Murphy's Law...alive and well

Okay, most are aware my driver's license was boosted along with my wallet in the Rome metro on June 28th.  So, I returned home and immediately sent my application for a replacement Fed-Ex to my buddy W.T.  The reason for that is the application requires an $11 payment.  Not much, but have you ever tried to get a money order in USD in France.  It can be done, I guess, but by the time you're through you're out about 30€ and a day in wasted time.  So I sent it to W.T. asking him to front me the money and re-mail it to the Texas Department of Safety.

Their webpage stated it could take up to 45 days to get a replacement.  So, recognizing that state governments have been facing serious funding shortages and the inability to grow their departments and services, I included a short note stating that I was in France driving without a license and would really appreciate anything they could do for me in terms of expediting the process.  Of course my main concern is I'm scheduled to leave on a very long motorcycle ride through Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Germany, etc., etc. on July 31st.  I could have mentioned that but figured why chance the possibility that it winds up on some civil servants desk who would cop an "I'm stuck here processing license renewal applications and this yahoo is riding through Europe and I'm supposed to break my pick helping him?" attitude.   So, I sent the note without mentioning the scheduled trip. On reflection, probably a mistake.

Last Monday I started calling their customer service number.  That didn't work very well.  On each occasion I got a phone machine telling me they were quite busy and asking me to call the very same number I'd just called.  Since I don't have my license yet I will forego the opportunity to expound on that particular example of customer service.  Noticing a place on the webpage to leave an e-mail I elected to do that.  The problem: well, they ask for two phone numbers but will not accept overseas numbers.  (I'm foregoing yet another opportunity here.)  I left my U.S. number through which I can get voicemails, and W.T.'s number as an alternative.  The good news: I received a phone message today.  The bad news:  They have scheduled to mail my new license on July 30th.  That's exactly one day AFTER I LEAVE!!!!!!!!  I could give them a FedEx number and it wouldn't do any good.   Isn't that interesting?  You can call me seven days before you do something because you have "scheduled" to do it, but you can't just bloody DO IT!  "Hi, I'm from the government, and I'm here to help you."

So now I'm trying to think of ways to make the trip without my license.  I have a color photo copy of it, and a copy of the application for the replacement and, now, a phone message from the Department of Public Safety stating they are mailing it, so I'm hoping that'll will work.  If I were staying within the European union I would feel pretty good about it.  But Croatia, Slovenia?  I can just see some border officials eyes light up with $$$$ signs as I sit here.

But, as I've said before, feces occurs.



Update - Thursday, 29-JUL-10
Earlier in the week I left yet another message on the Dept of Public Safety webpage to no avail, but I was able to talk to someone who actually helped me.   I called the department in Austin and was routed to the same customer service number I note above twice.  Managing to hold my temper (they are, after all, holding my license ransom), I called back and was answered by a nice lady who laughed when I pleaded with her not to put me through to that number because no one "ever, ever, ever, ever, ever answered it."  She put me through to a nice lady who informed me they were planning to send my license to my Texas home address instead of the French address I had requested originally.  That was the change I was seeking, though I note that it wasn't what was requested BY THE CUSTOMER!  But, this time I'll take bad service if it yields the desired result.  Thanking her profusely I pushed my luck and asked if they could, perhaps, mail it today (Monday) instead of Friday.  She told me she couldn't make that happen.

So, the plan is to watch my mail forwarder's website for their receipt, then to request them Fed Ex it to me at a city in front of me.  Don't know where that will be, but I'm hopeful.  Of course, Murphy's Law is still out there: I'm scheduled for an automatic shipment to my French address on the 4th.  I can just see that one getting my license which will mean I'll get it back when I return.  Of course I'm going to request they sit on that shipment until I receive this needed piece of mail and then forward it to me on the road.  The saga continues.