The Harell's vs. The Cabarrus County Sherriff's Department

Okay, so I knew to expect a certain level of frustration along the way, but today's experience (so far) takes the cake!  Today we had set aside some time to obtain our background checks and fingerprint cards from the local police station.  Already, it's a pretty crappy day.  It's pouring down rain and neither of us feel inclined to leave the comforts of our office / home to visit the local government officials.  However, in hopes of keeping the momentum going, we braved the rain anyway.  I had spent some time on the phone with our homestudy agency earlier today just to clarify what it was EXACTLY that we were supposed to accomplish on our little fieldtrip downtown.  Our homestudy rep, Anne, told me that we needed to acquire 2 copies of our state background checks, FBI background checks, and fingerprint cards.  Included in the original packet of information she had sent over a few weeks ago were the applications for both the state and federal background checks.  So it appeared we had what we needed there to begin compiling the 2 packets of information required by the state and FBI.  On our way to the police department, as I'm reviewing the applications with Chris in the car, we read that both background check applications will require payment in the form of a money order or certified check.  Great!  Now, in the pouring down rain, we have to make a pit stop at the bank to obtain 4 money orders (oh, and btw, the fingerprinting area of the police department closes at 4pm on Friday's and it is now 3:23pm).  As we are sitting in the bank parking lot getting ready to go in, we review what it is exactly that we need to ask for once in the building.  There was a lot of confusion about the number of money orders we would be requesting, so Chris placed yet another call to Anne for further clarification.  Once everthing was clear, we walk into the bank and FORTUNATELY there was no line to wait in!  So we were in and out in 10 minutes with all the certified money orders we needed to move right along.  We head straight over to the police department where they inform us that they don't do fingerprinting on Friday's.  Next thing I know, the words "no, i called and spoke with someone this morning" come rolling off my lips in a completely intolerable tone!  (At this point, I really am rather frustrated with this whole charade!)  I am told that I must have spoken with someone at the Sherriff's department and that I would need to drive over there in order to get my fingerprints taken today.  UGH!  So off we go.  When we get to the correct building, we take the elevator up to the "records department" floor during which Chris gently reminds me that my expectations for customer service should be low from this point forward.  And boy was he right!  The lady that was assigned to us was a down right terror!  She couldn't have been more rude or condescending if she tried any harder.  I felt like screaming out "this is for an adoption, lady!  I'm trying to do some good here!!!"  After barely giving us the attention/guidance we deserved for this request, she handed us 2 forms to complete.  She asked us for the name and address of our agency but never indicated why she needed that information.  So we go about filling out our applications with the basic identifying information (name, address, phone number, business name & contact information, etc.).  We happily turn it back in to her (as it finally feels like we're getting somewhere in the process) to which she takes one glance at the paperwork and says "Mr. Stephen Harrell, remember when I asked you for the name and address of the agency?"  Insinuating, of course, that "business name and information" on the application implied that of the agency, not our employment information.  The entire application asked specific questions about us personally, so naturally, BOTH of us thought that "business name and contact info" meant "name and address of where you work".  So she returned our applications to us to be filled out "correctly".  FINALLY all the preliminary crap stuff was over and we were approved for the next step towards obtaining our fingerprint cards.  But it took everything inside me not to say "would it have been so hard for you to tell us that that is why you asked us for our agency information?  Because perhaps it isn't self-explanatory on the application?  Or maybe I should remind you that it's your job to be of service to the tax-paying citizens of Cabarrus County???  But I digress . . .

The good news is, we now are in possession of: 4 fingerprint cards (2/ea), 2 executed state background check applications, 2 executed FBI background check applications, and 4 money orders. Now, all we need to do is create 2 packets (1 for the State and 1 for the Fed) and mail them off!  Good-freakin'-grief!!!