Fines

Archives of Posts to the NZ MX5 List back in 2003
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Gary Morrison
Need, more, 5-ing, time....
Need, more, 5-ing, time....
Posts: 100
Joined: Sun Jun 04, 2006 3:24 pm
Location: Wellington

Fines

Post by Gary Morrison » Wed Jul 30, 2003 2:47 pm

FY Entertainment...


FArQ | Jul 23, 2003 17:06
I don't normally like to use a forum like this to bitch about personal issues,
fines, tax, Baycorp and the like. However on professional medical advice,
today I'm making an exception.
For the first time in my (apparently sheltered) life, I feel completely and
utterly frustrated trying to deal with an enormous faceless government agency.
David has nothing on me; he toppled Goliath with one daring shot of a sling:
Thwack! Thud. Easy.
David should try sorting out some outstanding parking fines.

"Hi, I'd like to pay my fines off. Can I set up an automatic payment so it can
go out on the same night as my wages go in?"
"No, you can't. But you can come in each week and make payments, or post in
cheques each week."
"I can post in cheques? Why not an automatic payment?"
"Because it's too easy to stop an automatic payment."
"Easier than not writing out and posting a cheque each week?"
"That's right."
"I see."

"Hi I'd like to pay off my fine please"
"Sure, do you have the reference number?"
"Here it is."
"I'm sorry, we can't find that in our computer."
"But I've given you the reference number. Here's a letter from you about it
with the number on it."
"It's not in our computer."
"Does that mean it's been wiped?"
"No, we just can't find it."
"So what should I do?"
"There's nothing you can do, Sir."

"Hi, I'm trying to get hold of #####."
"This isn't the Auckland District Court. You've come through to the national
call centre."
"But I called the local number."
"It's been forwarded."
"Can you put me through to the Auckland court then?"
"No. You'll have to call back."
"What number should I try?"
"916-9000."
"But that's the number I just called."
"And who did you speak to there?"
"You! This is that call!"
"You'll need to call back."
"Won't I just get you again?"
"Probably."

"Hi, I'm trying to get hold of #### about my fines. I've left a few
messages
"
"She's not here today, she's sick."
"She was sick all last week too."
"That's right"
"Is there anyone else there that can help me?"
"No, not really. Your file is on her desk."
"You can't find it?"
"We're not looking."
"Is she coming back anytime soon?"
"Next week."
"Next week?"
"Hopefully."

"Hi, I was wondering why my fine payments haven't been credited?"
"We haven't received any."
"But I paid them in person, at the court."
"Do you have a receipt?"
"Not on me. Shouldn't you have a record of it?"
"It's not in our computer."
"Shall I just keep making payments in the hope that at least some of them are
credited against my fine?"
"I'm sorry Sir?"
"Never mind."

"Yes, hello is that Christie Scott?"
"No, you probably mean Damian Scott Christie"
"Probably. You have some outstanding fines."
"Yeah, I know. I've been dealing with #### at the Auckland District Court."
"I've got no record of that."
"Everything was finally sorted out on Monday."
"It's not in our computer."
"Look, I told you I've been dealing with #####. Here's her direct number. Call
her."
"If you don't pay these fines we're going to take action."
"Just call her! She'll tell you."
"I'm not going to do that. So are you going to do something about these
fines?"
"[click]"

Simon Lord
See my 5 and raise you.
See my 5 and raise you.
Posts: 98
Joined: Fri Sep 22, 2006 1:09 pm
Location: Albany

Fines

Post by Simon Lord » Wed Jul 30, 2003 3:01 pm

Thanks Gary - mind if I share this with some other people too? One man's
incipient heart attack is another's amusing email...

On a more serious note, don't give up. My experience with numerous faceless
corporations is
1. Always get the name of the person you are talking to.
2. Keep meticulous notes - as you seem to have done.
3. Insist on going higher up the chain each time.
4. Find an acquaintance who knows someone within the organisation with access
to the internal directory who can help you skip a few levels.
5. Keep persisting long past the point where any reasonable person would have
given up.
6. Communicate in writing wherever possible and send with each communication a
copy of your detailed notes to date.

The last time I did this was with Telecom and I ended up with several written
apologies and over $1600 worth of credits on my bill. I have to say, though,
that it was a real battle and I only persisted out of bloody-mindedness and
the feeling that I was going to give them at least as much grief as they had
given me! My sheaf of problems and call reports appended to the final letter
amounted to 32 pages!

Simon
97 SR Ltd
97 SR Ltd (sparkle green)
Email: simon@franchise.co.nz

Simon Lord
See my 5 and raise you.
See my 5 and raise you.
Posts: 98
Joined: Fri Sep 22, 2006 1:09 pm
Location: Albany

Fines

Post by Simon Lord » Wed Jul 30, 2003 3:01 pm

Thanks Gary - mind if I share this with some other people too? One man's
incipient heart attack is another's amusing email...

On a more serious note, don't give up. My experience with numerous faceless
corporations is
1. Always get the name of the person you are talking to.
2. Keep meticulous notes - as you seem to have done.
3. Insist on going higher up the chain each time.
4. Find an acquaintance who knows someone within the organisation with access
to the internal directory who can help you skip a few levels.
5. Keep persisting long past the point where any reasonable person would have
given up.
6. Communicate in writing wherever possible and send with each communication a
copy of your detailed notes to date.

The last time I did this was with Telecom and I ended up with several written
apologies and over $1600 worth of credits on my bill. I have to say, though,
that it was a real battle and I only persisted out of bloody-mindedness and
the feeling that I was going to give them at least as much grief as they had
given me! My sheaf of problems and call reports appended to the final letter
amounted to 32 pages!

Simon
97 SR Ltd
97 SR Ltd (sparkle green)
Email: simon@franchise.co.nz

Gary Morrison
Need, more, 5-ing, time....
Need, more, 5-ing, time....
Posts: 100
Joined: Sun Jun 04, 2006 3:24 pm
Location: Wellington

Fines

Post by Gary Morrison » Wed Jul 30, 2003 3:13 pm

Actually its not me in that, it was passed to me by a friend, I think the
actual person involved is mentioned towards the end of it. It was publicly
posted, so I'm sure can be passed on.


On Wed, 30 Jul 2003 15:01:46 +1200, Franchise New Zealand magazine & website
wrote:

Thanks Gary - mind if I share this with some other people too? One man's
incipient heart attack is another's amusing email...

On a more serious note, don't give up. My experience with numerous faceless
corporations is
1. Always get the name of the person you are talking to.
2. Keep meticulous notes - as you seem to have done.
3. Insist on going higher up the chain each time.
4. Find an acquaintance who knows someone within the organisation with access
to the internal directory who can help you skip a few levels.
5. Keep persisting long past the point where any reasonable person would have
given up.
6. Communicate in writing wherever possible and send with each communication a
copy of your detailed notes to date.

The last time I did this was with Telecom and I ended up with several written
apologies and over $1600 worth of credits on my bill. I have to say, though,
that it was a real battle and I only persisted out of bloody-mindedness and
the feeling that I was going to give them at least as much grief as they had
given me! My sheaf of problems and call reports appended to the final letter
amounted to 32 pages!

Simon
97 SR Ltd

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