Services Ontario - One Key online system is crap!
08-26-2016, 01:15 PM
#1
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Services Ontario - One Key online system is crap!
It's that time of year again when I get to renew my plates. I had to have the C4S e-tested yesterday...no problem there other than paying that $30 stupidity tax to the Gov.
But then the fun really started! Once the Drive Clean test is passed, the info is already in the government database so to expedite matters, I decided I would just log onto the site, renew for 2 years, pay and be done with it. Well, the website looks like it's been designed by a 5-year old with poor programming skills. Once I got to the payment page, I chose "Debit Card" and the system redirected me to the payment vendor. Payment accepted, email alert from my bank, all good so far. Vendor page returns me to the Services Ontario website where I see an error message that the session timed out! Money taken, but transaction not completed. Phoned their support line and the "dude" on the line said to try later and that the payment would be reversed in either a few hours or a few days. Luckily it took a few hours only. Tried again with a CC and same thing.
So off I go to line up and one of their sh!tty, slow-as-molasses centres! Our tax dollars at work!
Rant over
But then the fun really started! Once the Drive Clean test is passed, the info is already in the government database so to expedite matters, I decided I would just log onto the site, renew for 2 years, pay and be done with it. Well, the website looks like it's been designed by a 5-year old with poor programming skills. Once I got to the payment page, I chose "Debit Card" and the system redirected me to the payment vendor. Payment accepted, email alert from my bank, all good so far. Vendor page returns me to the Services Ontario website where I see an error message that the session timed out! Money taken, but transaction not completed. Phoned their support line and the "dude" on the line said to try later and that the payment would be reversed in either a few hours or a few days. Luckily it took a few hours only. Tried again with a CC and same thing.
So off I go to line up and one of their sh!tty, slow-as-molasses centres! Our tax dollars at work!
Rant over
08-26-2016, 02:40 PM
#2
It's that time of year again when I get to renew my plates. I had to have the C4S e-tested yesterday...no problem there other than paying that $30 stupidity tax to the Gov.
But then the fun really started! Once the Drive Clean test is passed, the info is already in the government database so to expedite matters, I decided I would just log onto the site, renew for 2 years, pay and be done with it. Well, the website looks like it's been designed by a 5-year old with poor programming skills. Once I got to the payment page, I chose "Debit Card" and the system redirected me to the payment vendor. Payment accepted, email alert from my bank, all good so far. Vendor page returns me to the Services Ontario website where I see an error message that the session timed out! Money taken, but transaction not completed. Phoned their support line and the "dude" on the line said to try later and that the payment would be reversed in either a few hours or a few days. Luckily it took a few hours only. Tried again with a CC and same thing.
So off I go to line up and one of their sh!tty, slow-as-molasses centres! Our tax dollars at work!
Rant over
But then the fun really started! Once the Drive Clean test is passed, the info is already in the government database so to expedite matters, I decided I would just log onto the site, renew for 2 years, pay and be done with it. Well, the website looks like it's been designed by a 5-year old with poor programming skills. Once I got to the payment page, I chose "Debit Card" and the system redirected me to the payment vendor. Payment accepted, email alert from my bank, all good so far. Vendor page returns me to the Services Ontario website where I see an error message that the session timed out! Money taken, but transaction not completed. Phoned their support line and the "dude" on the line said to try later and that the payment would be reversed in either a few hours or a few days. Luckily it took a few hours only. Tried again with a CC and same thing.
So off I go to line up and one of their sh!tty, slow-as-molasses centres! Our tax dollars at work!
Rant over
08-26-2016, 02:49 PM
#3
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Yup, just came back from one of those Centres and the line up was out of the door! Did a u-turn and came home. I don't know about the extra rush for Sept 1, but I've never seen one of those places without a line up in TO. Maybe Burlington is better.
Anyway, I decided to try the online system a 4th time and it finally worked. Maybe, my email to the Ministry of Transportation yesterday got some IT guy off his *** to fix the problem.
