r/processserver

Yesterday I received an email from a family court attorney I regularly do work for. They give me very specific instructions where to be, when to be there, and they wanted me there 5 to 10 minutes before her expected arrival or departure depending on the day they gave me. 10-Story secured apartment building in a lousy neighborhood. Wednesday she'll leave between 8:30 and 9:00a. Tuesday she'll be home between 5:30 and 6:00p. But they gave me NO information about her. I sent them, attorney, paralegal and their client who was copied on the assignment, a long email saying you're giving me very specific instructions but you're not telling me if she takes the bus, if she drives her car, what kind of car she drives, where she normally parks , how she looks, if you have a photograph of her or at very least a physical description. I am not inclined to waste my time going 40 minutes to her home and fumbling around with something that could easily be resolved with the barest of information from the client. I'm not a high enough volume server to be willing to go into some terrible neighborhood and make one of my four attempts when I don't have the simplest of information from them. Even if they wrote back and said we don't have any photos, our client has not seen her in 20 years, client has dementia and doesn't remember what she looks like, they give me nothing. So at 5:00 p.m. I emailed them and said I waited 3 hours for some good instructions in order to make an attempt tonight in your requested window and didn't receive any so I didn't go. My next window is Thursday. If you'd like me to attempt on Thursday, please provide the information as requested.

Am I being unreasonable? I don't want to upset the client, but it also seems like the barest of information they could have provided before I began attempts.

I ran a routine service today; nothing unusual about it. The elderly respondent was home. She was friendly and attentive and apparently in good health. My client was pleased I was able to get the job done in one attempt. Here is where things get interesting. He told me I was the second server he had hired for the job. The first one, who had been unsuccessful, worked for ABC Legal. This server claimed he had not been able to complete service because the respondent was in a long term care facility and not expected to recover. This was only two weeks ago. The respondent obviously had a miraculous recovery. 🤣 Or could it be the first server is a 🤥???

I hired a BC process server for a CRT matter. The flat fee included up to three attempts at one address.

One attempt was made on September 10. I received photos and a detailed report, and was told another attempt would be made.

Since then I haven't received confirmation of attempts #2 or #3 despite several emails and a phone message.

My CRT service deadline is November 16.

For process servers here: is this normal? What documentation should I request for the unsuccessful attempt, and at what point would you recommend hiring another server?