topic Re: My Experience With The DMV in Community Chat

My Experience With The DMV

Jordan2 — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 15:41:41 GMT

I live in New York state and needed to speak with someone at the DMV ( Department of Motor Vehicle). I won't get into why (long story), I called an 800 number, who knows in what part of the country the call goes to. The recording states I had a 40 minute hold time, I was on hold for over 11/2 hours. I keep thinking I've invested so much time already surely I must be next ( also it was important to speak to someone). The woman I spoke to was nice, no issue with her. Unfortunately she didn't have the answers for me, she transfers me to another department, I was on hold for over 20 minutes. This man that answered wanted no part of me or my problem. He then says he will transfer my call, I tell him I have been on hold for nearly two hours already, his response is that's just the way things are ma'am! I then am on hold for another 25 minutes until I get this woman, who was so condescending and rude to me, speaking to me like I was an idiot. I'm just wondering if being rude is part of the job description when you work at the DMV?

Re: My Experience With The DMV

Venezia — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 15:51:21 GMT

Sounds like my experience the very last time I called Consolidated Communications, only in my case, by the time I got to the fourth person, she asked if I wanted to make a payment. (No, our internet was still not working after three days; I needed technical support.)

When I said no, this after being on hold for an hour and 45 minutes and being transferred three times, she literally hung up on me! No further transfer, no "I'm sorry you've been transferred to the wrong department again". She just gave an annoyed sound and pulled the plug.

That was on a Friday. On Monday, I finally was able to pull the plug on them and transfer my business to another company. (Something which hadn't been an option until then.)

Unfortunately, you can't do that with the DMV. I'm glad to say, where I am the people at DMV are much nicer!

(ETA: I don't suppose there's any point in filing a complaint about the treatment you got?)

Re: My Experience With The DMV

drizzellla — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 15:52:29 GMT

I am not sure what your issue is, but would you be able to show up in person at a Department of Motor Vehicle building and talk to a person face to face?

I just went last week in Pennsylvania. And there is a "Greeter" when you first walk in. She finds out why you are there and then checks all your paperwork and make sure everything is in order and sends you to the proper area.

Re: My Experience With The DMV

SloopJohnB — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 15:51:34 GMT

@Jordan2 I feel your pain. To answer your question.....apparently it is. Don't get me wrong....once in a while you will come across someone nice, but for the most part, yes, they can be rude. Here in Florida, when I have had to go in person and the clerk was entering my address and was at the part to enter the city, she was arguing with me and insisting I lived in a different city. Even though it was the same address and city on my old license and everything!

Me thinks she just wanted to save face and wouldn't admit that SHE made a mistake. Thank goodness most of my transactions with them can be dealt with online.

Re: My Experience With The DMV

agb80 — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 15:57:42 GMT

I too had to phone the DMV and waited for more than an hour and the rep was not informed enough to answer my question. I have no choice but to wait for them to completely open up. Right now they are not taking appointments due to a backlog and they are only taking a limited number of walkin's and those people camp out all night. Also, during this time when there was really no place to drive because so many businesses were not fully opened it seemed like a rip off to pay so much to renew the registration especially since we own 3 trucks. But the thought of selling is just not a consideration since we always like having a backup. I just know that if we sell we will regret it.

Re: My Experience With The DMV

millieshops — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 16:05:47 GMT

@Jordan2 In the good old days, I hated to deal with DMV. I can't imagine what it must be like to work there because by the time we get to talk with anyone, we're already on edge and they are, too.

I really wish more offices would offer callback service - although even that doesn't work if there are hundreds of people calling in.

Re: My Experience With The DMV

Jaspersmom — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 16:07:46 GMT

I live in NY and my brother is retired from DMV. I would strongly suggest you make an appointment and go in person to DMV office. I'm not kidding when I say things are very organized and efficient right now. You'll be in and out in no time. My friend had to renew her license and the entire process took about twenty minutes. Give it a try.

Re: My Experience With The DMV

sarahpanda — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 16:14:47 GMT

@Jordan2 I have ''always'' said --working at the DMV requires the ability to be rude and evil. It seems to be their ''right'', goes along with the job description. It is totally unacceptable but it's like there everywhere I go, every DMV office...and WHY ?!?!? I would like to think that they will have to ''answer for it'' one day !

Re: My Experience With The DMV

scatcat — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 16:26:17 GMT

DMV and Post Office - you have to approach the counter like George Costanza approached the soup nazi.

I spent an hour on hold 4 different times trying to get a Costco cash card owed me for buying a couch. I finally asked the CS counter in store. She said "I'll call". So I shopped for 45 minutes. When I came back she was still on hold.

