Yep, either make a prepaid reservation or stand in line for half a day to shop….. or drive 30 miles to the next grocery store. Given them the Government type of “service”, line, wait, close store for break, wait, clerk talking to others about personal stuff, wait, dare not complain about lack of service or efficiency, wait……
I got a letter from Social Security that said I had to provide them with required information by April 5 or lose my benefits. The letter didn’t say what information they needed. It said to call a particular employee.
We called many times every day, leaving voicemails each time. It takes about 15 minutes to get through the automated system so you can ring the part’s extension. He never returned our calls. This went on for weeks. We got hold of a different clerk at the office, but she said she had no way of knowing what this guy wanted.
Finally, on the day before the deadline, we went to the SS office. There were over 200 people in the waiting room. They had 4 clerks processing people. The average waiting time was more than 8 hours.
We saw a clerk after about 8 hours. She set up a phone appointment with the guy from the threatening letter. The appointment is in May. I still don’t know what he wants, but the printout they gave us says whatever it is, we have to provide original documents: photocopies and faxes are not allowed. I have no idea how you do that on a phone appointment.
Some of the people in the waiting room had been coming day after day.