Wonder why this DMV site is "unclaimed"? I don't know anyone who'd want to claim this crappy place. First of all, let me start by saying that the DMV, as a whole, is one of the biggest rip-offs that our government could come up with. I'm sure everyone already knows that. Vehicle registrations should be the same price across the board, regardless of how much your vehicle is worth, or how new it is. If they were covering/insuring our vehicle through registration, then I'd understand the purpose of higher registration fees. Let's be honest, the DMV is basically a cash cow.
Anyways, my gripe today is with this particular office on Canyon Del Rey, in Seaside. My daughter comes in to take her driver's test. Mind you, we made this appointment well over a month in advance. She brought everything required (birth certificate, SS card, proof of parents' mailing address, etc). Two bills, in mine and my wife's names, are brought for proof of address (since she obviously lives with us) as well as her report card from school, to prove that she lives with us. They tell my daughter that because the bill in her mom's name doesn't match her mom's last name on her birth certificate, they can't use it. This is a federal/state run agency, right? How TF does the DMV not know that on all birth certificates, the mother's maiden name is documented and not her married name?!?! My wife's signature on the birth certificate is even signed with her married last name! So then they tell me, "Well, since we can't use that piece of mail as proof, if she's on your vehicle registration, we can use that."
"Yes, she is, but it's her married name on my registration."
"Oh, that's fine. We can still use that."
I went back and forth with these idiots, TRYING to get them to make me understand this! They couldn't explain the difference between a legitimate utility bill, with her married last name, that wasn't acceptable, and my car registration, also with her married last name, that is acceptable. Instead, they began laughing and shaking their heads, because they themselves, knew it was stupid, but had no answer.
Also, even though her HS report card has her entire name and mailing address on it, they couldn't use that either.... because it didn't have her birthday on it!!! Forget that she has her birth certificate with it; they want her birthdate on her report card too!
Great job in doing your part to help protect the country from terrorists, DMV! It's damned near impossible for anyone to get an ID/drivers license now. Also, you've managed to save jobs, not only by not using machines or robots, but by training your employees to act like machines or robots, because common sense definitely isn't a requirement to work here.
Side note: in the time it took me to type this up (while waiting for our number to be called), I've witnessed three patrons frustratingly ask questions. One guy got really loud and said, "You mean I can't get an ID, if I'm out of work?!?!" To which the employee replied, "well, it's saying you need a W-2 for proof of identification." Poor guy answered, "I'm TRYING to get my identification! Why isn't a birth certificate and SS card good enough anymore?!?!". I immediately felt his frustration and confusion.
And now they just told my daughter that their camera/photo program just crashed! Guess it'll be a little while longer, while they reboot it. I can only laugh at this point.
I remember all the disgruntled postal workers. I'm surprised there's no stories of... never mind. Don't need homeland security knocking at my door. They'd probably react to this Yelp! review a lot faster than they respond to scheduled appojnt read more