Between Rock and Hard Place

[nbk]

Ok, I am in a unique situation, which is eating away at my resolve every day.

You see, back in June I had applied to the Office of the Registrar General for a legal change of name. My impression was that a background check would be conducted, and once they see I have no criminal record I would recieve my new name, at which point I could join the Army.

And so I waited. Called in July, they said that it would take about 16-18 weeks, placing the date I would recieve it some time in October. Just great I thought...I had planned on starting the enlistment process in July, but now it would have to wait until fall.

I waited more, worked out every day (I havent a job) and when mid October came around and I received nothing, I called back. They stated that there were processing applications from May 21st 2003. A month before I sent mine in. "Well at least they are getting things done" I thought.

Called back in November, they say, "we are processing applications from June 2nd". Took a month to process 2 weeks? Wow. Oh well. I continued to work out and wait.

Called December, they said "Still processing applications from beginning of June". Holy **** I was getting angry. They said call back in a month...so what else can I do...

Now is where it gets really f***ed...January comes, I call, busy signal. Call again, busy. I spent entire days calling every half hour from 9 until 5 (when they are open). They are not even picking their phones up anymore.

Their number is 1-800-461-2156, and you will get a recording telling you to call 1-416-325-8305, which will be busy. Go try calling yourself if you dont believe me.


The problem is that they have my original birth certificate. On the form for the army application they clearly say I need an original copy of my birth certificate.

The media has reported only very little about this, but many Ontarians are inconvenienced by this. People who have lost their birth certificates, or had them stolen have been waiting many months becuase of this god**** ******* Office of the Registrar General.

I dont even care about the name change anymore. But I cannot get my birth certificate back from them either, because I cannot contact them. They have one email address on their websitem which I have not got a response from. I have also emailed my member of provincial parliament, and the Premiere of Ontario (Dalton McGunity), getting no responses from them either.

I have no clue what to do. I feel like ripping my hair out I am so frustrated with this bullshit. I am even considering contacting the media, like "Silverman helps" on CityTV Toronto, because I have no clue of how to fix this problem. To state again: I have no way of contacting the Office of the Registrar General, because they do not answer emails or their phones.

I do not have any other ID. No drivers licence, photo health card or passport. I need my birth certificate to get all of those. If I knew it would have taken this long to get my name changed, I never would have done it. They clearly lied and only told me it would take a week or two to get processed.

Is there any possible way I can get my application for the Army processed without my original birth certificate? I have photocopies of everything, including the "change of name" form.

In May 2004 my letters of refrence for the Army application will be over a year old, and obsolete. I will have a tough time tracking down my friends, as they went off to university (Waterloo and BC) so I will have no letters of refrence all because of this stupid Office of the god**** Registrar General, and the fact that they took this long.

I am so screwed because of this government. I cant get a job, go to a hospital or doctor, or leave the country because of this. I am at my wits end and about to snap. If there is anything anyone knows how I could remedy this situation please, please tell me.

Thank you.

 

[CL84]

Well...Why would you want to change your name in the first place? Well I know you don‘t want to now, that‘s good. I guess you could talk to a recruiter and explain your situation to one of them. I‘m sure you can work something out. They have a much better chance of contacting goverment peoples than you do I would expect. They‘ll sort it out, or tell you what to do. Worth a shot. I also lost my id. ALL OF IT. Took almost a year to get my birth certificate back and just got my sin card and health and everything else. Good timing because I am leaving in May for basic, and they needed to see all my id...Anyways, that‘s all that I can think of. Talk to a recruiter.

 

[portcullisguy]

If you live in Toronto, go down to the Office of the Registrar General during business hours, and ask to speak to a manager.

Their office, last time I had to visit, was at the Macdonald Block at Queen‘s Park (Bay & Wellesley).

Explain the situation, and ask who the appropriate person is to contact.

I can‘t offer you much hope, though. If you sent your ONLY original copy of your birth certificate back to them, it will probably be tied up in bureaucratic he|| for a long time!

Do you have nothing else? A passport for example?

If you still can‘t contact anyone or get any answers, try the Ombudsman of Ontario. This is a person whose job it is to act as an oversight to inefficiency and undue delays in governmental interaction with citizens, at the provincial level.

The Ombudsman is listed in the blue pages of the phone book.

 

[AlphaCharlie]

Go Postal? lol.


best bet is go down to their office yourself and b1tch. lots.

 

[tree hugger]

I don‘t understand why you gave them your original birth certificate....wasn‘t a photocpy good enough?

 

[nbk]

Thanks everyone.

I had to give my original copy of the birth certificate, because they will issue me a new birth certificate with my new name. Having 2 original copies of birth certificates with 2 different names on them could mean I could get 2 different sets of ID, 2 credit card names/lines of credit, bank accounts, passports, 2 different everything. I could be 2 different people.

I wanted to change my name, because I have a hard to say European name, that no one can pronounce properly, and it in annoying to always have to spell out my name after repeating it two or three times to whomever I am talking to.

My father used to work at Queens park (Ministry of health) so I called him up, and we are going to go down there on thursday, where he is going to talk to a guy, who knows a guy, who knows a guy who may be able to set me up with a meeting with a manager where I can explain my case and demand my birth certificate back...or kick his ***. :threat:

I have to go to these lengths because apparently people are waiting for hours before the Office even opens, in order to talk to someone who can help them. And it is unlikely that they even will get help.

If all does not go well on Thursday I may contact the Ombudsman, although I likely wont be the first to do so...