CA DMV Extortion?

[Brando]

Here's a fun one.

About 2 years ago (Oct 2008) I sold my 1975 914. Sent in release of liability, sent title to new owner (in FL) yadda yadda all the norm.

After filing my taxes I found that the great state of CA decided to withhold my refund. Why? Unpaid registration fees.

Here's where it gets good.

My 914 "has" about $262 in fees/penalties. I called the CA franchise tax board, paid the parking ticket amount of $54, RE-SUBMITTED the release of liability and was assured I would stop being harassed for 2 years worth of registration fees.

I get a letter in the mail from the DMV today. They want another $154 for registration and penalties.

So I'm thinking F*ck that. They won't take my name off the title (re-submitting Release of Liability AGAIN). Calls result in busy signals or disconnects. Franchise tax board closes early in the afternoon.

So my guess is... Has anyone dealt with this before? If so, how? It seems that even when following the solutions the system has in place I can't get the results I need. I sure as hell don't want another $154 taken out of this year's tax return either.

[speeder]

That sucks. Try this number, 800-777-0133. You might be able to get a live human, no guarantees...

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by Brando

I sure as hell don't want another $154 taken out of this year's tax return either.

Then stop giving them a free loan. Adjust your witholdings so you're writing them a check each year instead of letting them write you a check and then decide how much of it to keep for other reasons.

[Zeke]

That may not work, Rick. They might assess him the 154. But, he has a year to clear it up.

The DMV's computer system is messed up. They have data bases that are not synched with others.

[sammyg2]

I traded in a nissan pathfinder at a dealer in 1995.
Several years ago I started getting nasty notes from the city of LA telling me I owed them thousands of dollars in unpaid parking tickets.
Threats of bench warrants, etc.
I wrote to them telling them that I have not owned that vehicle since 1995 and it was traded in through gateway chevrolet, they didn't care. More threatening letters.
I went to the DMV.
A couple hours later, the clerk told me the vehicle was definitely not registered in my name and hadn't been for at least 10 years. I asked her to print it out, she said it was top secret and she'd have to kill me.
No she didn't actually say that but she did say she was not allowed to give out other people's private info. I said I just need something that says it is not registered to me. she said I'd need a lawyer to submit the correct forms and pay the correct fees.

I mailed a copy of the letter from the city of LA and a copy of my reply, and their rejection to the office of my congressman.
I explained what was going on and said i didn't know what to do. I said I was afraid I was going to get arrested for something I didn't do.

I got a nice letter back from my congressman saying that I shouldn't worry, it was all taken care of.
A couple weeks later I got a letter from the City of Los Angeles saying that I shouldn't worry, everything was taken care of.
And it was.

I am always surprised when people tell me they have never written their congressman or asked for his or her help.

They will be glad to help and they have a whole bunch of power. They just tell one of their aides to handle it and then they take the credit for it and get your vote for life and they know you'll tell everyone you know how cool they are.

If you get jacked around by the DMV, call or mail your congressman.

He'll call his buddy who is a high-up the DMV and ask for a favor. That guy will call the manager who will talk to the superintendant who will get pissed at the supervisor and chew his butt, the supervisor will yell at a clerk, and they'll stop hassling you.
Problem solved.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

I traded in a nissan pathfinder at a dealer in 1995.
Several years ago I started getting nasty notes from the city of LA telling me I owed them thousands of dollars in unpaid parking tickets.
Threats of bench warrants, etc.
I wrote to them telling them that I have not owned that vehicle since 1995 and it was traded in through gateway chevrolet, they didn't care. More threatening letters.
I went to the DMV.
A couple hours later, the clerk told me the vehicle was definitely not registered in my name and hadn't been for at least 10 years. I asked her to print it out, she said it was top secret and she'd have to kill me.
No she didn't actually say that but she did say she was not allowed to give out other people's private info. I said I just need something that says it is not registered to me. she said I'd need a lawyer to submit the correct forms and pay the correct fees.

I mailed a copy of the letter from the city of LA and a copy of my reply, and their rejection to the office of my congressman.
I explained what was going on and said i didn't know what to do. I said I was afraid I was going to get arrested for something I didn't do.

I got a nice letter back from my congressman saying that I shouldn't worry, it was all taken care of.
A couple weeks later I got a letter from the City of Los Angeles saying that I shouldn't worry, everything was taken care of.
And it was.

I am always surprised when people tell me they have never written their congressman or asked for his or her help.

They will be glad to help and they have a whole bunch of power. They just tell one of their aides to handle it and then they take the credit for it and get your vote for life and they know you'll tell everyone you know how cool they are.

If you get jacked around by the DMV, call or mail your congressman.

He'll call his buddy who is a high-up the DMV and ask for a favor. That guy will call the manager who will talk to the superintendant who will get pissed at the supervisor and chew his butt, the supervisor will yell at a clerk, and they'll stop hassling you.
Problem solved.

I think you can't use that route but once in a politician. Unless of course you're on the donor list. Then the favors will be proportionate to the amount of donations.

We do know that works.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by milt

I think you can't use that route but once in a politician. Unless of course you're on the donor list. Then the favors will be proportionate to the amount of donations.

We do know that works.

You say that from personal experience, right?
I thought so. You don't know how it works.

I've called 3 different congressmen and one state rep. and have been helped by them several times and I never gave them anything but my support and my vote.

Of course they were all republicans, maybe the dems only do things for money?

[NICKG]

brando..they are doing the same with my 914 now. i got the threats for a car i bought in cali and shipped to nj...
I followed the laws here in nj as to transfering ownership and they still don't care. NJ says i am fine, Cali does not. PIA on a major scale, i have written letters, called them and still they harass me on a car that is clearly NOT in my name(and they see that on their dmv screen) and not even in cali anymore

[Tobra]

It is all about generating revenue, just like the red light cameras.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

You say that from personal experience, right?
I thought so. You don't know how it works.

I've called 3 different congressmen and one state rep. and have been helped by them several times and I never gave them anything but my support and my vote.

Of course they were all republicans, maybe the dems only do things for money?

I do know how it works. I don't give jack to politicians and they don't return my calls. Of course they can see I'm not registered to vote.

I was just saying that if one calls favors too many times w/o some kind of reciprocation, they will tire of being of assistance.

Back to my first sentence. If one doesn't give to a LB councilperson, one doesn't get anything from them. Yet, many have bought whatever they want around here. That's how it works in LB and has since my grandfather's day when he bought what he wanted.

I know one person with 5 DUI's who has spent a LOT of money and never seen the inside of a jail. When I say a LOT of money, I mean in the millions donated to this and that. I can't name, but the name is on several landmarks and plaques.

I never learned the art.

It's been said that this city of 500,00 is run by 50. All of the pols from the city to the state are in someone's pocket. We have 3 pols from one family alone.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I got something similar - they want registration fees for my 944 that hasn't been in CA since last year. Sent it back with a certified letter saying that I'd moved out of state along with a copy of the vehicle shipper's invoice showing the dates. Idiots. And they wonder why anyone with any sort of money at all is moving the hell out of there.

[dan88911]

You may have to make a rare personal appearance at your local DMV. Good Luck with that. O and bring your paper work

[Mr.Puff]

I got something similar - they want registration fees for my 944 that hasn't been in CA since last year. Sent it back with a certified letter saying that I'd moved out of state along with a copy of the vehicle shipper's invoice showing the dates. Idiots. And they wonder why anyone with any sort of money at all is moving the hell out of there.

Yup, CA is a trap I have been trying to escape for years . Just a few more months and I may be out of here!