Notary Blocklists: How Signing Agents Can Lose Future Work
Written by Ronnie Mickle
Edited & Updated 08/2026
Being “Blocklisted” isn't necessarily one universal list with your name on it. A signing service may decide not to hire you again, a title company or lender may restrict who can work on its files, a platform may contain feedback about your performance, or your platform account itself may be suspended or terminated. The result is the same: fewer opportunities to receive signing assignments.
BLOCKLISTED... It is a word every Notary Loan Signing Agent should wish never to hear associated with their name. And, unfortunately, if you have been Blocklisted you may not even know that you've been Blocklisted. This is why so many Notaries fail to ever realize that BLOCKLISTING is very real, and it can happen on so many levels to a Notary. This Notary Stars Blog is to open your eyes to the level of Blocklisting that can happen to any Notary and the most common reasons we are seeing it happen across the country.
Levels of Notary Signing Agent Blocklisting:
Where a Notary Can Lose Future Signing Opportunities
Individual Signing Agency Blocklist- Notaries who are Blocklisted by an individual Signing Agency may not suffer too much unless they are one of your big clients. However, if the Signing Agency is on a platform like Signing Order or Snapdocs it may be shown to other hiring companies that you've been Blocklisted. Also, many Signing Agency owners share information with each other (such as preferred Notary lists) which could do further damage.
Entire Platform Blocklist- It may not seem possible that Signing Order or Snapdocs could remove a Notary from their platform, but it is indeed possible. You want to be careful to not get Blocklisted by too many companies or do any of the items we will list below.
Title Agency Blocklist- Working direct with Title is an amazing aspect of the Notary Loan Signing Agent industry. It pays more and a lot of times faster as there is no middleman. However, if you are working with a Title Agency through a Signing Platform or direct you can get Blocklisted from ever working with that Title Agency again. If you messed up big time with a Fidelity file this would strip you from working with any of the FNF family of companies; this could also include First American.
Lender Blocklist- Getting Blocklisted by a Lender is probably the worst possible scenario for a Notary. You would generally have to do something terrible or malicious. Many lenders have the same Underwriters and believe us (Notary work is on the radar). If you were Blocklisted by a large company like Chase, Wells Fargo, or Bank of America you may never work with those companies again.
Reasons We've Seen Notaries Being Blocklisted
Not Reading Notary Instructions Carefully- Notary instructions vary from company to company, so it is important to carefully read the instructions provided with every assignment. They tell you what the hiring party needs from you to properly service the file and are there to help you successfully complete the assignment. If you receive a particularly long or detailed set of instructions, keep in mind that many of those requirements may have been added because the company has experienced repeated errors or problems on previous signings. It can become very apparent when a Notary isn't reading or following instructions, and repeated failures to do so can result in negative feedback, fewer assignments, or being Blocklisted from future work.
Excessive Errors- When you present yourself as a Notary Loan Signing Agent, it means you know what you are doing when it comes to closing a loan package. It does not mean you are still learning. There are many training courses available (including Notary Stars) to help ensure you know the process inside and out. Missing a signature is one thing but missing several is really bad and can ruin your career.
No Call/ No Shows- Just as with any job there are major repercussions for not showing up to work. If you have a confirmed appointment you need to be there or have a very good excuse. Because most closings are time-sensitive not showing up could delay a closing. Most Signing Agencies we know will not hire notaries who have Negative Feedback such as a No Call, No Show. Trust is lost immediately!
Excessive Fees- Notaries are independent professionals and have the right to determine what an assignment is worth to them. If the offered fee is too low, you can decline the assignment or negotiate a higher fee before accepting it. The problem arises when a Notary accepts an assignment at an agreed-upon fee and later demands additional compensation without a legitimate change in the scope of the assignment. Repeated fee disputes or unprofessional negotiations can damage your relationship with a hiring company and may result a Notary getting Blocklisted and eventually are used only when in dire need. We've actually seen a lot of Notaries who tried to jack-up fees at the beginning of the COVID-19 lock-down, those notaries were Blocklisted immediately.
