I read a story in Notary Cafe about a Signing Agent who obliged a signer (perhaps Asian as this is their custom in many Asian countries) by taking off their shoes upon request. The Notary inadvertently stepped on a sliver of glass and bled profusely getting her socks all bloody. The limped out of the signing and had to go to urgent care and get three stitches.
I was part of a Hindu meditation group for years and they would bug or nag-tagonize (new word) the hell out of you if you didn’t remove shoes. But, it can be dangerous to remove shoes. I got so sick of the nagging I started yelling at people nag. Nagging seems to be a basic reflex for people from particular cultures and being forcefully dominant towards them is the only way to get them to stop.
You might get some bacteria that could cause serious foot diseases.
There is a story from Yogananda, the Hindi guru that asked people to wear shoes rather than removing them. One American girl who felt it necessary to follow Hindu tradition removed her shoes anyway and got a bad foot disease as a consequence.
You might also step on something or bang your toe on something resulting in an injury.
The narrow minded folks who want to force or coerce you to remove shoes don’t give a damn about your safety or comfort, they only care about their national or religious customs which come before human dignity and all else. Think twice before you endanger yourself to please some nit-picky folks who only care about cleanliness and tradition – there are bigger things at stake.
So, leave your comments below. Remove shoes or don’t remove shoes — and why.
I always ask every client what they prefer with regards to my shoes. I also wear gloves, and if they want a face mask. I’ve had many clients insist that we sign on their patio which is more challenging then removing my shoes since a lot of them either don’t understand there are hundreds of pages and they don’t have a proper table and chairs. But I accommodate them anyway if we have sufficient light for a proper ID, and if the weather is ok.
Comment by Charles Steinmetz — July 8, 2020 @ 2:47 pm
This is so inappropriate. You respect the rules of the house you visit. It is a sign of respect of cultures. Eastern Europeans also follow this. Russian, Polish , etc. Only Certain “Americans” who’s culture is like a few hundred years ago ( cowboy & wild west culture ) would wear the shoe into and put in upon inappropriate places such as a table ( where you place your hand) , upon bed, (when you place your body), who knows perhaps even put in on the pot of soup.
Is there any common sense to this topic or did jeremy go off his meds ?
This is Corona Season, Even otherwise, every person has a RIGHT To keep his house safe & clean for himself and his family and children.
For those paranoid of catching diseases and dirt in a house, Is is rather you keep the dirt and bacteria from outside and what ever public rest room you visited and what ever dog shit you stepped upon from entering and contaminating the house.
A notary may carry booties with him/her if case their “American Culture” does not allow them to remove shoes. I have removed my shoes in Black, White russian, Indian and other household i have visited. NOTHING WROTH WITH THIS.
Carmen once asked “Who gets kicked out of an ashram , Jeremy did” . She even said Jeremy is an ass, he yells at black folks in the park and call them , that just because “YOU PEOPLE COME HERE, THE NEIGHBOR HOOD IS GOING DOWN” .
Jeremy is what men is to , what Entitled Karen is to women.
Jeremy ” What do you mean american” .. U mean white, shit dont stink attitude.
U see white folks also have poor hygiene ! Blame it for the “American” Girl’s Foot disease. Perhaps she walked barefoot, in a pile of manure and that’s just her lack of common sense to do so and perhaps even more lack of brains for not refusing it in such a clearly infectious environment ( as per jeremy)
In middle ages, diseases plagued europe. White Royalty inbreed and incest was rampant. People did not take showers for months. ( Women caked up themselves with layers of Make up to mask the dirt and other things to hide the smell)
The people from the slums and gutters of the society of Europe who make up todays large part of white america, carry that culture ” similar to the white trash jerry springer ” habits into their lives and pass it upon generation upon generation.
REMOVE YOU DIRTY SHOES from my floor OR GET the fuck off and I will find another notary to do the job.
Wear the mits
Yogananda asked because your foot stank, and u used the same socks for over a month.
Comment by Ray Dialooooooooo — July 8, 2020 @ 2:49 pm
There are moms who make this request, as well. When I get that request, I answer “what if I have athlete’s foot.” One mom had paper shoes available.
Comment by Maria H Alanis — July 8, 2020 @ 6:43 pm
Ask Basic questions. Even if it offends the signer.
Excuse me : Is your house floor clean and free of any things that can stain my socks or hurt my feet.
Do you have a indoor wearing moccasin or a flip flop?
Small things like this, when asked objectively and politely, while telling them , “Please dont get offended” etc .. One should be able to come out win win
Comment by FredFlintstone — July 8, 2020 @ 8:20 pm
I don’t take off my shoes, use shoe covers
Comment by Diana Brown — July 8, 2020 @ 11:28 pm
I personally feel if people walk around their homes in outside shoes, that they are filthy and have germs running all over their floor. Who knows what your shoes step on outside, from bugs, to spit, to poop & whatever microorganisms grow on the streets, grass and sidewalks. Simple solution is to buy foldable slippers like the ones made for the airport when you have to remove your shoes for security. Always respect the home you are visiting, or give the job to someone else who will…
Comment by Michelle — July 30, 2020 @ 1:45 pm
December signing in IL, borrowers want to sign outside. We met in the unheated garage. I wore a mask And my leather field boots (I own horses), thermal socks, layers, wool sweater, etc. I knew that I would be warm. THEY wore a pr of sneakers and slippers without socks. My 1 hr signing became 35 min of ” we can’t sign the package Fast enough.”
I took off my shoes for one signing, but after reading this, I won’t do it again. Between offering bargain basement rates why should we NSA’s, bottom of the $food chain, have to cut into our meager profits and buy yet one More thing so that lenders can make a tidy profit?
Comment by Betty — January 18, 2021 @ 4:29 pm
Be prepared with disposable booties…problem solved. If that is unacceptable to the signer, sign outside
Comment by Catherine L Dubyak — January 18, 2021 @ 7:08 pm
I have no problem removing my shoes for any sort of reason. It is their home. I have complete respect for their wishes.
Comment by Deborah Harman — January 20, 2021 @ 3:21 am
I go with – Remove your shoes. I have done this many times without incident. When I enter a house and see that it is the order of the house/all shoes at the door, I take off my shoes without being asked. I keep a pair of Peds/thin stocking footie in my purse for such occasions. The footies are $1.00 at the dollar store. You can expose of them or wash for re-use.
Comment by Leila Brown — January 20, 2021 @ 11:41 pm
I always carry shoe covers. I won’t remove my shoes, but I will cover them.
Comment by Beverly A Brown — August 25, 2021 @ 3:30 pm