*********** New Ottery Traffic Department Process

Good Day,

I want to report a bad experience at the above Traffic Department on the 25/09/2020 at 1pm.

My driver’s licence expired on the 31/03/2020 and I went to the New Ottery Traffic Department to renew it. I arrived at the Traffic Department just to stand outside in rainy conditions in a very long queue. After maybe a hour and a half I got to the counter just to be told I need proof of address to renew my driver’s licence which I had no idea was ever a requirement because 5 years ago I was not told to bring proof of address, did something change? Does your address get printed on the driver’s licence?

I was upset at this point because I work nightshift and just wasted my morning trying to get my Licence sorted out, this was a major inconvenience. This department has security and employees walking around the premises having good ‘ol conversation but there is not one person that comes to that ridiculous queue and check up with the public to find out why they are there and what documents they have as well as letting them know what documents are required. I was told to go and get proof of address and come back then I can jump the queue, at who’s expense? is the department going to pay for trip home and back again? I told the man at the counter I have proof of address on my phone and I could show or email it to him and he told me it had to be a hard copy…I asked for a supervisor and was told to go into the office next door to speak to the supervisor…I asked for the supervisor, that means he must come out to me which he clearly ignored because he could clearly here me with the amount of noise I was making. I suppose customer service is not needed when working for the government or city because no matter how the public gets treated the tax still comes off our salaries and your staff still gets paid.

Instead I left because who am I and my concerns does not matter.

A word of advice, make people aware of what documents is required when they just arrive so that they don’t waste their time, also employ more people so that the lines move along quicker.

Thanks.