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November 17, 2020

“Oh, just shut up and do you job!”

Filed under: Carmen Towles — admin @ 8:37 am

Originally published in 2019

As a notary public myself, I can not tell you how many times I have heard, “Just shut up and do your job”. Other notaries over the years have expressed hearing the same. Usually, this will come form an uninformed loan officer or realtor. Or just someone that wants you to break the rules for them with little regard of the consequences for the notary. But what is more disheartening is when one notary says it to another.

I recently got a call from a notary friend who had such an experience. This notary was asked by a lender to notarize a document in a spousal state that the other spouse was instructed by the lender that they didn’t need to sign. My notary friend knew this was not legal and since she was aware of the law she refused to complete the assignment. The notary then reached out to one of her other notary friends, who told her to just ‘shut up’ and notarize the documents and also added for good measure; “Who do you think you are?”, ‘“You are just a notary?”. This upset my friend greatly, hence the call to me. I let her know immediately IMHO as far as I am concerned she had done the right thing.

Listen, we are government officials and IMHO, if we know something to be illegal (or unethical) you cannot in good conscience continue with the process of notarizing. We are supposed to be protecting the public. Not aiding and abedding folks trying to pull a fast one. And sadly, we eventually all come to realize, the mortgage industry is riddled with deceit and fraud. So, my rule of thumb is to think about how would I answer and defend my actions, if I were ever called to court and had to get on the stand and a judge asked me, if i knew something to be illegal, or unethical, how would I defend my actions?

And for another notary to insult another because they did what she/he thought or felt was right IMO was not fair. We are all responsible for our own actions. We all have to do what we feel is right and must be able to defend our actions if comes down to that. And for me the bottom line will be if I can live with what I have done and can I sleep at night.

I would love to hear with some of the rest of you feel about this.

You might also like:

Carmen’s guide to the Signature Name Affidavit
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=22541

Show me the money
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=22537

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November 16, 2020

Notary fined $385 for botching a Notarization

Filed under: General Articles — Tags: — admin @ 10:49 am

Originally posted in 2018

Many of the Notaries on our site are so incompetent about communication and Notary practices that I shutter to list them. The fact is that I am not always informed when Notaries get in trouble. I would like to hear more stories of Notaries who goof and get in trouble because I want to learn how to prevent the problems from happening in the future.

The fact is that a Notary in Louisiana (I don’t remember clearly the name of the state but think it is Louisiana) did a Notary job for a loan signing. The Notary was new and had no idea what she was doing. There were numerous mistakes on dates, signatures, notarizations, etc. In fact there were so many mistakes that the Lender make the Notary pay for the redraw of documents. The bill came out to $385. Ouch. What a nasty surprise for this enthusiastic but clueless Notary.

The moral of the story is that you cannot just get a Notary seal and start working without knowing what you are doing. The states don’t prepare you at all for Notary work. Even California gives very little hands on training. NNA certified notaries have been trained in some basic aspects of loan signing, but that course does not teach basic Notary knowledge. So, if you think you “know what you are doing” because you are NNA certified, try taking NNA’s Notary Essentials course first. It is better to know how to be a Notary than a loan signer, because most of the mistakes notaries make are either rudeness, leaving people high and dry, not following directions, or you guessed it — Notary mistakes. Notaries very rarely get in trouble for not knowing their loan documents and rarely get in trouble for dating an RTC wrong although it could happen.

So, become an expert at being a Notary. You can get into trouble with me if you don’t and trouble with the law, lenders and customers as well. Knowledge is power and ignorance comes at a high expense.

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You might also like:

Notary loses $4000 in legal fees because a fraud added a name to the certificate
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=19477

If you’re named as an identity theft conspirator, it could cost you $20,000 in legal fees.
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=19481

Do you keep a journal to please your state, a judge, the FBI or 123notary?
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=19483

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November 4, 2020

10 risks to being a Mobile Notary Public.

