Secretary of State Office — Local services in Troy

If you are from out of state thinking about doing the right thing getting a license, registering your car and paying the MI no fault insurance. Here are somethings things to think about. Trip 1 (line 1) : I go to the SOS to do the right thing. Convert my out of state 8 year license to a MI license and register my car to the State of Michigan. I end up with neither of those things accomplished at the end of the first trip. Even though a license entitles you to drive in any state in America, Michigan feels a need to have three more forms of identification. And their licenses only last 4 years. I guess they do not want to make it to easy for residents either. And for the vehicle registration you need MI no fault insurance. Take you insurance add the price of an arm and a leg and you have the cost of no fault insurance. Trip 2 (line 2): Return with everything I need and wait to be serviced. Bring cash if you do not want to pay extra. Finish the necessary paperwork and receive a MI license plate. In Michigan they seem to only give one plate. Not sure what do with the front of my car but not a big deal. And then get a temporary license as it will take 2 to 3 weeks for them to send it in the mail. Not a big deal until the cashier returns with a piece of paper stapled to a voided out of state license. Thanks for letting me pay you to take an 8 year license and making it last 30 days. I never received that permanent MI license. And as an added bonus no one know what a temporary MI license plate is. Anytime you get carded its either like I let you in for double or you better be prepared to tell the door check that it says void on the license but if you read the paper, it says its good. Mind you it is regular paper so it looks like anyone who owns a printer could print that out but that just how it is done in MI. If you can get a license without having your home state license voided I would recommend it. I learned to be a lot more assertive with only a piece of paper providing my credentials. Trip 3 (line 3): Wait in another line for an hour and 10 minutes. To do something that literally takes 2 minutes if I were more cooperative. Made sure to ask the lady 5 times why can she just unvoid my old license. And told her 10 times I would rather not come back. Made sure she knew I rather be anywhere else and be doing anything else. Productively insisted if it happened again, I rather just call or use an on-line service. She politely told me I would have to come the SOS building and wait my turn like everyone else. But I was fortunate that she would not charge me to send me another one. Thanks, an hour and 10 minutes of my time to get a piece of paper and you not going to charge me for that. Not to mention, where is the original license? Someone else could have that and you gave them a legitimate copy of my license. I am glad MI does not run the social security office. At least a license had a picture on it. Hoping for the best. Hopefully I will not have to go back soon. Or better yet, MI could give the license in person. I have had to go to see them 3 times with 3 at minimum hour long lines. If I have to go back a forth, I think it might be easier and less time to drive 7 hours one way and handle my business. It would definitely be cheaper and less...

Absolutely horrible service, rude and the very unprofessional. I went to have my title changed over to the new owner and did everything I was told to do by the LANSING office. However upon arrival to this branch the customer service rep would not accept the paperwork. When I tried to explain the company I financed thru went out of business, she called me a liar and claimed I was trying to commit fraud. She then started discussing my issue with the branch "manager" from across the room and so everyone could very clearly hear my business and concerns. This "lady" then looked up a company on google with a similar name and told me they weren't out of business and wrote a random customer service number on a sticky note.

One- Train all of staff to know and understand what the laws and processes are for the State of Michigan, as I called Lansing again today on a recorded line and was told exact information I had given was 100% acceptable and there should not have been any issues.

Two- Fire the branch manager, as she is clearly incompetent, unprofessional and unable to train and manage her supporting staff members. Yelling across the room is beyond unacceptable and my private business should never have been discussed like that.

Three- I contacted the business in writing as directed, and am happy to report, that I was correct, it is the WRONG COMPANY. The company is not even close to the same nor has it ever had any association with fiance company indicated on the Title, EXACTLY what I tried to explain.

Instead of being polite and trying to work me on the issue and the concerns, this branch treated me very poorly, provided incorrect information, and openly discussed my personal business in a public setting.

So, yeah I will be returning with not only the conversation on record, but also all the same paperwork and the letter from the company stating they are not in any fashion related to the other that is out of business.... I will also be making a formal complaint with the...

The SOS has a clear check list online of things needed to file your requests. In my case, it was a simple title transfer. I presented all documents listed on the website and had an appointment. Someone calling names and verifying documents told me I was missing a statement to show I paid taxes on the vehicle. This documentation was not listed on the checklist. When I told her I had the email version of the memorandum of sale listing the taxes I paid already, which I had requested the sellers to send to me so I would get it quickly, she said that was unacceptable. She didn’t have reasoning. Refused to acknowledge that the requirements on the site were not reflecting what she was saying.

The entire point of the online checklist is to make sure that you come to the appointment prepared. When I asked them to provide in writing what I needed so I could come back and make sure this did not happen again, they refused. They told me I needed to make another appointment and if I was missing anything else, they would send me away again. They were rude and intentionally told me to wait outside in 90 degree weather while they got the manager, just hoping I would leave. I explained several times I needed this done today or tomorrow morning because I’m selling the car. I waited for 20 mins while they all stared at me and shut their computers down. I even offered to just pay the tax again and would file for a refund on my own. Someone else working there said that shouldn’t be a problem and then closed and locked the door for 5 mins. Came back and said, “never mind, you have to come back for an appointment because we’re closed now.”

They take advantage of the fact that people are required to come here and it’s not just a business that people can refuse to come back to. They intentionally don’t wear name tags so you don’t know who to address if they are rude. Absolutely sickening how they take advantage of people in situations they...