First....Don't if at all possible. Second...Don't trust 'em. Third, keep a copy of every piece of paperwork they give you and, even more important, every one you send those jerks, because they keep their copy until your corpse is 10,000 years gone. Unless they lose it, then that's YOUR fault.
Just sayin'.
So, juvat, where did this theory come to fruition.
Y'all know that Halloween afternoon last year I had an AFib incident. My heart was beating very irregularly and blood wasn't being pushed to areas of my body that reIied on it. In my case it was the brain, I blacked out and lost control of my truck which had the cruise control on at 75MPH (the posted speed limit). It went off the side of the road into a ravine and hit a rock. I've mentioned my respect for Ford trucks and that respect was reinforced. Upon hitting the rock, the engine compartment was crushed almost all the way to the firewall.. However, the rest of my F-150 was intact, thankfully including the passenger compartment. The truck was, of course, totaled, but the Missus and I were ok, not great. I had a couple of cracked vertebrae in my neck and my sternum was pretty well broken. Still hurts a bit it does. Mrs J had a few bruises across her chest where the seat belt forcibly stopped her forward motion. I also had mine on, but it didn't stop me before I hit the steering column, hence the injuries.
But...We live on.
Around the 1st of June, AKA about 10 weeks ago, I got a letter from the DMV that said I could resume driving as soon as they received a letter from my Doctor saying my condition was good enough. So, I did. I sent that in and started driving again. That was June 9th.
This week, I got a messaged from the DMV saying that I was prohibited from driving as I hadn't submitted the proper paper work.
Whiskey Tango Fox Oscar!
I sent those weinies copies of the paperwork the first week in June when they requested it. I've been driving since then without any problems whatsoever. NOW, they send me a message saying I have to come and testify at their office?
Yankee Golf Tango Bravo Sierra Mike!
So, I'm back to being chauffeured by Mrs J until this gets resolved. Not happy! Neither she nor I.
November Sierra, Sherlock!
We shall see what we shall see!
You may have detected a very small, minute amount of irritation in this blog post vis a vis, state gummint. If so, you are very astute. My recommendation, every interaction you have with them, keep every piece of paper, and a copy of every piece of paper you give them in a very safe place. It's not a guarantee of victory, but it least reduces the chance of defeat.
Sorry for the rant!
Peace out y'all!
Well if that isn't just plain old horesh.....ah.....yah.....easy boy. For important pieces of mail I try to send via registered mail juvat. Good luck testifying, keep those copies like you're doing.
ReplyDeleteNylon,
DeleteI DID send it registered mail. They said they never received it. I tend to believe they misplaced it after it was delivered.But. I redid the paperwork. On this round I will personally handed it to the clerk at the DMV and ask her name and write it down in my personal notebook right in front of them. Maybe even have my wife take a picture of me delivering the paperwork to her hand. However, never underestimate the stupidity, fumble handeness or mere hate of a gummint worker. The good news is I'm getting plenty of steps per day nowadays.
juvat
Bloody bureaucrats with hearts of stone, unfeeling, uncaring, unbelieving. Good luck with your testimony.
ReplyDeleteSSA asked me yesterday if I ever submitted an appeal, saying they didn't have it on file. My ENTIRE situation with them was because of the appeal I submitted! 😑🤐
DeleteTuna, with one exception, your assessment is correct. However they are NOT unfelling. They are chock full of feeling hateful and even more so of feeling uncaring. A Pox on all of them.
Deletejuvat
Tuna, another aspect of your assessment to add. They are proficient liars. How do you know if they're lying...Their lips are moving.
Deletejuvat
Juvat - The frustrating thing is that you do everything you believe you need to and are still caught in the crosshairs.
ReplyDeleteFor the really important stuff, I tend to go into the office in question - yes, it is part of my day, but I can get confirmation the thing is dealt with then.
THBB,
DeleteYep that's a hard lesson I learned and won't forget. I thought sending it certified mail would handle it. I was wrong!
juvat
Certified mail, return receipt requested via the good old reliable U.S. Postal Service is good protection for dealing with flaky agencies. Except of course the USPS is far from infallible itself.
ReplyDeletePhone calls are not worth the paper they are not printed on. Emails might be better.
Real solution is to eliminate the legal justification or requirement for most of the bureaucratic BS to start with.
Condolences to Juvat and Mrs. J as they waste time and frustrations on this. They got wine to drink, trips to take and houses to build, not pacification of incompetent bureaucrats.
