lostnfound (16,390 posts)
Third trip to the DMV for a title transfer, looking forward to #4
First time i broke down in tears because the harsh lady behind the counter was telling my son that he needed paperwork proving that his dad had died and proof that the person who signed the title over to him (executor) was actually the executor. The compassion was lacking but the bureaucracy was not. No checklist. I’d already spent 15 hours perusing the DMV website for the requirements.
Second time I went alone, brought a notarized POA, a certified death certificate, title, copy insurance, forms, copy of will, copy of statement of death and copy of executor appointment from another county’s probate website, and a birth certificate just in case. We need a form blah-blah-blah and we needed to get other people (estranged much older kids with their own difficult lives) to reopen the estate, file some papers at an downtown courthouse, etc. etc. I pointed out that i have no power over them to ask for any such favors (and did not mention their critical cancer treatments, driving distances, and other facts) but you can find all of this on the website. We can’t do anything online, she said. Can i get official copies sent to you from the county? Yes, okay, do that. These two documents with raised seals and we will be good.
The other county lets you order documents.online, but not ‘exemplified’ — raised seal. Call for that, and wait. And call, and wait. Yay. They are received via snail mail.
Third time I brought all the same stuff, plus documents from the other county with raised seals. The lady said ‘have i seen you before?’ Then “Well, we aren’t going to be able to accept this because this POA form is wrong.” What? “The notary signed and sealed here, but she wrote both of your names on this line, and she should have written only his. I’ll fax it off to (another county office) and get them to decide, but i can tell you right now they won’t accept it.” So she sends it off, then she calls them. I can hear her prompting the person on the other end of the line to question the existence of two names where there should be one. Rejected.
Am i supposed to know notary law too? I told my partner on the drive home that i am looking forward to dying. He is the cheery one; i am not. I’m worried about whether my offspring should be in a hospital right now, how I’m going to help him navigate a horrible bureaucratic medical system that keeps specialist physicians behind walls of waiting periods, referrals, months and months of delay… But that’s another story.
About the DMV, I’m so LUCKY that I don’t have an HOURLY job that would have cost me for 4 trips x 3 hours of salary. And I didn’t have to take a TAXI to get there, what will be 8 trips. And i have a college degree which helped me persist reading through the mess of rules. And money for the certified copies, for the notary who “did it wrong”, for the insurance carried for 6 months while we try to get through this process on an untitled car that can’t be driven.
Partner argues that this is all necessary to prevent vehicle theft, and we have a “particularly complicated case”. Do we??? Kid inherits car from father who died. End of story.
No. We are humans, and we have inhuman systems. Every time you move, you’re screwed by more fees in yet another state. Car titles at a state level is stupid. Driver licenses too, frankly. “MAKE LIFE EASIER ON THE HUMANS.” Could be the new mantra.
She, later in the discussion, notes that the state she is trying to do the transfer in is North Carolina. She spent 15 hours on-line trying to figure out what to do. A quick Google search immediately identifies the form she needs to do the title transfer. Not simple, but not particularly complicated. But she is completely overwhelmed with following the government regulations which she probably loves being enforced on other people, particularly businesses. Any time a politician talks about reducing regulations they scream bloody murder without even having a clue about the regulations' impact. But as soon as the moment comes where they actually have to deal with the government bureaucracy, that they created, they rant about how unfair those regulations are. Of course, her fellow DUmmies provide a lot of useful information:
Ilsa (62,002 posts)
2. What could possibly be the reason the harsh DMV woman
is so unrelenting about bureaucratic errors on minor issues? I can only come up with, "She's an asshole." I would consider writing her supervisor in a few months.
Because the law says you need to fill out certain paperwork properly.
Bobstandard (1,518 posts)
8. Talking to a supervisor now might help
When there’s an asshole in the office, usually the other workers know. You might talk to a supervisor whose response is, “oh, not more of her bs,” then helps you through the process or even rubber stamps you right away.
I thought conning your way around government regulations was a bad thing.
Nittersing (6,641 posts)
3. I wonder if a local news station might be interested in this story
It should not be this hard to do the right thing.
Yes, go to the press and let them know that you have a college degree and you still can't figure out how to fill out a DMV form. That's either an indictment on the bloated government you desire or the subpar college education you attained.
a kennedy (31,144 posts)
4. Ok, I know people that can help with this problem.....now when would you like this to happen....
and how??? “Accident” or what??? This is absolutely unacceptable behavior. I hope you make it through.
Threats?? Really??
Bobstandard (1,518 posts)
7. Can you try another DMV office?
It sounds like you’ve been interacting with the same unduly officious/power tripping DMV employee. At another office you might find someone who interprets the rules in another way and isn’t pre disposed to make your life more difficult. A drive of a few hours may make all the difference. Good luck.
Yet another suggestion to try to avoid actually doing what the law requires.
They condemn any industry that objects to government over regulation, but as soon as they actually find out just how onerous it can be to try to follow all the rules and regs they quickly change their tune.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100219388168