I’ve noticed this being embedded in several apps provided by companies such as Mortgage Connect, Rocket Close, and now HomeLight.
Be warned: Once you have loaded these apps, unless you block or restrict your location function from these apps, they can track you throughout your day.
I believe this is a violation of our oath as Notary Signing Agents, to preserve the privacy of the borrower.
This also violates our rights as Independent Contractors. If a client wishes to track our whereabouts or travel time, they can hire us as employees. As we are not reimbursed by the client for either of those items, they have no right to track our movements.
My suggestion: If you utilize signing apps, make certain to disable or restrict the app’s access to your location function. In this way, you will be able to sign in upon arrival and sign out upon departure, without losing either your privacy or violating your oath as an NSA by allowing an app to tell which clients you have visited during your day.