One star for a government agency? That's just craziness! As unbelievable as it may sound, this location is just plain ridiculous. I've been required (more on this later) to frequent this office over the past 2 years for all issues regarding my dealer license. Here are just a few of the many highlights:
- The hours of operation are a total mess and change with the breeze. As of the writing of this review, they're open Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays from 8:30am to 3:30pm but close (for lunch?) from 11:30am to 1pm. Of course, the past two Wednesdays, they were either closed the entire day or partially, with the only announcement of these irregularities being a sign posted in their lobby. This brings me to my next point.
- You cannot call the office to confirm hours, ask questions, etc. because no one ever picks-up the phone and the automated message containing the hours of operation, address, etc. hasn't been updated in more than 5 months. There is an option to leave a message in their general mailbox, but I have NEVER received a return call after doing so. Your only option is to drive to the office, pay for parking, and take the chance they're open.
- The lobby is tiny with seating for maybe 8. Of course, each time I visit, it's packed to the brim with average wait times being about an hour or so. Even so, there is never any sense of urgency from the employees. In fact, they avoid the lobby like the plague. They walk around behind the glass divider for all to see, just as relaxed as can be, with nary a glance toward the lobby to check on the confused and frustrated masses. There is a chair at the reception desk, but I've never seen it manned. Your only chance to speak with anyone is when an employee emerges from behind the glass to call the next name on the sign-in sheet. Unfortunately, when that time comes, you'll wish it hadn't. Responses from employees are laced with arrogance and condescension.
- Are there other options? No. Last year, this office was closed "permanently." When this happened, I was required to make an additional 20-mile trek to the Hope St office in downtown LA (across the 110 freeway from USC.) The drive sucked, but the service was better. Unfortunately, this Van Nuys office magically reopened several months later. I discovered this when - after making yet another trek to downtown LA - they (the LA office) REFUSED to assist me. They told me that although they'd assisted me in the past with no issues, they could no longer do so because the Van Nuys office had jurisdiction over my license. Joy.
What's the gist? Well... I'd tell you to avoid this place the way their employees avoid us patrons, but as you've read above, that's not possible if your your license falls within their jurisdiction. If you're lucky and have just general questions, you can sometimes get them answered by calling either the LA office or the Sacramento office. The LA office's number is (213) 744-7563 and the Sacramento office's number is (916) 229-3128. Other than that, you're out of luck... at least until they close "permanently" again. We can only hope. read more