Filed under: Notary Mistakes,Popular on Facebook (some) — admin @ 12:59 am

Originally posted Oct 19, 2017.

Notarize at your own risk. Being a Notary is NOT safe!

Many of you think that being a Notary is an easy way to make a few extra bucks. Stamp a piece of paper, get $10, easy, right? Then you deal with nitpicky signing companies who make you fax things back and you get mad, right? That is an annoyance, but not the bigger problem. Being a Notary is dangerous, particular when you don’t do your job correctly. Most Notaries feel that you look at an ID and if it is close enough and the photo looks like the guy, that you are doing your job, right? Sort of. Here are some itemized risks to being a Notary Public.

1. Hoarders
If you go to someone’s house and they have things stacked to the ceiling, you might be in danger in their house. The signer doesn’t want to hurt you. It is just that they cannot control their psychological disease that causes them to engage in hoarding. My housemate is like this and she has stuff stacked to the ceiling which is dangerous and a fire hazard. Something could fall on you or you could get trapped in a fire.

2. Bio-hazards
Some homes that are not cleaned properly are dangerous. One house Carmen almost went into had some bacterial infection that would have gone straight to her lungs and caused her to go to the hospital. If a house smells funny, maybe you are not safe in there. If it is not ventillated properly, perhaps you should stay away. Poor hygene can be deadly, so be advised.

3. Dogs
Some neighborhoods have unsafe dogs around. Notaries could be harrassed or bitten by dogs. Carrying pepper spray or mace is not a bad idea.

4. Slummy neighbors
You might go to a signing in a bad area and people nearby might be hanging out who look unsavory. I am not sure if this is dangerous, but some people get upset.

5. Angry borrowers.
One Notary got pushed off a flight of stairs and broke her wrist. The borrower didn’t like his APR and I guess the Notary didn’t educate themself on how to give a professional explanation of the APR either. The borrower ended up in jail very quickly and the Notary healed in two months.

6. FBI and lawsuits
Roughly 2% of full-time Notaries will end up in court or with an FBI investigation for being involved with identity theft. If you do not keep a thorough journal with thumbprints and the right amount of journal entries, you are much more likely to be held in court as a witness, suspect, or cause yourself extended grief. Without a thumbprint, the investigators are often helpless to catch really really bad people. So, help them out and keep thumbprints. Do your part to safeguard mankind.

7. Getting sued by a borrower
One borrower got mad and sued the Lender, Title company and the Notary when the Notary had done nothing wrong. The Notary tried to use their E&O insurance, but the company wouldn’t pay out because the Notary had not made any error or omission. Of all the bad luck. So, the Notary lost $30,000 in legal fees. Talk about bad karma.

8. Getting sued by the bar association
If you life in an Attorney state and do loan signings without a law license, the bar association might come after you. Good grief.

9. Jeremy might phone quiz you.
Many Notaries who thought they had it together got a phone call from the infamous Jeremy (that’s me) and failed an over the phone quiz. They rationalized, “I’ve been doing this 30 years and therefore I know what I’m doing.” My rationalization is, “Not if you got 18% on my quiz which consists of very easy and every day notary questions.” You might not lose any money, but you could lose your dignity if you score less than 70%. So, study up!

10. Your seal could be stolen
It happened to me. I had to write to the Secretary of State. My car was broken into and I lost my seal, embosser and journal. What a tragedy. It took me two and a half weeks to be back in business. Think of all the money I lost not to mention the trauma of being robbed of my most prized possession — my inkless embosser that I used as a secondary seal to deter fraud! Boo-hoo.

There is also the risk of traffic accidents and having one of those talking GPS systems that talks back to you when you get in the wrong lane, but I won’t include details of those problems as they are common to all humans who drive and not just to Notaries. The end!

