Patriot Act Hell

[SparklyJr]

Just another example, I'm sure, of how this Patriot Act is hitting home.
H2S suggested I share this mess.

18 years old and I just moved to a new state, and visited my parent's bank to apply for a new bank account. I had a couple school IDs with my picture on them, a red cross ID and a hundred other things with my name on it. The Bank told me I needed a state-issued, photo ID to get an account, a new addition to the requirements thanks to the Patriot Act, the teller explained.

So, I went to the marvoulous and exciting DMV. Before going, I had my social security card sent to me and I ordered a new birth certificate from my birthplace (the documents were in another state with my father). After waiting a couple weeks for this, I made the half hour trek to the DMV, where I was dismissed and told my proofs of residency were not valid. My paycheck worked, but I needed something else, something that was on their "list." I don't pay bills yet, and my cell phone account is still in my mother's name, so not much "official" mail is sent to me. The DMV suggested I go to the library to apply for a library card, and instead of having the librarian give it to me, I should tell them to send it to me, thus creating a second, valid proof of residency.

So off to the library I went. When I got there, the library told me I needed a proof of residency for them, as well. I went home, got my paycheck and went back a few days later. They agreed to send it, but they let it sit at the library for several weeks. When I *finally* got the library card in the mail, the address on the envelope they sent me was hand-written, which is NOT okay with the DMV.

Now, I have my tax return, which is acceptable to the DMV as proof that I live here.. but the address is printed on the check, so I can't cash it until I make the trek to the DMV again.

Until then, since I have no bank account, it is very hard for me to cash my paychecks. Banks view my birth certificate, my social security card, my red cross ID, my school IDs, and my medical ID (along with everything else I have with my name on it, including mail that the DMV won't take, old credit cards, other cards with my name on it, etc) as secondary forms of ID. In order to cash my paycheck, I have to sign it over to someone who has a bank account with that particular bank, and even then, some will not do it because of their "no cashing third party checks" rule.

Arrrggghhhrghrkkfhgrhjwcgrrghhhhh.

I hate the Patriot Act.

(edited because I accidently put the whole thing in italics. oops.)