Sign on the Dotted Line

This is nothing new, but I have just reached my breaking point with electronic signature pads.

I grew up learning how to print and then in second grade, write in script (not cursive – script). Over the years I cultivated my “signature” which was the closest thing I had to an original brand for myself. It is inconceivable how much I have used that throughout my life. Suffice to say – a lot.

I was also taught from an early age NEVER to sign anything without reading it. If memory serves, I was told something like, “Sign something without reading it and I’ll break your hand.”  I thought it extreme at the time – but I never did. NEVER. And as a mature adult I am really understanding why.

Example: I found myself in a doctor’s office having just been handed one of those electronic devices to check in, etc. As I am scrolling through, I find myself with a considerable amount of verbiage requiring a signature. Of course, I read it in its entirety. In a nutshell, it labeled a confidentiality agreement but was actually a confidentiality notification advising me that my records would not, could not and will not be released to anyone unless I, in writing, authorize them to do so – EXCEPT if they deem it necessary, in which case they would divulge as much as they felt was appropriate.  WHAT????!!!!

My first reaction was, “Are you kidding me?”  Second was, “If you are advising me that you will not divulge my confidential information, shouldn’t you be signing something and giving it to me? I did not sign. Rather, I brought it back to the woman in the front of the office and questioned her about it. “It says what?” she exclaimed. Oh yes…. she hadn’t read it either. I then was asked to wait for the office manager to come and discuss this with me. I explained that I was not going to sign it. Either they could treat me without it or not. Their choice. I was seen by a doctor that day. But I couldn’t help but wonder just how many people scrolled to the bottom of that verbiage and signed without giving it a second thought.

Example 2: I bank at a credit union. I have banked there for over 30 years. I know everyone that works there on a first name basis and trust each of them implicitly. However, I make deposits and withdrawals several times each week. I hand them the money; they key in the information and then I am asked to sign the little signature pad which says ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ON IT regarding the transaction. So, I am signing without reading it. I am then handed a printed receipt at which point I can stand there and read it to ensure that what I intended to do was, in fact, what was done…and if I find a mistake the entire transaction must be undone and then redone. Is this more convenient? NO. Half the time that keypad malfunctions and will not take the signature. So why bother?

Example 3: It must be mentioned – the e-sign documents. These documents, designed for convenience, automatically scroll from one place for a signature to the next. All you must do is click on that line and a computerized signature appears there for you. One, two, three and you are done. Afterward, you are emailed a copy of what you just agreed to contractually. Often, you will not have noticed something in the fine print. But, alas, it’s too late.

Are we being trained as a society to simply agree to whatever is put before us, and if so, does that diminish the value of our signature? Our Brand? Thank about it.

R-O-A-R!!!!