If You Move/Change Your Address, Be Prepared for Extreme Vetting By Government Organizations Now

So as mentioned, we just moved. 

I had everything but personal items labeled in boxes since before Christmas. I also changed my address for everything, everywhere before the move - utilities, credit card, bank, etc, as you do -  so it was mostly a breeze.

So I went to get my driver's license changed, which you can't do online for address change, only renewal.

I discovered that because of the cuts to state funding, they no longer have 3 locations in town, they only have 1 per county.

So there'd be a wait -  okay, I can deal with that. It used to be that way years ago.

So I went on a Saturday and there was a long line, but they were very efficient and we were out in an hour.

Also, they were and always have been very nice at the DMV here. The people waiting aren't always  nice to them, but the staff themselves are nice. In fact, we chatted and joked a bit.

They did ask me if I wanted to get a Real ID - which you now need to fly even to another state - meaning Mark and I cannot fly and visit family with a Real ID instead of a driver's license and a passport isn't enough.

It takes a lot of documentation I didn't have with me, so I just got the regular driver's license for now. 

For ID verification, I used my old license, my social security card, and the new lease we had signed to prove new address, being that mail wouldn't work as it's still being forwarded until systems update.

So I get my picture, etc. - and then they tell me they don't give you the actual driver's license card anymore immediately, they mail it to you later - it will take 2 weeks to receive your new driver's license.

They hand you this lame temporary paper and paper clip it to your driver's license. Not sure how that flies if you're pulled over and I don't want to find out. 

This is apparently because they want more time to investigate your citizenship even to renew your driver's license or because you changed your address!

When the DMV attendant told me that, I laughed and said "Ya know, pretty soon, we're just gonna have to write 'I love Trump' on everything to get anything." 😂

She about fell out of her chair laughing. 

(Of course, that will never happen - I'd take 2 to the head from ICE before I'd ever write "I love Trump" on anything lol.)

I don't really get upset easily by stuff that upsets other people,  meaning most other white people - I've survived too much and am grateful, not entitled. 

In fact, CSRs have actually remarked on how I stay so positive and friendly, even when things are extraordinarily effed up and other people are Karening out, and how much they appreciate my kindness.

Like I said, it's because I've been through worse, so I don't sweat the small stuff usually. Having to wait in lines or even rude people don't really bother me.

If they do, I don't go all Karen about it and ask for a manager, I usually just accept that it is what it is and go elsewhere if I can - and in extreme situations, at most, I will tell them I'm going elsewhere and why - and then I will leave.

Luckily, no need to in THIS situation, the DMV attendant and I just laughed it off - oh, but wait, there's another situation just after this, proving that sometimes, you really should act like a Karen and not be afraid to.

So I buy my lottery tickets online at the kylottery website. While there, I sometimes play their online lottery games - I won $500 once and have won other big prizes. 

Keep in mind, the Kentucky Lottery IS run by the state government - a board of directors that answer to the governor. 

Also keep in mind that although our governor is a Democrat, virtually everyone else is Republican.

So I changed my address in the profile, right?

All of the sudden, this screen pops up asking me to verify my identity with driver's license, social security card, utility bills, and/or bank statements or W2s.

What the ??? 

I've played for 3 years and no one ever asked that and all I did was change my address.

But okay, I upload my temporary driver's license paper and my social security card.

I can't upload any mail because it's still being forwarded, and most companies wait until the next billing cycle to change address - and I'll be danged if I send the Kentucky Lottery my W2 or a bank statement or my W2, just to buy a lottery ticket online , that's none of their business.

I'm denied because it's a temp driver's license, which I anticipated, no big deal.

I did explain that this is what you get now, you have to wait 2 weeks for the card. They said to upload the actual card when received.

So when I got the card, I did that, back and front and resent my social security card. 

But I'm denied again because apparently I never signed my social security card. 

I've it almost 9 years, since I remarried and my name changed, and no one - including actual Homeland Security when filling out the I-9 for employment - has either ever noticed that nor cared, because your driver's license is right there as backup! 

But whatever - I signed it, uploaded it again.

Then they come back "There is information in your profile that needs correcting" - without bothering to tell me which "information needed correcting. 

Um, that's the reason we're in this situation to begin with - I changed my profile on the website, like I did for everything else, when I moved, and y'all asked me to verify my identity.

So I compare the profile with my driver's license and social security card and it matches my profile exactly - so at this point, I have no idea what they're talking about nor how to fix it.

At this point, I would've said "Eff it, I don't gamble that much anyway" - but I don't particularly care for my identity being called into question to this degree by the kylottery corporation, for goodness sakes, when the DMV didn't even give me this much grief!

I call the phone CSR and upload them again and she doesn't see a problem either and also has no idea what the verification team is  even talking about.

She sends the verification team a message to please re-review, there shouldn't be a problem - and additionally, I asked if a supervisor from that team could review my documentation and tell me exactly what I need to do, not "your information needs correcting" without telling me what information needs correcting.

She was great!

Now, I understand the temporary driver's license being an issue somewhat, but that is what the DMV does now, they mail you the card later to verify citizenship.

I even understand the social security card not being signed - despite the fact that Homeland Security didn't even blink when I presented it on the I-9.

But what I do NOT understand the profile not matching stuff nor this many roadblocks in general to buy a freaking lottery ticket online, this is just insane.

So I received an email shortly after that from the verification team techs again (supervisor hadn't reviewed the situation yet), who said I only had 5 chances and I used 3 -  like I'm trying to hack or something or not who I say I am!!!

Okay, that's it - THAT pissed me off - I don't take well to having my identity scrutinized to this degree BY THE KENTUCKY LOTTERY WEBSITE, just to buy a lottery ticket, not claim a prize!!!

So NOW I get snarky.

I said something like ...

"Then please elaborate on what you mean by "information on my profile needs correcting," because both your phone CSR and I compared them and they match exactly. 

You have my driver's license and my social security card and that should suffice. 

I would've given up and gone elsewhere if I wanted to gamble, but the proceeds go to education and I don't particularly care for having my identity questioned to this degree being a natural-born U.S. citizen and long-term Kentucky resident. 

Geez, even the DMV didn't give me as much grief! 

You are not Homeland Security or ICE, you're the ky lottery  - stay in your lane and get over yourselves!"

Too much? 

Probably.

And I also wrote the I also wrote the Kentucky Lottery Board about it because it's absurd.

Karenish?

Yes - but also, this proving citizenship crap has gotten way, way out of hand.

And here's the thing ... if I WAS an undocumented immigrant, do you think I'd be dumb enough to sign up at the Kentucky Lottery website, rather than go down to the corner store and buy my lottery tickets there?

Starting to piss me off, just saying.

_________________

PS - The supervisor reviewed it early this morning, bypassed all their nitpicking nonsense, and I was restored immediately. 

Thank you, phone CSRs and verification-team supervisor, you're great - your email helpdesk and verification team could use some work, though - or maybe they'd be better suited working for ICE than the Kentucky Lottery?😂

Because much like ICE, these techs have been so literal, getting hung up on minute details rather than looking at the documentation that's been amassed, and then go with their knee-jerk/trigger-happy natures anyway instead!

Having said that and on a venting-rant roll, speaking of ICE and the DHS, I'd tell Kristi Noem that she can kiss my lily white, natural-born US-citizen ass, but I don't want any of her fake face fillers left on me!  😂