DORA – Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies

Who regulates the regulators when they screw up? For 30 years I have received notices to renew my professional license. But not in 2015. I did receive a notice that my licensed had lapsed and was now no longer valid. After waiting on hold for over an hour I finally got through only to be told it was my fault and I would have to file new paperwork and pay a penalty. During the phone conversation it became obvious why it had taken so long to get through to them. I was told that they were «experiencing an unusually high number of calls that day» but there was nothing they could do to help me. Their renewal notices are merely a «courtesy» that they provide and failure to renew on time was my fault. Isn’t that great? They collect my fees and your tax dollars to provide a courtesy and when they don’t it’s not their fault. Another wonderful, and disgusting, example of government in-​action!

Filed a civil rights claim
Against Alliance Data Systems for sexual harassment and discrimination — they handled my case with care and were sensitive to the issue.

What a bunch of fucking idiots! It took me about half a year to get a license from them. I had to contact them on a daily basis. I had to get on food stamps because I could not legally work in Colorado, and I had to wait half a year for these imbeciles to issue me a license that should have only take a few weeks. This is not helpful to the local economy.

So glad to find that I’m not writing another 1^st review — because my experience with DORA is exactly the same as everyone else who provided a poor review of them here. It took me a while to figure out who DORA really is — or how they operate.
Here’s my experience:
2012 — filed complaints against 2 realtors and their company — REMAX
2013 — filed complaint against CO licensed health professional
2014 — filed complaints against imaging facility Penrad and RIA Sally Jobe
2015 — filed complaints against 2 doctors and Centura Health
All complaints were responded to with a form letter stating «…insufficient evidence…» or «…no violations…» when I have the evidence plain as day! I also outline the State violations and the ethics violations of each Colorado Licensed practitioner and/​or Colorado State business and DORA simply ignores all.
I filed a complaint with Gov. Hickenloopers’ office — it is him who appoints the team at DORA and they report to him. So, if one of these people or companies is a friend or say «campaign contributor» or Democrat (you getting it now?) the consumers of Colorado are complaining about, well you can bet that nothing will happen to these people and/​or companies. My experience was just this… when I demanded a review of the evidence take place, and when the deputy director took a look at evidence and agreed violations occurred, suddenly all DORA went silent. I kept calling and emailing and lo and behold was now told…”…no violations…”. Hickenloopers’ office staff played the «…surprised…» card and had DORA’s community liaison contact me. When that didn’t happened I wrote Barbara Kelley — the then Executive Director. Again, stero-​types exist for a reason. She emailed me a canned response and refused to answer my ?‘s. This was 2012 – 2013.
I filed complaints with DORA, Hickenloopers’ office, The Better Business Bureau and Attorney General Coffman. The BBB is independent of the others. But DORA and the Attorney General all fall under Hickenloopers administration.
How is it that the very authority that licenses professionals in Colorado and is supposed to hold companies responsible for operating within State laws, is the same authority that reviews complaints??? NOT RIGHT PEOPLE.
Fast forward to 2015 and I experience more issues with health companies and doctors in Colorado, I file more complaints with even more evidence. Again I get the canned response. And I was still copying Barbara Kelley. However no one at DORA mentions that Kelley was asked to step down by Hickenlooper months before. Who is getting her emails… the NEW Executive Director; Joe Neguse.
Based on my experience with DORA Hollis Glenn, Cheri Callaghan, Marcia Waters, Jim Kipp (thanks for hanging up on me), Cynthia Coffman, Shirley Torres, Karen McGovern, Tracey Martinez, Ginny Swem, Susan Parrinello, and Michelle Z. Pedersen I cannot recommend any or all. My experience uncovered a political stronghold on each entity that cares more about protecting their individual agenda for the purpose of protecting its leader and party.
There are consumer agencies that may assist that may not have ties to the State, Federal and Government entities.
Please contact me for more info, or if you want to share your experience.
Notice that complaints such as this often are marked with the «Funny» tab, this usually means that someone listed above or from the offices mentioned read this and is trying to dismiss it. Nice try.

Wow! So I filed a complaint against a counseling agency I worked for because I knew first hand that this agency was violating at least 10 regulations and not giving adequate service to the clients who were court ordered to attend. Lost client files, unsupervised classes, forged paper work that was court ordered, the owner is becoming senile and is not capable of being competent in regards to how she runs her operation, and I just received an email from dora that states they didn’t find any wrong doing on the part of agency.? Who can I file a complaint to about their blatant disservice to a community they are sworn to protect?

