Joan Bergstrom Notary/Loan Signer Blog

E-Signings

2008-11-19T00:09:42Z

I had a call today from a signing company to do an e-signing for loan documents.

E-signing (2008) involve a lap top and a wireless Internet card.

Some of the loan docs are printed (by the notary-loan signer) to be signed by borrower(s) and some are signed on the website provided by the lender to be signed by borrower(s). The notary goes to the borrowers home and uses the wireless card to get to the Internet.

The problem most loan signers are having is
1. This is more work not less; all borrowers copies must be printed and some of the loan documents the borrower(s) have to sign, have to printed. Also you have to haul around a laptop to the home and try to connect to the Internet at their home/ or wherever the location the signing is happening.

2. The biggest problem is the companies don't want to pay more money for these signings and a wireless card cost $50 per month with a 1-2 commitment and there is also the cost of the laptop.

3. We will probably be doing these e-signings in a few years and it will be interesting to see what happens.

4. When edocs started in 2003 the companies paid $25 to us to print the docs and no one wants to pay extra for e-signings.

Paying to advertise on the Internet Yellow Pages

2008-11-16T23:55:14Z

I signed a contract for 1 year at $85.00 per month for the Internet Yellow Pages and I think it was a mistake. I've had the ad for approx. 6 weeks with not much response.

But, I think, I didn't target the people to hire my Notary service that I should have?

I am trying to market myself for Notary Public work (none loan signing) in the Riverside CA area and I realized I should have put my ad in the Yellow Page Book we get thrown on our doorstep.

My reasoning is that while, the 20, 30 40. age group doesn't use the Yellow Pages Book much, because these age group do a Google/Yahoo search for a notary public in Riverside CA.

The problem with my marketing is the age group who own: businesses, properties, living trust, properties in other states, etc are in the age group 50,60 70, and they grew up with the yellow pages and that is what they use.

The Yellow Pages, that are dropped on my doorstep, seem to have more pages than ever. This will decrease as the years go by and the Internet takes over the search by younger people.

I welcome your comments.

2009 California Law Changes and fewer CA notaries in 2008

2008-10-21T00:53:22Z

Not much:

1.State, City, County workers I.D. is acceptable as long they contain the picture, serial number/etc as the other I.D's we can accept.

Subscribing witness:
1. Personal Knowledge between the notary and the Subscribing Witness is no longer allowed.

2. The subscribing witness must bring a credible witness who knows the notary and must be known by subscribing witness.

3. The credible witness must present I.D. to the notary.

4. The SW signs the notary journal. The CW signs the notary journal or the notary records the paper ID information for the CW in the journal.

I have been posting over the last year that we will have a huge decline in CA notaries and our CA Sec of State is estimating 35-40 thousand less notaries for 2008 than we had in 2007.

My guess for 2009 is another 35,000 fewer CA notaries and I think my estimate is probably too conservative.

The notary schools in CA are only getting approx 20-25% of the students who attended before August 2007.

There are only a few notary schools in CA actually giving seminars; most that are still in business give the 6 hour on-line or home study program.

What does everyone think of the new bailout?

2008-10-07T23:54:50Z

I really mean what does this bailout do for loan signers? I am doing 3 signings tomorrow, but, the last 10 days calls have been very few.

I received a total of 6 calls for the last 10 days and I have averaged approx 3 (for loan signings) calls per day for the last year.

Bank Of America has settled a Countrywide lawsuit with our CA Sec of State Jerry Brown which might help approx 125,000 homeowners with loan modifications.

Is this a good beginning or is this something that looks good as a press release?

If the Fed lowers the interest will this help homeowners refinance or purchase a new home? In my area, the Inland Empire, it will be a foreclosure that someone purchases.

Interesting Times for our Country

2008-09-24T23:55:46Z

It is interesting that a CNN poll says that 55% of the American public doens't want a bailout of the financial industry for $700 billion.

I would guess that 80% of the notary/loan-signers would like a bailout so the loans could be funded.

What do you as notary/loan-signer think?

