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Legal matters

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Have I been hoodwinked into signing a document?

109 replies

MrsHench · 26/08/2024 18:02

Any legal/citizen advice welcome-TIA
In hindsight I feel really stupid for doing this.
Why am I feeling duped? A Colleague of mine asked me to sign a personal document for her during work time. She said I was just witnessing her signature. But she kinda poo pooed it when i asked what it was, as if it was none of my business. I think it's to do with her new flat which she's moved into recently. I obliged but then had to put my home address also which I wasn't really happy about. I was going to put my workplace address but she just laughed it off as if i was stupid. I've only been in the job 2 months and now I'm wondering why she didn't ask one of the other colleagues who she's know much longer. Why me and why not wait til the next day? What was the urgency with this?
We hardly know each other but she has been training me for the last 2 months. She's very good at her job, efficient, confident, authoritative and i don't think money is an issue with her from what i gather. But why now am I feeling uneasy about this? I have a young family, a full time job, work hard but I feel she pounced, caught me off guard so to speak. I am very stressed!
I should've asked to see the document, asked more questions after all she's asked me for my signature and my home address.
I felt she should've been more transparent on this situation too. Am I right to be concerned, worried? Please help!

OP posts:
Nottodaythankyou123 · 30/08/2024 06:49

DreamW3aver · 29/08/2024 15:50

Random people can't look you up on the land registry though can they? And even if they could how is that relevant to another person who wants to keep their address to themselves?

Anyone can pay £3 to get a title register but you search an address not a person so they couldn’t pay £3 to see where you live but they could pay £3 to see who owns an address, if you see what I mean?

OP - the witness section the PP sent earlier was blank because different entities require slightly differing wording depending on whether it’s an individual/trustee/company signing. When you draft the doc you input the relevant clause so the template is blank because it doesn’t know who’s signing, but all will say “in the presence of a witness” anf the witness details. If she’s already moved in it won’t be a TR1 (unless she’s buying someone out) - this is the form that transfers ownership of a property and is dated on completion not months afterwards. There are any number of documents that require witnessing and you’re not entitled to see any of the contents, I really don’t think it’s anything to worry about and this has been blown out of proportion, but next time just check you’re signing next to a box that says witness.

Sparklfairy · 30/08/2024 11:04

invisiblecat · 29/08/2024 13:45

Yes, that's what I meant - I said coerced or influenced into signing. Being misled into signing it comes under being influenced, surely?

No. They're completely different legally. Coercion needs threats or undue pressure. Misled is misinformation

invisiblecat · 30/08/2024 13:05

Sparklfairy · 30/08/2024 11:04

No. They're completely different legally. Coercion needs threats or undue pressure. Misled is misinformation

And influenced...?

SheilaFentiman · 30/08/2024 15:58

There is no harm to the OP here.

She wasn’t coerced or misled, I doubt you could even say she was influenced (she has said herself that she got a brief explanation/sight of the document). It doesn’t sound like she said “oh I’m not sure..” and was talked into it. She could have said I’m not comfortable, or can I ask a couple of questions before I do this. She didn’t. The document owner is not a mind reader.

She put her details in as a witness to a signature, That’s it. There’s no come back on her from bank or official body.

theurbanpigeon · 30/08/2024 16:04

You are massively overreacting. Especially now you know it's just a TR1. Very normal thing - I asked a colleague to sign one for me the other day as a witness. Just chill.

TheRealSlimShandy · 30/08/2024 16:18

You’re making way more of this than you need to - she probably thought it was t a big deal (because ti most people it isn’t a big deal).

WallaceinAnderland · 30/08/2024 16:21

Did you witness her sign the form OP?

As in, you saw her sign her name?

TeenToTwenties · 30/08/2024 18:42

WallaceinAnderland · 30/08/2024 16:21

Did you witness her sign the form OP?

As in, you saw her sign her name?

I don't think that matters too much as the person herself was asking for the witness.

SheilaFentiman · 30/08/2024 19:10

TeenToTwenties · 30/08/2024 18:42

I don't think that matters too much as the person herself was asking for the witness.

It’s technically incorrect: if your witness is a lawyer, say, they should insist on watching you sign or being in the same room whilst you both electronically sign.

But it’s tacitly understood many witnesses add details before or after…

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