I have been with the NNA for 25 years and renewed faithfully for all those years. The signing agent renewals I’ve been doing for 22 years.
NOT any more, their pricing is stupid, $99 just for the background screening, nope. Also by the time you cover your renewal, E&O and background, it’s a lot of money. I dumped most of the loan closing companies due to low ridiculous pay, and ones who require me to solely use NNA instead of another just as good if not better company. I am unfortunately not renewing anything with the NNA. It’s not worth it anymore. Has anyone else stopped renewing with NNA? I know there’s a lot of my fellow longer term notaries & loan closers.
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It takes some poking around on their site, but you can get the NNA background check, which also lists you in their Signing Agent directory WITHOUT being an NNA member. I’ve been doing that for years.
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I parcel out the background check and buy it separately. Some companies only accept the NNA or Sterling background checks.
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@bmcnotaryrepublic You’re SPOT-ON with your assessment & Arichter’s technique is a great choice.
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In the future I will only do the basic recertification which is $99 I think probably more in '26. Did my 4yr commission renewal pkg with them and in Texas we do everything from the SoS portal & pay the required fee. I still haven’t figured out why or what I spent money on with NNA! OHHH MY STAMP!!!
NNA implies they are the go to for everything for Notaries. I split my necessities up such as bond and E&O insurance I use local WA State Western Surety (used for 30+ years). Stamp I purchase from local legal supply company. Notary logs another supplier. Still have background check through NNA because required by some of those I have worked with for years. Keep my NNA profile updated because they do share information but they won’t post my bond and E&O information because did not purchase through NNA (grrr !!) I’m sure other Notaries have learned after being newbies to think outside the box.
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You are definitely correct in stating “NNA money grab”. We gotta shop around for the best value.
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I do this exactly as well.
@alice2uworld Another ‘application’ where diversification is the BEST Plan of Action! 
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I did not renew under them either nor did obtain my E&O through them. It amazes me how these companies that do little work behind the scenes and want such a steep percentage of our hard earned money.
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Hi FiechiaC ~ learned a lot about insurance & bond companies prior to my day job retirement ~ 65 underwriters for marine construction company. Informative how much upper administrative insurance workers paid and annual bonus pretty good. Clerical person that produced Certificates of Insurance for company paid $65K to start. Thought about going into insurance field until I found out they can be pond scum for paying claims unless claimant hires expensive attorney. These companies usually do well on stock market because they avoid payments. Some of the people that had to fight for payments were Longshoreman I worked with and were my friends.
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NNA has been way overpriced for years. In addition, their newsletters generally only talk about CA, TX, and FL. I am in PA and it’s an event when they talk about us.
There’s plenty of good background checks out there for a lot less money. If you look closely, they are all the same except the SS is probably getting a kickback from NNA.
However, NNA is the best for renewing my PA commision. Competitively priced and efficient.
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My last year too, way to expensive and the notary stamp I bought thru them is crap.
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I am about to call NNA and renew my background check and yes I have noticed the price has gone up each year, now shows $89 for renewal plus $16 for shipping online. I am calling in regard to this shipping charge because I don’t understand why there is a shipping charge for something that I receive via email. I do recall seeing in the past a message about shipping but don’t recall being charged for it.
Has anyone else using NNA noticed a charge for shipping if ordering online?
Update, called and ordered my background check and was told that the shipping charge is a website glitch and was being worked on, glad I waited and called
The notary stamp website has great self inking stamps. And I finally figured out how to re-ink my stamps so I don’t have to buy 12 a commission period. I’m in a desert they dry out fast.
@ots196 
Thank You for sharing the noticed anomaly . . .
Appreciate you returning with the update.
Just for clarification, did they advise you to wait to place your order?
OR
Did they say that the system doesn’t actually charge the Shipping Fee for emailed purchases?
The background check order was placed while I was on the phone excluding the shipping charge. And yes, the representative stated that there shouldn’t be a charge for shipping as it was a system glitch. I came close to placing the order before calling and glad I did call. Below is a screenshot of part of my confirmation email from last year mentioning shipping but there was no charge. This was when renewing my E&O and BC last year, I thought it was weird but didn’t think much about it since no charge.
"Dear Orlando Sanders,
Thank you for your order with National Notary Association. It has been received and is in process. Please note: UPS has suspended its service guarantee due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you need to update your shipping method, please call us at 1-800-876-6827 as soon as possible."
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If it’s extremely dry in your locale, try carrying your notary stamp in a zip-lock baggie and before sealing use an eye dropper to release a single drop of water into the bag. Then insert the stamp, seal it up and, presto, a nice moist stamp all ready to go. One drop per day.
Try it out on an old stamp you no longer use to ensure this method works. It’s possible that the rubber material may reject the moisture but it should work. You can also wet a small piece of gauze in stick it in there. 
They are in a ziplock but I never thought of adding a drop of water. And I have a stamp I can test it on. You so smaht.
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@Bobby-CA Quite Helpful & Instructive!
Your process will be supportive to many Notary Cafe members who reside & work in arid regions within the US. 