Farley's Legal Support Services

Difficult Process Service Jobs

jnyobe48 — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 09:33:36 +0000

I was recently hired to serve an employee of Internal Revenue Service in Lanham, Maryland. The client had already tried to serve him on his job, which clued him in to the attempts being made upon him. The co-workers on the job covered for him and the client was unable to serve him. She instead elected to hire a professional. That’s where I come in. I was hired and paid to serve two defendants that once lived together, but have since, broken off and went in separate directions. I was told the female would be easy but the guy would be difficult.

Needless to say, the female was extremely easy. We talked and she agreed to meet in front of Eastern High School in Washington DC. True to her word, she pulled up and was served. Easy! Next up, was the guy. I called his job and he said he would call me back in 15 minutes. He never called back. Went to his job and bureaucratic roadblocks thwarted my efforts. The guard station officer told me, “You can’t serve papers on Federal property.” He then told me I could call the individual and he cam meet me out front near the mailboxes. They tried to call him and he wouldn’t answer the phone. I called his supervisor and told her that I had court documents for her subordinate and that he really needs to contact me. I told her that it would be better for him if he takes the papers and defend himself in court. If not, I will file a Notice of Evader and a default judgment could be entered against him and his wages garnished.

I did a search and located all of his previous addresses and located his relatives. As soon as I was about to start on his relatives, the guy calls me. “Did you get my message I left on your voice mail?” I told him no, (Note to self, clean out messages on my phone.) and asked who he was. He told me his name and said he got a message from his supervisor. He said he would like to meet me and take the papers. I usually don’t like going to a person’s job unless I have run out of options. Clearly the case here. He named the place and time. I was there. He took the papers and I notified the client. She was elated and all is well.

When you have court documents to be served, please don’t try to handle them yourself, unless you know what you are doing. let the professionals handle it. That’s what we are here for. It is far better to start a new process serve, where no previous attempts have been made. The element of surprise is priceless. We don’t like cleaning up botched process serves but we will if need be. This case turned out great.

Joan Farley Nyobe

New MD Text While Driving Law

jnyobe48 — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 19:51:56 +0000

Maryland drivers beware: You are no longer allowed to read a text message while 
driving. The revision to the year-old law banning texting while driving went into
effect Saturday along with seven other new laws, according to a spokesman for the
Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. 

"You can't do it at a stop light or a stop sign," he said.

"Police can pull over a driver suspected of texting while driving," he warned.

"It's a $70 fine and one point on your license," he said.

"If the texting activity results in a collision, it's an automatic $110 fine and 10 
points,"he added. However, GPS in phones are non applicable. You can still use your 
cell phone GPS to guide you through traffic. Hmmm, I personally can account for 3 
near collisions from using my GPS. The last one in particular resulted in a near
head on collision with another vehicle. I was leaving a field chase and the GPS told 
me to make a left turn as while I was making the left turn, the GPS
changed to a right turn while I was in the middle of the left turn. I over
turned and almost hit another vehicle head on, if it weren't for reflexes
kicking in at the right moment. 

So my questions would be: 

1. How reliable are the mobile phone GPS services? I have had my GPS lead me into
the middle of no where in several occasions. However, for the most part, they do
seem to be reliable.  Maryland State Police First Sgt. Russell Newell says state 
law specifically allows the GPS systems. The FCC wants all phones equipped with GPS 
by the year 2018 
2. GPS units in mobile phones with small screens can be very difficult to read 
while driving. How can GPS in mobile devices escape the new law? John Townsend, of AAA, 
tells 9NEWS NOW he knows of no study concluding GPA causes distracted driving or 
contributes to accidents. I guess that it's reasonably assumed that people key in the
addresses before they start their vehicles. But what about when you're in a hurry, 
and you key in the address while you're driving. Well, my friend, it is at that 
moment, you are in violation of the new texting while driving law. Yes you can use 
your GPS while driving but the GPS must be engaging and in the middle of charting a 
course for you, when you get pulled over. You will not be able to say,
"Officer, I'm sorry, I was charting my GPS." You will get you a fat ticket.
$70 dollars to be exact.

