Friday, November 6, 2015
Thursday, August 27, 2015
Monday, August 3, 2015
Saturday, July 25, 2015
Notary Trends: Privacy Issues And Collecting Signer Thumbprints
Collecting signer thumbprints has long been considered a way to not only identify signers and safeguard against forgeries, but also to protect the Notary from allegations of wrongdoing.
It was for this reason that the state of California passed a law in 1996 requiring Notaries to obtain journal thumbprints for signers of certain documents; and why many Notaries nationwide continue to record signer thumbprints in their official notarial journal. However, the ongoing threat of identity theft has made privacy a major issue, prompting the Notary community to take a closer look at the practice.
The Case For Collecting Thumbprints
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, biometrics, such as thumbprints, are the “measurable biological (anatomical or physiological) or behavioral characteristics used for the identification of an individual.”
As a biometric identifier, a signer’s thumbprint affixed in a journal of notarial acts offers irrefutable identification of the signer, which can help Notaries prevent impersonation and/or forgery. It is for this reason that the practice is still heralded in some areas, particularly for transactions involving real estate and powers of attorney documents.
Currently, two states require the practice of collecting signer thumbprints. California law requires a journal thumbprint record for all documents affecting real property, as well as all powers of attorney. (Government Code, Section 8206).
In Illinois, Notaries are required to complete a notarial record and take a thumbprint impression of signers when notarizing all “documents of conveyance” transferring title to residential real estate property located within Cook County, Illinois.
In both California and Illinois, law enforcement and public prosecutors have heralded the value of thumbprints as effective in preventing and prosecuting frauds.
Privacy Issues: The Cause For Concern
Despite the value of collecting thumbprints as a safeguard against fraud, there are issues associated with the practice; namely, privacy concerns and tightening regulations regarding the collection of such biometric data.
We now live in an age filled with high-tech fraud, identity theft, and corporate data breaches that can, in an instant, expose the personal and financial information of millions of consumers. This ongoing concern over individuals’ private information, particularly regarding the collection, use and storage of certain biometric identifiers, has become a major problem — one that some states and even private businesses are looking to regulate. Several of these changes directly impact how Notaries are allowed to collect and retain signer thumbprints.
Texas law, for example, states that a biometric identifier (which would include a journal thumbprint) captured for a commercial purpose may be disclosed only under certain circumstances and must be destroyed within a certain amount of time (Business and Commerce Code Section 503.01). Because Notary journals are considered public record in Texas, the Secretary of State’s office actually discourages Notaries Public from capturing biometric identifiers from signers in their journals.
And, it’s not just state governments that are seeking to regulate the collection of thumbprints. A couple of years ago, a major mortgage lender issued a bulletin prohibiting the Notary signing agents handling its loans from collecting journal thumbprints in their journals if they did not have a Notary commission in the states of California or Illinois.
Given this heightened caution about guarding personal identifying information, it is important for Notaries to know ahead of time if their state allows or regulates the collection and usage of signer thumbprints, and proceed accordingly.
Kelle Clarke is a Contributing Editor with the National Notary Association.
In January of every year, field service representatives say they are going to do better in 2015 with more marketing and more advertising. This effort usually lasts until about Valentine's Day (February 14th) and then all thoughts of marketing and advertising have evaporated and there is a business slowdown as marketing and advertising activity has ceased.
Checkout the advertising options at www.fieldinspector.BIZ. Let SOFI publish your resume and put your advertising on AUTOMATIC for the next twelve months.
Call Richard Law at 352-449-1041 (East Coast) to chat about growing your business.
Via-SOFI Blog
Friday, June 12, 2015
Snap Docs
SnapDocs is a secure Mobile Notary Software Platform for Nationwide Signing Services, and Title & Escrow Companies. It is highly recommended among Loan Signing Agents and Notaries. Check it out!
http://www.snapdocs.com/
http://www.snapdocs.com/
| Benefits of being a Field Inspector 1. Be Your Own Boss 2. You can grow your business as big as you want. 3. Flexible hours 4. Requires little training 5. No need to worry about competition in your area. There is more than enough work to go around 6. As long as you know how to follow directions, you are good to go! | |
Monday, February 23, 2015
Saturday, February 21, 2015
How Notary Signing Agents Get Themselves Found On The Web
By Caitlin Dodds on February 19, 2014Most Notary Entrepreneurs are serious about their businesses. They have websites, social profiles, they’re listed in online directories, and more. But how many of those are optimized for Internet searching?
That’s where SEO — or search engine optimization — comes into play.
Click here for more info------->http://www.nationalnotary.org/notary-bulletin/blog/2014/02/how-notary-found-on-the-web
Monday, February 9, 2015
Sunday, February 1, 2015
What is a Field Inspector and What is Field Inspections?
Field inspectors do not require any formal
education. Learn about the training, job duties and necessary skills to
see if this is the right career for you.
The duties of a field inspector vary by the type of inspection, but generally include driving to a location, performing a visual inspection, taking photos and writing a report. For lenders and banks, field inspectors perform appraisals with an exterior examination and photo documentation. Field inspectors sometimes perform property preservation or winterization duties, including changing locks, boarding windows, draining water heaters and shutting off the water supply to a building or house. Insurance companies can employ field inspectors to verify the address of a business, perform inspections after a claim has been filed and even contact a debtor after normal channels of communication are unanswered.
Essential Information
Field inspectors personally verify information and create reports about residential and commercial properties for banks, mortgage lenders and insurance companies. They provide valuations, inspections and property preservation services. While there are no formal education requirements for this profession, field inspectors are typically trained by field services companies and must provide their own equipment.Job Description for Field Inspectors
Field inspectors provide visual inspections and property preservation services for financial institutions. Their services are typically contracted through independent field services companies in instances when banks, mortgage lenders and insurance agencies need to verify information about homes, businesses or vehicles they have a financial stake in. For example, an insurance agency may contract a field inspector to examine a home for potential problems prior to issuing a home insurance policy to the owner. A mortgage lender or bank can use a field inspector to confirm a foreclosed property is no longer occupied, and task the inspector with minor maintenance duties to protect the property.The duties of a field inspector vary by the type of inspection, but generally include driving to a location, performing a visual inspection, taking photos and writing a report. For lenders and banks, field inspectors perform appraisals with an exterior examination and photo documentation. Field inspectors sometimes perform property preservation or winterization duties, including changing locks, boarding windows, draining water heaters and shutting off the water supply to a building or house. Insurance companies can employ field inspectors to verify the address of a business, perform inspections after a claim has been filed and even contact a debtor after normal channels of communication are unanswered.
Requirements to Become a Field Inspector
Field services companies generally do not have strict formal education requirements. You can go to Sofi.US, NAMFS.org, or NAARPI.org for training or Inspectors need to have basic proficiency with technology, good communication skills and be able to search public property records. They are commonly independent contractors who are required to provide their own vehicle, a computer and a camera. Inspectors who offer property preservation services need to be familiar with piping and appliances and be able to perform basic maintenance duties.NAMFS Announcement
National Association of Mortgage Field Services (NAMFS) Announces the Release of its Code Enforcement and HOA Directory Search Tools
NAMFS, in its continuing efforts to improve communication between code enforcement officials and mortgage field service providers, has recently teamed up with Field Asset Services, Inc. to provide its membership with a comprehensive list of code officials and homeowners association contacts. This listing of approximately 12,000 officials nationwide has been tied to interactive search tools available via NAMFS.org which enable users to quickly locate officials meeting their desired criteria.
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/8/prweb8726517.htm
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