Re: My Experience With The DMV

sophiesofers — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 16:28:27 GMT

@Jordan2 I am sorry you had that unpleasant experience with the DMV. Your last sentence in your post answered the question. For the most part, yes, being rude is part of the job description when working at DMV. I know because the company that I work for deals alot with the motor vehicle agency. Part of my job is to deal with them at least twice a month for company related issues. Sometimes I will get a nice person who answers my questions and is very helpful. Then there are the times that I get someone who is rude, nasty and could care less about helping me. I have seen it in person at DMV also. I think because they are state workers, their jobs are secure no matter how rude they act. Its not right, but what can you do! Luckily, I don't have to deal with them as much as I used to. We now have different company policies that do not involve MV as much. Some people are just so unhappy in their jobs and they take it out on others. I hope your day is a good one and don't let people like that get you down. You are too good for that! BTW, our motor vehicle agency is New Jersey.

Re: My Experience With The DMV

kaydee50 — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 16:34:18 GMT

I have never had the occasion to call the DMV. When we moved to Chicago and needed to get a new driver's license, we went to our local DMV office. "Seniors" got priority and we were in and out very quickly. Well organized, professional. We have no complaints about the IL DMV office in Chicago.

I cannot imagine being on "hold" for the length of time the OP was. She has a lot more patience than I would ever have!!!

Re: My Experience With The DMV

hckynut — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 16:48:32 GMT

@Jordan2

To answer your question in your last sentence. Yes, they take classes for rudeness.

I spent most of last Thursday on the phone with CenturyLink. Had a no show service call. Passed along from "that's not my department" several times. Got hung up on(Central America twice). After hour upon hour on the phone?

Got an email, yes email from the tech saying "I am here". Not sure where "his here was", but it was not my house. Went out to my driveway, nobody in sight. Our house is at the end of a kind cul-de-sac and they have to use our driveway to turn around. Have no idea where this person was, but it was not our home. Thus the phone calls began.

Ended up having to reschedule another service day, which is today, and I am waiting. So far no phone call, which they said they will do, no email say "1-2-3 hours", no nothing. Why would any service person send an email saying "I'm here, or say anything"? I don't think most people check their email every half hour! Crazy!

If I wait all day again? Chances are good I will drop my phone and internet with them. My service call is to up my Broadband speed from 20mbps to 40mbps, the fastest I can get. Beginning to wonder.

The word "frustrating" comes to mind. I feel your pain!

hckynut

Re: My Experience With The DMV

hckynut — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 23:01:15 GMT

@kaydee50

If you read my other post, I spent over 6 hours. Started in the early morning through close to the evening time. Yes, I have lots

of patience, but it runs close to empty when I get hung up on, not once, but twice. And from Central America! I know that because I asked.

I talk in a calm manner, much like I type my novels here. What I think is that they couldn't answer my questions, so CLICK! 😡😡😡

E.T.A. Update on my CenturyLink service call. This tech knew me from being here before. He knew about last weeks fiasco with his company. He told me that technician WAS NOT a CenturyLink employee. He was a Contractor with another Company used by CenturyLink. He also said "he more than likely did not know how to do my upgrade in speed.

He was here a total of 90 minutes, in and out. He had to rewire a connector box a mile from our home, and also a smaller one outside a neighbors yard. So he was in his truck and in and out of the house.

He also, on his own, upgraded the wired pairs coming into the house that connects to the modem. Instead of just 2 single pair of wires, installed a much bigger cable, that held the same 4 wires, but were twisted(by machine) to make the whole cable much more efficient to handle the upgraded DSL Speed. Instead of just wires, this was an actual "jacketed cable".

Service could not have better and I am happy this is over. I now have Double the Download speed, and a 3 times faster Upload speed. What a difference a week made, and with a Tech that actually worked for the company.

hckynut

Re: My Experience With The DMV

CelticCrafter — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 17:23:51 GMT

@Jordan2 wrote:
I live in New York state and needed to speak with someone at the DMV ( Department of Motor Vehicle). I won't get into why (long story), I called an 800 number, who knows in what part of the country the call goes to. The recording states I had a 40 minute hold time, I was on hold for over 11/2 hours. I keep thinking I've invested so much time already surely I must be next ( also it was important to speak to someone). The woman I spoke to was nice, no issue with her. Unfortunately she didn't have the answers for me, she transfers me to another department, I was on hold for over 20 minutes. This man that answered wanted no part of me or my problem. He then says he will transfer my call, I tell him I have been on hold for nearly two hours already, his response is that's just the way things are ma'am! I then am on hold for another 25 minutes until I get this woman, who was so condescending and rude to me, speaking to me like I was an idiot. I'm just wondering if being rude is part of the job description when you work at the DMV?

