Wheatley
2/5
It's really nice to have a small and clean DMV with no line; the latter being due to DMVs enforcing "by appt only," which has also made it impossible to book anything within two weeks, which isn't so great, but nice not to have to wait long once you're there, regardless.
I should note that, if you need a temporary registration, it's a funny little scam where, you pay more for the longer you need to get your emissions cert and to come back. The funny part is, the options are one, two or three weeks, but you can't get an appt to come back for any less than three weeks, so you're paying the full amount whether you like it or not. And if you don't get a temp registration that's long enough duration and runs out before your appt (they don't warn you of that so you better know), you're pretty much screwed.
So once you walk in, you hopefully only have to deal with the machine that prints out a ticket for you. But if you have any questions about that process, be ready for sarcastic attitude like I watched one gentleman experience while I was waiting. It was from a pompous security guard being condescending, not even acknowledging that the customer was mildly disabled, just filling up his ego to compensate for being paid little more than minimum wage.
Once you get called, you may have the luck of being called by one of the more patient CSRs that were helping their customers when I walked in—they were still working with the same person after I waited, was helped, and waited 10 more minutes looking for the answer to a question and left without receiving one. But if you're not as lucky, like myself, you might get Susan.
Now, if you've been dealing with the CT DMV process for a long time, maybe you have it down pat already, and if so, maybe you don't mind a Susan because your needs are minimal. But if you have any questions, prepare for the worst. Susan is "curt" at best. At worst, well, use your imagination so I can avoid inappropriate swearing and name-calling. Any question is answered with a condescending, rude response that implies you should've known the answer inherently—even if this is your first time registering a car within the state.
Upon I pay the exorbitant amount made up of random fees, a coworker asks her a question, making sure she's not helping anyone. But without even saying goodbye to me, she replies, "no, I'm done with this one," gets up and walks away. Meanwhile, I'm left with my jaw hanging open, looking to understand an item on this list of fees—some which don't even seem applicable—but before I can ask, she's gone. After waiting 5 minutes for her to come back, I mention to another worker nearby, "I hate to bother you while you're with someone," to which she replies, "have a seat" even though the customer is busy with something and she's not helping him at all.
I wait another 5 minutes, Susan comes back into the room, helps a coworker and walks back out. She sees that I'm still waiting, but she can't be bothered, and no one mentions that I'm still waiting for her despite me politely making it known. Clearly I can tell I'm not getting any help, so I leave, knowing that if I find I was wrongly charged, I'll never be able to get a refund once I leave, but these seem like the kind of people that'll tell me to call customer service anyway. They just want you out. They get their wish and I'm out of their hair.
DMVs are generally less than pleasant places, but I've often had the pleasure of being helped patiently with questions answered, even if I had to wait a while. I'd rather deal with a long wait and a helpful CSR than a short wait and a Susan. Susan is the type of entitled personality that really has no right feeling entitled since she works at the DMV, but also has no right dealing with the public for a living. It's like she's mad at the world for not being smart enough to be an accountant, just having the social skills of one (I'm sure there are plenty of kind accountants).
If you can time it right, you might be able to avoid Susan there—she'll be at the first window when you walk in. Good luck!
