What is Waiting on the Other Side of that Door?
By Kim Letus
Problem is, you never know.
When you walk up to a strange place and knock on a door, you just don’t know what you’re going to encounter. I’ve had even the most seasoned servers express to me that they are more cautious than they used to be and don’t feel quite as safe as they did a few years ago. The state of the world in general and the effect the economy has had on so many people is making those we serve, as a group, more on edge–more frustrated and angry; and, according to my servers, it is evident in their encounters on the road. This is not a job for the faint hearted. My servers in the past year have been punched, had things thrown at them, had their vehicles damaged, and have been threatened with vicious dogs and guns. This, of course, is in addition to the usual verbal abuse and name calling that every process server encounters from time to time. Incidents of aggression aimed at my process servers have occurred sporadically over the years I’ve run this business. Now, though, they occur much more frequently. Oddly enough, these confrontations often take place with people and locations with which you would not expect to encounter problems.
Keeping My Process Servers Safe at All Times
I infrequently serve papers these days; only in a pinch as a fill-in server. I spend most of my time in the office. Although technology in this business can be challenging, I take comfort in knowing that my location is documented when I’m out there alone. Some of the locations in my service area are very rural. It is not unusual to knock on the door of a house that is completely hidden from the road and any other houses.
In the interest of safety, my standing instructions to the servers doing work for me are as follows:
- Document your location when arriving at the address by geotag photo and sending my office the photo and file number for the job, so that we know your location if there is a problem.
- Observe your surroundings carefully upon arrival. Park your vehicle, whenever possible, in a spot where you can get into the car quickly if need be.
- Do not respond in kind to antagonistic behavior-do not engage. Get the job done, get into your vehicle and leave.
- Without being rude, do not engage in extensive conversation with servees.
- If you feel threatened, leave and notify the office.
- If you are assaulted, pull away from the premises and call the police.
Take care all of my fellow NYSPPSA members, stay aware of your surroundings, and be safe.