What always surprises me when visiting the front desk or representatives from a company is the audacity to ask me (or anyone) to sign a blank document or a digital screen without knowing what I'm signing. This has happened to me a few times, usually in the medical arena. I got my teeth cleaned and was asked to sign a blank form confirming my regular dentist appointment. I asked the front desk rep why did the form have nothing on it but my name. She told me, "I'll fill the rest in later." I responded, "Why don't you fill it in now so I know what I'm signing?" She looked surprised, but she did fill out all of the info. It took less than five minutes to do, and I left knowing what I'd signed off on.

This also happened at a doctor's office this year. I gave my health care insurance ID and co-pay to a rep, and I was asked to sign off on a blank digital screen. I asked her, "What am I signing?" She said it was to confirm that I got a privacy notification. I told her, "But I didn't get one." Then, she reached across her desk and gave it to me. I told her I'd sit down, read it and then come back to sign it. She also looked surprised, but she waited less than a few minutes for me to read the two-page form.