What about the iPod user? I can picture them scrolling to the next great song as they
manuever through traffic. My point is that texting while driving shouldn’t be the only
activity that’s banned.

Further readings:

http://handsfreeinfo.com/maryland-cell-phone-laws-legislation

http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=66603

http://www.cecilwhig.com/business/article_31f9be36-eed2-11e0-8678-001cc4c03286.html

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2394177,00.asp#fbid=PJibvy4xA1T

Getting your Auto Repaired without getting Ripped off!

jnyobe48 — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 08:14:11 +0000

I bought a car from the auction for $2200 dollars. After taxes, title and other fees, I paid $2691.10 for a 1999 Buick Park
Avenue. It was a “Green Light” car which means I wouldn’t have any issues with the cars engine or transmission. The car was
good to go. Called AAA to get my nused vehicle towed home. If the vehicle is not legally registered with proper tags, AAA
will not tow it. Not even with a legal Bill of Sale. So I had to pay a guy with an antique tow truck to bring my baby home
dragging for $80 dollars. Then I had a great shop, All Tune and Lube come tow the car properly on a flat bed and take her
to get her “Road Ready” and “Inspected.” It’s a “Green Light” car right? It should not cost much to get her on the road.
Try $3435.41 as the total price to get the car which is now named, Geraldine. “Gerri” for short, road ready and inspected.
Got temporary tags so Gerri could be delivered to my home. That was $50 bucks. I’m on the road, doubled my work load
because I have huge bill to pay back now. I’m on the highway and whenever I apply the brakes, I get a trembling sensation
in the steering wheel. It don’t last. Sort of comes and go when I try to slow down. I decided since I’m a mystery shopper too, why don’t I line up a brake inspection shop. That way, I will know once and for all what’s wrong with the brakes. I lined up a shop at Midas. I won’t name the location though. I went on a Saturday morning before noon. At first, the manager was like I would have to come back because the shop is full. Then as I was cleaning out my car, he came over and said they will do the inspection. Cool. I gave him the keys and waited in the waiting room. They took off the tires and brakes and also did a courtesy inspection of the vehicle. Mind you, I have already had $3435.10 worth of service done on the car and the time lapse was not yet 30 days. After one hour, the manager called me to the counter. He said I needed front brakes and rotors, power steering flush, coolant flush, transmission flush, throttle cleaning, brake flush, wiper blades and balance 4 tires. The estimate came to $934.13.
In my mind, I had all the fluids flushed and filled included in the $3435.41. Why was Midas saying I needed all of that
again? And balancing the tires? All Tune and Lube gave me 2 new tires along with rear brakes and rotors for free. I paid
for a 4 wheel alignment. All Tune and Lube not only took care of that, they took Gerri through inspection and she
passed.And if I needed front rotors and brake pads, how did it pass inspection? Midas also said I had a cracked widshield
wiper blade. Anyway, I tell Midas no, that I just want the brake inspection report. The manager was like, “Ms. you should at leats get the brakes done.” (Which would have been, $329.98.) I said no and he said, “the parts are here and your car is already
apart and ready to be repaired.” I excused myself to make a phone call outside. I called a guy I knew, explained quickly
what happened and that I need his help getting me out of this store.” He said OK and I put him on speaker phone. He used
profanity and went off on the guy in the store and then went off on me. Needless to say, I terminated that call but it was
effective enough. Midas put my car back together, drove it out front, and gave me the keys back. They did not charge the
$19.99 brake inspection fee as originally quoted. I got the brakes and front rotors replaced at Tuxedo Auto Service. I was in and out in under 1 hour and the price was $280. I wish I had used their services when I bought the car from the auction. I think I would still have most of my money in my pocket. All Tune and Lube were excellent. Their work is stellar but costly. Tuxedo Auto Service was best because their work ethic is also stellar but cheaper. Midas was by far the worst because they tried to rob me. They tried to get me to pay for services I did not need and overcharge for brake and rotor work. In this economy, we can’t afford to be over charged by anyone. For now on, I will go to Tuxedo Auto Service for all my auto needs. Their integrity is beyond reproach. The mystery shopping company got my report and a piece of my mind. I wanted them to understand that it was not a good feeling when a company deliberately tries to rip you off. It’s like being robbed without a gun, just on fear alone.

