What was your last battle or uplifting experience?

I had very little experience with them up to two years ago. I would argue with them... and they would tell me to get lost. A friend taught me how to deal with them... You simply have to play the game. You let them believe that they have the power and are smarter than you. You put up with the red tape they put you through... and you don't argue with them... no matter how ridiculous you think they are. As long as you give them what they want... they have no choice but to give you want you want. Once you have learned to do that... life become easy.

The latest was when I was applying for a community tax certificate. This was last Saturday. It was a battle considering that there was only one person manning the desk and there were almost a hundred on queue! She was tasked to distribute community tax certificate for the employees of our university so we won't have to go to the city hall for it. Well, they could have assigned at least two for the job so we wouldn't have to wait that long.

my last time when i was renew my passport, last 2 years, for me it more easy than before everything is just an hour not like before waiting for how many weeks or mont just to re-new your passport or apply your passport.

Not sure the last battle... guess it would have to be the VERY long lines at the post office. It is ridiculous in our town. There are always at least 7 people ahead of you in line. I have had to wait almost an hour before. Thankfully they have a table along the line so you can put your packages down on the table and just push them. Or when you go to the other side...where the windows are you can just turn around and grab them off the table. It is just plain ridiculous!

I am actually in the middle of one right now. The renewal of my sons passport with the Dept. of Internal Affairs in New Zealand. They called me to tell me they received my couriered package and to ask a few questions. Very polite and easy to deal with. They said if I didn't get another call within the next few days, then the documents would be processed and couriered back to me as soon as it's done. The only thing I had difficulty in was finding someone that has known my son for longer than 12 months (here in the USA) and they had to fit a certain criteria i.e. teacher, medical professional, police and so forth. I left messages with our family doctor and no reply. She is actually the only one that has known Madison longer than one year. I ended up asking his teacher who has only known him for 6 months and was not sure whether her witnessing of his photo and application form would be accepted. That is why they called me. He said he would talk it over with his supervisor and if I don't hear from him, then to assume its ok. Fingers crossed, I have yet to hear from him and that was two days ago. I just appreciated the fact they called me to tell me they received my sons application.

Every time I go to the government agencies for something, i always ended up exhausted. because of very unclear procedures, red tape (most of the times), and workers not attending to your needs right away.

The government department of DWP (Department of Work and Pensions) were the ones who called me in for a medical last Wednesday regarding my depression and benefits I am currently receiving, I had to see an independent doctor to assess me, well I have to say there were no complaints, and he was certainly more compassionate than my own doctor, mind you that's not too difficult. I have yet to wait for the results but I was pleased at how it went, hopefully I have passed. He was very professional and I felt comfortable with him.

Most of the time, going to a government agency to apply for anything or to get authorization and all is more like an ordeal to me. I am a patient person. I don't mind falling in line, waiting but a lot of times, red tape is part of it and I have encountered in the past some disrespectful employees who are more fit to work in a prison or correctional rather than in a decent public office. I can recall a few instances that I had good experience by doing that stuff though.