Getting the runaround on paperwork (Warning: Rant Ahead)

[VeeNDee 44]

Yesterday was crazy - I spent half the day on the phone and the other half driving around town like a lunatic with my head cut off. I was supposed to get 3 things done - request a compliance letter for my car, get the police certificate and get my TDaP vaccination. In the end only one out of the three got accomplished.

First thing I decide to do is get the compliance letter for importing my Toyota. Seems simple right? Call and request one. Not so much...

Person A) I call my local Toyota dealer and get stuck with the receptionist who has no idea what I'm asking for. Time to go on hold.

Person B) I'm transferred to a man who tells me in gruff tones "We don't do those - you have to call Toyota Canada" and gives me their website and hangs up. I knew I'd probably have to phone headquarters but I was hoping it could be done locally to save on time etc.

Person C) I call Toyota Canada and after punching buttons get a person. She takes down all my information, then tells me I hit the wrong buttons and my request has nothing to do with traveling with my car (it seemed like the best option...) and that Toyota Canada had to deal with that request (Uhh...I called Toyota Canada on the number from the Toyota Canada website!) but she says 'No problem I'll transfer you" so.... I wait on hold.

Person D) Next lady picks up. She takes down all my information again (aka I have to spell out my name, email, address, phone, vehicle VIN# etc) and then proceeds to tell me that since I don't have a lease with Toyota Canada (aka I have paid off my car) I've called the wrong number and I need to talk to regular Toyota Canada. AGH! But she also says 'Don't worry, I'll transfer you".... back on hold.

Person E) The third lady picks up the phone. And take a wild guess what she does. Yep. Re-records ALL my information. A few minutes later after writing this info all down, she tells me, "Sorry we refuse to issue compliance letters now." I'm like.. 'bwuhhhhhhhhhhhhh uhh what now" and she tells me I need to go to the nhtsa.gov site and she reads me off several paragraphs of text-ese on a few sub pages saying what to do when your manufacturer refuses to issue you a compliance letter and gives me a list of approved importers. I ask in confusion "But I know people who got a compliance letter" and she replies "Yeah well we decided that wasn't our job to issue those letters and not what our business is involved in" and basically hangs up.

Person F) So I'm staring at this long text-ese section on the nhtsa website and find the list of improved importers. I call the first one in Blaine WA since it's closest - I give them all my information, car make/model etc, only to be told "We only import heavy duty trucks" and hung up on.

Person G) I call another importer who puts me on hold to talk to the relevant person.

Person H) This lady takes down all my information, then starts listing off the fees. $500 for her, $100 for customs broker, + duties at which point I break in and say 'Uhhh but I'm allowed to import my car duty-free due to my visa!" This leads to a 10 minute conversation about visas, fees and importation. Long story short if I have two stickers in my car I don't need her, and if I only have one sticker in my car I do need her, and if I don't have any stickers in my car I'm screwed.

EPA1 sticker - if this is in the engine compartment somewhere she can help me

DOT "federal motor vehicle safety standards" - if this sticker is in the doorjamb she said I won't need her

Anyway so I went to my car and hunted all over - I found the EPA sticker in the engine compartment (Yippee!) but after checking every single doorjamb in my car I can't find the DOT safety sticker - the closest I found is the 'Manufactured in Canada' sticker. I am wondering if by saying that it was manufactured in Canada and meets the CDN safety standards if that is good enough for importing my car.

Any thoughts?!

In other news, I went to my doctor for my TDap shot (I'd made the appt two weeks earlier after confirming they had TDap not just TD) but when I arrived (and of course had to wait forever to see the doctor), they were out of the shot. The doctor said "oh no worry you can go to public health and get it down there! No need for an appointment!" so I drove over to public health. Only to have the lady at the desk get annoyed because I was there without an appointment and she sent me away to make an appointment for another day.

I then drove to the police station to get the certificate only to find out that local branch didn't do those, and I had to drive half an hour further to get to a place that DID! But on a bright note, they gave me the name check one (it cost about $53 for me to get) right away. I'm pretty sure I don't need the fingerprint one (the lady said they could not be held responsible or give a refund if I got the wrong one) but from all the VJ reading we just need the National Records check. Thanks VJ!

Anyway, who knew this visa stuff could be such a pain!!

[Flames9_RN 358]

YA others on VJ have reported that some manufacturers have stopped issuing the letters, not sure why. Takes all of 5 minutes for them to email/fax it! Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day

[dukeandduchess 141]

Ugh! Talk about frustrating! Sorry you've had problems *big hug*

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Yikes! Sounds like an interesting day. There are better days ahead!

[at long last 58]

So is the TDap a top priority? meaning how fast does it have to get done, because I went to my pharmacy and purchased it took it to a walk in clinic and had the DR give it to me and sign my record of vaccinations and was out the door.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

So is the TDap a top priority? meaning how fast does it have to get done, because I went to my pharmacy and purchased it took it to a walk in clinic and had the DR give it to me and sign my record of vaccinations and was out the door.

It needs to be done but you've clearly taken care of it so nothing to worry about. Bring your documentation to your medical.

Edited August 17, 2012 by Udella&Wiz