DMVS: Just doing their Jobs or.. what?

[Shu]

Well this topic is pretty self titled. A DMV is a place to apply here in the States for your Driver's license as well as renewing it.

I have a small story.. and I know everyone has their own story, but without complaining I'll just say it straight word for word.

So my birthday was august 24th and I had no way to go to Nashville to get my license renewed. (4 hours away) I need my sick days and vacation days for the wedding coming up, so I went ahead and called up to the DMV a week or two ago.

Their policy is if you are from out of state and your license has been expired for more than 30 days then you have to retake the written portion. Well I called up asking what was needed from me, they told me the following: $21.00, Social Security Card, Valid Driver's License or an affidavit, and Proof of Residency.

So I gave my folks a ring since they had my Social Security Card still from when I was in college. I received it and also a copy of my birth certificate just in case. Now this is 29 days out.

TODAY! I go in and turn in all my stuff.. or should say I attempt to. The lady at the desk checks all my stuff.. and I'm two seconds from getting my picture taken when she says.. "oh wait you need a valid birth certificate"

My expression went blank of course.. and I just said "okay.." and then she said the state won't take copies.

Now first off they never asked for it (not complaining, just explaining) but I gave it to them anyway for their own records. Apparently they forgot to inform me that I needed it it..

-- Okay I'll rant now.

1) The amount of papers in order to get a license renewal in Mississippi is retarded.

2) If I knew before hand about all of this I would have forfeited a vacation day to go to Nashville and renew it.

3) I'm having to retake the test, and I have no one to blame really but myself. So sucks.. for me!

 

[Kandy-Sugar]

^^^ I hate it when things like this happen.

I remember when I just went to get my learners, I had all the relevant paperwork there and had made up enough points but apparently one of my ID's (which was my bank card), didn't count without a letter from the bank, because my bank card didn't have my name on it, but it did have a signature. <_<

So I had to get my poor mum to drive me all the way back to the bank and then all the way back to that retarded place and line up all over again. <_<

Edit: I just noticed that you have the same birthday as me too! =D

 

[SaShman]

Yeah this kind of stuff is annoying as hell. I remember when I went to get my license renewed four days after it expired I got told that I had to retake the test because apparently I was supposed to renew it before it expired.

Then there was the issue with getting my passport where I brought in my birth certificate, Photo ID, Medicare card, a copy of my mum's birth certificate, a copy of her Australian citizenship and my Dad's passport and I still couldn't get my passport.

It's really annoying, but at the end of the day there's nothing you or anybody can do about it. I was angry as hell, but there's no point in getting angry at the clerks, it's not their fault it's just their job and I can imagine that they would get into a lot of trouble if they were any more lenient.

 

[Kandy-Sugar]

Yes that's true.

They are only doing their jobs, but sometimes you run into the ones who are complete dicks about the whole process. They don't even want to try and help you out and explain to you exactly what you need to have so that when you come back there will be no more hassles.

They try to rush you out when all you want to know is what else you need to have when you come back, so you don't have to line up a third time.

But this is only some people.

But for the ones who are doing their jobs and simply that without being horrible, I can understand where they are coming from and I know what a pain it can be when someone tries to tell you how to do your job. <_<

Though in Shu's case, I would have been very annoyed if they had of told me what I needed to bring with me, only to find out when I got there that they forgot to tell me that I also needed a birth certificate. <_<

I don't think some people realise how much they stuff people around and how difficult it is for some people to get to these sort of places, especially when most of these places are only open in the weekdays and most people happen to work then. <_<

 

[Shu]

Did I mention at the front of their little office it says, " It is a misdemeanor to swear ", as in against the law. Personally the people who work at these places seem to be lack and sort of soul or happiness. I mean I believe if they had a little bit of personality they would have more understood by customers, instead they are like.. "Can not renew your license." in the most serious of tones.

Granted their job is not something I would ever want to have, but come on customer service demands personality.

I don't think some people realise how much they stuff people around and how difficult it is for some people to get to these sort of places, especially when most of these places are only open in the weekdays and most people happen to work then. <_<

Exactly.. most people can't use sick time even if they wanted to because it is not deemed as seeing a doctor or whatever. So you have to stand in probably a 10-30 minute line each time, just to figure out you can't even get it renewed, because some fresh hire doesn't inform you of all the information over the phone, nor does their website give out the information either.

 

[Wras]

It is, without a doubt (from my limited yet frustrating experience) a whole system that's more complicated than it needs to be. All the paperwork, all the forms and all the waiting and phone calls and running around, it gets to be such a headache. You need to bring a briefcase filled with a dozen forms of identification just to prove you're legally standing there.

As for if they're just doing their jobs? I don't think it's any different than any other workplace. However there always seems to be so much more tension at DMV places. People are so on edge and in such a hurry to get out of there and the helpfulness of employees varies so greatly it's not even funny. When I had to get my road test schedule rolling I couldn't use their website (NJ) so I called and three times they asked me to try the website.

Such a headache, but I think the biggest problem is, as said, the whole way they have it set up is just retarded. All the hoops you need to go through, all the forms of security. I can't see why anyone would steal someone else's identity just to put themselves through such torture, and their office hours are just inhuman.

(I myself am in a position where I can't legally drive until I take the written again, so I feel you there).

 

[Ilyena]

Did I mention at the front of their little office it says, " It is a misdemeanor to swear ", as in against the law. Personally the people who work at these places seem to be lack and sort of soul or happiness. I mean I believe if they had a little bit of personality they would have more understood by customers, instead they are like.. "Can not renew your license." in the most serious of tones.

Yes. I've never seen a DMV employee smile, tbqh. The ones I've dealt with have been complete assholes and they basically yell at you when you don't have exactly what they need. And I honestly don't see why you need all of those documents to renew a license when you have your expired license, which is a photo ID, with you. I mean, you had to present all of that crap the first time around to get the license so it shouldn't be necessary the third, fourth, fifth time around etc.

I moved to Texas last year and it was a hassle trying to change over my license. They required about four different forms of ID. Then they took my old NC license, gave me a piece of paper and told me they'd mail me my driver's license within four weeks. I received my license two months later. It really pissed me off that they couldn't just give it to me there because in NC they would take your picture and you get your license about five minutes later.