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You might also like:

13 ways to get sued as a Notary
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=19614

Notary loses $4000 in legal fees because a fraud adds a name to a Notary Acknowledgment.
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=19477

Compilation of posts about Notary fraud
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=21527

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October 23, 2020

123notary Elite Certification Study Guide

Filed under: Loan Signing 101 — Tags: , — admin @ 12:24 am

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ELITE CERTIFICATION

To get elite certification, you need to do well on the regular certification topics, and then know a lot more. Here are the items we quiz about for elite certification. We test by phone for the elite, and if you study hard and know your basic documents, scenarios, and Notary knowledge plus the content on this page, you could pass.

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Documents you have to understand intimately

Recorded Documents
Riders
Subordination Agreement
Residency Affidavit
Owners Affidavit
Deed of Reconveyance
Deed of Trust
CD & HUD-1
Please read the details of the required documents. Read more…

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Procedures or Acts to Understand

Signature by X or Mark — read more…
Apostilles and Authentications — read more…

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Other Terms or Information
Please click on the links below to get detailed information on the following points.

The term Elizor — read points 23 on this link. An Elizor is a court appointed official that can sign over property when the owner refuses to cooperate in court.

Explaining beneficial & financial interest. A Notary may not have beneficial interest or financial interest in anything he is notarizing. A beneficial interest could be construed as …

Federal Holidays in chronological order (memorize these). Let’s start with New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day …

Fraud Prevention & types of fraud that happen in the Notary world. Falsified identification, incorrect dates on certificates, using someone else’s Notary seal …

Authority – Who has the highest level of authority if there is a question about a notary act or document at a signing? The Notary is the authority as to how a notary transaction happens, but…

Annual Percentage Rate — a detailed understanding is required. The APR is based on the amount borrower after certain (but not all) fees and closing costs have been deducted, and expressed as a …

Pros & Cons: — Adding an Acknowledgment rather than fixing the original. if there is a mistake on a preprinted form. It is cleaner to add a new form, but there can be recording fee issues involved…

What to do if John & Sally’s names are inscribed in an Acknowledgment by the Lender and Sally can’t make it. — Cross out or add a new form? This is similar to the last point, but there are some extra snags…

Handling name variations and discrepencies such as: ID Name, vs. Typed Name, Signature on Doc, and Name on Ack. Relationship between these names if they don’t exactly match. The main thing is to obey the law first…

Understanding dates such as: Transaction Dates, Signature Dates, Rescission Dates, and Document Dates… A transaction date is the same as a signature date, but a document date is arbitrarily chosen, but by whom?

Loan Signing FAQ’s that Borrowers ask. FAQ’s have been greatly reduced by Lenders being required to explain documents to the borrowers in advance. But, you still might be asked why the APR is …

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October 17, 2020

13 ways to get sued as a Notary

Filed under: Notary Mistakes,Popular on Facebook (top),Popular on Linked In,Popular on Twitter,Popular Overall,Technical & Legal — Tags: , — admin @ 3:59 am

Originally posted in 2017

Many people become Notaries to make a few extra bucks and don’t realize there are liabilities in this profession. Here are some ways you can get into trouble as a Notary.

1. You name your business a particular name, advertise with that name, but the name is not registered with your county clerk. Someone could sue you for using their business name.

2. You notarize loans in an Attorney state and the local bar association sues you. This has happened to a few Notaries in Massachusetts, and in Georgia the bar association antagonizes Notaries from time to time.

3. You make a mistake on a signing and your E&O doesn’t cover you. E&O is for NOTARY MISTAKES and not for business mistakes you make with loan signing. If a document is not notarized, your E&O will not cover your mistake. For example if you sign the note wrong, that is not a Notary mistake, that is a document signing mistake.

4. You return documents back late and the Lender sues you because the borrower lost their lock.

5. You make a comment to the borrower about their loan, they cancel, and then the Lender blames you and sues.

6. You decline to Notarize someone whose name on the ID does not match or prove the name on the document. One Notary did exacty this and got sued and lost because her communication skills were so bad, but judge could not understand her side of the story.

