The Notary News -- Issue 57

T H E N O T A R Y N E W S

Published by Victoria Ring, CNSA
http://www.50statenotary.com
http://www.bankruptcybook.net
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Missed an issue? Read all past issues at http://www.50statenotary.com/ezine/
You can also read this issue online at http://www.50statenotary.com/ezine/issue57.html
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ISSUE 57 – October 22, 2004

IN THIS ISSUE:

** Update Your Address Book
** Emails and Questions From Notaries
** How to Handle a Backdating Document Request
** Notary Develops New Bankruptcy Website
** Is Your Name on This List?
** Rate this Ezine
** Bible Verse of the Week
** Resource Links for Notary Signing Agents

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UPDATE YOUR ADDRESS BOOK

On October 25, 2004, 50 State Notary will have a new phone and fax number:

New Telephone: 614-801-9977
New Fax: 614-801-1962

All other contact information will remain the same. We are NOT moving. Just our telephone numbers have changed.

If you use Microsoft Outlook as your email software, you can easily update your Address Book by clicking on TOOLS, then ADDRESS BOOK and either clicking on NEW to add 50 State Notary to your address book or to update information.

Complete contact information for 50 State Notary for your Address Book:

50 State Notary
1601 West Fifth Avenue, Suite 123
Columbus OH 43212-2303
Phone: 614-801-9977, Fax: 614-801-1962
Email: victoria@50statenotary.com
Website: http://www.50statenotary.com

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EMAILS AND QUESTIONS FROM NOTARIES

Dear Victoria. I am shocked that we have "NASTY" unreasonable people that are Notary Public people. If we act like this -- how can we deal with the public and expect to build our business? Sounds like you need a jar with a label on it that says "HERE IS THE ASHES OF A NASTY NOTARY PUBLIC." Sorry! It is hard to believe we have people that act like spoiled children and expect to build a business. I hope I never display this attitude.

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Dear Victoria: It just totally amazes me that the couple of NEGATIVE people wrote in Issue 56 and talked disrespectful to you. You have provided so much positive and required information in this field that it just blows my mind. The two that wrote in complaining about the teleconference and not receiving their book after ONLY 3 days of ordering need to really get a clue. They are not and probably will not do well in this business because of their mind set.

Thanks to you and all of your tidbits of information I am doing quite well as a notary signing agent. I make anywhere from $2,800 to as high as $7,400 in August 2004. If I were you I would not waste my time or energy responding to them.

Thanks for everything you have to offer. Your information is FREE -- what more do they want? And thanks for spreading the word of His goodness. I look forward to the Bible versus at the end of every newsletter.

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RESPONSE FROM VICTORIA RING

I was touched to receive so many emails (like the 2 above) from subscribers who were upset with the two “negative” emails published in the previous issue. My intention for publishing them was to help a few people out there to wake up. The sad part is that some of these people do not even realize they are being nasty. They believe they are actually doing the right thing in regard to their behavior. Normally I delete emails like these, but once in awhile I will publish one of these nasty letters in order to provide a response that I hope will help these people realize their problem and change their behavior. Then, when I try to “jolt” these people into reality I receive emails from other notaries who accuse me of being “too harsh.” You can’t win for losing with some people.

Don’t worry – nasty comments never hurt me. Gloria and I normally get a big kick out of them. I respect the right to free speech and believe that everyone is entitled to their opinion – just the same way I am.

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Dear Victoria: Many applications to be listed with mortgage companies ask "How much experience have you had?" or "Please provide the names of other signing agencies or mortgage companies for which you have completed assignments." and "How many assignments have you completed?'

This is a Catch-22. Signing agencies want experience, but how is a new notary signing agent supposed to gain experience if no signing company will trust them with an assignment?
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Dear Victoria: I'm afraid if I put down on the applications that I have NEVER notarized loan documents and have done ZERO, that they won't call me. Should I at least say YES and that I've notarized AT LEAST 1-10 purchases and refinances -- but really I haven't done a single one? I would feel bad about doing that. But the forms they have you fill out online just ask you for POINTBLANK answers. Any thoughts on how to handle this situation for a brand new notary with NO experience whatsoever?

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RESPONSE FROM VICTORIA RING

When I first started working as a Notary Signing Agent the applications I filled out did not ask this question. However, over a period of years many companies have suffered because of the “bad apple” notaries who do not provide them with a professional job. Therefore, they have had to get tougher by asking for references.

My suggestion would be to sign up with companies who do not require you to have experience. Then when you have completed a few signings, go back to these companies and register with them, providing the experience you have.

Another suggestion would be to write down your strong points, education and background that would demonstrate a responsible, dedicated and dependable person. Then pick up the phone and call the company. Provide them with your background and explain that you are interested in working directly for them. You also need to convince them you are professional and have enough background experience to do a good job.

