Website Offers Fake Excuses

Monday, October 29th 2007, 9:35 pm

By: News On 6

A businessman in Thackerville had a bright idea. Why not make a career of getting people out of work? The fake excuses may be unethical, but The News On 6â€™s Joshua Brakhage reports they could also be illegal.

"This one is a funeral bereavement," said website co-founder Darl Watterhouse.

Darl Watterhouse and his business partner started myexcusedabsence.com a year-and-a-half ago, after they discovered a market for what looks like legitimate documents.

On the website there are pages and pages of excuses, all for a onetime fee of $25. The form letter allows people to fill in a specific doctor's name or county where they supposedly served jury duty. It even has places for photos or a funeral service program.

The company's disclaimer says the forms are "only for entertainment purposes and not intended to deceive."

"I don't think we're enabling anybody to do anything they wouldn't do anyways," Watterhouse said.

It's not a ha-ha, funny type thing. There can be serious consequences for someone using a fake excuse. Prosecutors say someone could be found in contempt of court if they present a fake doctor's note to be excused from jury duty, even face criminal charges for giving an employer fake documents saying a person served jury duty and didn't.

Watch the video: Your Excuse Could Be In The Mail