7. You get in a car accident on the way to a signing and get sued as a result of the accident.

8. You make a mistake in a loan signing and then don’t answer your phone or email for days after. The Lender is pulling his hair out and sues you for his bill with Bosley hair transplants.

9. You don’t follow directions on an assignment. You don’t show the documents in the order the client asked you to. As a result, the client changes their mind about signing the document that will get the client their commission. The client loses $5000 because of you, sues you, and wins.

10. You forget to administer an Oath and your state fines you for malpractice. In California there is a $750 fine for each Oath you forget. Fining and suing are different, but the end is the same — you lose. Or should I say, I swear you will lose!

11. You give legal advice or something that can be construed, misconstrued as legal advice. Then, you get sued for UPL. If you give legal advice to a courier company you could get sued for UPL by UPS.

12. You put the wrong date on the Right to Cancel, the borrower thinks they have an additional day, and find out after the fact that they don’t. Good luck. You would be surprised how many Notaries do not know how to date a Right to Cancel.

13. You misrepresent yourself as an immigration expert and defraud some poor and helpless immigrants. Or you advertise as a Notario. You will be cracked down upon by many state governments for this.

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You might also like:

10 risks to being a Mobile Notary Public
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=19459

A Notary gets sued because of a scrambled ID
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=19443

You could get sued if you don’t have a business license
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=7100

Help, I’m being sued and E&O won’t help!
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=3570

The FBI is at your door and names you as a suspect!
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=20013

Find Notary Services Near Me
http://blog.123notary.com/?tag=notary-services-near-me

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October 14, 2020

Good Signing Companies – a thorough list

Filed under: Best Signing Companies — admin @ 12:08 pm

Originally posted in 2018.

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A Quality Signing Services
Boca Raton, FL

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Above and Beyond Closings
Lake Zurich, Il

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Accountable Agents, LLC
Reading, PA
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=1258&Accountable+Agents

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Accurate Closing Services
Walnut, CA

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Accurate Group
Charlotte, NC
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=1224&Accurate+Group

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All Star Title
Baltimore, MD

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AMC Settlement Services
Coraopolis, PA

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America’s Best Closers
Tampa, FL
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=26&Americas+Best+Closers

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Ancona Title and Escrow
White Bear Lake, MN

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APAT Real Estate Settlement Services, LLC
Winter Garden, FL
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=719&APAT+Settlement+Services%2C+Inc%2E

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ASAP Signing Services, LLC
Citrus Heights, CA

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ATS Document Services
Long Beach, CA

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Avenue 365 Lender Services
Plymouth Meeting, PA

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Bankserv, Inc
Yorba Linda, CA
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=104&Bancserv

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Blue Sky Closings
Tampa, FL
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=886&Blue+Sky+Closings

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Brooks Closing Service
Slatington, PA

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Central Signing Service
Grants Pass, OR
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=12&Central+Signing+Service+AKA+Initial+Here

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Champion Title & Settlements
Potomac Falls, VA

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Clear to Close Title Services, LLC
Coconut Creek, FL

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Close It Fast.com
Rumson, NJ

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Closed For You
Lewis Center, OH

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Convenient Closing Services
Mt. Laurel, NJ
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=62&Convenient+Closing+Services

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Cornerstone Signing Service, Inc.
Searcy, AR

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CRES Closers
Ashville, NC

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Cykix Closing Agent Services
Mt. Hermon, CA
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=1026&Cykix

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Diamond Star Notaries, LLC
San Jose, CA
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=1236&Diamond+Star+Notaries

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Direct Closers
Orange, CA
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=967&Direct+Closers

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Door2Door Docs
Nipomo, CA
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=933&Door+to+Door+Documents

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East Coast Abstract
Ivyland, PA

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Equity National Title Insurance Company
East Providence, RI
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=813&Equity+National+Title+%26+Closing+Services
Excel Notary, Inc.
Glendale, AZ

