x-sender: governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com x-receiver: governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com Received: from mail pickup service by sc.lmhostediq.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Sat, 18 Jun 2016 12:55:24 -0400 thread-index: AdHJgjTyfOsjkRNKRv+P2spcELWG8g== Thread-Topic: Response via eform 100002 - Help with a State Agency From: To: Subject: Response via eform 100002 - Help with a State Agency Date: Sat, 18 Jun 2016 12:55:24 -0400 Message-ID: <29F120D7AF744180ABEB335F6B6003EC@IQ12> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: Microsoft CDO for Windows 2000 Content-Class: urn:content-classes:message Importance: normal Priority: normal X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.1.7601.17609 X-OriginalArrivalTime: 18 Jun 2016 16:55:24.0372 (UTC) FILETIME=[35116940:01D1C982] WORKFLOW 344 Mr. Bob "Kevin" Grove Resident and Native South Carolinian 2120 Baldwin Park Drive Mt Pleasant SC 29466 aknot5@comcast.net 8439714898 8438224380 Governor Haley, I have found the level of incompetence at the SC DMV to be staggering. Here is the background. My 16 year old son having his beginners permit and having completed his training needs to take the drivers road test. I contacted the Mt Pleasant DMV office by phone and followed the automated instructions which state in order to schedule an appointment for a driver's test, leave a voicemail with your name and phone number and that a representative of the DMV will contact you within 1 business day to schedule an appointment. I left a voicemail message at the Mt Pleasant DMV for (4) consecutive days and did not receive a phone call. So I contacted the Columbia main number for the DMV, explained that following the directions on the automated line at the Mt Pleasant DMV did not result in a call back. After some convincing that leaving yet another voicemail would not be productive the representative at the main number in Columbia had a direct line to the Mt Pleasant DMV (they are actually able to reach a person) and was able to call the office while I held on the line and scheduled an appointment for my son at the Mt Pleasant DMV for Friday June 17 at 3:30PM. The representative told me to be at the DMV by 3:00PM for the 3:30 PM appointment. My son and I arrived at the Mt Pleasant DMV Branch at 2:45PM, checked through security and got in the DMV line at around 2:50PM. The line was long so I looked for signs and checked for any DMV representative that could help me since we had an appointment but I was told to wait in the line. We waited in the DMV line and finally made it to the check in person at 3:25 PM. When I explained we were there for a driver road test and had a 3:30PM appointment the first question I got was where was my paper form showing the appointment. I explained that I made the appointment by phone and was not notified of any form required. I have given my sons name and his SC Beginners permit number over the phone and that the DMV should be able to confirm his appointment. The second comment I got from the check in area was that the time was 3:25PM and that I was most likely too late for the 3:30PM road test. I explained that I had followed the exact instructions I received from SC DMV during the call when making the appointment and had arrived at the office actually earlier than instructed. The check in receptionist went ahead and processed our paper work and scheduled us for the next step but was not optimistic that my son could take the road test since we were so late. I did not comment at that point. So my son and I wait, my son gets called and meets with an SC DMV representative regarding his road test. I soon learn the representative is rescheduling his appointment because the office would not be able to fit us in on 6/17/2016 because we were late. I talk to the representative "Connie" and tell her that rescheduling my son's road test is unsatisfactory. That I followed instructions as provided to me when making the appointment, that I have taken off work specifically to take my son to the DMV for the road test and that my expectation is that he will receive a road test on this day. I am told that I was too late. I explain I was told to be at the Mt Pleasant DMV Office at 3:00PM and we met that requirement. Connie explained that I needed to be through the waiting line and at the check in desk at 3:00PM and that merely showing up at the location on time was not sufficient. I was also asked why I did not bypass the line and enter the DMV branch and ask instead of waiting in line. I pointed out there are no signs indicating any other course of action other than to wait patiently in line and that I did walk in the DMV area and was told simply to wait in line. Now it's easy for the DMV to simply re-schedule me, but I am a single father with 2 sons and I work. I have taken a good bit of time off work in the past to care for my spouse who died last year and I really cannot afford to take time off work for the DMV because they have they have failed to communicate exactly what is required to actually schedule and then appear for an appointment. Give me the requirements and I will meet them but don't change the requirements once set. So I finally told Connie that I have taken off work, I have all the paperwork, I have followed the instructions as provided to me by the DMV at the time of scheduling the appointment, that I cannot re-schedule and take more