Joan Nyobe

When the client wants to help with the Process Service

jnyobe48 — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 05:14:47 +0000

I love when the client wants to help me serve the subject court papers. He or she may coordinate specific times that the serve should be carried out. And especially if the client has knowledge of where the subject will be at a given moment. The Wife vs The Husband. The wife will advise the attorney that the husband will be at her house a certain time and then the attorney will alert me as to the time and place. Receiving these tips are very helpful in getting the process service done as quickly as possible.

However, I draw the line when the client tells me how to serve the subject. I have been serving court papers for over 20 years. I think I can safely assume my professional status in the area of process service. One request was that I do not knock at the door. Instead, I was to wait in front of the subjects home at 9pm and confront him with the court documents as soon as he hits the stairs leading to his home. That didn’t work out because the subject had a back entrance through the alley to a garage. The rear of his garage led to his back yard that was fenced in and I could not get to him.

I’m like, “Why can’t I knock at the door?” Anyway, the serve was set up at the wife’s home and we finally served him at 7:35am as he was walking onto the wife’s property. Finally, I was able to exhale the breath of relief. Relief that this constructed serve was over. I was able to put that case to bed and move on to the next serve. I love what I do and have no problem receiving assistance that could facilitate the overall process service.

However, I do not like it when I am told how to serve the documents. I know the clients mean well and anxiously want their papers served but please, allow me professional freedom to serve the documents as I see fit. That’s all I am asking. That’s what I was hired to do. If you take over my job, you might as well serve the documents yourself.

Process Server’s Nightmare!

jnyobe48 — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 07:01:27 +0000

The biggest nightmare is getting a client who is his or her own lawyer. They assume they know more than anyone else, including licensed and practicing lawyers. They constantly nitpick. If anything goes wrong in their case, they blame any and everyone, except themselves. Not everyone who represents him or herself is everyone’s worse nightmare. It’s that few, that stand out as nuisances. You don’t recognize them right off though, unfortunate. They come off just like any other person. But as time go on, little by little, the annoyances become disruptions that wreak havoc as an understatement.

I could go on and on about this but I also feel that it would be inappropriate and unprofessional to bash a former client. With that being said, I’d like to wish all the process servers and investigators I know much business success. I wish all businesses could be free from this type of client. But since it can not happen, I’l just wish much peace and solitude in our individual businesses.

written by Joan Nyobe

Wearing 4 Hats

jnyobe48 — Sun, 02 May 2010 09:06:42 +0000

I wear different hats on different days but, it has come to my attention that I wear 4 specifically different hats in the same arena. I found it odd that I would have jobs in every aspect of this area and you may find it funny when I share it with you. I love my work and I am blessed to have these different areas to keep things interesting. Lord only knows, I abhor redundancy. So here goes the 4 hats that make for an interesting arena.

One hat: I am the friendly mobile notary signing agent that will come to your home and notarize your docs and fax it to the title company so your loan will close with no problems. Refinance and loan modifications are the primary documents that I notarize.

Two hat: If you become late on your mortgage and/or car note, I am the Delinquency Interview Specialist that will come to your home and attempt to get you on the phone with your lender.

Past this point, you come in contact with Three hat: Your lender for some reason, perhaps you never got caught up on your payments. Your lender decides to take you to court. You guessed it. I’m the Process Server that serves the court papers. And will testify that the papers were served in accordance with state applicable laws in place.

Four hat: When the home you lost goes up for auction so the mortgage company can get some of the money back they lost. Yes, I am the House Sitter. I open the homes up for open houses and auctions and then lock the property back up after the open house/sale is over.

I know it looks like I have all the basis covered and I may be viewed as both the good guy and the bad guy. I any event, I love my work and I especially love the diversity.

