ROTHENBURGER: When is ICBC going to do something serious to help drivers?

But ICBC has a few questions to answer. During the pandemic, its services have largely gone online. It’s harder to get insurance renewals these days because phone calls are slow being returned.

My driver’s licence expired a week and a half ago and extensions are now being done by phone.

When you call the number, you get a voice message that says you’ll get a return phone call within 48 hours. After a week of trying, I finally got a call back and my temporary licence was processed, with the actual piece of paper arriving by mail a few days later.

I’m not complaining too much about this, but the service could be better. What I’m really wondering about is why I’m still waiting for a handsome rebate on my auto insurance premiums.

After all, as ICBC says, there are a lot fewer cars on the road. So there’s bound to be a lot fewer accidents and, therefore, a lot fewer claims, and a lot less drain on the public purse.

So what has ICBC done so far? Deferrals on monthly insurance payments. The $30 cancellation fee and $18 re-plating fee have been waived.

Well, I suppose every penny helps but I sometimes get the impression that some of these agencies that take so much of our money make token gestures just so they can appear to be doing something to help us out, when they really aren’t doing much.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

Mel Rothenburger is a former mayor of Kamloops and newspaper editor. He writes five commentaries a week for CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a director on the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.

Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.

by Mel Rothenburger

ROTHENBURGER: When is ICBC going to do something serious to help drivers?

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