I'm convinced it is in NJ also.

The first question on the job application must be can you be meaner than a junk yard dog.....

Re: My Experience With The DMV

skatting44 — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 18:01:18 GMT

I try to do as much DMV business on line as possible or use their kiosk.

Had few positive experiences with DMV.

Re: My Experience With The DMV

Porcelain — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 18:53:50 GMT

I would think that working at the DMV and having to serve humans in their worst mood every day would be a recipe to develop a jaundiced view of people.

I relate to long waits to talk on the phone or in line with DMV people, but I've dealt with plenty of nice ones. Usually I try to do my business online, though that's not always possible. I find that with the DMV, when I respect them (and in particular their time, by either having all my documents ready to go or being apologetic when I missed one or didn't know something), they respect me back.

Edited to add: I don't mean to imply that you weren't respectful, @Jordan2. I'm sure you were. I was just relaying my experiences.

Re: My Experience With The DMV

mousiegirl — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 19:44:39 GMT

@Jordan2 wrote:
I live in New York state and needed to speak with someone at the DMV ( Department of Motor Vehicle). I won't get into why (long story), I called an 800 number, who knows in what part of the country the call goes to. The recording states I had a 40 minute hold time, I was on hold for over 11/2 hours. I keep thinking I've invested so much time already surely I must be next ( also it was important to speak to someone). The woman I spoke to was nice, no issue with her. Unfortunately she didn't have the answers for me, she transfers me to another department, I was on hold for over 20 minutes. This man that answered wanted no part of me or my problem. He then says he will transfer my call, I tell him I have been on hold for nearly two hours already, his response is that's just the way things are ma'am! I then am on hold for another 25 minutes until I get this woman, who was so condescending and rude to me, speaking to me like I was an idiot. I'm just wondering if being rude is part of the job description when you work at the DMV?

@Jordan2 I havn't called the DMV, always arrange an appointment online then go in person, and people were nice.

Re: My Experience With The DMV

Peaches McPhee — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 20:08:33 GMT

I get the jitters everytime I have to call any big organization. I know I will wait forever, get the wrong person, and be transfered to who knows where. And the only person in the entire organization that can help me is on vacation.

Re: My Experience With The DMV

RespectLife — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 20:14:31 GMT

@Jordan2 wrote:
I live in New York state and needed to speak with someone at the DMV ( Department of Motor Vehicle). I won't get into why (long story), I called an 800 number, who knows in what part of the country the call goes to. The recording states I had a 40 minute hold time, I was on hold for over 11/2 hours. I keep thinking I've invested so much time already surely I must be next ( also it was important to speak to someone). The woman I spoke to was nice, no issue with her. Unfortunately she didn't have the answers for me, she transfers me to another department, I was on hold for over 20 minutes. This man that answered wanted no part of me or my problem. He then says he will transfer my call, I tell him I have been on hold for nearly two hours already, his response is that's just the way things are ma'am! I then am on hold for another 25 minutes until I get this woman, who was so condescending and rude to me, speaking to me like I was an idiot. I'm just wondering if being rude is part of the job description when you work at the DMV?

@Jordan2

In NYS..? YES! I swear they train them to be that way!

I have to deal with them often for work (fleet of trucks) ...every time I go...it is an ordeal. I have worked here 16 years and KNOW what is needed to register a fleet yet they talk to me like I am an idiot.

Somewhere along the line, I nabbed the direct number to a gal in our closest branch.

Never answers the phone but will return my voice mail....within the WEEK! LOL

They have been closed for almost a year....eventually taking appointments...and still are as mean as a hornet.

Re: My Experience With The DMV

tobes — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 20:19:20 GMT

@Jordan2 You seemed to first talk to the best of the DMV, but quicly went downhill to the worst of the DMV. These are the "faceless bureaucrats" that your tax dollars pay for. I know you said you needed to talk to someone and it was important for you to do so. I had an experience just like this about two years ago and learned my lesson. Try, as difficult as you believe, to talk to the DMV through it's online compuer system, in the end run it may be less frustrating as you may think. This is how I now correcpond with the DMV. Our state offers registration sevices on line which is quite easy. I also go to AAA in my state to get my license renewed. Better than waiting in line at the DMV. Not sure what your problem is, but give your question a try through online services. It may work.