Renewing your driver's license soon?

IF YOU'RE due to renew your driver's license soon (which means your birthday is coming up—Happy birthday!), make sure you won't be charged an unnecessary late renewal fee. Carmen Dulguime went to the Land Transportation Office branch at the Ayala MRT last week, a few days before her birthday. After undergoing the drug test, she went to the cashier and was surprised to be charged an additional P75 as late renewal fee. She asked the cashier when she should have renewed her license. The cashier replied, “60 days po.” So she paid, but called the LTO the next day. Application for the renewal of driver's licenses, they said, is now allowed 60 days before the expiration. Carmen explained her case. The LTO realized that she was charged the late renewal fee by mistake. Reason: a computer glitch since the LTO computer system was being upgraded. Carmen's birthday was read by the old computer as January 1, 1980 even if her real birthday was indicated in her old driver's license. Too bad, the LTO cannot refund the P75. Carmen says, “The LTO's explanation is this: The money had already been in the 'kaha' and they cannot get it back anymore (huwaaaat? Can I help?). They said I can try going back to the cashier at Ayala MRT branch and ask her to give me back my P75 from her own pocket (huwaaat? again).” To LTO's credit, Ms. Dolores Basco of LTO called up Carmen personally, apologized, and said she alerted the various LTO branches so similar incidents will not happen again. But still, the matter of the P75 remaining in the kaha leaves many of us scratching our heads. If it will not be returned to Carmen, where will it go? How many Carmens have become victims of the glitch? Tsk tsk.