Sometimes you feel like a putz

[mikester]

Alright, I feel like I am responsible in this problem I have to some degree so don't think that I don't feel responsible.



Today I had a hearing with the labor commission to determine if my previous employer owed me a payout for vacation time they didn't think they owed me.

I had been waiting for this hearing since last year; it was in Orange County in Santa Ana. I live in LA County near LAX. I left with a little more than an hour to get there - I checked traffic before hand to make sure I had enough time. Well, I was almost there with plenty of time when the exit I was supposed to get off at was closed. This really threw me and I wasn't in an area that I was familiar with having only been there once before for the original conference with the labor commissioner. So...now I'm lost and I have 20 minutes to get there. So, I try to find my way...I'm not a total idiot I just need to get around that exit closure...time is ticking though and by the time I feel I'm heading the right way I've only got five minutes. So, I call them and tell them - they say "cool". Well...turns out I wasn't going the right way and I had to turn around. So, I try to call them again, no answer, and again, no answer still...four times and I finally get there about 25 minutes late. I get there; sign in as directed by the girl shuffling cases and sit down. I talk to the people sitting there waiting and they are waiting for the same thing but they've been waiting for the other party for almost an hour now but the case hasn't been dismissed (ALMOST AN HOUR!). Okay...40 minutes goes by and I'm the last one in the waiting room and the girl behind the counter asks me "Why are you still waiting, your case was dismissed before you got here."

WHAT?!

I called and told them I was late, I called and called to get directions to no avail and then they let me sit there for 45 minutes after my case had been dismissed. Then they told me that I wasn't there when my parking ticket clearly showed I was there before 11 which is when they dismissed the case. They said there was nothing they could do and that I could get the same results in small claims court as well as a fast response.

I would have won the judgment (~$700 +30 days pay) because my previous employer didn't show to defend themselves. Now the case is dismissed and the only recourse I have it to refile in small claims court.

Needless to say I'm pissed but I'm just not totally sure if this is all my own fault and I should just accept it or if it isn't and I shouldn't. I wasn't somewhere that I was familiar with and I had an inadequate map but when I tried to contact the office for directions they didn't answer (3 times). I finally found my way but significantly later than my appointment time.

I could file in small claims and get the same results but I've already wasted so much time with the labor commission on it and I don't have that hard of feelings against my previous employer to put the through more. I'm just not sure it's right and if this is my own fault it certainly isn't.



Whatcha think? How big of a putz am I (please restrict comments to this instance of my putziness not past or future)?

[Zeke]

Being on time is part of the game. An hour is not enough anymore. I plan on being where I need to be with respect to time sensitive proceeding a half to 45 min early.

I don't know about a putz, but you didn't plan well enough. As for the way you were treated, I'm not surprised. I have nothing, nothing but contempt for any gov't office.