Sometimes the solution becomes, well, another problem. After the state incorrectly assessed 26,000 drivers a $3 late fee when renewing their license tags over the summer, the solution was to refund the money to the drivers in question. But this week, as the drivers began opening their mail from the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles, many of the refund checks were for $300, department officials said.

motor-vehicles-office_1024.jpgView full sizeDonald Stout, The Times-Picayune archiveLouisiana’s Office of Motor Vehicles says some incorrect refunds were issued by its bank.

Staci Hoyt, deputy assistant secretary of the Office of Motor Vehicles, said the department doesn’t know how many incorrect checks were mailed out. She said the agency will soon issue corrected $3 checks. People who received the incorrect checks should tear them up, she said.

The drivers were assessed the late fee because the state had not mailed them their renewal notices on time. Hoyt said the computer software problem that led to that problem has been fixed.

But then problems arose when the refund checks went out. Hoyt said most of the incorrect checks she has heard about were issued for $300.

The department said a data file containing the refund information was improperly formatted when it was sent to the bank. It was replaced with a corrected data file, but not before some incorrect checks were mailed out.

Hoyt said the issuing bank, JP Morgan Chase, won’t honor the incorrect checks. In a news release, the OMV said the bank has agreed to absorb any costs associated with the error.

Hoyt said anyone who incurs any fees because of the incorrect checks should call 225.925.6279.

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