I blame the National Notary Association for this nonsense. Over a year ago, they convinced several of the large title companies that there was a federal requirement (in a law that was over six years old yet no one noticed it before then!) for background checks on all the independent contractors involved in the closing business. Once the big title companies accepted this argument and bought the NNA's line, the NNA then turned to all their members and said "hey, we can save you from having to get and pay for background checks for each of your clients if you just buy one from us -- all the bigs will accept our background check and then you don't have to get another one." Of course, the NNA does not actually do the work, they sub-contract it out and will not reveal who is actually doing it.
Can anyone understand why I am uneasy about giving info to an unknown sub-contractor of the very company that stirred up the hornet's nest that led to the need for that company's service? Can you say self-serving company? Can you say ID theft by the unknown third company?
Now it appears this same idea (that everyone involved has to be background checked) is invading the other areas of title work. I would say you can blame the NNA for this, too, although I am sure the title co's would tell you their lawyers are saying they "have" to do this.
On the SSN issue, some say you need an EIN instead (get it from the IRS using your dba name) , but having been through Chapter 13 bankruptcy in just the past few years, I have no credit to be messed up, so I give my actual SSN. However, I don't release it until I have an actual order for service from the company and then I send it in a W-9 along with my first invoice.
-- Tim Gatewood
Notary MemphisField Services for west Tennessee and selected areas in AR and MS
to post a reply:
login - or -
register