Where Did You Guys Register?

Encouraged by my favorite,  weekly coffee date, who shall remain anonymous (let's call her Stoli), I am posting an actual communication I sent to my government representatives last fall. 4 out of 5 responded. 1 got it taken care of (never one to share names, I'll simply refer to him Beaver's Dad / June's Husband) and 1 had his office call twice to make sure it was in fact taken care of (we'll call him Stuart Smalley).

Hello Representative Ward, Representative Howes, Senator Oberstar, Senator Klobuchar and Senator Franken,

As a new resident of Breezy Point and former Brainerd resident, I am approaching all of you in regards to this matter. It intersects the county, the Brainerd Drivers License Office and the USPS. Please advise as to who is most capable of achieving results in this arena as I am not attempting to send all of you on a goose chase.

Our family moved to Breezy Point from Brainerd in January of this year. As with any move, addresses must be changed. After meeting a local Police Officer who kindly reminded me to slow down and renew my license, I took time off of work and went to the Brainerd Driver's License Office (a 30 minute drive). This was on March 30 and I filled out the paperwork for an address change on my drivers license. I paid $13.50. I waited several weeks and did not receive the new license.

I contacted the Brainerd Office via phone, only to be told that no information could be given over the phone, that I would have to 'appear in person' to find out why it hadn't come.' After some convincing, the representative told me the license was sent back (via computer system) because 'address wasn't registered through USPS'. And 'that just because you fill out the forwarding information for USPS, doesn't mean your address is registered.' I was advised to 'appear' at the Post Office to have the address registered. As the home is new construction, I thought this could be valid.

So, I took more time off of work and 'appeared' at the Post Office (56472). The representative there indicated that my carrier needed to know we lived there. I shared with her that the carrier was aware b/c I had visited with her regarding mailbox placement, and additionally, we had been receiving our mail. She said, 'just because you get your mail, doesn't mean your address is changed...that maybe you are just getting junk mail.' Interestingly enough, we receive mail from the City of Breezy Point, the IRS, MN Dept of Revenue and our good friends at Visa. The postal representative had never heard of registering an address, and proceeded - are you ready for this - to write a note on a scrap of paper indicating it was a real address for me to give to the License Office (not unlike a note for the school gym teacher).

So...on June 15th, I went back to the Drivers License Office (3rd work absence). The representative there renewed my yellow change of address sheet and called the state level license office, whom indicated that the address 'wasn't registered and the drivers' license had been sent back' - (it never makes it to 56472, they said they would have delivered it - a bonus of a small town). The State License Office communicated to Brainerd that they would resend it. She told me if it didn't come in 10 days, to call them. So, as you may have guessed by this point, it didn't come. I called, and get this, was told no information could be released over the phone. This was confirmed by the Deputy (Agent 007 - I kid you not). I was told I would have to 'appear' in order to discuss the matter (that would be 4 work absences).

I then called the state office listed on the yellow receipt and they were more than happy to visit about it over the phone. Guess what. They said the address wasn't registered, although everything I had done on my end indicated it was. They agreed to resend it, but reminded me after the 3rd sending attempt, I would have to 'appear' at the Brainerd License Office and repay the $13.50

I then contacted the 56401 Brainerd Post Office. They were more than willing to help (even over the phone). Evidently there is a system used by the USPS called AMS (I think). The Brainerd PO had no way to investigate the 56472 PO AMS system, but did put a phone call in to 56472.

Now for the really fun part, the address IS REGISTERED...as XXX ABC Ln - I had written XXX ABC Lane and so they claim that is why it kicks it back. Evidently Crow Wing County uses abbreviations as opposed to the actual word. Yep, that's right, based on the information I have received, because I spelled out Lane, I have spent 6 months trying to get a driver's license.

Ready for the kicker...? Obviously (and please don't issue a citation) my husband, Marty, has made no attempt to change addresses after this whole debacle. Now, Marty's drivers license expired August 19th of this year. Are you ready...He RECEIVED a reminder postcard from the state license office telling him to renew. It was sent and neatly arrived in our mailbox. It used the Ln as that is the address that is 'registered'.

So, I write you in defeat. Please help me. Every time I pull out my license, I have to pull out the yellow receipt (8.5 x 11) that I carry in my wallet in a tiny folded square. Fortunately, most people don't notice that the receipt is expired. However, all future air travel will be impacted by this. We have a vacation planned and I don't see how telling this story at the airport is going to get me on a flight.

I look forward to your responses. My DL # is XXX (it expires 11/4/10 - I am not optimistic that this will be resolved by then). The address on my old license is XXX. It says I am 5'8 and weigh 155 lbs (whether or not that is factual is of no concern to you...) I am a Donor with brown eyes. As you may have guessed, I currently reside at XXX ABC Lane.

My cell phone # is XXX. I work at XXX in Nisswa. We have a home phone (for which we receive regular billings at the above referenced mailbox). We are rarely there (I am always at the post office or license office, so time at home is tough), but the phone number is XXX.

Kind Regards,

amy g

UPDATE:

I am happy to report that this communication did in fact result in receipt of a phone call from the State of Minnesota within one week. They did send the license to my home address. Which ironically was always registered. Evidently, when one moves residences, the government employee that enters your new address must in fact change the city and zip code in addition to the street address. This seems obvious, as ABC Lane exists in my current city, but not in my previous city.

Just another day in the life of the smart and good looking. It's a long, lonely road, but I do the best I can.