Hiring Notary/Loan Signers By Email Address

2008-09-16T23:01:48Z

I think there will be companies in the future that will hire us by email.

I've talked to a couple of signing companies who said would like to put signings out for "bid" to our email address.

I don't think too many of us will be interested in bidding against each other, but time will tell and this might just be my slant on a new process.

I get approximately 200 spam emails sent to me and if they came to my cell phone I would be a "bell ringing machine." My mail address screens 99.9% of them out of my inbox, so I don't think that would be a problem.

But, when you link your email address to your cell phone, does that eliminate the Spam emails?

http://www.joanbergstromnotarypublic.com

Free Tutorial Available on CA I.D. Law Changes for 2009

2008-09-06T21:48:53Z

wwww.notaryclasses.com on its homepage has free tutorials available.

If you are a new California Notary you will gain a lot of confidence after watching the free tutorials on how to fill out a CA Acknowledgment and Jurat.

One tutorial is on the new 2009 I.D. law changes beginning in January 2009 for CA Notaries.

Check it out? There are also free fillable Ack & Jurats when you put in the code: notaryclasses.com

http://www.joanbergstromnotarypublic.com

Notary/Loan Signing Work in the Inland Empire (CA) in 2008

2008-08-29T00:20:22Z

One of my Notary friends and I compared assignments today. We both work in the Inland Empire and between us we had 6 assignments.

She had 3 loans at a title office (all foreclosure purchases for 1 borrower) and 1 trip to a jail.

I had 1 loan signing and 1 structured settlement annuity.

My friend was hired by a local signing company and she asked me if the amount she agreed to was okay?

I said she should have gotten more money; but, we are all going through difficult times in CA and I would have taken the amount she was offered.

My situation wasn't much different, I made $215 and should have made over $300.

I worked for less than normal, but I will do over 38 signings this month and I will get through this tough period.

We all need to get through this period and I think I know how to market myself and if I can be of help to a notary, just email me

joan.bergstrom@yahoo.com

Getting Paid

2008-08-20T19:17:30Z

JG Wentworth Company.

f you haven't seen their ads on TV this is a company that cashes out annuities, lottery winnings, etc for people who want the money immediately.

The difficult part of working with them was getting paid. I would often get paid months after the assignment. Normally I would get paid after the Court okayed the settlement.

Well, there is good news with this company payment procedures; I got paid the same day I did the assignment. They are using PayPal and credit cards for payment and I have a PayPal account.

Even if you don't have a paypal account, you can still collect from them.

http://www.joanbergstromnotarypublic.com

California Notaries

2008-08-15T23:53:09Z

The business I teach CA students to pass the state exam/loan signing classes (www.notaryclasses.com)

has FREE fillable CA Acknowledgment & Jurat forms available for our notary/loan signing students. There are 3 different ones available for the CA Acknowledgements; he, she, their, and 1 for CA Jurat.

I did one today and it really looks professional; Go to homepage and in the middle is a link that says fillable forms; you need a password and the password is notaryclasses.com

Enjoy!

Need a Notary

2008-08-10T14:21:46Z

Has www.needanotary.net gone out of business? When I click on their link it goes to Google's broken link page. Is anyone else having difficulty with this website or is just me? The owner of the website use to post on ActiveRain.com.

Maybe the owner of this website would respond. I paid to advertise on it a couple of months ago but I probably shouldn't hold my breathe for any repayment.

The number of pages in the loans I am doing are definitely increasing

2008-08-06T00:29:08Z

I have been doing some loans for borrower(s) who had adjustable rate mortgages and who are now borrowing under fixed rates. The number of pages in these FHA loans from this particular title company is unbelievable, with many documents signed 3-4 each.

I have done loan signings where there were double Deeds of Trust to get signed and multiple Right of Cancels; but these loans have triplicate of the borrowers Credit Information.

I know all FHA loans are not this big, but, the one I did tonight was over 250 pages.

Anyone else seeing big packages?

http://www.joanbergstromnotarypublic.com

24/7 to Riverside & San Bernardino Counties

951-522-4919

How is Everyone doing in CA with their Bluetooth Earpiece?

