OK yet another complaint govt depts

I was looking through our cert of entitlement from IRD to see how much money they will be giving us as the new tax year started yesterday and noticed we are not receiving the in work payment. I ring them up to see why, and find out that Studylink have not sent through a little piece of paper to say that I am no longer receiving a student allowance. They were meant to do it in Feb . So the lady at IRD said that she would do a referal to their SL people and try and get it sorted but would not be sorted out till after Easter meaning we are out of pocket . She told me if I ring SL they could send it to IRD and it "may" get processed by tomorrow night meaning the correct payment would be sorted for payment on Thursday (long weekend issues). SL don't do that, they send a letter to me and i'm to forward that on to IRD (so where is MY letter ). I got the chicky to get her supervisor as I needed that letter ASAP and she didn't know what she was talking about.

One good thing he was able to sort it out for me and is fast posting it tonight from Wellington and i'll get it tomorrow. Now I have to find out from IRD if I can fax it to them so it is processed by tomorrow night.

Fingers Crossed I can as we need that money. Then I call BDM to see where Josh's birth cert is as its been 6 weeks and we kinda need it. The chicky there was really cool and found out that the person who processed the birth cert never rung me to tell me the credit card declined  (why I don't know as we used it yesterday and it worked fine) and this happened about 3 weeks ago . I was not impressed and I am going to be finding out why I was never called and told about this (and then getting their butt in trouble). I can call them tonight with card number (as DH has it) and they will fast post out to me. Lucky I still have 3 weeks to get Josh's details to IRD before anymore payments are stopped, then we would be in a bit of trouble.

I had to get this off my chest before DH comes home, easier to get the frustration out on by typing first.

Well after ringing IRD back she was able to put in the last date of payment of Student Allowance and has started the IRD in work payment up to start next week (but we get it this week due to long weekend). Why the other girl didn't do it I don't know. I do however have to send in the letter that SL send to me to confirm that I am no longer receiving the allowance. Hello tax department you see my income.

I forgot to ring BDM back with the credit card number so I have to make sure I get that from DH tonight and call them tomorrow. Then i'm going to be writing them a letter, not impressed with the service I received - well more the fact they never rung to tell me the card declined (I think they stuffed up not us, well I know there is money on the card). They should give me the birth cert for free.

GRRRR, Emma, you brought up my gripe -- I HATE that Emma Rose's birth certificate has our old address (a rental, no less) on the back. Looks so awful, especially since it was folded into threes to post it. If I have to pay $27 or whatever it was to get the damn thing, I want it in a nice flat A4 envelope without the stupid address printed on the back!

To add insult to injury, when we took Em to get her birth registered with the American consulate, they gave us the most GORGEOUS certificate stating that she's a US citizen born abroad -- it's all colourful and on pretty textured paper and embossed and has gold edges, with fancy printing and scrolly decorations. The US government can do SOME things the right way!!!