Yesterday I had a seller signing for a property in Alabama with the oddest request (this request a first for me, in 10 years of signings). The instructions from the title company to the notary included a line (badly paraphrased), “You must take a photograph of the signer as she/he signs and upload that image with identification images.” I did it, but I was uneasy. Isn’t the entire point of having a notary complete these signings is so that we identify the signer? Is our word not enough? Why the need for photo to prove the signing?
I reached out to the service that sent me, and I received two responses: (1) the title company uses the image in their marketing (um, hell, no!) and (2) it is a lender requirement. I don’t know about the lender, but my other job is as a photographer, and a company cannot use a person’s image in their marketing without that person’s consent. There was no consent form in the package. The whole thing sound fishy.
I had several that has asked me do this. When I inquired I was told it was for marketing. When I told them I did not feel comfortable they asked to see if signer mind. When the first one denied, never asked again.
On the one I had for an annuity payout, it was mandatory and there was a form explaining it was used ONLY for ID purpose and the signer had to agree to it.
Yes, the person should agree to be photographed and no way to do it just like that. Yes, sometimes I think they don’t need a notary but someone to bring to and from and ship to them. I dislike it.
I had a similar signing here, probably the same company. It was for marketing purposes. After getting their permission and a lot of laughter, the signers posed while signing a document. Their heads were down, so you couldnt see their faces, nor could you see the exact document. I wonder just what kind of marketing they get with such a pose.
I’ve only had a photo request from a hard money lender and it was part of the agreement with the Borrower. Another company asked an associate to record testimonial of the signer’s appreciation of the Escrow company? It was optional and would be used to promote the notary’s ranking. Strange.