2008-07-07T00:24:01Z

It has been a struggle for many of my business friends and associates. Some don't like the earpiece in their ear. Some just don't want to deal with anything new!

I have had an earpiece for over 3 years and I love it.

One suggestion is not to pay very much money for a Bluetooth ear piece. I have tried many of them over this last 3 years and the cheaper ones seem to work as well as the expensive ones.

What New Cellphone Earpiece Will You Being Using on July 1st, 2008?

2008-06-02T22:29:50Z

Does anyone know of an inexpensive earpiece to buy? I am not all that fond of the Motorola Blue tooth ones I have purchased over the last couple of years.

They seem to run out of juice after a year or so. I admit, I use mine constantly and that could be the problem they only last such a short time.

When I was at Sam's Club I notice they had a whole "end of the aisle display" with hundreds of a brand I had not heard of but only cost $29.

Anyone have any suggestions?

How To Become A Wildly Successful Loan Signing Agent http://www.joanbergstromnotarypublic.com

Holiday Business

2008-05-23T11:51:01Z

Today is a good opportunity to touch bases with your favorite title, escrow, lender, signing companies and tell them you are available this Memorial Day weekend to do loan signings. Memorial Day is end of the month for May and there should be some business for that day.

If nothing else it's a good excuse to make contact and "just say hello."

http://www.joanbergstromnotarypublic.com

July 2008 is coming

2008-05-16T23:32:10Z

We are going to have to have earphone capability in July 2008 for our cell phones to be used in our cars.

I would recommend buying the earphone this month (May 2008) because come July these companies will probably run out of the blue tooth capability.

http://www.joanbergstromnotarypublic.com

Answer Your Phone

2008-05-07T02:08:13Z

You want to work in this industry? Answer your phone.

I don't care where I am I answer my phone except when watching a movie in a movie theater and then I put the cell on vibrate with blue tooth in my ear so I can get to the lobby and talk.

I bet I answer my cell phone 98% of the time.

Answering your phone is one of the best ways to receive a loan signing assignment or public notary work.

This policy of mine hasn't changed since 2002 when I became a CA Notary/Loan-Signer.

I was teaching a notary class today in CA (Pasadena) and it killed me to turn off the phone during the 6 hour class. I turned the cell on at lunch and got a call and missed 2 others.

Those 2 assignments were gone with the wind.

You will miss assignments if you don't answer your phone, particularly, when you do a day time signing because that is when most signing and title/etc companies call.

Don't stay on the phone for more than 1 minute and don't answer a 2nd phone call at the signing.

Don't answer your phone if it is your family/friends unless it is a dire emergency.

Your cell phone at a loan signing is not to be answered to settle a fight between your kids. Hang up on the kids immediately!

Answer Your Phone

2008-05-07T00:09:22Z

You want to work in this industry?

Answer your phone and I don't care where I am I answer my phone except when watching a movie in a movie theater and then I put it on vibrate with blue tooth in my ear so I can get to the lobby and talk.
I bet I answer my phone 98% of the time. It is one of my key ways to receiving an assignment. This policy of mine hasn't changed since 2002 when I became a CA Notary/Loan-Signer.

I was teaching a notary class today in CA (Pasadena) and it killed me to turn off the phone during the 6 hour class. I turned the cell on at lunch and got a call and missed 2 others. Those 2 assignments were gone with the wind.

You will miss assignments if you don't answer your phone particularly, when you do a day time signing because that is when most signing and title/etc companies call. Don't stay on the phone for more than 1 minute and don't answer a 2nd phone.

Don't answer your phone if it is your family/friends unless it is a dire emergency. Your phone at a loan signing is not to be answered to settle a fight between your kids. Hang up on the kids immediately!

http://www.joanbergstromnotarypublic.com

Never Put Your Name/Address/Phone Number on a FedEx or UPS Overnight Bill

2008-04-28T23:45:33Z

I know the reason notary/loan signers go on the Internet and print out the FedEx/UPS labels because it is so much more convenient/faster and looks more professional than a hand written label.

The sender and the receiver are always the same name and never put your name or phone number on one of these labels. Tske the time to hand write these labels.

