DMV you are a bunch of worthless idiots!!!

The BBQ Pit
21

I have delt with the DMV in CT, VT, ME, NH, MA, RI, and now CA. In all those states but CA, when you register a car, the DMV folk simply reach behind them, grab two plates off a pile, and hand them over. That’s it. When you get a new driver’s license, they take your picture, and about 10 minutes later, you’ve got your license in your hand. Easy. Then I came to CA.

I bought a little Toyota from the dealership. They delt with registration and told me I would get my plates in the mail within 4 months. Seemed a bit strange to me, but I was told that was normal by some other Socal folks. 4 months go by. I go to the DMV. I leave the DMV 2 hours later and call them to make an appointment so I can actually talk to someone next time, as opposed to sitting around, waiting for my number to be called. I get an appointment for three weeks later. I discover Toyota has registered the car to the wrong address. I begin to fill out a change of address form when the nice lady notices I still have a CT drivers license. I can’t get plates until I have a CA license. She, of course, can’t help me with this. I make another appointment to get a license. The first time they can squeeze me in is 2 months from then. Ok, I go for 2 more months with no plates. I finally go in, take the test (even though I’ve had my license for over 10 years with no problems). I am given a receipt that I should use as my license until the new one comes in the mail. In 6 to 8 weeks. Um, ok. I go my next appointment to change my address and get my plates. (This is the best part) I am told that I can’t change my address without a valid CA drivers license. The peice of paper I was just given by the lady in the cubical just accross the room is not a valid drivers license. I fume. Quietly. 6 weeks later, I got my license, go to the DMV, and filled out the fucking form. 3 months go by. I went back to the DMV last month. My plates were sent to the wrong address again. I filled out the form again. I bought this car almost a year ago and I still don’t have plates, and I’m not even sure its registered to the correct address yet. I hate the DMV.
(by the way, whiterabbit, I paid sales tax on the same Chevy Blazer three times)

22

I hate you.:wink:

23

Geez, all this is making my horror story look like a veritible dream of bliss. When I was living in Des Moines, I accidently underpaid a traffic ticket by one penny. That’s right, one cent. Three years later, I moved up to Minneapolis and applied for a MN driver’s license. My application was denied because a hold was on my Iowa license (I had no idea that was the case. Good thing I was never pulled over again in Iowa).

It took a year and a half and persistent calls to various sherrif’s offices, county clerks offices and DMV’s to track down what the hell the problem was, because I’d gotten only two tickets my whole 5 years in IA, and both were recorded as paid in full. Anyway, eventually a dear lady in Polk County found the one-cent error, and erased the hold. 8 months after that, my MN license was issued. Unbelievable.

24

Even better yet for me. The company I work for makes and maintains those particular kiosks. There’s one in our cafeteria. They occasionally use it to run diagnostics and such, but mostly it’s just there and the employees are able to use it.

The first time I used it, the machine was doing a little customer satisfaction survey at the end of every transaction and one of the questions was ‘Is the location convenient to you?’ and I thought, ‘Well, you know, it is all the way over on the far side of the cafeteria.’ About a year ago, it was moved to the near side of the cafeteria. So I pass within 3 feet of it about four times a day. Much, much more convenient.

25

They closed the largest DMV in Chesterfield County last year because they said they ‘couldn’t afford’ to keep it open. People bitched and complained so much because they had to go half an hour to south Chesterfield to the DMV that they re-opened it. I have to go renew my license soon. I’m scared.

Ava

26

THREE TIMES? ACK!!! Where? How? Do you know if this is legal, or if it’s just one of those things the states get away with? I know California finally outlawed their smog penalty – when I moved there eleven years ago, my mom had to pay several hundred dollars for the privilege of getting her plates, but a few years ago managed to get her money back when it was outlawed.

Don’t get her started on the all-day ordeal it was in Maryland to get two licences and ONE of the two cars registered.

27

The last 3 times I went to the local DMV I was terrified. Short, quickly moving lines leading to counters staffed by smiling, efficient people.

We’re gonna check the basement for pods…

28

Note: this incident took place at a DMV with one clerk. I’m so sorry for the folks in line after me. :frowning:

Ok, so I go to get my license renewed/changed with my married last name. I bring my newly-minted Social Security Card with my new last name and my old license. (BTW, my old last name is now my middle name, and is printed on the SS card.) The lady takes my old license and the SS card, and says, “Sorry, this is not the right SSN.” I say, “Huh? That is my SSN.” She says, “No, one number is different from what we have in our records.” (ONE NUMBER out of 9?! Yeah, I must not be that person, or the **SSA ** must be wrong about the SSN :rolleyes: ) FYI, we don’t have our SSNs on the license, so I never had any way of knowing this.

So I say politely, “There probably was a typo when it was entered – I know this is my SSN, and I just got this card from the SSA two days ago. They checked all my identification and everything.”

Lady: “Well, I don’t think it’s very likely we made a mistake. I don’t know if we can give you a license. Let me talk to my supervisor.”

<Long conversation ensues. Supervisor comes out and we go over the same story again. People in line behind me leave.> Finally, they let me get my license with the correct SSN.

SOOOO…I progress to the place where they take your picture. Being the pest I am, I have checked the box where I say I don’t want them storing my darn picture on the computer, so I need to have my picture taken. 10 minutes pass, and I get called back. There was a problem with the printer, gotta take my pic again (it’s not stored, ya know). Another 10 minutes and I’m handed my license. I start to walk away when I notice that ** my new last name is spelled wrong. ** (Noooooo you never make any mistakes in data entry…:rolleyes: ) Back again, recheck my SS card for the spelling, take another photo, another 10 minutes, and I finally have my license. Do I need to tell you I was late for work?