I wouldn't call them friends but knowing a name or two in these offices and asking for them by name, helps enormously. Besides, to me it just makes the whole process more bearable. I do all my paper work transfers using an Internet fax service which helps as I can get an ATT or similar where ever I happen to be that has a connection. Fax machines are unreliable and clunky by comparison. My fax service costs me $10/month.