Holding Documents Over a Fee Dispute (Sometimes Called "Pigeon Holding)- Once you accept and complete an assignment, the signed documents should be returned according to the hiring company’s instructions and required timeline. Do not hold a completed loan package as leverage to demand a higher fee. If there is a legitimate fee dispute or the scope of the assignment changed, communicate with the hiring company and work to resolve it separately. Withholding signed documents can delay a transaction, damage your professional reputation, violate your agreement with the hiring company, and potentially result in being Blocklisted from future assignments. This kind of feedback will remain on your record forever.
Over-booking- Notaries need to know how to schedule themselves properly. Over-booking and being late for assignments will eventually lead to Blocklisting. No one likes a Notary who is always late for appointments.
Rude, Condescending, "Know-It-All" Behavior- Having experience in title, escrow, lending, real estate, or another related industry can be a valuable asset as a Notary Signing Agent—but it doesn't give you authority over the transaction. You are only working in the capacity of Notary Loan Signing Agent during this time. You can't tell your assigning or hiring party how to conduct their transaction. Follow the hiring party’s instructions and communicate professionally, even when you would handle something differently based on your previous experience. At the same time, never follow an instruction that conflicts with your state’s Notary laws or your independent duties as a Notary Public. If an instruction raises a concern, stop and contact the appropriate party for clarification rather than arguing with the signer or hiring company.
A rude, condescending, or argumentative attitude can quickly damage a professional relationship and may result in negative feedback, fewer assignments, or being Blocklisted from future work.
Cursing or Swearing- If you curse or swear at a Signing Agency you will be removed from Signing Agency platforms without question. Many companies record their calls these days and if it's forwarded to the platform, you will lose your listing. They could even choose to escalate the issue to the Title Agencies and Lenders they work with.
Not Returning Documents On-Time- Once a signing package is signed it's important to treat it like a hot potato. You have to get it returned ASAP. Notaries HAVE to know about disbursement dates (funding dates). Become aware of drop cut-off times for your local UPS & FedEx stores. That is the last time that a package can be dropped during the day and be delivered overnight. This will come from good training like here at Notary Stars. We see Notaries being Blocklisted regularly for not understanding disbursement dates and holding packages until it's too late.
Drinking On the Job- It should go without saying but it happens. Notaries go to lunch with a friend, start eating dinner and the phone rings, or you weren't expecting any calls, and you just start having a glass of wine.... ALL BIG NO-NO'S! Make it a rule that if you have a sip of Alcohol that you wait 8 hours before driving or conducting business. If a customer smells alcohol on you, you can probably kiss your relationship with the Title Agency, Signing Agency, or Lender good-bye.
Can You Find Out If You've Been Blocklisted?
SigningOrder's current Terms specifically state that companies and borrowers can submit Notary Feedback, and SigningOrder may publish feedback and recommendations based partly on aggregate company and borrower feedback. Importantly, its Terms also say feedback may be posted without allowing the Notary to view it.
Snapdocs' current Terms mention that they are starting to make feedback available to Notaries.
Can You Recover From Being Blocklisted?
Being Blocklisted by one company does not necessarily mean the end of your career as a Notary Signing Agent. Whether you can repair the relationship depends on why you were blocked, the policies of the company involved, and the seriousness of the issue.
If you learn that a company no longer wants to work with you, start by looking at what happened. Was it a missed signature, repeated failure to follow instructions, a late package, poor communication, or something more serious? If you made a mistake, take responsibility for it, correct what you can, and explain what you've changed to prevent it from happening again. In some cases, a company may reconsider its decision; in others, the block may remain.
Most importantly, learn from the experience and don't repeat the behavior with other clients. Continue your education, maintain accurate credentials and profiles, communicate professionally, and build relationships with multiple reputable hiring companies. One lost client or block does not automatically define your entire signing-agent career—but repeated problems across multiple companies can have a much greater impact on your reputation and future opportunities.
Sources & References
Written by Ronnie Mickle for Notary Stars
Originally Published: 03/03/2021
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