Thank You for Not Calling

I hesitate to write this lest I give anyone working at BIS, DDTC or OFAC any ideas, but here goes...

The agencies which collectively make up the American export control commissariat may be unlikely to win any customer service awards any time soon, but at least they will generally answer your calls (DDTC licensing officers excluded of course). Not so lucky are our British cousins, whose export control regulators at the DTI have officially, not to mention rather brazenly, decided to stop picking up the phone. And you guessed it, this act of bureaucratic nonchalance is being sold as a "change" to help DTI "respond more effectively to enquiries". There is an opportunity to provide "feedback on this new service", but no phone number was provided, natch.

Tip o' the hat to Keith O'Leary for the link.

Comments

[Brooke]

Scott, your message delivery is always refreshing and entertaining. Still, this posting doens't ring so true for me. My personal experience has been that DTI is exceedingly helpful and responsive, regardless of the method of communication. Honestly, who can blame them for opting to use email rather than phone (if that's indeed the case)? We all find it more efficient and helpful in managing an increasing work load with decreasing resources (e.g., blogs). Don't bash a move on the basis of style preference. The day DTI isn't responsive or helpful, that's the day to complain. Two cents from a fan...

[Mr. Blobby]

Brooke - I'm glad you've had a "personal experience" with the DTI. This might explain the good service you received.
Having spoken with a member of Her Maj's Revenue & Customs this afternoon (The guys who enforce UK export law, and prosecute exporters of bullet proof vests destined for British troops in Iraq), I noted their comments "Well that's a bit silly" when I told them that the DTI had stopped picking up the dog and bone.