Erie County Clerk
Press Releases

08/07/07

AUTO BUREAU CALL CENTER TO RETURN FOLLOWING 2 YEAR HIATUS RESULTING FROM BUDGET DEBACLE

Debut Expected September 10

Recalling the dark days following the 2005 Erie County budget crisis, Erie County Clerk Kathy Hochul said the time has come to restore the Auto Bureau Call Center, one of the many victims of the budget axe two years ago. The Call Center will provide callers with important answers to questions says County Clerk Hochul.

"Our customers are entitled to basic government services in return for the taxes they pay. I consider the ability to have questions answered by a local customer service representative at a local auto bureau one of those basic rights. As I spend Saturdays at the Cheektowaga Auto Bureau, and weekdays at the Satellite offices, that is the one wish I hear over and over as I talk to the customers. Well, as of September 10, that wish will be granted," said County Clerk Hochul.

Hochul noted that the Auto Bureau staff is still down 40 employees from 2005, but she is restructuring operations to consolidate the dealer work at the Cheektowaga location and will have two staff assigned at the Downtown Auto Bureau to work exclusively on the phones serving customers. "The Auto Bureau staff are incredibly hard-working and extremely customer-conscious. This will be a dramatic improvement in customer service and I am proud that we will restore this sorely missed convenience," said Hochul.

Phone lines and equipment need to be re-established before the service can begin. The Call Center will be open 8:30 a.m.-4:15p.m. Monday-Friday. The phone number will be published and will appear on the County Clerk website www.erie.gov/clerk in advance of the target date of September 10.