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Executive Notary Services, LLC
Dallas, TX

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Executive Signing Services, Inc.
Gilbert, AZ

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Express Signatures
El Segundo, CA

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First Class Signing
Pleasanton, CA
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=1014&First+Class+Signing+Service
First National Signings, Inc.
Santa Ana, CA

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First Preference Signing, LLC
Lakewood, CO

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Inscribing Persuits, LLC
Farmington, UT
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=6&Inscribing+Pursuits+Document+Service

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Integrated Real Estate Processing
Pittsburgh, PA

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JM Adjustment Services, LLC
Clinton Township, MI

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JMT Document Service
Visalia, CA
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=313&JMT

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Kelley’s Mobile Notary Service
Houston, TX
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=1083&Kelley%27s+Mobile+Notary

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Loan Doc Express, Inc.
Phoenix, AZ

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LSI
Moon Township, PA
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=125&LSI+-+A+Fidelity+National+Information+Services+Company

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Madison Credit Management Services
Cherry Hill, NJ

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Maverick Signings
Mission Viejo, CA
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=963&Maverick+Signings

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Merritt Services, Inc.
St. Johns, FL

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Metro Inspections
Glendale, AZ
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=899&Metro+Inspections+AZ

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Meymax Title
Columbus, OH
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=309&MeyMax+Title+Agency+of+Ohio+LLC

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Mortgage Closings, Inc.
Owosso, MI

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Mortgage Information Services
Cleveland, OH

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National Closing Solutions
Roseville, CA

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Negretes Notary Service, Inc.
Mansfield, OH

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Netco
St. Charles, MO

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Northstar Notary
Huntington Beach, CA

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Notaries in Motion
Corona, CA

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Notary Junction
Irving, TX

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Notary on Call
San Diego, CA
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=1067&Notary+on+Call

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Novation Capital
West Palm Beach, FL

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OCM Financial Group, Inc.
Overland Park, KS

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Old Republic National Title Insurance Company
Akron, MI
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=906&Old+Republic+National+Title+Insurance+Company

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OS National, LLC
Duluth, GA
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=1182&OS+National%2C+LLC

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Pacific Alliance Notary Service
Vista, CA

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Patriot Title Agency
Canton, OH

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Peachtree Settlement Funding
Boca Raton, FL

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Performance Title, Inc
Bay St. Louis, MS

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Premier Reverse Closings
Rocklin, CA

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PRISM Title
Des Plaines, IL

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Pro Mobile Notary
Novato, CA

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ProLink Signing Service
San Jose, CA

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Propel Financial Services
San Antonio, TX

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Real Advantage, LLC
Pittsburgh, PA

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Reltco, Inc.
Tampa, FL
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=1180&Reltco%2C+Inc%2E

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Res Title
Westborough, MA

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Right Now Notary
Carrollton, TX

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RM Signing, LLC
San Diego, CA

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Robyn Allen
High Springs, FL

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S&P Closings
Asheville, NC
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=958&S%26P+Closings

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Safe Signings
Fullerton, CA

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Signature Closers, LLC
Columbus, OH
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=879&Signature+Closers%2C+LLC

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SLB Signing Services
Deland, FL

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Speedy Notary and Document Signing
Beverly Hills, CA
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=830&Speedy+Notary+%26+Doc+Signings

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Statewide Document Services, Inc.
Indianapolis, IN
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=1244&Statewide+Document+Services

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Superior Notary Services
Wylie, TX
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=932&Superior+Notary+Services

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Superior Signing Service
Ladera Ranch, CA

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The Doc Signers
Phoenix, AZ
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=949&The+Doc+Signers

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The Ink, A Signing Company
San Diego, CA

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The Notary Company
Yuba City, CA

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Ticor Title co.
Tustin, CA
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=502&Ticor+Title

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Timios, Inc.
Westlake Village, CA
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=864&Timios+Title

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Title Source, Inc.
Detroit, MI
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=610&Title+Source

