On 9/18/2013 at approximately 4:45pm, I was undeniably insulted by a CA DMV Customer Service Agent, who called himself "Tech 91". After waiting on hold for 40 minutes, Tech 91 answered the call. I was calling to find out why my vehicle registration said "incomplete" after I paid for my registration the day before and had got my car smogged and passed several months ago?? He asked for my license plate number, which I told him. He asked for it again, which I told him again. He made a comment that he thinks he has the wrong information. I confirmed my plate number and name. again. After that, his demeanor totally changed. He told me he can't help me because "it's locked up". Not sure what he meant by that, I asked him "do you see that I paid online last night in full, and that smog cert was sent in months ago?" His response was "nobody sends in smog certificates! they are electronically passed to dmv by the smog station." ok fine, so I used the wrong terminology. Then I asked him, "so my smog information is in your system though?" He replied "I TOLD YOU THAT IT'S LOCKED UP AND YOU WILL HAVE TO CALL BACK IN 3 DAYS!!" Very confused, I asked him, "so you can't see any of my registration information?" Huffing and puffing with a snarky attitude, he replied "I see that something happened last night which is why your information is locked. You did smog on 6/25/13, its past 45 days". Now, being that I have never heard ANYTHING about a 45 day limit on smogging a car, of course I am going to have more questions, right? I asked him, "So are you saying that my smog certificate is only good for 45 days??" "that every 45 days it expires???"
He then yelled, "SINCE YOU ARE IRRESPONSIBLE AND PAID YOUR REGISTRATION MORE THAN 45 DAYS PAST YOUR SMOG DATE, YES, IT'S NO GOOD". I asked him for his name at that point. He replied very quickly, "Tech 91". I told him that I didn't appreciate his attitude...he responded "YOU JUST DON'T LIKE WHAT I AM TELLING YOU. IT'S NOT MY FAULT YOUR ACCOUNT IS IN COLLECTIONS" I couldn't believe someone was actually talking this way to me. Yes, my registration was paid late because I had parking tickets that got added on to it which made it very expensive at a time when I couldn't afford it, and my car at the time was not passing smog, it needed work done to it. So I finally paid all fees, got the car fixed, got car to pass smog, and now I get this DMV jerk judging me and treating me like I am a loser scum bag because I paid late. I told him, "Don't judge me. You don't even know me, or my situation. WHY ARE YOU BEING AN ASSHOLE? There is no reason for your attitude. I waited on hold for 40 minutes and I still have questions..."
He said to me "YOUR PROBLEM, NOT MINE - (giggling)" I repeated my question "Do I have to get my smog redone then OR NOT? should I go into the dmv to resolve this??" He replied "I DON'T KNOW, I TOLD YOU IT'S ALL LOCKED UP. DO WHAT YOU WANT. I'M NOT THE ONE IN COLLECTIONS" acting like he was going to hang up the phone. Beyond angry at this point, I told him that I couldn't believe how he was acting and then I asked for his name again. His reply "Hey Stupid, YOU JUST DON'T LIKE WHAT MY ANSWERS ARE! TECH 91. GOOD BYE"
I know this sounds incredible and one may wonder how someone can do that? I am wondering the same thing. I cannot believe that anyone, no matter government employee or not, has the right to be so utterly disrespectful to someone. He cannot go on treating people this way and not have any consequences. He was laughing about me asking for his name...as if he knows that he will never get any kind of reprimand, he can do whatever he wants and not suffer any consequence??? As if me asking for his name was a joke, just useless. I am an American, tax-paying citizen, who pays this guy's salary. He cannot get away with this. I have never had a worse customer service experience on the phone. THis has to be addressed. read more