I do not think that it would be easy for a title company to classify a researcher that they contact here as an "employee" without it being a huge mistake or fraud. 

  Most people on this site who put themselves out as research / abstract persons pride themselves on owning and running businesses in this field and usually over many years (if not decades). 

  For me to be "employed" with a title company and never having met them in person, nor gone into their offices, nor given them my Social Security Number, would be virtually impossible. 

  I have my own business filings, business cards and advertising to clearly show that my firm is different than an employee.  My health (medical, dental, eye care), vacation time, sick leave and other benefits, all derive from running my own firm and are not provided by a title company. 

  Have you had any trouble being mis-classified in this manner?