Customer service was almost non-existent as a DMV employee in Colorado practically dismissed a customer just because she claimed she could not understand what he was saying. The exchange was captured in a TikTok video by another customer who found the worker’s actions “disgusting.” The customer was trying to communicate his needs to the employee, gesturing and pointing at the paper in his hand while speaking English, though with a very thick Hispanic accent.
The immigrant said to the woman, “I need the paper with the …” but unable to understand him, the DMV worker got up and ordered him to leave the line and “have a seat,” while pointing in the direction he should go. She then stated, “Learn English,” as the immigrants moved to the seats. “Over there, over there,” she bellowed. Many TikTokers had plenty to say about the entire exchange. “There are some real rude and hateful people in this world,” a user began, and then added, “But, I believe in karma. What goes around comes around.”
This TikToker stated, “She was unprofessional, and this is discrimination! You can clearly understand him.” While another pointed out that the customer actually spoke English, “‘ Ineed the paper with…’ is that not English?” Some others stated that the issue was not peculiar to that particular DMV. One wrote, “Every DMV I’ve been to has different ethnicities working, and I usually volunteer to help translate when they can’t communicate, and that’s anywhere I happen to be. STAND UP AND HELP.” Another one said, “I work at an immigration office, and sometimes clients call me asking for help because people at the DVM are being mean to them and won’t help them, so I believe this is just them being mean to innocent people.”
A netizen said, “It’s incredible that we live in these horrible times right now, where people feel so bold enough to be disrespectful.” A few others believed that the other people sitting could have done something to help. “Grown people just sitting around not speaking up for them,” one said. Another added, “You should call and report this interaction. This is beyond unacceptable on their part!” However, not everyone thought the employee was wrong. A couple of people shared that the immigrants should, in fact, learn English, and they added their reasons.
“They should learn English. This is America; the English language is what is spoken here. You don’t travel to any other country and expect them to learn English, do you?” one argued. A second one wrote bluntly, “If you can’t speak English, you shouldn’t be allowed a driver’s license.”
A user felt the immigrants were to blame, adding, “Stop blaming the DMV for people who refused to even try to assimilate.” And another wrote, “I never thought I would ever support DMV employees, but on this occasion, I agree with her. Learn the language or get a family member, a friend, a coworker, etc. to translate it for you.”