Difficult Process Serves II

jnyobe48 — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 05:51:26 +0000

I picked up a case that have 4 process serves assigned to me. They are all located at one address. Easy to get, right? Wrong! The office building where the office was supposed to have been have no labels or suite numbers on the door. A woman in one of the offices told me that the business moved and they weren’t there anymore. I had to go back online and look up each individual name and pay for and print out their residences. One of the serves is to an attorney. I call her on the phone and act like I’m inquiring about reverse mortgages. She advised me to contact a bank. She provides services in real estate law. Online did provide me with great leads in terms of addresses. The first address was to the attorney who lived in an upscale neighborhood in the upper crust of Washington, DC. I knocked at the door and rang the doorbell. A woman came to the upstairs window and wanted to know who I was. I told her I’m a process server and that I had court papers for her. She asked where the papers came from. I told her I didn’t know. She told me to take them to her office and I told her that we both know that her office is now defunct and cease to exist. She told me yes it do still exist. I told her that I was leaving the papers for her right there in her mailbox. She said that we’ll see how that goes the affidavit of service. I told her to have a nice evening and left the premises, leaving the document in her mailbox. As I drove away, I started putting pieces together. She was the same voice behind the door of that office telling me the business had moved and she was the same voice on the telephone, and the same voice that came from the window of her home. As an officer of the court, my affidavit of service or non-service would reflect a person that know, understand, and practice the law, yet actively and adamantly avoid service. And customers ask why is the prices the way they are. Most serves are not met with as much difficulty as this one. But, I have to treat each serve as if its going to be a difficult serve. I have to have the bases loaded and I have to communicate with the client that hired me as well.

Difficult Process Serves

jnyobe48 — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 21:15:05 +0000

I don’t think people really understand the complexities in serving people that know they are about to be served and avoid it like the plague. For example, an attorney calls me and says that she has to have somebody served that will be visiting friends on Christmas Day at a home in Lanham, Maryland. She wants me there. I take the job but I always run my online searches for any other information first. I find that the person lives in Potomac, Maryland. I say to myself, “Self, if you lived in Potomac, MD, would you leave to visit friends in Lanham, MD?” So, I gift wrapped his court documents in a nice box complete with Christmas wrapping and a bow. I went to the home in Potomac, MD on Christmas Day and attempted service. A woman answers the door and sure enough he was there but refused to come to the door to get his gift. The woman wanted to sign for it but I told her I was only allowed to give the gift to him. Well, he wouldn’t come to the door. So I left making note of all the tag number and photographing the property and the vehicles. The next business day, he contacted the lawyer that sent me and made arrangements to pay his debt in full. Needless to say, that lawyer was elated until she got my bill. The point here is that creative measures come into play when you have people that are actively avoiding service. That takes time and creative thought. You almost have to get into the head of the person avoiding the papers and counter their next move. Clients are real excited when we get the guy and serve the documents. But become apprehensive when the bill is presented to them. I took time out of my Christmas Holiday and wrapped a bogus gift, and actually tracked this man at home, rather then at friends house as originally speculated and you want to squawk at my bill? Then you go to the friends house as you thought, and wait for him there. Oh, and please don’t hold your breath, he may not be leaving Potomac, Maryland anytime soon. When the bill is received, it is not only for the serve, but for the expertise. remember that and we will have no problems at all.

written by Joan Nyobe

Delinquency Interviews

jnyobe48 — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 04:05:12 +0000

Delinquency Interviews involve meeting with a credit debtor that is behind on his payments to his or her mortgage and or vehicle payments. We, at Farley’s Legal Support Services try to establish a liaison between the creditor and the debtor so that amicable payment arrangements can be made. However, most of the time, the debtor run and hide. Afraid to answer the door or answer the telephone…thinking that with avoidance, the situation will go away and cease to exist. But that’s not how it goes. When I come knocking, I am trying to assist the debtor in coming to a resolution with the creditor. When all else fails and there is no contact made the creditor has no choice but to initiate court action. And that’s where I put on my other hat as a process server. One way or another, I will see you. Either I’ll be smiling and telling you that I am there on behalf of your creditor Or, I hand you a document saying, “You have just been served.” In both case scenarios, I’ll be smiling.

