consulting with...

Good job, Marian.

Reply by MAC/WA on 11/12/13 9:46pm
Msg #492468

Absolute B.S. I hope you post response

Start with "Liar, liar, pants on fire".