This organization is a joke throughout the medical community. Healthcare providers of all types mandatorily pay hundreds of dollars to this agency to obtain licensure. Yet the agency doesn’t return calls or emails and is totally incompetent. After they lost almost every piece of information for my licensure that was not sent certified (even though FedEx shows the date and time they received these documents), they failed to respond to any calls or emails. Finally after 2 weeks of repeated calls I happened to catch Amber Hernandez from their department on the phone (I think she accidentally answered her phone!), and she was completely unapologetic and incredibly rude. She stated she had over 160 phone calls and emails to catch up on and was responsible for 16 professions, so she couldn’t be expected to respond. It gets better. Since I had to resend everything certified mail, I asked how long it would take to process. «5−10 business days.» Okay, great, I’ll call 5 – 10 days after the documents are delivered to checks on the status. «Well, it takes 14 business days for them to get to my desk after they’re delivered.» Wow! Classic. What a scam they are running charging people hundreds of dollars for this nonsense. These guys are notorious throughout the medical community for losing everything that hits their doorstep and for being totally unresponsive. They should be ashamed of themselves for scamming professionals who are trying to help sick patients. It’s appalling.

I don’t see the point of having an agency that doesn’t respond to written nor phone messages.
Who regulates/​oversees DORA? To whom can a person contact when the organization itself is inefficient and nonresponsive?

Needed to file a complaint against an unlicensed contractor and we felt like we had to jump though hoops just to speak with someone. After reaching someone they took us through the steps over the phone for filing a complaint — we appreciated the help.

I LOVE the new website– it’s very informative and user friendly if you are a consumer trying to pick a provider. I find it extremely helpful.

Like many since Obamacare took effect my wife and I’s health insurance premiums skyrocketed. I filed a complaint with DORA when our health insurance premiums with Anthem were increased by $ 214.00 a month this year. On top of $ 160.00 a month increase last year. In prior years our rates increased by $ 80.00 a month. It was a complete waste of my time. DORA rubber stamped the increases. And I believe they were dishonest and misleading in their response to me as they refused to admit that Obamacare played any part in the increase. They didn’t even admit to the 2% that comes from the new *Obamacare Tax* on health insurance. I actually expected this coming from a State Government agency with a Democratic Governor at the head and a Democratic Majority in both the State House and the Senate which supported Obamacare. At least DORA did respond though it took them from February 28, 2014 to May 29, 2014 to do so. Governor Hickenlooper did not! This said the only way things are going to change is if enough people do complain. If your health insurance rates have gone up substantially or even more than they had in prior years please file a formal complaint. I have spoken with too many people who are just excepting these hikes and they shouldn’t. And do not take DORA’s response at face value. You will receive a response from your health insurance carrier also do not take their response at face value either. I could not believe some the things Anthem used to justify our premium hikes. Please read my review of Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield, 700 Broadway Denver, CO for just a few of the ridiculous claims they made. For those of you who think this is worth it because now the uninsured are insured consider this. Many of those people could have purchased health insurance at the same price before Obamacare that they are paying now with a subsidy. So who is making out like a bandit in all this? Anthem who NETTED $ 701 Million dollars in just the 1^st Quarter of 2014. Do it now because next year I’m told by Anthem, premiums will go up substantially again. Tell Governor Hickenlooper you are tired of the Government in your healthcare. Tell him you want your healthcare to be between you and your Doctor.
Added –22, 2014
Governor Hickenlooper finally responded. Please see my review of Governor Hickenlooper. You may have to look a bit I have noticed it does not come up in a simple search.
*Yes there is a 2% tax on all health insurance plans. People seem to be aware of the Tax on Cadillac plans but don’t seem to realize all plans have a 2% Tax. This Tax is paid by the Health Insurance companies but that cost is past on to you in the form of higher premiums.
Governor Hickenlooper supported this plan that taxes health insurance. Do you really want someone that supported a tax on health insurance, that is already difficult to afford, in the Governor’s office. I don’t!!!

It is now August 8^th and the dept that regulates my professional license still has not responded to the MANY CALLS that the website designed to securely renew by professional nursing license is inaccessible to most users. Since my license is due the 31 st I now have only 23 days left to do the impossible. The site GLADLY takes our money but no one is really sure if their license has been successfully renewed. This is a public concern as numerous professions require formal licensure and failure to maintain this is a public health risk. So 9 News or someone, please pick up this story so that somehow my colleagues and I can get some help since the State of Colorado simply is not able to assist us

Worst service ever. Incompetent individuals. Horrible experience.