Or you could locate an experienced notary signing agent in your area and accompany him or her on a couple of assignments. You don’t earn any money doing this. In fact, you should offer to buy the experienced notary lunch or dinner for allowing you to accompany him or her on the signing. Why? Because you will gain valuable experience you can never learn in any classroom and you also tell companies you are signing up with that you have received personal hands-on training from an experienced notary signing agent.

Finally, go to http://www.50statenotary.com/directory/company_listing.html where I have provided additional tips to help you get more business.

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Dear Victoria: Is it FAIR for an agency to ask me if I have a felony when I've OBVIOUSLY been approved by my State to become a notary?

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RESPONSE FROM VICTORIA RING

The word “fair” can mean a variety of different things to many people. But I have experienced a lot of job applications that ask for you to list any previous felonies. And attorney told me that in most states the statute of limitations is 6 years, depending on the type of felony the charge is for.

You may want to get a copy of your criminal record and have the felony expunged. This simply means they will remove it from your record. If you are unsure of how to do this, contact a criminal attorney in your area and it should not cost very much to have the record expunged since this is normally a simple procedure.

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Dear Victoria: How would you feel about the notary developing his/her own Contract Agreement and when the notary gets their first call from a signing/title/mortgage company, we would require the company to sign the contract and fax back? The Contract would contain provisions such as; 1) Payment policy when the borrower doesn’t sign, 2) Payment terms (i.e. net 30 days), 3) Cancellation Policy in circumstances when either the borrower or signing company calls to cancel the appointment within 2 hours. These are just a few of the provisions that I would like included in a Contract Agreement. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS?

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RESPONSE FROM VICTORIA RING

I think it is a terrific idea. However, most mortgage, title and signing companies already provide their own Agreements. It may be easier to just sign up with companies who already meet your criteria rather than drafting a contract yourself without the aide of an attorney or competent paralegal.

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Dear Victoria: I just want to say thank you. You have made a difference in my life. A couple of months ago I surfed the internet wanting to know what I can do to make extra money. I came across your book. I bought your book and did exactly what your book said regarding starting the Notary Signing Business. At first it was a part time thing that I did when I was not working at my full time job. I got lots of signings and now I am getting enough to work at my full time job part time. As a woman of god, I am so blessed that I had you to literally hold my hand in this. Thank you and God bless.

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RESPONSE FROM VICTORIA RING

Thank you so much for your comments Denise.

For those of you who have not ordered your copy of How to Start, Operate and Market a Freelance Notary Signing Agent Business go to http://www.50statenotary.com/book/

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HOW TO HANDLE A BACKDATING DOCUMENT REQUEST

Dear Victoria: I had an experience recently that I think is worth sharing with your subscribers. I completed a loan settlement on 9/16/2004. One month later, I received an email from an employee at NASCO, the title company handling the recording of the deed. She said the county courthouse rejected the mortgage because the notary seal was illegible. She said they needed an "All Purpose Acknowledgement" completed by me to record the mortgage. I emailed back asking her to fax me the form they needed me to fill out, in addition to the notary page of the mortgage in question. I have been a signing agent for 6.5 years and am always careful to imprint the seal clearly on the mortgage, so I was curious to see what was illegible. She agreed and faxed me the papers.

The faxed copy showed a clear seal, except one of the "m's" in the word commission was blurry. I figured the county employee was just in a bad mood that day and turned the mortgage away. That is something we have no control over as notaries, and I knew it needed to be fixed so it could be recorded. So I moved on to the form they wanted me to fill out. It was a blank acknowledgement form. The instructions the NASCO employee gave me were to fill out the form and affix my seal, making sure to date the form 9/16/04, which was the original date of the loan signing (even though the date I would have been filling out the form and affixing my seal was on 10/15/04). That was RED FLAG #1. RED FLAG #2 was that they wanted me to affix my seal to a blank document that wasn't accompanied by the original document. RED FLAG #3-after all that I was supposed to overnight the acknowledgement back to them so they could put it with the mortgage.

I emailed back to NASCO that I felt this was backdating, and that I didn't feel comfortable signing the blank document. I wanted to call the NNA notary hotline to get clarification on the best way to rectify the problem so that I would be doing it lawfully and in a timely manner for NASCO.

I promptly received a phone call from a gentleman at NASCO-someone other than the girl who had been emailing me. He said what they were asking me to do was not backdating, and that I just needed to get this done so they could get this mortgage recorded. I told him that I would be happy to do whatever is necessary, but just wanted to call the NNA first to clarify the proper way to do it. At that point the NASCO gentleman (I am being gracious here...) threatened to call the signing agency that contracted me for this job to tell them that I was not cooperating. I immediately assumed that he was threatening to try and impact my future business with this particular signing company if I didn't do what he wanted. I stuck to my guns and told him that I would not do anything until talking with the NNA.

