The case of the missing eyelids

[One-Fang]

My co-worker informs her that if she (the lawyer) is a Notary and she’s sure its correct she can notarize it herself. To which my co-worker is promptly hung up on.

Gotta love it when they try a lie that really makes their entire attempt at working through you or your company completely pointless. "If your lie were true, you woudn't be here now arguing with me".

[Ghel]

I'm a notary in Minnesota, and it's amazing the number of customers who bring a document in to be notarized that they've already signed! The wording for the notary specifically says that they signed the document in front of me. Of course, I have to refuse to notarize it.

One fellow called last week to say he needed a document notarized. But he was at work an hour away and he wouldn't get off work until after we closed. So he wanted to have a coworker bring the signed document to the bank to be notarized. I had to explain to him that I couldn't notarize something he had already signed, and I certainly wasn't going to notarize it if he wasn't even there! I wanted to tell him he was SOL. Then he said that he couldn't get paid until he had this document notarized and faxed in. I told him he would have to find someone else to do it.

[hopie144]

That said, why do people always think that just because they know how things used to be done means they know how they are done now?

My boyfriend says, "Used-to-be's don't make no honey..."

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Is anyone else thinking that the person who called claiming to be a "lawyer" was almost certainly not? A real lawyer should have known better.

Nope. In fact, I assumed it was the KOB calling back. People do dearly love to impersonate lawyers over the phone. I wish I had a nickle for every "lawyer" that called me at Kinko's, telling me I didn't know anything about copyright law, laws governing the copy of money, how returns work, how proofing works, and how I should just let crazy old men tell me about their schlongs if they want to.

I'm sure I left some out, but you get the idea.

I bet she was never a notary, either.

[HawaiianShirts]

this is why when I have a question like that I need to ask I preface it by "i'm pretty sure I know the answer to this, but the customer is insisting I double check" so it is clear that I do in fact know what I'm doing and I'm just dealing with a douchenozzel customer.

A couple of times now, I've had customers ask me to do something that is against policy (price match eBay), against the law (install a pirated copy of some program or another), or just plain stupid (let them use their buy-one-movie-get-one-free coupon to buy a laptop and get another laptop free). I'll tell them no over and over again, explaining myself repeatedly, only to have them demand that I go ask a manager. Instead of fighting with them, I'll find a manager or supervisor and say, "Hey, <Manager's Name>. Tell me 'no.'" They usually give me a confused look and say, "...no?" That way, I can go back and truthfully tell the customer that the manager said no.

Is anyone else thinking that the person who called claiming to be a "lawyer" was almost certainly not? A real lawyer should have known better.

Yes. Yes, I was. Figured it was KOB herself. Wouldn't be the first time someone has pulled that trick. Besides, what idiot lawyer is going to say, "You should have followed my client's instructions because she knows best"?

OT: Although, I have seen where some lawyers can be fooled. I had a great uncle who's lawyer turned around and sued him when she figured out that he was trying to make a fraudulent suit against my grandparents. That was a fun day.

[chainedbarista]

“Unbelievable.”

she certainly was; as for the naa wench, maybe handing the phone to the other wench and letting them have a 'wench off' would have gotten better results, or at least a laugh for you.

but seriously, wow.

[depechemodefan]

Just wow. Esp. the NAA rep. being rude. Usually when people come to the library and asked us to notorize something (besides telling them "no") we tell them to got to their bank. So far everyone says "I don't have a bank." Eh, tough. But we are in Downtown, and we can point to some other places, but the idiots want a notorization for free. Eh, tough.

[elysia]

Well, NNA lady probably thought I was being an SC... I mean, it was a very VERY basic thing to know about notarizing something, yet she prolly gets such stupid questions all the time. It irritated me she thought I was the one being an idiot, though.

[redmountaingoldfish]

Exit KOB. An hour later we get a call from her lawyer telling us we should have notarized it and that the wording is correct and she knows what she’s talking about cuz she’s a Notary and blah blah blah.

I'll bet you lunch that she's not a real lawyer.

[Bank Lady]

I'm a notary in Minnesota, and it's amazing the number of customers who bring a document in to be notarized that they've already signed! The wording for the notary specifically says that they signed the document in front of me. Of course, I have to refuse to notarize it.

Minnesota must have different notary laws. In Iowa there are two basic kinds of notarizations; Acknowledgements and Jurats. Jurats absolutely have to be signed in front of a Notary Public and be accompanied by a verbal statement of the validity of the information on the notarized paperwork. Basically, "do you swear this is true and correct to your knowledge?" "Yes."

Acknowledgements are different though. They are simply verifying the identity of the individual and that they signed the form. In this case I actually can notarize a document that's already signed.

In general though most people don't understand how notarizations work. I can't even count the number of people who think that a notarization makes a document legally binding. All I'm doing is verifying the identity of the signer. I'm not a lawyer. I can NOT give you legal advice!

[Ghel]

Minnesota must have different notary laws.

In general though most people don't understand how notarizations work. I can't even count the number of people who think that a notarization makes a document legally binding. All I'm doing is verifying the identity of the signer. I'm not a lawyer. I can NOT give you legal advice!

In Minnesota, the standard wording is that document was "signed before me" by SC on such-and-such a date. Sometimes it will even go on to say that the SC is "personally known to me" or that I've verified their identity with documentation (usually a driver's license or state ID). It's amazing the number of non-customers who come in to the bank without their ID and expect me to notarize a document for them. (If they're actually a customer, I can compare their signature to our records.)

And I frequently have to explain that I'm not verifying any information in the document, just verifying that the SC has signed the document. As you say, I'm not a lawyer, so I have no idea if the document is legally binding.

[Sparky]

When I speak with the NNA I am of course informed I cannot notarize the document without attaching the acknowledgement sheet. The NNA lady also informs me that if I do not know the answer to that question I shouldn’t be a Notary. Sigh.

this is why when I have a question like that I need to ask I preface it by "i'm pretty sure I know the answer to this, but the customer is insisting I double check" so it is clear that I do in fact know what I'm doing and I'm just dealing with a douchenozzel customer.

Another very helpful phrase is "I'm going to put you on speakerphone so the customer can hear your answer."

The NNA persons sounds kinda rude. Why couldn't she tell the customer that it wasn't allowed?

She was kind of rude, but Elysia'd been on hold a long time which means they were busy, so she was probably annoyed at being interrupted for the 20th time that day with a question that she figured the caller should not have needed to ask. Can't say I blame her, either. But of course, it wasn't Elysia's fault, it was the idiot SC's.

[Cia]

In South Dakota you show me your picture ID, sign infront of me, pay me $10 and I'll notarize your form. I will also right down everything in my little notebook - person's name, address, form being notarized, type of ID, amount of money paid and I'll possibly ask you to sign my notebook also. I don't charge my co-workers and I made my older brother show me his ID.

I will not and legally cannot notarize a previously signed form.

Yep, a notary's signature and stamp doesn't make the form legally binding.

[Ghel]

One of the things I have had happen enough times to make it noteworthy: A SC will come in with a piece of notebook paper on which they have hand-written a letter and want me to notarize it. In these cases, I ALWAYS explain not-contents-only-signature thing. I've skimmed a few of the letters, and they're usually about some kid who's either in foster care or under joint custody. Not that I really give a crap, but I wonder what good they're expecting the letter to do.

[Samaliel]

While not legally binding, it can serve as proof of good faith regarding whatever issue, and in a court, it's physical evidence of whatever the agreement is.

Even though it's not legally binding, if shit hits the fan, it will have more weight in front of a court than a spit-in-palm handshake.