Posted by Carolyn Nee on 4/26/11 9:32pm
Msg #381410

Signing Refusal

Not comfortable with neighborhood for evening signing - know notaries that say they just take their "glock" with them. Fine for them but not for me. Thought about taking my better half with me but wasn't sure that was entirely kosher.

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 4/26/11 9:49pm
Msg #381411

I have done signings with my husband when he was unemployed. Never an issue.

Reply by Claudine Osborne on 4/26/11 9:51pm
Msg #381412

In some areas my husband comes along..but he waits in the car..No problem.

Reply by C. Rivera Chicago Notary Services on 4/27/11 6:15am
Msg #381420

same here...depending on the neighborhood, he usually

accompanies me, especially after I had the one and only case that scared me $hitless....never will go to those iffy neighborhoods again late at night again without him....

Reply by Michele Dexter on 4/27/11 10:45am
Msg #381450

Re: same here...depending on the neighborhood, he usually

Once in a while I take my husband along. If its warm enough, he reads in the car - kindle with a light is a great toy. Sometimes I ask if he can come in but then the client thinks he needs to watch TV which is a huge distraction so I insist he will read. Never had an issue.

Reply by Jodith/WA on 4/29/11 4:30pm
Msg #381764

Re: same here...depending on the neighborhood, he usually

I generally have my husband go in with me and introduce him as someone learning the trade (which he actually is, but that's not always the reason he goes along). Other times, if the situation doesn't look to bad when we get there, he'll stay in the car, but I make sure the signers know that someone is waiting for me.

We also have an emergency signal if I get to a signing that doesn't look quite kosher. I dial his number under that table and then hang up before he answers. It's the signal to call and check on me. When he calls I excuse myself to answer, and after tell the signers, very sweetly, that my husband checks up on me when I go on evening calls and I answer so he doesn't worry about me. It makes me feel safer, and it tends to defuse tension I sometimes feel at signings.

Of course, I also have an emergency phrase that I can use which means I'm in trouble call the cops.

Reply by Jodith/WA on 4/29/11 4:31pm
Msg #381765

Re: same here...depending on the neighborhood, he usually

And, of course, if he calls back and I don't answer, it also means to call the cops.

Reply by Blueink_TN on 4/26/11 9:57pm
Msg #381413

Trust your intuition.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 4/26/11 10:19pm
Msg #381414

Important topic, Carolyn. I'm with you on not entering

people's homes and businesses with a concealed weapon, permit or no. (I'm more McGuyver than Paladin.)

Safety First. Women alone at night in hard, unfamiliar neighborhoods are targets. Husband escort is entirely reasonable, and in my opinion, perfectly desireable, common-sense precautionary behavior of a professional out in the trenches.

No life is worth a signing, especially when a buddy-system is available. An alternative if no "buddy" is available? Move signing to a public place: library, well-lit coffee shop, etc.

Take the ol' Man, and be safe. (I took Dad with me on a signing some time ago in what struck me as an 'iffy' situation. I introduced him to the signers, they welcomed him to a comfy chair in the living room, where the cat immediately claimed his lap, and the two passed the time; one getting pets, and the other immerced in his Kindle.)

So, no worries, Carolyn. Always, Safety First.

Reply by TacomaBoy on 4/27/11 3:20am
Msg #381418

Creepy Situation

As creepy as it my seem to some folks, I wear my K-Mart wedding band when I go to meet with some single women for a signing. I'd much rather meet single women at a McDonalds, Starbucks, etc. than in their homes.

Reply by MW/VA on 4/27/11 8:00am
Msg #381429

That's a new one. Married men are known to remove their

wedding rings. You mean you feel threatened by single women? This isn't a date or like meeting someone for coffee from an on-line dating site. I'm not getting this one.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 4/27/11 8:06am
Msg #381431

Yeah..I'm not understanding this one either...

"I'd much rather meet single women at a McDonalds, Starbucks, etc. than in their homes."

I'm assuming to avoid any unfounded accusations - and if that's the case the presence or absence of a wedding band, isn't going to make a lick of difference.

Reply by SouthernOK on 4/27/11 9:42am
Msg #381442

Re: Creepy Situation

I understand completely, as a retired teacher. Now you can't hug a student or be in a room alone with the door closed...it's a different world.

If he goes to a single woman's house it puts him in the situation where it's a he said/she said situation. It's safer for both to meet at a local public place.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 4/27/11 9:47am
Msg #381443

Re: Creepy Situation...I get that completely

what I don't get is what good the wedding band does...

Reply by SouthernOK on 4/27/11 1:36pm
Msg #381470

Re: Creepy Situation...I get that completely

Maybe he feels it might keep them from flirting.

Could it be that he's not trying to appear available? That's what I'd take it as.

Reply by MW/VA on 4/27/11 8:12am
Msg #381433

Always safety first! n/m

Reply by pat/WA on 4/27/11 1:32pm
Msg #381469

partners

My husband and I are both notaries and we almost always go to signings together. We find that the signings are more efficient and error free. The borrowers enjoy having both of us there and it costs the signing services/title companies no more than if there was one.

Reply by TacomaBoy on 4/27/11 3:26pm
Msg #381492

Creepy Situation #2

I’m not an ego trip, but I’ve been hit on while signing and it just scares the crap out of me! All sorts of things start running though my mind, such as, WHERE THE VIDEO CAMERA AND EDITING EQUIPMENT WAS LOCATED?

A wedding ring may not be a deterrent for everyone, but, hopefully, it serves it’s purpose of discouraging such unwanted attention for most. I can’t think of a less desirable situation to become flirtations with someone as a signing appointment, but it does happen.

Indeed! Years ago while working as a VP for a large NW bank, I interviewed a woman to work for me as an administrative assistant. Her resume was prescreened and submitted by HR to me with others. I was dumbfounded when, toward the end of the interview, she suggested that I might “telephone her even if the job thing didn’t work out“. There is nothing one can do to fully prepare for such incredibly tasteless and stupid people.

Reply by MW/VA on 4/27/11 4:33pm
Msg #381505

Re: Creepy Situation #2

Got it. I think we've all run into inappropriate behavior at one time or another. I've encountered a few lonely men on my signings who hinted at asking me out. There are always tactful ways to handle those situations.

Reply by Jodith/WA on 4/29/11 4:34pm
Msg #381766

Re: Creepy Situation #2

One of the benefits of Asbergers, I don't even notice the flirtations *laughs*.

Reply by BrendaTx on 4/27/11 8:37pm
Msg #381541

Tacoma, I think single women probably

appreciate meeting nervous guys in public places, too.

If the man's not comfortable, I'm not either.

Reply by MonicaFL on 4/27/11 5:09pm
Msg #381518

A notary friend and I have a mutual deal - when one of us has a late evening signing and in a neighborhood that we are not familiar with, I always tell the borrower that I will be accompanied by another notary since we do not travel by ourselves at night. If they have a problem with that (which they never have) then I would turn the assignment back in. My life is worth more than any amount of dollars offered.

Reply by Carolyn Nee on 4/28/11 8:31am
Msg #381573

Thank you all for your comments. Much appreciated.