Food Poisoning

jnyobe48 — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 10:52:40 +0000

I had a incident whereby I went to a restaurant in Washington DC and contracted food poisoning. I went there as a mystery shop and enjoyed a meal with a date. I had an organic beer with banana in it, pretzels with horseradish dip, chicken tortilla soup, crab dip with tortilla and banana foster for dessert. The only variation my date had was He had a different beer and could not eat any seafood because of allergies. We shared everything else. We finished up at 9:25PM and my date let me have the receipt for my records and mystery shop report. All in all, I thought we had a great time. Though there was no chemistry between us, I felt that the networking was very cool. Got home about 10PM and talked with my mother first while still thinking about the evening and telling her some of the details. Afterward, of course it became time to check in on the net. I have a strong internet presence online and must maintain it as it supposed to help with Google rankings. Anyway, I get online, check all the emails and social network pages. I even play a few rounds of the pets game on Tagged. But by then, around 11:30 PM, while eating the last of the crab dip and tortilla chips, I started to get a headache. I thought it was sinus in nature and ignored it. Around 12 Midnight, the headache got worse. Started feeling migraine in nature but my nose seemed stopped up and nausea was an added symptom. At 12:30 AM until 4:00 AM, I became violently ill and just threw up repeatedly. I was sweating so hard that I had to strip off my clothes and lay on the bathroom floor. And when there was no more food to bring up, I went into dry heaves whereby my stomach was still attempting to completely empty out but there’s nothing left. I felt so good and exhausted, I was finally able to go to sleep after 4 AM. The next day, I was so weak but scared to eat so I maintained a liquid diet the whole day and stayed in bed. Doctors offices were closed and I was too afraid of catching something and getting even sicker from long waits in the emergency room. I think I’d rather sit in a lion’s den at the zoo than sit in a germ filled waiting room at the hospital. I elected to wait for my doctor. It was the weekend and Monday was MLK, Jr Holiday. Tuesday, I’m on the phone all day with MD Health Dept who passed the buck to CDC who sent me to environmental health just to be told, “Oh, we don’t have jurisdiction. That happened in DC. So back to the drawing board, I’m calling DC Health Dept and after being passed 2 times I spoke to someone who took a report and arranged for an inspector to inspect the restaurant. Then I speak to another person saying to hold on to the samples I have to wit crab dip and excrement sealed in a baggie and in the refrigerator in the garage. The DC health department says they don’t collect samples unless two or more people are infected. The testing process is very expensive but hang on to the samples you have refrigerated. Yeah right! And you ready for this, I have already submitted my report and described the food poisoning incident. This company, I have worked as an independent contractor for 2 years or more. Thinking we had a great working rapport and that they would in actuality, care about me on a small level. I didn’t get one email inquiring about my health and expressing sympathies for my plight. I got nothing. Two weeks go by and I still have the samples in refrigeration. Hoping someone would feel me. I got nothing. No lawyer will touch the case because get this, I didn’t go to the germ filled emergency room, and two because I was there as a mystery shopper. Hired by the company who in essence get their bread buttered from the people that own the restaurant. I got nothing but memories of my feeling like I was fighting for my life the night of the food poisoning incident to a huge massive, conspiratorial cover up. Like nobody wants to be the one to ruin DC’s revitalization project or something. I felt like I was going to die and no one wants to account for that. I report that I thought the restaurant was clean and topically, it was to my knowledge. However, when the inspector got through, I was in for a very rude awakening. There were violations found and unclean practices in place. They found roaches crawling around and food prep people wearing jewelry while preparing food, without gloves on. It made me sick all over again. Right now, I’m scared to eat out at a restaurant. That was just one restaurant in the District of Columbia. Just imagine what the other restaurants are like in your town.

Written by joannyobe