NY Plates

[Gary W. Graley]

Funny story, kinda, got a receipt from NY State for a refund for one year for returning our license plates. Trouble is, we did NOT turn our plates in.

So I went down to our local DMV in Corning NY, really old building but the folks there are nice and helpful. The fellow I handed the receipt to said 'so, you turned your plates in right?' and I said no, they are on my car, always have been. He said that the system shows they were returned to Albany and a check is on it's way, a refund for half the registration period. I again said I do not know how that is possible since we never submitted anything like that to anyone. He made a frowny face, not to me, but to the situation and started punching keys and checking things. Printed out a form and started writing things on that, then went to the 'back room' to consult with the supervisor and when he returned he made a call to someone, not sure where they were located, maybe Albany. And I heard him say 'no kidding'. After his call he told me the person said that I was the fifth one this morning with the same situation.

In a way it was a relief to know I was not alone, but I wondered how many more people might have gotten this and not known what it was about.

He said the check may be on it's way and to just cut it up, do NOT cash it. He didn't have any paper work for me to have in the car stating we are valid, but did give me a warning to BE CAREFUL driving as the system shows that I am driving a car with returned plates and that could cause problems. Perfect

He later called our house and said they sorted it out and now we are good system wise and he is pretty sure the check was caught, but, if it showed up to tear it up.

We've only been in NY for a few years so I didn't know if this was something that was just sent out periodically or what, I called our insurance and they had no clue either.

But short story longer, it's all settled but I wanted to give you guys and gals a heads up if you get something in the mail like that, be sure to clear it up with your DMV as soon as possible, no since risking getting a ticket for something silly.

G2

 

[Arathol]

Sounds like an identity theft issue. You might want to do some checking around....credit reports etc to see if any unauthorized activity is going on. You might also want to file a police report and have them check the situation out in concert with the DMV, and maybe catch the people involved.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

That's always a possibility but hopefully it is just glitches within the DMV since there were other cases at the same time, but something to keep in mind for sure!
G2

 

[sgt1372]

Glad to hear the DMV in NY is no better than the one here in CA. LOL!

 

[Arathol]

That's always a possibility but hopefully it is just glitches within the DMV since there were other cases at the same time, but something to keep in mind for sure!
G2

Maybe a glitch, but there were other cases, which may point to something else. The State of New York had a significant system breach a couple years ago, and recently there have been quite a number of phishing scams involving the NY DMV. You never know.....

 

[jlauffer]

Many years ago I got a letter from State of NY saying I owed them taxes. Told them they must have the wrong guy, as I never lived in, worked in, or worked for a company in NY. Went back and forth until I gave them my SS# and they sent me a letter stating that there weren't any taxes owed under that SS#. Great...but still got another letter a year or so later saying I owed taxes. Just ignored it and nothing since.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Any government can have issues, California/New York and a few others seem to have more than their share. It reminds me of the movie "Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy" scene

G2

 

[Kirk Raptor]

Funny story, kinda, got a receipt from NY State for a refund for one year for returning our license plates. Trouble is, we did NOT turn our plates in.

So I went down to our local DMV in Corning NY, really old building but the folks there are nice and helpful. The fellow I handed the receipt to said 'so, you turned your plates in right?' and I said no, they are on my car, always have been. He said that the system shows they were returned to Albany and a check is on it's way, a refund for half the registration period. I again said I do not know how that is possible since we never submitted anything like that to anyone. He made a frowny face, not to me, but to the situation and started punching keys and checking things. Printed out a form and started writing things on that, then went to the 'back room' to consult with the supervisor and when he returned he made a call to someone, not sure where they were located, maybe Albany. And I heard him say 'no kidding'. After his call he told me the person said that I was the fifth one this morning with the same situation.

In a way it was a relief to know I was not alone, but I wondered how many more people might have gotten this and not known what it was about.

He said the check may be on it's way and to just cut it up, do NOT cash it. He didn't have any paper work for me to have in the car stating we are valid, but did give me a warning to BE CAREFUL driving as the system shows that I am driving a car with returned plates and that could cause problems. Perfect

He later called our house and said they sorted it out and now we are good system wise and he is pretty sure the check was caught, but, if it showed up to tear it up.

We've only been in NY for a few years so I didn't know if this was something that was just sent out periodically or what, I called our insurance and they had no clue either.

But short story longer, it's all settled but I wanted to give you guys and gals a heads up if you get something in the mail like that, be sure to clear it up with your DMV as soon as possible, no since risking getting a ticket for something silly.

G2

Sounds just like the NYSDMV. Here's my misadventure (my wife's, actually):

She called the DMV about registering a boat trailer. Needed to know what to bring with her when appearing in person.

She got all the requisite materials, went to the DMV and was told she brought the wrong papers. But, she explained, that's what the DMV told her to bring over the phone. She was then told, "you should know better than to believe what the DMV tells you over the phone."

Can't make this stuff up.