RANT title 400

Might be a good idea to stay down there until the caper in Kentucky blows over, like 10-12 years!

One thing that I have learned over many years of dealing with bureaucrats is that they have the power to make your life miserable simply by sticking to the strict letter of the law, not informing you what to do if an exception exists for your problem and in general slowing the process down to a glacial pace. None of these actions will subject them to criticism or reprimand if you complain because they are "just doing their job" as it was written in the procedures manual.

They also have some limited latitude to let certain things slide by or to short cut the process.

This all sucks big time but, as an individual, there is little to nothing that you can do to change the situation, particularly in the short term.

As much as it might go against anyone's personality, I have found the best way to get things done with bureaucrats is to meet and acknowledge them as real people (something as simple as a compliment on a scarf or pin that they are wearing), have a smile on your face, humble yourself and throw the situation back on them and let them use their power as one ordinary person (them) helping another ordinary person (you) navigate the bureaucracy since it is all so confusing and difficult for someone just trying to get by in life.

Nearly all of the time, it works. Sometimes you have to lose the battle to win the war.

Keep your eyes on the prize.

PS: You are probably in a nearly irrecoverable situation with that car and its title. You might want to think about "selling" it to a relative or a company that you own and restart the process with a new "owner" after this fubar blows over.

PPS: If you have the real title on the nice paper with the embossed seal, why won't they accept that?

 

Who is "they" and why would "they" have the title of your car? The DMV has "lost" your registration in their computer system somewhere I take it. Why don't you have the physical paper original in your posession?

 

The way I understand his message is that he purchased the car and received a signed title from the previous owner. He took that paper to the DMV and got current registration on the car in his name, and expected to receive a title back from DMV in the mail in his name. It never came and then he got a letter in the mail 30 days later stating that they are waiting to finish the registration paperwork until he brings in the title (which he already did and they are the ones who lost it). Now it is an argument over who lost the title.

 

Go through a title bonding company. Cheaper and faster than an attorney. Less stress too. One in in GA goes to the DMV headquarters in Atlanta twice a month, $150.00 and you have a GA title. There has to be a similar biz there.

 

I agree. First thing the DMV worker says is 'who's this F'in lawyer' and nothing happens while the meter runs...the title company sorts out this stuff every day with DMV workers they know by name.

 

Bureaucrats are the bottom feeders of the legal system, far below lawyers and politicians (shudder). They clean the urinals of legislatures. Wear a HASMAT suit when dealing with them. Obscure communicable diseases should be named after them.

 

This..

I use a combination of "limited knowledge" together with "slight confusion" at the window.

I have had to go thru Ferrari VIN confirmation (Police Theft Division) and recently, got the Ducati plates after five years delay since purchase, with:

"I had to assemble it, and the instructions were in Italian, it took awhile"..

The girl nodded her head and continued to shuffle all the Certificate of Origin paperwork..


But. losing your cool NEVER works, and there is usually (here in Texas) a heavy lidded uniform cop in a chair in the Lobby!!

 

It's all about "who you know"....I have a contact person at our local DMV, went to her wedding years ago. When I brought my Vermont registration in to get a Florida title, we spotted an incorrect digit on the Vermont document....she picked up the phone and called them, got someone up there to go back in the computer and find an older regs, with the same vin as my photo of two vins off the 400i, asked me to come back in a day or two.....and we were done ! Paid the lady and my brand new title was in the mailbox in a week.......I know anyone else in that office would have told me to deal with my problem with Vermont on my own. If she does me one favor in 20 years, it was worth it !

 

Next time go to a Private DMV. I had a car that wasn't registered for 18 years (77 Lancia Scorpion). I owed DMV $900 past due registration fee, went to the Private DMV and they were able to reduced the fee down to $95.00 and got my car registered, and waived the smog emission test. I'm just saying, private DMV will represent you against any problem you have with the DMV it's kind of like a lawyer but they're not.

 

AAA -- get it.

 

Quite a saga...glad you got them...(-*