Don't put the borrowers name on it because UPS/FedEx will find you and charge you. Don't think the borrower is going to get stuck with the charges because they won't.

When companies go out of business one of the first things they do is cancell their account with FedEx & UPS and then the notary gets stuck because he/she put their information on the air bill.

http://www.joanbergstromnotarypublic.com

More on Legal Size Paper Costs

2008-04-25T23:57:21Z

The best place to buy legal size paper is FedEx @ 35.50 per case with free shipping over $50. Order 2 cases and you have met their criteria.

Go to www.FedEX.com click on United States and then click on "Office Print Services" then put code: XER3R2051

When you get to checkout put in code: FDKSAVES and save $5.00 when you purchase over $50.00.

Last week when I compared legal size paper at Sam's Club it was $42.65 a case.

Great price and I hope FedEX keeps paper at this great price. Take advantage while it is offered.

http://www.joanbergstromnotarypublic.com

E-Signings

2008-04-25T21:53:25Z

I noticed on other message board (www.notaryrotary.com) that some companies are actually listing e-signing assignments for loan document signings that are available if a notary loan signer responds for that particular geographical area.

Do we all need to have a laptop and a wireless connector for the Internet? One person responded that he had done 5 e-signings.

Times might be changing and it will be interesting to see how the rest of 2008 will play out!!

http://www.joanbergstromnotarypublic.com

I Have A Free Newsletter for Notary/ loan signers

2008-04-17T01:03:32Z

Just email me at joan.bergstrom@yahoo.com

This is the only website that I have offered the newsletter without attending a www.notaryclasses.com loan signing class (or purchasing the How To Become A Wildly Successful Loan Signing Agent book in Calif.

I like this website and I like the notaries who post and this is why I offer the newsletter.

http://www.joanbergstromnotarypublic.com

Loan Signing Classes

2008-04-11T16:07:35Z

We offer Loan Signing classes at www.notaryclasses.com . I co-authored How To Become A Wildly Successful Loan Signing Agent. These classes are available in Northern & Southern Calif.

They are held on Sundays at locations throughout the state. We teach you what supplies and equipment you must purchase. We teach you how to conduct a successful signing. We emphasize marketing plans and spend approximately 2 1/2 hours on the actual loan documents that are in the book.

We have taught over 10,000 people to be successful loan signers.

Call me on my cell phone and I can save you $100 on our regular $250 cost. This is a 7 hour class, not one of those 3 hour classes offered by other notary schools.

We also sell the book for $89.95 and is available by mail.

951-522-4919

http://www.joanbergstromnotarypublic.com

Dual Tray Printers and the Cost of Paper

2008-04-08T00:44:14Z

I have 2 Brother MFC8860DN printers and I ordered 2 additional trays so I could pull legal and letter size when I print loan documents.

The cost of legal paper has sky rocket in the last couple of months and I am wondering if other loan signers are considering buying a dual tray printer or a 2nd tray for a printer they already have?

In Riverside CA at Sam's Club the difference between legal and letter is $15.66.

I have always printed the Borrowers Copy Econo mode and I am wondering if this truly saves much toner?

I can't see a difference between the copy to sign and the econo mode setting on the docs; it might be a little bit lighter but it looks pretty much the same to me.

What do you think?

http://www.joanbergstromnotarypublic.com

Tax Time is Coming in Less Than Two Weeks!

2008-04-07T00:25:04Z

I am not a tax accountant, but I know a few things about deductions and self employment taxes.

Keep good accounting of all your business tax deductions on a month by month basis and it could make it easier for you over the year end.

Many tax preparers don't know that a Notary Public is exempt from Self Employment Taxes (i.e.Social Security Taxes) for the ACK & Jurats we notarize. In CA this is a significant amount of money and could very worth while keeping track of it at $10 per.

Here is the tax code that you can show your accountant which shows the tax info for notaries.

www.irs.gov/pub/IRS-pdf/p17.pdf

scroll to page 88 in the publication and look for notary.

http://www.joanbergstromnotarypublic.com