Today I kind of had a different post planned out, but most of my entire schedule was nicely disrupted by AAA, a travel company that basically gives you free towing or will help you if you ever lock your keys in the car. The membership is not cheap, but I’ve used them several times a year every year (I have bad luck with things like potholes and flat tires) so it seems like I have to have them, even if I probably don’t.
Anyways, last week my husband and I bought a truck. Generally, when you buy a car or a truck it’s pretty cut and dry - you sign this, sign that, they hand you a license plate and a sticker.
Today, after fighting with the lady at AAA (who actually was the nicest person I’ve ever met in AAA in the history of my 12 year membership with them), we walked out of there 2 HOURS LATER and still no registration or license plate for our truck.
What took us 2 hours to fight about? My drivers license was the first. When I got married, they didn’t make me get a new license, they just handed me a card with my new last name and said “here you go”. Well to AAA, this was UNACCEPTABLE. Now why would anyone else in the world and the DMV be cool with it but not this lady?
Moving past that, the rest of our time spent there was over the weight of our truck. I called the main DMV office to find out if I needed to have the truck weighed in order to get our registration. They said no, that was the most ridiculous thing they ever heard of. I also asked our inspection mechanic (who had to verify the VIN number) and he also said that nobody weighs trucks. I spoke to the company that made our truck and they happily gave us all the weight info & verified it. AAA would not accept that.
I finally did get somebody to fill out this ridiculous form AAA wanted filled out, but will have to go there tomorrow (and with my two wonderful children who i hope destroy the place while we’re there!) to actually get the license plate.
My husband has dubbed them “Triple Rape”…
Why should is it so difficult to GIVE SOMEBODY MONEY AND YOUR BUSINESS?
By Olly from Guitar Books on Aug 9, 2008 | Reply
Sounds like you should look for alternatives - here in the UK we have a couple of top companies that do this service so if one doesn’t perform you just switch!
Don’t give someone your business if they make thngs difficult for you!
Perhaps int he US you don’t have those options
By Chelle on Aug 9, 2008 | Reply
I would like to tell them to go screw themselves…but sadly they are the only ones I know of to use!
Chelles last blog post..Today’s Best of Stupid Award Goes To…
By Geakz on Aug 9, 2008 | Reply
Are there separate ‘truck’ plates in your state? I know some states require a truck plate and I’m wondering if there is a way they define ‘truck’ or heavy duty - by weight? The fact that the DMV says no and your mechanic too, points to it being absurd. You need to make these calls - hands free - in front of the Triple Rape woman. She should also be providing what is required of you in writing as to avoid the old ‘making up the rules as you go along’ syndrome. Good luck!
By Chelle on Aug 9, 2008 | Reply
Well we finally got it sorted out today…I let my children run rampant
And with every single thing perfectly organized in a folder so all she had to do was type in a computer & print our registration card, it only took another 2 hours!!
I won’t be doing that with them ever ever again!
Chelles last blog post..Today’s Best of Stupid Award Goes To…
By Jay on Aug 9, 2008 | Reply
Oh, that sounds like a horrible experience! I thought AAA were supposed to be the gold standard over there? Apparently not …
I’m sorry you had to go through all that.
By shosho25 on Aug 12, 2008 | Reply
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By BobbyC on Aug 12, 2008 | Reply
Why on God’s little green earth would you go there? Haven’t you heard of a Currency Exchange? Jeeeeze!
Obviously that was a poor AAA facility. I’m a member and extensively use the services. However, I never thought to use AAA for plates or vehicle registration.
-sorry-