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cxm wrote:It seems to me the DPS could save a bunch of money by putting most of this process on line.

The TR100 is just a form, and by putting it on line for instructors (they already have tight access security) it could simply be printed as needed in PDF format. The colors of forms is unimportant because the only color that makes any difference is white for the DPS.

An instructor could simply pay on line and be assigned a block of certificate numbers. The actual student certificate could also be on line and the instructor could print them as well and put the number on them.

After the class, the instructor should be able to access a data base and then enter the information about the students passing. On line entry by instructors would prevent DPS from having to manually enter data and allow their workers to concentrate on processing applications, print cards, background checks etc.

DPS could save both time and money by automating the process... it is hopeless as it is. Off the shelf software is available to do what is needed.

FWIW

Chuck

Greybeard wrote:" She said from now on we will have to order 4 weeks out. "

TX, I understand that, but something still appears amock bigtime there. For the kind of $ that we pay for the certificates and $ that students pay for the license, "customer service" should be better than that. If we ran our businesses in such a manner, we would be OUT of business pretty quickly - unless we were the only game in town (which they obviously are).

Another of their "efficiences" that I suspect is beyond Marion is the 1:1 ratio of mailed certificates to mailed packets (to instructors). I got in a fresh batch of certificates a couple of weeks ago, but still no matching packets (still with the OLD law booklets?) have hit the mailbox.

But, hey, like many, I don't really need 'em (except for some NEW law books) due to the build-up of boxes of 'em not needed by all of last year's students who already had theirs via intenet applications (and EXPENSIVE solo mailings).

It's amazing sometimes to me, within the Department, the differences in not just efficiencies, but ATTITUDE. But ... I best get off the soap box and find a fresh cup of coffee ...

Greybeard wrote:" Marion said it will take a minumum of 4 weeks to get certs. "

Something sounds amock bigtime there. I can somewhat understand their running behind due to assembling of packets, but it sounds like SOMEONE failed to get an order for (sequentially numbered) certificates to the printer in time. Or they are still shopping for low bid.

wrt45 wrote:

txinvestigator wrote:I just spoke to Marion at DPS. They are having trouble processing the huge numbers of requests for certificates. Certificates are sent along WITH packages.

I have never received certificates and packets together. They have always been shipped separately. Until recently I always received my packets a few days after the certificates arrived. Certificates have always come in a first class envelope, while the packets and TR100's came in a parcel post box.

Marion is the one who told me back in January that they were behind on preparing the packets and they would ship them ASAP.