JB
JB
DeleteAs mentioned in the comment above, I did get return receipt requested. Never arrived.
Maybe next time I'll take a picture of the PO worker as he picks up my letter and has it in his hands.
Nah, they'll have some phony excuse.
juvat
I read the headline and the first paragraph and thought the problem was the county & your house! You'll get this problem solved...
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
Yeah, I know. It’s just the PITA you got to go through to get them to realize it was THEIR mistake!
Deletejuvat
Before I retired at 65, I submitted to collect SS and Medicare using the internet. Roughly 3 months later I received an email stating I was rejected. I made an appointment at the local office. Met the gentleman who was handling my case and he opened his file.
ReplyDelete"Oh, I see the issue. You never replied to the letter we never sent you."
I mentioned it was difficult replying to letters that were never sent.
It got squared away that day.
Gerry, seems like you got a good and honest one. Lucky you.
Deletejuvat
First, I know you will prevail as both you and Mrs J were in the military...which is a very large bureaucracy...so I am VERY confident that with Mrs J backing you up, you can, IN PERSON, square away something as simple as the TX DMV.
ReplyDeleteSecond, yeah, when dealing with the DMV...any DMV...it is ALWAYS better to do so in person. Bring a book. Make an appointment. Be prepared to sit there for an entire day if needed, and it will be... and smile at the lady behind the glass wall in person. Get her name. As well as a copy of whatever you give them, and make a copy of whatever they give you. Keep it for the next 40 years, or until ya no longer drive. Doing so wards off evil spirits...just saying...
Thirdly, ask around...is there a local DMV office that is less busy ie faster in and out than another? Here where I live, I go to the Saratoga DMV as it has a long history of being quick in and out compared to Schenectady's DMV office, which ya will spend weeks there one day...just saying. The extra 15-20 minute drive for me to go up to Ballston Spa to the Saratoga DMV is definitely worth the time and gas compared to having to spend the day at the Schenectady location.
You will get ungrounded again...and be free to run to Lowes whenever!! I believe!!! ;)
Suz
Suz,
DeleteThanks a lot, You and I think a lot alike. That is my plan. Just venting my frustration. My wife is a wonderful women. but sometimes she needs to do something with regard to her real estate job, yet I need to go get medicine or visit a doctor. I can drive, I have had NO problems with consciousness since the day of the accident. THAT is what PMO about Texas DMV. I've sent two of my Doctors letter to them which says I have no problems with driving nor losing consciousness. No response from them., simply send us the paperwork describing the problems you are having. I have NO problems. So.....WTFO.!?
Very frustrating!.
juvat
When in these situations I try to remind myself the actual human in front of me isn't the problem. Someone up the chain is.
ReplyDeleteWSF,
DeleteYeah, I know. If I'm not the only person in line, I do an assessment of who really is the procedural problem child. If that's him, and he's the only clerk there. Well, fecal matter! I approach him, say good morning while smiling and looking him square in the eyes. Then I tell him what I want and again look him square in the eyes. This doesn't always work but many times it does. I've conveyed to him that I'm not impressed about his position and stature. Hence, just do for me what I need done. Doesn't always work, but does most of the time. I'm the customer, you're the servant.
juvat
I had my wallet lifted at Logan inside the secured area. I had my driver license, carry permit, 2 credit cards, 2 debit cards, health insurance card and about $60 in it. I had my military ID in my shirt pocket as I had used it for ID earlier. Credit cards were shut off as the debit cards were also. I got lucky they were not run up. I needed 2 forms of ID for replacement DL and my "Free " license was no longer free as my military status had somehow disappeared in their system. The carry permit was a month from expiring so it was time to renew any way and the process was easy. I printed a new insurance card and got the bank cards and had them activated.
ReplyDeleteThe DL needed a DD-214 attached to my file. I retired Air Guard and the Guard does not use DD-214, It used NGB Form 20 to do what a 214 does. I had to use my initial enlistment 214 from 45 years ago. Any 214 and you can get a CDL or any other DL that the testing cost nothing. The last time I paid for a DL I was a teenager as military gets free DL. It took me 6 weeks before I found the one copy I had of that 214.
Tsquare
DeleteTSquare, While I hope it never happens, thanks for the good prep info. I'm pretty sure I've got all that, but there's been a couple of moves since we put it all together. So, better safe than sorry.
DeleteThanks again
.juvat