On Friday, September 18, 2015 at 12:28:01 AM UTC-4, Don Y wrote:
On 9/17/2015 6:06 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
On Thursday, September 17, 2015 at 8:20:56 PM UTC-4, Don Y wrote:
On 9/17/2015 3:48 PM, Doug Miller wrote:
bob haller wrote in news:d7cb4e0a-c03e-42f9-aac2-
:

I have been a AAA memberfor 40 years. I have always been pleased by
their service etc till
now..........

i called them twice about some title issues when thinking about
replacingmy one van....

Would've made a lot more sense to call your local Dept. of Motor
Vehicles branch...

ROTFLMAO! Perhaps *your* DMV is more "consumer friendly" than most of
those that I've dealt with over the last several decades! I'd imagine a
long wait on the phone -- followed by a dubious answer (with no
"guarantee" of accuracy... sort of like calling the IRS!)

My local DMV office is very "consumer friendly" and my recent
title/registration questions asked via the main DMV phone number for my
region were answered accurately and efficiently. Granted, getting through
was tough at times. The hold times weren't long because you simply are told
to call back later. Actually, that's even more frustrating, because I can
sit in my office and work while on hold, hanging up whenever I want. It's
more annoying to have to keep calling back.

However, the local office is pretty good. I have registered 2 used vehicles
in the past few months. In each case, there was a problem with the paperwork
(sort of my fault). In one case I had to get a different Bill Of Sale which
was going to take me a few hours. The nice lady at the counter gave me a
rain check so that I wouldn't have to wait on the main line once I had the
paperwork. I could get a window number immediately. The second time I needed
a different insurance card, but my agent's office didn't open for another 20
minutes. The (different) nice lady gave me the fax number of that DMV
office, told me to call my agent and have her fax it to the DMV and then
come right back to her window, "don't wait in any lines." I was in and out
in a matter of minutes, even though the line was out of the door.

I grew up in NYC, so I know what a brutal DMV experience feels like.
Unfriendly, unhelpful employees, long customer lines, hot crowded offices.
It's not like that where I live now.

I've only had to visit the local DMV (here) twice (at least, for *my*
needs) in the past ~20+ years. Once for a DL, and again for a DL
renewal (I think when the Feds instituted the new DL requirements;
I recall having another photo taken, etc.).

Unlike other places I've lived (New England, Midwest and West), a DL
is issued "until you're 65" -- none of this renew every 4 years sort of
crap. And, other places seemed to like to zing you with tehnicalities:
"Oh, you forgot to bring your birth certificate? Gee, you'll have to
come back another time..." "Hmmm, this birth certificate isn't
*notarized*. You'll have to fetch one that *is*..."

When SWMBO moved, she contacted DMV regarding getting a new license with
her updated address: "Oh, sweetie, just write your new address on a
slip of paper and attach it to your DL with a paper clip..."

[Yikes!]

The last two vehicle purchases had titling all handled by the dealer
so we just waited for a title to appear in the post. We kept the
plates (transferred) so didn't even have to pick those up.

I do all of my registration and license matters on-line, whenever possible. A used vehicle purchased from a dealer was handled by the dealer. The 2 recent private sale purchases had to be handled in person.


OTOH, I've had friends who've been spontaneously notified that they
must have new photos taken (!) and had to sit through the process.

The local office is probably the size of a football field. With a
"split" in the center ("50 yd line"). You roll the dice when you
decide where to sit -- you may be serviced by staff on either side
based (apparently) on some random criteria (e.g., whoever is FREE
when it's your turn).


Our local office might be smaller than a football field but is still pretty large. A cool feature is they recycled a large number of church pews as seats for their customers.

There is a "reception" counter staffed by 2-3 employees. First, you wait in line to talk to one of those individuals. They handle some transactions, such as license photos, eye exams, etc. For vehicle related matters, they ask you what you need to do, they may review your documents quickly just to make sure you have the correct forms - they don't review the details - and then they give you a number. Off you go to the pews to say your prayers that the wait won't be too long. There is a "wait time clock" behind the reception counter but it is far, far from accurate. A big board announces your number and the window you should go to.

In some cases, if there is long line for the reception counter, they will call out "Anyone just turning in plates?" or "Anyone have a rain check?" These folks get a number immediately and get sent to the pews.

There appears to be some specialization involved among the staff as
you will often see folks who arrived *after* you getting serviced long
*before* you!

Yes, this appears to be the case at my DMV also. The numbering system includes "A" and "B" series. I can only assume that these letters designate certain types of transactions but I haven't gone there enough (thank God) to figure out the pattern. As far as I can tell, the "A" and "B" numbers get called up sequentially within their letter group, but you might see more than one "A" get called before the next "B" or v-v. That's what leads me to agree with the "specialization" aspect.

In any case, it does take time, it will always take time. I accept it and deal with it.