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TitlePlus, LLC
Baton Rouge, LA

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TMR Notary Services
Brea, CA

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Trinity Document Solutions
Trinity, FL

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True Concept Title
Clearwater, FL
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=833&True+Concept+Title

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US Certified Signers
Sacramento, CA
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=1266&US+Certified+Signers

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UST Global
Moon Township, PA

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Vantage Land Title
Vandalia, OH

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Watermark Services, Inc.
Folsom, CA

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World Wide Settlements
Rockville, MD

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X Marks the Spot Signing Services
St. Augustine, FL
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=224&X+Marks+The+Spot

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Xpress Title Services, LLC
Towson, MD
http://www.123notary.com/signco-idv.asp?sid=1272&XPress+Title+Services

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You might also like:

Opinions about Snapdocs in the forum & blog comments
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=21299

Aug 2018 signing company gossip
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=21087

Notary Marketing 102 – a free notary marketing course
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=19774

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May 22, 2020

What to do with signers who read too much

Filed under: General Stories — admin @ 9:54 pm

Growing up, my father drove people crazy by slowly reading every part of long contracts while they had to sit and wait. I agree with him that reading contracts is essential. But, exasperating others is not nice. I think it is my karma being the son of a copious reader (that is his hobby by the way) to have signers who are just as bad (or diligent and good) as dad.

During my career, roughly half of my borrowers read too much. My average signing took a little more than an hour. I dealt with it. I was not too concerned unless they were delaying me from getting to another job. But, now that I am older, and value my time more, I realize this is no good. Three hour signings cannot happen.

You need a strategy for how you are going to deal with this. Here are some ideas. Put in the comments if you have other ideas.

1. During the confirmation call, let them know you are offering them “x” amount of minutes for the signing. I would offer more time to those paying you well to make sure you get rehired. For cheap signings, perhaps offer 45 minutes. Keep in mind that if they go over, you need to offer some leeway to avoid social friction (and getting fired). For signings that pay big bucks, you might allow up to two hours just to be nice. But, still emphasize that there is a limit. My personal experience was that the more I was paid, the faster the signing was. My worst client was a Lender whose borrowers always had to call him and ask painstakingly long questions on my time. The average phone call was 45 minutes which I had to sit through.

2. If you don’t give them a summary of your time offering before the signing, you can spring it on them at the signing. You explain that this is a signing appointment and not a reading appointment. You can explain that they have borrowers copies to read for the next 72 hours if this is a refinance for a primary residence, and that they can cancel after the fact. Explain that you have other appointments and have to leave in “x” amount of minutes whether the loan is signed or not out of courtesy for your subsequent appointments.

Having time limits might get you fired, not paid, or in trouble. But, if you want to make money as a signing agent, you need to book lots of appointments and nail them one by one. Or, you need to have two high paying jobs per day. 2 x $200 = $400 and $400 per day is a living — not a great living, but a living. If you make $80 per signing, you need to do at least five per day to get paid well and that means hustling and moving fast, especially at night when they might be back to back.

In the worst scenario, you might have to take the main copies signed or unsigned, put them in the Fedex and send them back. You can explain to the company that you ran out of time and that next time the Lender should explain the documents better to the signer AHEAD OF TIME otherwise they end up taking your time when you don’t have time. It is not a matter of what your time is worth — if you have another client waiting, it is an abuse of that other client’s time if you are late for any reason.

Please comment if you have better ideas, because this blog article is about playing rough which is not considered nice, but is the only way to get good income per hour spent. Otherwise you might get taken for a ride regularly.

