If I could give this business 0 stars I would.
Today I went in to register my 2008 Scion Xd which I purchased in Idaho, and paid sales tax on (Seattle, Washington Sales Tax Rate) at the time of purchase.
After many minutes of waiting for the woman behind the counter to complete her data entry, she told me the amount due to register and license my car would be $371.58. And naturally because I educated myself on the licensing fees and taxes listed on the Washington DOL website prior to stepping foot in this office, I questioned the calculated total. So I asked for an itemized copy of the fees and taxes due. She rolled her eyes at me, and then stated, "As you can see the most of the balance due is the RTA Tax, which is calculated at $217."
Knowing that the RTA tax rate is .3%, the value of my car is $10,048, and the total purchase price plus the cost of my service contract was $12,983, I knew there was a miscalculation. So I left, and contacted the Washington State department of licensing customer service department.
Upon speaking with the DOL, the representative confirmed my suspicion that that RTA tax on my vehicle had been miscalculated. $217 in RTA tax would mean my car would be worth $72,333. In 2008 the vehicle wouldn't have sold for more than $16,000. Moreover, the DOL representative explained that the tax is not always based on the actual cash value of the car, but rather a formula based on original MSRP and the years of service since the MSRP date. In either case, sale price or formula, the RTA tax on my car was estimated somewhere between $29-$39.
With this information at my fingertips, I went back into the Puget Sound Licensing Office. I was assisted by different woman this time. I explained to her that I had just been in the office and I had some serious questions about the calculation of the RTA tax by the previous representative. She looked at me begrudgingly and said, "So!"
(How rude!)
Then, I politely asked her for the print out that outlined the taxes and fees due for registering licensing my car. Her response, "Well, she probably threw it away! So oh well!" In my head, I'm thought, 'this b*$#h really has a chip on her shoulder', and my patience was gone, so I said "It's not 'oh well', lady. It's, you're 'going have to reenter all the information and print out the itemized invoice, if you can't find the one generated by your colleague. That's what you do here, so I kindly ask that you make it happen."
She returned with the previous itemized invoice, and I explained the RTA tax was clearly miscalculated, and that I had spoken with the state DOL about the matter and they concurred; in fact, they had encouraged me to confront the licensing office again to have the tax properly calculated. She proceeded to argue with me, but I wasn't having it. So yet another representative intervened, and reviewed the data entry, where she then found that the calculation and data entered was INCORRECT (shocker!!!). My RTA tax was recalculated at $39.
Nonetheless, the woman with a chip on her shoulder continued to dish out the attitude, tossing papers at me, sneering at me, and she even gave me side eye.
Excuse me!!!
I didn't do anything wrong. I questioned what some people would've taken at face value as accurate, and I'm glad I did. I can't help but wonder how many miscalculated transactions this place has processed, just spitting out balance due totals to unknowing and innocent people, only to have people pay without any question for what they are paying for.
At the end of it all, I was treated like I was a burden, a nag, and that my concerns weren't valid. Never did I receive an apology.
And on a side note, as one reviewer wondered how they can type with such long nails. The truth is, THEY CAN'T! Perhaps IT IS TIME to cut the damn nails; the first woman who calculated my RTA had talons that could compete with a bald eagle, and she was the one who screwed up.
What a nightmare. I'll never go to this place again. read more