Anyway, I decided to try the online system a 4th time and it finally worked. Maybe, my email to the Ministry of Transportation yesterday got some IT guy off his *** to fix the problem.
Last edited by pongobaz; 08-26-2016 at 06:04 PM. Reason: spelling
08-26-2016, 02:54 PM
#4
Yup, just came back from one of those Centres and the line up was out of the door! Did a u-turn and came home. I don't know about the extra rush for Sept 1, but I've never seen one of those places without a line up in TO. Maybe Burlington is better.
Anyway, I decided to try the online system a 4th time and it finally worked. Maybe, my email to the Ministry of Transportation yesterday got some IT guy of his *** to fix the problem.
Anyway, I decided to try the online system a 4th time and it finally worked. Maybe, my email to the Ministry of Transportation yesterday got some IT guy of his *** to fix the problem.
Lol.
08-26-2016, 05:06 PM
#6
Live in a small town north of the city. Walk in - walk out all done in 5 min. Privately owned centre.
08-26-2016, 08:07 PM
#7
Drifting
+1 I go to the one near the cottage, in and out.
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08-26-2016, 08:45 PM
#8
Yesterday I had e test on PCar-no prob-tried plate renewal on line-fine till my postal code did not include my street on dropdown list-they said it was a new street! Funny, I've lived on it 40 yrs and the service ontario plate renewal letter was delivered to my house with my 40 yr old postal code. Got in the menu loop on phone -no option for my inquiry-had to go to center anyway.
08-26-2016, 09:59 PM
#9
Burning Brakes
Phil
Don't waste your time going to Kipling/Queensway or Cloverdale Mall. Go to the Service Ontario at Bloor and Islington. It's in the Shipp Centre at 3300 Bloor West.
It's a big place, when I went it was 20 min. max. It's like the passport office, you get pre-screened then they give you a number.
It's only open Mon-Fri.
Don't waste your time going to Kipling/Queensway or Cloverdale Mall. Go to the Service Ontario at Bloor and Islington. It's in the Shipp Centre at 3300 Bloor West.
It's a big place, when I went it was 20 min. max. It's like the passport office, you get pre-screened then they give you a number.
It's only open Mon-Fri.
08-27-2016, 10:15 PM
#12
Burning Brakes
In British Columbia for decades we had mandatory vehicle emissions testing, called "Aircare", It's been cancelled as of 2015 iirc.
Thankfully an example of government making a good decision...due to the results that almost all cars nowadays passed so what's the point except to **** over taxpayers.
On the other hand, in Canada we have a highway, the number 1, that goes from one end of the country to the other...
Here in BC, they recently upgraded the bridge called the Port Mann, from 3 lanes to 6 lanes, along with widening a significant portion of the highway in both directions. It's a toll bridge now, about $7 total... per day (back and forth trip)
(This upgrade has tremendously improved travel time, really, it's quite extraordinary the lack of gridlock so for some it is money well spent)
However, it's the only toll on the entire highway across canada, it costs the average worker about $1750 in after tax income each month, that they did not have to previously pay.
Our BC Govt loves to harp on about not rising income taxes, but they toll and fee and levy and ....the **** out of us here. (Their motto must be something about many ways to skin a cat lol)
Thankfully an example of government making a good decision...due to the results that almost all cars nowadays passed so what's the point except to **** over taxpayers.
On the other hand, in Canada we have a highway, the number 1, that goes from one end of the country to the other...
Here in BC, they recently upgraded the bridge called the Port Mann, from 3 lanes to 6 lanes, along with widening a significant portion of the highway in both directions. It's a toll bridge now, about $7 total... per day (back and forth trip)
(This upgrade has tremendously improved travel time, really, it's quite extraordinary the lack of gridlock so for some it is money well spent)
However, it's the only toll on the entire highway across canada, it costs the average worker about $1750 in after tax income each month, that they did not have to previously pay.
Our BC Govt loves to harp on about not rising income taxes, but they toll and fee and levy and ....the **** out of us here. (Their motto must be something about many ways to skin a cat lol)