Can the post office witness signature?

LittleNinja

I need a witness on my mortgage deed. In Covid times I can't get to anyone I know (everyone is a journey on public transport away). Can the post office do it? 

davidmcn

Any adult (who isn't connected with the transaction) can do it. Whether they'll agree to or not is a different question. 

LittleNinja

davidmcn said:

Any adult (who isn't connected with the transaction) can do it. Whether they'll agree to or not is a different question. 

Yeah, I understand pretty much a anyone can do it. We feel awkward about knocking on the door of a neighbour as we don't know any of them. I'm hoping that the post office would be somewhere that would always say yes 

elsien

It’s not the post office. It’s the individual working in the post office who you are asking to give a personal signature on your document. 
 If they don’t know you, it’s no different to  asking a neighbour that you don’t know. At least the neighbours might have the bonus of recognising you by sight. 

TVAS

Have they not told you who can sign? 
You are starting on the wrong premise. This is an essential task so travel to someone who knows you and get them to sign it.
Before you take any action ask the lender who can sign unless they have already said it must be someone who knows you as you have only implied that is the case. 
Take back control and get it done. C'mon! Hoo hah! I am punching fist in the air.

davidmcn

TVAS said:

Before you take any action ask the lender who can sign 

It's the solicitor who should be advising about the signing formalities, the call centre droids at the lender aren't likely to have a clue.

But in general, witnesses do not need to know the signatory to any extent, it's pretty commonplace for them to have been introduced a few seconds previously.

NannyPlum89

LittleNinja said:

I need a witness on my mortgage deed. In Covid times I can't get to anyone I know (everyone is a journey on public transport away). Can the post office do it? 

We asked somebody in the Post Office to witness our mortgage deeds just a few weeks ago, and she was happy to do it. 

moneysavinghero

In theory they could, in reality they may not be willing to.

If it's a local post office where the person knows you well they are more likely to do it. If it's a larger post office that you don't visit often then they may well be a bit more reluctant.

LittleNinja

TVAS said:

Have they not told you who can sign? 
You are starting on the wrong premise. This is an essential task so travel to someone who knows you and get them to sign it.
Before you take any action ask the lender who can sign unless they have already said it must be someone who knows you as you have only implied that is the case. 
Take back control and get it done. C'mon! Hoo hah! I am punching fist in the air.

I know that it just needs to be an independent adult witness not related to the purchasers. They don't need to know us. 
I am not ignoring the fact that it is an essential task, the post office seems like it would be an easy option as I'd need to go there anyway to post all the paperwork. I'd prefer not to travel across London on public transport during a pandemic. But if I cannot get the post office or convince a stranger to do it for me then I will make the journey to someone I know.