Bureaucratic Hell

I need to take a moment and rant.

Before I do so, let me state unequivocally that I am supremely happy to be living in the lovely state of Florida. But that is SOLELY because of my wonderful husband.

I am having the most difficult time registering my stupid car here! Between the tax appraiser's office and the company my vehicle is financed through, apparently there is some kind of gross miscommunication. The tax appraiser's office needed the title of my car to issue a registration and license tag. The finance company sent it, but it has my maiden name on it. The tax appraiser's office says that they need permission to change the title to my married name. I relayed this necessity to the finance company, and they faxed a letter authorizing me (with my married name prominently displayed on the letter) to register and title my vehicle in the state of Florida to the tax appraiser's office. However, the tax appraiser's office states that they need the finance company's permission to change the name on the title. I called the finance company again, and they act like they've never heard of such a request! They told me that they (the finance company) don't EVER change titles, but that it is up to the issuing authority (i.e., the tax appraiser's office) to make such changes on the title.

At this point, I asked the customer service rep at the finance company, "So you're telling me that it is the tax appraiser's office's JOB to change the title, and that the permission to do so is IMPLIED?!" And she said, "yes." I asked her if she would fax a short sentence to the tax appraiser's office stating, "You have the permission of ____ Finance Company to change the name on the title from _________ to ________." And she said that she couldn't do that, because they just don't DO that.

I just want to register my vehicle and have a tag so that I don't get pulled over for driving without a valid Florida tag and registration. The temporary one I have now will end at the end of the month. At the rate this is progressing, I may have to start hitchhiking to work every day to avoid violating the laws of the lovely state of Florida.

*SIGH* I don't know what else to do...