Posted by Jon Renaut
Wed, 23 May 2007 22:12:00 GMT
Now, I'm sure Officer Key is just doing his/her job. But that doesn't mean I appreciate the parking parking ticket I got this morning. $100. Failure to register the car in DC. The policewoman at the station on V St. said my guest parking permit should be all I need. Apparently she's a liar. On the bright side, however, I now have official DMV-issued temporary tags. I made it from Pentagon City to Columbia Heights (via Metro) to 95 M St SW (via car), got my tags, back to Columbia Heights, put them on, and back to Pentagon City in three hours flat.
That's two trips to the DMV at 95 M St SW, and two great experiences. Yes, they gave me dirty looks because I haven't registered the car in time. But I didn't wait long, and they took care of my problem for another 45 days. By then I'll have my title, and I'll be able to get real tags.
I really can't say enough about how the DMV has exceeded my expectations. True, my expectations were pretty low. And I don't particularly appreciate the $100 ticket (Not that the DMV gave me that, but they played their role). But I was expecting at least the fourth or fifth circle of Hell when I walked in to the DC DMV, and I got quick and efficient service. The lady at the metal detector even complimented my hemp messenger bag as she searched it.
Well, I guess I can say enough about the DMV. I'm done now.
Posted in Cars, Parking, DC government | no comments
Posted by Jon Renaut
Tue, 22 May 2007 22:57:00 GMT
Dear Wonkette readers:
Uh. . . hey. How's it going? I figure since (with three links since May 3rd) you all make up over 96% of my traffic in the last thirty days, I should say hello.
So, hello. I hope you're enjoying it here.
I'm not exactly sure why I've been linked three times this month. It's certainly nice to have people reading what I'm writing. My return traffic hasn't gone up all that much, though, so either I'm not keeping your interest, or you're all using RSS readers, which I'm not tracking.
I really have no idea how I could be failing to keep your interest, though. I mean, who can resist listening to me complain about owning a car in the city? You should all be riveted. And look out - later this week or early next, I expect to make a return trip to the DMV to try and get temporary tags while I wait for my title to arrive. I know you're just shaking in anticipation, but you're going to have to wait.
Posted in Cars, Parking | no comments
Posted by Jon Renaut
Mon, 21 May 2007 13:06:00 GMT
The guy who lives upstairs in my building must be protecting my car from harm. Since moving into the building in January, he's had his convertible top cut. He had a window broken. He's been ticketed numerous times, and towed at least twice. And last night, a hit-and-run left the whole side of his car smashed.
Now, some might argue that he has a parking spot in back that he doesn't always use. Some would probably have a point. But I like to think that his car is a little magic talisman that attracts minor disaster, leaving my car protected from all evil. Well, I have had a few bumper taps from people parking. But that's an accepted part of living in the city.
I worry about what's going to happen when the new condos at the Columbia Heights Metro station open up. It's already crowded here, and that's undoubtedly going to make parking a nightmare. Zipcar gets more appealing every day.
Posted in Cars, Parking | 2 comments
Posted by Jon Renaut
Sun, 20 May 2007 23:34:00 GMT
Capital One may have saved themselves. I called on Friday to find out if they had started the process of sending my title. The first person I spoke to didn't know much, but eventually I was transferred to a woman in the titling department. Seems to make sense, since I was, in fact, calling about my title.
She gave me the usual, "Oh, it's going to take three weeks" speech that I've heard before. But then she asked if I'd like a request for temporary registration or something like that. I've forgotten exactly what she said, but I have it written down at work. She told me they could send that out in 72 hours, and that would let me get some sort of temporary registration so I don't get ticketed.
Now, I'm not sure why no one told me this the first time I called. Well, the first time I called they thought they'd send the actual title in 72 hours, so maybe that's why they didn't share this option. But certainly the person I talked to last week could have offered this. And it remains to be seen whether the DMV will accept this. It was already 3:30 PM when I found this out, and I figured that the DMV phone line would be hopeless at that hour on a Friday. But first thing Monday I'm going to find out if this will help me. If so, Capital One may safely reach base this time, but not without a stern look from the manager.
Posted in Life, Cars, Parking | no comments
Posted by Jon Renaut
Tue, 15 May 2007 13:23:00 GMT
I called Capital One again today to make sure someone got the fax. Apparently the company that deals with titling for Capital One is on the West Coast, and no one is answering the phone yet. The CSR I spoke to was a little snotty with me. It's not my fault that, while the first person I spoke to two weeks ago said the title would be mailed in 72 hours, this one told me that Capital One doesn't even have a record of my request for 72 hours, and the whole process takes three weeks. So, even if I had started this process the day we moved, I'd barely have enough time to register the car in DC within the 30-day period that DC requires.
It's more trouble than it's worth to refinance my car loan through someone else, but this is likely the last time I deal with Capital One. The process to get the Blank Check loan was great, and they gave me a better rate than the dealership could, but once they had the loan, they haven't been terribly helpful.
Posted in Incompetence, Cars, DC government | no comments
Posted by Jon Renaut
Tue, 15 May 2007 01:24:00 GMT
Capital One is stupid. Because the DC DMV is totally insane and requires that the original title to a car be sent to them before they will allow you to register it, I called Capital One, who hold the lein on my car. I asked them to send the title to the DC DMV. They said, "Sure. We'll send it within 72 hours." I thought, "Great. Now I can register my car and not get a ticket."
It wasn't great. About a week and a half goes by, and the DMV still doesn't have my title. I called Capital One again. I got a very different story this time. "Oh, you have an electronic title, you have to fax us the form from the DMV."
What?
I love when some CSR tells you, "Oh, you are in this situation, therefore you have to jump through this hoop", as if it was the most natural thing in the world, and aren't you stupid for not knowing. Even better is that they didn't bother to tell me that they weren't going to send the title without the faxed form. Never mind that they have contact information for me - they sure find me when they want to try and sell me something. They just figured that I'd notice eventually.
So I'm waiting some more. Hopefully my wife will be able to bat her eyelashes at the nice police officers down at the station on V St. and get me another temporary parking permit. I have faith in her. And I'm going to call Capital One tomorrow and make sure they got my fax. I asked them to expedite it because they already screwed it up. I can't imagine that they'll listen, but there's always hope.
Posted in Incompetence, Cars, DC government | no comments
Posted by Jon Renaut
Wed, 02 May 2007 19:30:00 GMT
I've heard many, many horror stories about the DC DMV. In fact, I've heard nothing good about it. So imagine my surprise when I got to the DMV on M St SW this morning, just as they opened, and got my brand new DC driver's license in about a half an hour.
The metal detectors at the door were a little unexpected, but the rest of the experience was totally pleasant. The staff was, without exception, pleasant and efficient. I have had equivalently nice DMV experiences in Maryland and Virginia, but never better than what I had this morning.
So, kudos to you, M St SW DMV. You exceeded all my expectations this morning, and I appreciate it.
The real test will be when I get back from my friends' wedding this weekend and try to get my car registered in DC. I'll be at the Georgetown DMV for that one, because I've heard it's the nicest. I'll report back after that experience.
Posted in Life, Cars, DC government | 3 comments
