As an instructor I would certianly agree with everything you've said about checking and double checking signatures, photo's etc.rgoldy wrote:I would suggest that to anyone who is renewing Longtooth. It appears that the folks up there in Austin are working as hard as they can, but with limited resources they are running behind. Everyone should plan ahead, check your packets contents to make sure it is complete and accurate before you mail it. Look at the photo and the fingerprint cards, if they look bad to you they probably will look bad to them as well. Make sure you signed where you should etc. Mainly do everything you can to make sure it is easy to process the first time through. And, especially, don't wait until the last minute to take the class and send the stuff in. I am a firm believer in spending a little more for the class to get one where they do all the prep for you. Most of them will also check your paperwork to make sure it is done properly.
But I have a little problem with:
The office is obviously in chaos. Packets are being routinely lost, misplaced, dropped. Pictures and fingerprints are being returned as defective, when they are not. Just last week I had a student bring me his letter which stated, "Photo must have a white background." It did, the same exact background that the other pictures from the class had. It was a delay, nothing more.It appears that the folks up there in Austin are working as hard as they can, but with limited resources they are running behind.
And limited resources? We have one of the most expensive CHL's in the nation. Do the math. They are working with a large resource in the fees that are charged. Inefficiency and disorganization, perhaps, but it's not from a lack of resources.
Personally, my last renewal was lost in their office for almost 2 months. They said, "It never arrived." But they had signed for it from the post office. To their credit, when they finally found it, they rushed it through, and apologized profusely. But still, it is happening too often.
There are some very nice, very hard working people in the office, and they have never been rude, short or disrespectful toward me. I have met most all of them, and they're a good bunch of folks.
But the experience of too many of my students, myself, and others that I talk to, tells me that something is seriously wrong in that office.