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May 6, 2020

Girls just want to have fun; Notaries just want to get paid;

Filed under: Business Tips — admin @ 9:39 am

I remember that Cyndi Lauper song from the 80’s – Girls, just want to have fun. It was popular at one time. But, during this decade, we have a different dilemma. Notaries just want to get paid. Why is it that so many Notaries don’t get paid? It is a question of doing your homework. There are various reasons why Notaries don’t get paid. Here are my points on the matter:

1. Notaries who lack experience are seen as less valuable to companies. They typically get paid last if there is a monetary constraint. This is especially true of Notaries who come across as unprofessional, whiny, or make mistakes. The way to remedy this situation is to be more professional and punctual rather than claiming to be as such. Additionally, getting more experience would help as well.

2. Research all companies you work for. If you think you can just blindly accept jobs from companies, I recommend thinking again. Roughly half of the companies out there do not pay on time, or sometimes at all. If you visit the various forums you can easily see who the good apples and bad apples are. You are not just comparing apples to apples — okay, bad example, you are just comparing apples to apples.

3. Have companies paypal you up front. After all, you are not in the finance business. You are not a lender. So, why should you extend credit to a complete stranger? Beginners may have trouble attracting people who will pay up front. But, you can reduce your fee to gain this privilege. It might be worth sacrificing a few bucks to avoid the hassle of chasing people around for petty cash and to avoid the risk of not getting paid at all.

4. Billing regularly and keeping good records is essential. If you go easy on people who owe you money, that will not get you paid.

5. Sending threatening letters to those who have owed you for more than 60 days makes sense. 123notary has a template of just such a letter in our resource page.

Summary
Getting paid is not a complicated art form. It is a matter of following some basic common sense protocol. I hope you learn this and make a habit out of it. Otherwise you might be on the hook for thousands.

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May 2, 2020

Can you ask a borrower if they have been out of the country?

Filed under: General Stories — Tags: , , , — admin @ 6:19 am

Is it legal, ethical, or advisable to ask borrowers if they have been to a highly infected area recently such as Italy, Iran, China, South Korea, etc? Someone asked me this today. The answer is that you might get lenders mad at you.

The rate of infection in these countries is measured in infections per million and they are generally between 50 and 200 cases per million. So, being in these countries presents a very minuscule risk to the notary.

On the other hand, if a borrower exhibits Covid 19 type symptoms such as a dry cough, trouble breathing, etc., then you might be advised to stay away. I cannot advise on this as much of the transmission of Covid 19 happens with people who exhibit no symptoms.

Disinfecting the signing table, pens, cell phones, etc., makes a lot of sense. Having the signers wash hands thoroughly immediately before the signing is also a good idea. If they were a mask, that would be the icing on the cake.

I don’t know what you can ask or should ask without upsetting lenders and title companies. So, it might make sense to ask them.

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March 29, 2020

Two notarizations same document..yes or no?

Filed under: Carmen Towles — admin @ 8:45 am

As I often do, I read the notary discussion boards. It’s often entertainenlightening and full of situations that we are faced with to deal with almost on a daily basis. Most of them you share personally with me but this was a new one. A few days ago, the topic was about a notary that had a document that had one signature but two notarizations on the same page; One, was an Acknowledgement and the other a Jurat. The notary choose to notarize only one (don’t know which one they choose and they shouldn’t have done this but that is another issue) and the underwriter rejected it and sent it back for completion of the other notarial certificate. It seems that they wanted BOTH the acknowledgement and the jurat completed. The notary said NO and stated that it was one signature per notarial certificate. And since they had only signed once she refused to notarize both. And, although it sounded about right because most of us feel that it is one signature per notarization. After all, that is how we charge clients. In this case the certificates are different. One requires a sworn oath to be given and the other is just an acknowledgment on the part of the signer. I still wondered about this. Where is written in anybodies handbook that states that you can’t do one signature and have two different type of notarial certificates?

In my opinion, It seems that the lender and/or title was covering there rear end. Perhaps they couldn’t choose so they just decided to put both.The problem would have been easy if they had the signer sign one for each certificate. What ever the case its a decision that you have to make. It seems the notaries are split on this. I personally have seen this a couple times and I just notarize both. And enter into my journal.The question is what would you do?

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