FEBRUARY 17, 2010

Modern, timesaving options in store for area customers

Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land today announced that the creation of a PLUS office serving Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park will mean enhanced services for customers throughout the area.

The new Hamtramck Area PLUS Office will offer additional services and conveniences, such as payment by Discover and MasterCard at the counter, expanded Wednesday hours from

9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and instant titles. The new PLUS office will open after the Hamtramck office is remodeled and the Highland Park office at 14301 Woodward Ave. is consolidated. The schedule is:

• Hamtramck office will close for one week from Monday, March 1 to Friday, March 5 for remodeling, which will include new carpeting, a more customer-friendly counter design, and a Self-Service Station to give customers a convenient additional option to renew their license plate tabs.
• The Hamtramck Area PLUS Office will open at 9 a.m., Monday, March 8 at the existing Hamtramck office, 8717 Joseph Campau St.
• The Highland Park office will close at 5 p.m., Friday, March 5.

"Customers have been asking us for extended hours and more service options," Land said. "This new PLUS office shows we're listening. Our new breed of offices allows us to move our customer service business model out of the 1970s and into the 21st century."

During the week the Hamtramck office is being renovated, customers may visit the following offices:

• Detroit New Center SUPER!Center
  3046 W. Grand Blvd.
  Detroit
• Highland Park
  14301 Woodward Ave.
  Highland Park
• Detroit East 8 Mile
  9560 E. 8 Mile Road
  Detroit

PLUS offices offer additional services and conveniences, such as payment by Discover and MasterCard at the counter, expanded Wednesday hours from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and instant titles.

Land reminds customers that they can often "skip the trip" by renewing their vehicle and watercraft registrations online, with a touch-tone telephone or through the mail.

Creation of the PLUS office is part of the 2010 phase of Land's Branch Office Modernization Program. Optimizing the use of people, dollars and technology reduces the investment in "bricks and mortar" facilities while ensuring consistent levels of service. This prudent redirection of resources has kept the department at the forefront of innovative service and fiscal responsibility.

The program was launched in April 2004 and has resulted in the development of 40 PLUS offices and six SUPER!Centers throughout the state. Customer satisfaction has consistently been high thanks to the modern, convenient services and enhanced efficiencies these offices provide.

For more information about office locations and services, visit the Branch Office Locator at www.Michigan.gov/sos.