DTV converter-box coupon program screwup No. 42

At left (click to enlarge) is an actual letter sent to a TVB reader from the U.S. government as part of the converter box coupon redemption program.

As you will read, his household was rejected for a coupon because, according to the coupon department's official government files, his household had already reached its limit of two coupons.

Except, of course, his household is in a co-op. And there are two other households in said co-op. But no one at the U.S. federal official regulatory oversight agency in charge of all damn DTV coupons in these Great United States was keeping accurate enough records to know that. Like any good city dweller, this reader affixes his apartment number when writing down his mailing address. It didn't show up on the letter addressed back to him.

"We have canceled previously approved applications," the letter reads, adding for good measure, "We will continue to cancel any additional applications for coupons for your households." Jeez, rub it in, why don't you?

Can you imagine how many thousands of households are getting this letter? And how many respond, like this reader did, by just giving up? "I don't really want to bother with the 'address them in writing' thing," he writes. "Is there a number I can call?"

Apparently not!