Posted by Anita Edwards on 3/30/12 9:51am
Msg #416587

don't look at the baby

Last week prior to everyone sitting down at the table preparing to sign the papers, the baby was sitting in a baby chair on the table with us. We were waiting for the Mr to get himself gathered and sit down and the baby dropped her toy near my pile of papers. I picked it up and handed it to her. Yesterday I got a call from the Title company telling me Mom had called in to complain that I touched her baby and was overly friendly. OMG. I can't beleive this happened. What is wrong with people? I never even said anything to the baby least of all touched her. I just handed her the toy. I guess the Title company had to reassure the lady that I was no threat as they had a background check on me. I am just amazed.

Reply by CinOH on 3/30/12 10:18am
Msg #416591

I don't think you did anything wrong but you never know how people are going to perceive things.

I make it a policy to never touch anything inside people's homes. I ask them to move anything in the way on the table. A notary friend was accused of "handling" a borrowers personal things because she moved a fruit bowl to the sided of the table because it was in the way.

Most people are reasonable but you just never know when you're going to meet one who is not. She sounds paranoid. If she doesn't like strangers around her child maybe she should have had a friend or family member watch the baby until after the signing.

Reply by snowflake/PA on 3/30/12 10:33am
Msg #416593

I don't think you did anything wrong. Some people are just control freaks and paranoid. I had a purchase closing last week at the realtor's office. Listing agent actually brought her toddler granddaughter to the closing who was into everything. Wanted to grab my stamp. Running around the office. Playing with phones. Very unprofessional on the realtor's part.

Reply by Barbara___IL on 3/30/12 10:33am
Msg #416594

That's strange. You did nothing wrong. Once I fed a baby and the father was happy I helped.

Reply by Bob_Chicago on 3/30/12 10:38am
Msg #416595

Once had a little girl (about 4 years old) answer the door

and proceedd to give me a hug. I just stood there.
Parents were a few feet away, and apologized and laughed, saying that I looked a lot like the girl's grandfather.
I find it best to ignore kids and pets.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 3/30/12 8:19pm
Msg #416679

And, it's embarrassing when the adorably lovey pooch

jumps into my car...

Nevertheless, I remain a sucker for cuteness when it comes to Babies and Animals, all except Birds - you can't ever trust a Bird.

Reply by Julie/MI on 3/30/12 11:05am
Msg #416600

that woman is an idiot. dad should have told his wife to not make the call. hopefully title believed you.

i,m with bob and and try to ignore kidlets and pets. same at mass, one starts smiling at the children and then they get all worked up.

Reply by Gina Jones on 3/30/12 11:53am
Msg #416608

OMG the same thing happened to me! I did a closing and was running a bit late due to an accident on the interstate but made sure to call both the borrower as well as the signing company. Well, to my complete shock, the signing company called me a few days later stating they had a complaint against me that I was late and never called the borrower and that I walked all through her home after the signing was completed.

This lady was 'special' because as soon as I got there, she went on and on about her son who was an attorney and questioned every word on the loan docs, even after telling her repeatedly that all questions should be addressed to her lender as I am only able to witness her signatures.

G

Reply by Luckydog on 3/30/12 8:01pm
Msg #416676

Those complaints are because they are unhappy about the loan, and need to find something to B*tch about. We are last in the long line of frustrations, and they need to take it out on someone. Same thing happened to me years ago. It was a late night closing, and had to take my son who I believe was 10 years old. He was polite and sat and watched TV, no problems...they complained he just ran into their house, turned on the TV, was channel surfing....none of which was true. They had no problems at the time, and wasn't until a few days later they came up with that issue. Sometime I think if they complain about us, they will get $$ back or something. That was the only problem in 7 years. Always love the dogs and cats, kids I smile at, but never touch. People are strange...it will never change. I think it comes to money.

Reply by MW/VA on 3/30/12 12:26pm
Msg #416613

Ridiculous! Just goes to show you how overly sensitive we

have become as a society--toooooo many issues!!!! LOL

Reply by ikando on 3/30/12 12:40pm
Msg #416616

Re: Ridiculous! Just goes to show you how overly sensitive we

Yet another reason to add to why we should be paid more; because we are the only ones the borrower ever sees. It's similar to the waitress or the bank teller. The real problems are not with the one seen, but probably with some other person. But because we are "the face" of the transaction, we get the brunt of abuse.

Reply by BossLadyMD on 3/30/12 12:49pm
Msg #416622

what a flake, i feel sorry for the husband lol n/m

Reply by sn/oh on 3/30/12 5:34pm
Msg #416654

Re: what a flake, i feel sorry for the husband lol

omg! I'm glad i read this posting today. I had a closing earlier, and when I got up to leave, I tried to open the door and the door knob came off in my hand. I stood there looking at the door knob and she stood there looking at the door knob. I handed her the knob and she began to apologize for the door being so raggedy. She could have blamed me for tearing up her house! From now on I'll let the borrower open the door for me.

Reply by Karla/OR on 3/30/12 6:11pm
Msg #416661

I'm so greatful for Not/Rot and for posts like this. I am the guilty one that acknowledges the kids that are present and talk to them as well (I would never touch them!). Have not had an issue with it so far, but will from now on be less forward with them.

So sorry you had this trouble Anita.

Reply by Susan Fischer on 3/30/12 7:51pm
Msg #416674

Karla, me too, and I've never been reported for interacting

with the kids, relatives, friends, all manner of animals, [even getting fooled by a Parrot named Pedro, who, I suspect has a suspicious past,] that I'm aware of.

Given my personality, I think that if I ignored the rest of the household, I'd be reported for being schitzoid.

We gregarious folk pick up on the friendly and positive in our unique professional personas. Perhaps just pausing to say, "Oh, lookie what I found! Anyone lose this?" or something...a little humor can go a long way, no? [Hi, Hugh.]

[Lincoln City was nearly blown away in the last few days, hope you fared well in the Valley.]

Or....a general rule: "Approach all Birds and Babies with Caution - especially Birds."

jmnsho

Reply by MikeC/TX on 3/30/12 6:40pm
Msg #416668

Lesson learned

If the baby drops a toy, either ignore it or pick it up and hand it to one of the parents. If it's their first child, they'll probably want to have it sanitized before the baby touches it again.

People can get really weird about their kids, and the last thing you want to be is the target of that weirdness. Unfortunately, the days of being friendly in a business transaction are gone in some parts of our society - you apparently had the misfortune of dealing with a new mom who viewed the slightest interest in her child by a stranger to be a threat. It's a sad commentary on where our society has gone...