time off work and that my expectation is that despite being after 3:30PM the Mt Pleasant DMV will take any and all actions necessary to insure my son does get his road test. After much pain, anguish and stress level on my part Connie agrees and begins to adjust schedule to see if my son can take the test. While waiting there is a severe thunderstorm with high winds. The thunderstorm interrupts power to the DMV. Connie informs me that due to the storm there is just no way my son will be taking the road test on 6/17/2016 but that the Charleston Leeds Avenue Branch will be open the very next day (6/18/2016, a Saturday), that I will not have to take off work and I can bring my son in to take the driver's test. Connie takes our completed DMV forms seals them in an envelope and tells us to be at the SC DMV Leeds Avenue branch at 730 AM, and once the office opens and we make it to the counter, hand over the envelope with the completed forms and be able to take the road test. We arrive at the Leeds Avenue SC DMV branch 6/18/2016 exactly as instructed promptly at 7:30AM. I go up to the door and the sign on the door says that the Leeds Avenue Branch is only open on select Saturdays and is open from 0830 AM to 1:00PM. The sign says to check DMV online to see which Saturdays the branch will be open. I am confident it will open on 6/18/2016 because I have spoken directly with a member of the DMV who specifically told me the Leeds Avenue Branch will be open and recommended I be there an hour early on this day. So I see another paper sign on the left entry door at the Leeds Avenue SC DMV Branch. This paper sign lists the Saturday dates for which the branch is open. I see the branch will be open on June 11 and June 25. June 18, the Saturday which Connie at the Mt Pleasant DMV specifically told me the branch would be open, the branch that is 25 Miles from my location, well that date is not listed for one of the Saturdays that the branch would be open. I use my cell phone to check SC DMV online. There must be some mistake, a member of SC DMV has specifically told that the branch would in fact be open. Checking SC DMV on line Saturday June 18 at around 8:00AM I find that the online schedule indicates the next Saturday the Leeds Avenue Branch will open is in fact July 9. So now I have conflicting information. I have June 18 as I have been told in person at the Mt Pleasant SC DMV branch, I have June 11 and June 25 from a paper sign on the door of the Leeds Avenue Branch and I have a notice on the SC DMV online website stating Saturday July 9 is the next Saturday the branch will be open and guess what? None of them agree. I am not the only person confused. There is quite a crowd at the Leeds Avenue Branch waiting patiently for the doors to open Saturday June 18 at 0830. So now I have contacted the DMV repeatedly, I have taken off work and gone into the Mt Pleasant Branch with a scheduled appointment on a Friday for nothing, and based on information I received in person from a representative of the SC DMV on Friday June 17, I have risen at O'Dark thirty on a Saturday to drive 25 miles across town to get to the Leeds Avenue SC DMV branch to find that it was never going to open at all on that day. End result is my son has still not taken his road test and I have been exercised heavily with no result. As a native South Carolinian I find this level of incompetence and my shoddy treatment unconscionable. Now I know who ever reads this is probably going to laugh and say I am never going to get any of this but here is what I would like. I would like the SC DMV Executive Director Mr. Kevin Shwedo to personally attend to this issue until it is resolved. I would like to know what corrective actions are taken and I would like Mr. Shwedo to personally schedule my son's driver test appointment, show up at the Mt Pleasant DMV Branch to meet my son and escort him to through to the reception desk and insure he actually does get his driver's road test as based on past events I have no confidence in the DMV's ability to accomplish this (one of their primary functions) to date. I would like for Mr. Shwedo to assure my son that as South Carolinians we take great pride in our state and will not tolerate this type of incompetence in a state organization which we fund as tax payers to actually provide a service. I think after all the wasted effort I have been put through by the DMV I have earned special treatment. I appeal to the Governor's office to press my case and have faith that your appointee to the SC DMV once made aware will see to it that these miscommunications, errors, gross negligence and complete incompetence under his leadership is immediately corrected. I think I should be compensated for spending for time and effort, failed appointments, showing up early, taking off work, rising early on a Saturday and driving across town all for nothing. South Carolinians don't treat each other that way and I expect the SC DMV Executive Director to take any and all actions necessary to remedy the shoddy treatment I have received during his tenure. This all happened to a single father on Father's Day weekend just trying to schedule a driver's test for his son. I would like to think this situation would have never occurred in the State of South Carolina. Respectfully, Kevin Grove CC Honorable U.S. Representative Mark Sanford Honorable SC State Senator Lawrence K. Grooms Honorable SC State Representative Michael Sottile 76.26.216.215