Incorrect Information Within Signing Packages

I am new to the NSA role and have only taken a few signings so far. I love my role, but I am a little frustrated about the number of mistakes in the packages that come through my signing platforms. I send notes back to the orders I receive that outline what may need to be changed, and call the Title Companies that send the documents, but they seem annoyed when I do so. I know what my role as a Notary/NSA is and what it is not, but I am curious how other NSAs handle these issues.

Hmmm . . . Great Query! :tada::blush::confetti_ball:

WORD OF CAUTION: Unequivocally DONā€™T be ā€˜helpfulā€™ . . . outside the scope of your region of responsibility.

In other words, itā€™s best if you ā€˜stay in your own lane.ā€™ Now you may think this is counter-intuitive, especially if youā€™re endeavoring to contribute value & be a team player.

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Many of us who chose to enter into this business sector as an entrepreneur to launch a new business as an independent contractor brought myriad professional excellent skills along with us to this venture.

We quickly learned that all of the hard-earned knowledge, skills, abilities, & respect that accompanied us wasnā€™t acknowledged NOR appreciated.

In FACT, some even encountered dramatic push back to the extent of NEVER RECEIVING a subsequent Signing Order from a Title/Escrow Company [T/EC] for merely noting how to modify a pagination error. They were told in no uncertain terms (in a highly condescending tone):

  • ā€œWho do you think you are? Youā€™re just a notary! You will NEVER receive any additional orders from us!ā€
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Just like the admonition often expressed to notaries public to never engage in unlicensed practice of law, itā€™s best to wear only your Notary Public/Professional Signing Agent [PSA] hat leave the team player/editor/assistant/firefighter/etc. hats stored away for now . . .

:swan:

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Agree 100% with this statement

Also Lauraā€¦from your profile you state " Pricing Notes $10.00 for each signature required"

This is incorrect ā€¦ Florida law is $10 per notarial act ā€¦not per signature

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Thank you for your response! That advice will stick with me the next time I leave for an appointment.

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I think it depends on the company. I am a paralegal and have a TIPIC license. I have caught several errors. Some were critical errors and most companies are grateful. I have had a couple that were resentful that I called them out via the signing service chats. Iā€™ve had a couple companies that asked me to fix the issues, redraft the documents, or locate and append Attachment A.(BIG HARD SOLID ā€œNOā€).

Still, I believe that notifying errors has helped me establish a good rapport with these companies. Although technically they are getting latent benefits of my legal education at no extra cost, I am getting preferred signings and better assignments because they know there is a person who may save them time, money, and effort down the line. I use it as a way to distinguish myself from other notaries, and make myself more valuable.

@guernica.borne And herein lies the difference - " I am a paralegal and have a TIPIC license." You have a bit more latitude than those of us who do not have this license. Perhaps you have the authority to perform QCā€¦not sure.

Iā€™d be curious exactly what errors @LauraDrescher28 is finding and reporting. Some are understandable (errors in signersā€™ names, package for another loan, etc)ā€¦depends on errors sheā€™s finding I guess.

Staying in our lane is good advice.

There was only twice I called title and indicated documents needed to be redrawn because of errors that would stop closing. One the legal name was wrong, no reason to sign it all to be rejected.

The other was a signer who said I only got married a month ago when we got to marital status affidavit and the documents all had him listed as single. Oops.

I text my contacts if i think anything is hinky. But I donā€™t ever pretend I know anything for sure. Thatā€™s their job to tell me.

The only error a title company was happy I pointed out was a signers name was wrong and by wrong I mean wayyyyyy off they had her as B****** Stevens but her name is B****** M****. I knew her personally and as soon as I saw the order and the address I was like WTH??? I called them and told them , they said just line through it and initial. I said this is an entire mortgage and I am not comfortable with that, but Iā€™ll do so as long as you send me out when you redraw. The name was fixed on the docs in all but 2 places when I got them . Really itā€™s better to mind your business like @cNsa5 said . Title will hold a grudge forever at you a Meer notary pointing out an error.

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Hmmm . . . just so there is no confusion regarding intent ===>>>

Iā€™d like to further clarify the meaning of the statement in the post referenced above that is about staying within the scope of your region of responsibility:

If youā€™re confronted with items within the document package that are within the scope of the project/within your bailiwick, then by all means DO apprise your client of your discovery.

When you present it, itā€™s best to use the format of a question . . . the immediate result will be that youā€™ll have less singed hair after the encounter. :sweat_smile:

To further elucidate, I will question items as follows:

  • An unusual spelling of the signerā€™s name. I initially query the signers during the confirmation call. Iā€™ll then present the potential item to be Edited to the hiring entity
  • If the couple have the same middle initial. I initially query the signers during the confirmation call. Iā€™ll then present the potential item to be Edited to the hiring entity
  • If the County identified on the documents differs from the County verified during the confirmation call to the signers. Iā€™ll then present the potential item to be Edited to the hiring entity
  • Etc.

Other than items of that nature as noted above (again, within your realm of responsibility), avoid them if at all possible.

:swan:

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