Hey Paul,
Again, I agree somewhat with what you are saying. In my case though, I had been working towards getting the license renewed all along. It wasn't 20 years. I had sent what they told me was the FULL amount due "several times", but by each time I had my "ducks in a row", due to timing issues, they then wanted 'more' money. Three times in 5 years I sent the full amount they had asked for and three times they sent the check back, asking for more money (late fees, then it carried over into a new renewal period).
My biggest mistake was in not explaining my full situation to the Board during the period of the financial hardship I endured (mainly that was my sin of pride.. and of not having my head screwed on straight - yeah, yeah, yeah... it might sound trite, but my divorce really tore me apart at that time). AND I'm not saying that I didn't have the money because "I needed a new TV" - I'm saying that at any one time I usually had less than $75 in the bank AND I had NO savings (still don't for that matter). AND I was trying to run my own business with employees to pay. You can write back that I'm just whining and I would not blame you for doing just that. Looking back I can 'now' see other things I could have done - I should have done... but when I was "in it", well I was "out of it"...
I'm not arguing the 5-years - I'm more seeking for some leniency due to financial/personal and emotional hardship (which I can document and prove). And the fact that logistically I paid for the previous term (NJ is a 3 year term renewal) in full - only they would not accept the payment for "that" term without receiving the payment for the current term as well. Which I can somewhat understand, BUT I think that should be taken into consideration for the 5 year statute. In other words, I understand that I would not be able to practice until all dues were current, BUT if in good faith I remitted the money and they "chose" not to accept past dues (there's no statute about that - it is just the way they handle it), AND there are extenuating circumstances to the whole situation, would it be that difficult to provide an exception to the rule?
But thank you for your comments Paul, you are hopefully helping me put together a better argument for when I get to present my case again...
Oh and by the way, when it was all said and told, to be re-instated, the cost was a little over $300 and the cost of the CPE credits cost me about a little over $1000. Doesn't sound like a lot now, and to be honest Paul I hope you are never in the spot where I was, where you couldn't comprehend where to find that amount of money...(and I hope I NEVER return back there again either! God willing)... thanks...