I promptly called the NNA and they confirmed my concerns. Faxing a blank acknowledgement is considered a "loose certificate" and is not acceptable. If there is something unclear about a notarial seal, the notary MUST be re-presented with the original document before completely an acknowledgement. In addition, dating the acknowledgement for the date of the signing and not the date you are actually filling out the form IS backdating. The correct way to resolve this was for NASCO to overnight the original mortgage to me so that I would have the document in my presence. Then I would re-affix my seal on the document. That is it. No dating is necessary, and it requires no new notarization.

The NNA informed me that notarizing a faxed All Purpose Acknowledgement without having the original document with it is like notarizing a blank piece of paper. Also, overnighting that back without being attached to the original document runs a risk. If the document falls into the wrong hands it could be used fraudulently and I would have no defense and be totally responsible for the consequences.

I am glad I covered my bases and got the information I needed to feel comfortable handling the problem. Everyone needs to remember that YOUR notary commission is on the line at all times. Lenders and title companies cannot bully you into doing something just because they say so. Make sure you are doing it the right way and ALWAYS get clarification if you are unsure or do not feel comfortable with a request given to you.

Sincerely,
Karla-Gettysburg, PA

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RESPONSE FROM VICTORIA RING

Excellent advice Karla!! Thank you so much for submitting this information to help other notary subscribers.

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NOTARY DEVELOPES NEW BANKRUPTCY WEBSITE

George Wynn, a subscriber of The Notary News purchased the book “How to Start a Bankruptcy Forms Processing Service” and has developed his own company named The Bankruptcy Assistant. George has done an excellent job in the development of his website and I invite everyone to take a look at http://www.thebankruptcyassistant.com/

If you are interested in finding out more about the bankruptcy forms processing business, go to http://www.bankruptcybook.net

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IS YOUR NAME ON THE LIST?

If your notary web page in the Nationwide Notary Directory is due to expire, you can renew your listing at http://www.50statenotary.com/renew.html

Below is a list (last name only) of the notary web pages that have expired and will be removed unless a renewal form is received:

STATE--------LAST NAME
NY-------------Horlacher
AL-------------Harrison
CA-------------Flathman
CA-------------Hanon
OH-------------Rosenbrough
IN-------------McCord
SC-------------Swiger
TX-------------England
FL-------------Avent
MN-------------Govan
IN-------------Gastineau
OH-------------Mays

If your name is on the list, please submit the renewal form at http://www.50statenotary.com/renew.html immediately or your web page will be removed. All renewals receive a discount.

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Please rate this Ezine at the Cumuli Ezine Finder
http://www.cumuli.com/ezines/vote.html?pub_code=thenot

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BIBLE VERSE OF THE WEEK

Jeremiah, Chapter 1, Verse 19

“And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.”

Read online at http://www.servantofjesuschrist.com/kjv1611/jeremiah/chapter_01.html
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OF INTEREST TO NOTARIES:

Get listed in the Nationwide Notary Directory
http://www.50statenotary.com/directory/order_getlisted.html

BOOK: “How to Start, Operate and Market a Freelance Notary Signing Agent Business” ISBN: 1-9761591-0-4
http://www.50statenotary.com/book/index.html

BOOK: “How to Start a Bankruptcy Forms Processing Service”
ISBN: 1-9761591-1-2
http://www.50statenotary.com/bankruptcybook/index.html

FREE: 50 State Notary Desktop Guard Dog
http://www.50statenotary.com/freegift/index.html

Join the National Notary Association
http://www.nationalnotary.org/supplies/index.cfm?referID=A23039

Protect Yourself from Fraudulent Signing Companies
http://www.notarybeware.com
http://www.mynotarybusiness.com

Locate a Notary: View the Nationwide Notary Directory
http://www.50statenotary.com/directory/index.html

View previous issues of this ezine: The Notary News
http://www.50statenotary.com/ezine/index.html

Jobs for Notary Signing Agents (updated weekly)
http://www.50statenotary.com/directory/company_listing.html

Free Introductory Signing Agent Training Course
http://www.50statenotary.com/training/index.html

My Notary Story – Tips from Experienced NSAs
http://www.50statenotary.com/mystory/index.html

Free Download of the King James Bible
http://www.servantofjesuschrist.com/kjv1611/download.html

Visit Victoria Ring’s other websites
http://www.victoriaringconsulting.com/
http://www.graphicopublishing.com/
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Victoria Ring
Certified Notary and Paralegal
http://www.50statenotary.com
Phone: 614-491-9831, Fax: 614-491-9832

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