Hello Mr. Weiss,
I wanted to share a recent experience when my license plate failed a TLC inspection because it was peeling, so maybe others can avoid the tribulations I faced. It is a tale of two bureaucracies: The TLC and the DMV.
My front license plate failed TLC’s biannual inspection, although new stickers were applied. I was given two weeks to replace the plates. I emailed documentation and an application to TLC’s licensing division, requesting a plate transfer. Then I surrendered the plates at DMV and notified the TLC by phone, hoping for an update on my plate transfer application. I was told my request was in the queue.
I was in a time crunch, so I called again for an update shortly thereafter. This time, I was given a second email address in the licensing division and received authorization for new plates. The DMV charged me the full $467.50 for the new registration and plates.
I requested an appointment for re-inspection, which I passed – but the new plate number was not in the database, so I was unable to log on with Uber or Lyft. I went to the TLC, got in touch with a supervisor, and the problem was solved, but I still got a summons for missing the two-week window to fix the inspection violation.
I requested a refund from the DMV for the registration fee and disputed the summons by phone but was found guilty: $50 fine. After three months, I was given a refund from the New York State Comptroller for $25.
From start to finish, the process took almost three weeks, resulting in a considerable loss of income, aside from the cash outlay. Brutal, but lesson learned. My advice to your readers: Do not wait for email responses in a situation like this. Go directly to the TLC office to get it fixed.
Sincerely,
Pasquale Freni
