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Hey fellow NCers, I need your help. I'll make it as brief as possible:
Today I had to go to the Social Security Office in Raleigh in order to obtain a social security card for my 8 month old son. I had with me my 3 yr old son as well as my 8 months old. We filled out the application, got our number, and sat down to wait.
There was another child there, roughly 12 months old, who was happily playing with her parents. At one point in time she shrieked happily as babies and toddlers do. It happened only twice, but for the most part she was very quiet.
When she shrieked the first time the Security officer looked at me with a frown and said something about quiet, but I couldnt hear him. When she shrieked again he looked to the parents, walked over, and angrily spoke to them, loudly enough for us all to hear him say if they could not keep her quiet he would kick them out. Then he turned to me and apologized for thinking it was my kids who were disturbing the peace.
One woman behind me quipped "But she's just a baby and she was happy!" I asked if he could clarify his stance. Did he mean that if our children made any noise at all we were open to being forced out of the office, waiting for our turn? He said yes. It was a government building and kids who made noise of any kind were disturbing everyone else.
At this point in time several people in the office stood up and told him that no one was bothered by a happy baby and that that was wrong. I stated that no parent,no matter how good they were, could guarantee quiet children as we waited for so long, and that it was unfair to threaten us with losing our place and being kicked out of a government building waiting for social security information because of our kids. I can understand if a child is being unruly to be asked to step outside for a moment while they calm down, but not escorted out of the building and losing our place.
The security guard got angry and started saying this was a government building and in all government buildings children must stay completely silent or we would be escorted from the property. After listening I said this was a public buiding, I paid my taxes, my kids were fine, there was no reaon to yell at the other parents, and that this conversation was done.
10 minutes later he asked me for my number. I gave it to him unthinking. After another 30 minutes I realized my number had been skipped repeatedly and many people who had come in after me were being seen. I was there for almost 2 hours when I finally had enough. I packed my kids up, and in doing so my sons shoe hit the leg of the chair he was sitting on. Instantly I was being yelled at to keep my kids quiet and to not kick the chairs. I ignored him and walked out, still unseen.
So do I have any options open to me? I tried looking around NC state laws and any laws in accordance to children in government buildings. I also can not prove that my number was skipped purposely, but when my number is 216 and after awhile they went from 215 -221, I definitely wondered.
Any help, suggestions, or advice would be appreciated. Thanks
Holy Sheep! I was there on Tuesday and had almost the same exact experience! That security guard was a
He said it was a government building and we had to behave like we were in a courtroom. A lot of security guards don't have guns. But the guard at the SS office did. He was completely a loose cannon. I didn't even breathe the wrong way. I did not trust that guy. He kept lecturing everyone over and over how they couldn't use their cell phone and it had to be shut off. Fine , no problem for me. Well, he was on his cell phone between the set of automated doors. When I was leaving I hit the button to open the doors to get my stroller through. But it didn't work. He ignored me and didn't even open the door for me. An old lady sitting by the door helped me. It was an unreal experience! My business could not be done on the SS website. Did you look into that as an option?
When I left I called my husband and told him it was in his hands now. There is just no way I can go back there. I'm pretty recognizable with a red stripe in my hair and usually followed by 2 or 3 of my children If they only have one main security guy there and he recognized me I don't know if I would get seen, or if I would have to wait until one of my children got bored enough to start getting fussy, as kids are wont to do when they are bored.
We have to go back in order to get my sons Social security number. They will not give it over the phone, understandably. I was just floored how this person was so cruel and using his authority over another parent whose child was happy and not causing any harm to anyone. And floored yet again when I and several others stood up for this parent and he started arguing and threatening any of us with kids to keep our kids quiet or he would remove us. And refused to listen to anything said.
The one thing I did take out of tis experience was utter awe and respect for my fellow people. While the security guard was an arrogant jerk, I was humbled and honored to meet so many people at the office today who stood up (some quite literally) and told him that he was so wrong and he had no authority to threaten such claims. After, I had so many people come up and tell me I argued well and concise and I was just so honored to meet such wonderful people.
I'm sorry you also went through something similar, MAtoNC. It does make me wonder if there are any doors available to get this in a spotlight of some sort and show that this type of behavior towards parents, and people in general, is really atrocious behavior and abusing their own role. If anyone has any ideas on how to get this out publicly or have any suggestions I would love to hear them. Thank you.
First thing I would do is start making phone calls. Start with your local electoral office, probably your Mayor. Next stop, the Governors Office, then your Representative and Senator. Offer to submit your complaint in writing. No one has the right to threaten a mother with kids. See if you can find a local reporter interested in your story. Write an article to your local newspaper on this. Take notes on what these people tell you and get names. If they say they can't help you, get their name, number and write down what they tell you. I would run this as far as I could. In fact, this is just the type of stuff/crap some organizations love to deal with. Post this to every social security complaint board on the net. To bad you didn't have a tape running of this.
How miserable it must be to be a security guard in a SS office, he was just sharing the joy of his daily existence with everyone else, but making sure that they also knew he has power that can be abused.
Thank you all. After a lot of consideration and discussion with my husband I have contacted WRAL and WTVD. I am also going in on Wed morning (the earliest I am able to) and wait as long as it takes to get my stuff done. After I plan on doing whatever it takes to meet with the highest manager on duty to file a complaint as well as to find out if I can, which company they use to employ their guards and file a formal complaint with that company as well.
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I didn't even breathe the wrong way. I did not trust that guy. He kept lecturing everyone over and over how they couldn't use their cell phone and it had to be shut off. Fine , no problem for me. Well, he was on his cell phone between the set of automated doors. When I was leaving I hit the button to open the doors to get my stroller through. But it didn't work. He ignored me and didn't even open the 
If they only have one main security guy there and he recognized me I don't know if I would get seen, or if I would have to wait until one of my children got bored enough to start getting fussy, as kids are wont to do when they are bored.
