Major FAC renewal Hold-ups...?

[TattooedGun]

Are these currently nationwide? Is there something going on whereby all applications/renewals are at a standstill?

I'm currently on a section 7, and have been for a couple of weeks, which means I can't buy ammunition. Luckily I reload, but I'm not 100% sure where that leaves me.

Either way, I put my renewal in, with good time remaining and when questioned the firearms dept. for Staffs and West Mids, copy and paste the same response "we are currently 6-7 weeks behind and renewing in order of date of expiry".

So my question, is this a result of the 5 year peak? Purely understaffing? A Nationwide agenda to slow things to a halt for firearms certificate holders?

I've missed out on a couple of rifles I put in for variation at the same time at absolutely cracking prices, needless to say I'll struggle to find good deals when it eventually comes in.

What's going on :(

[phaedra1106]

It's because the 5yr cycle has hit its peak, http://basc.org.uk/firearms/certificate-renewals-2015/

Think yourself lucky you're not in Essex, some poor buggers have been waiting over 9 months!!!. Durham are requesting 90 days on renewals at the moment.

[bradaz11]

I can only say what i've heard from FEO's. It seems to be a combination of two, which boil down to the same overhead agenda. understaffing and slowing things down. basically they have been cut to such a point staff wise that they have no choice but to slow. I'm sure someone somewhere has an agenda they are enacting.

[fra150l]

Hampshire my one-for-one (exact replacement) variation took 9-Nov-15 to 3-Mar-16.

As soon as I have collected the rifle I will send back for the next variation

[TattooedGun]

Who do we complain to?

This service just isn't good enough and we're paying for it.

[saddler]

I was told 60 days by renewal notice reminder letter
Their letter arrived the day after my full renewal paperwork had landed on the doormat at the licensing dept...as I made sure I had everything to them 90 days in advance of the expiry date. 30 days free "wiggle room" - with a current complaint against them still not resolved!
What could possibly go wrong?

[Blackstuff]

Who do we complain to?

This service just isn't good enough and we're paying for it.

Chief constable and/or Police Crime Commissioner. Almost certainly p!$$ing in the wind until after April though and the new budgets are drawn out/first fee price hike has happened.

[phaedra1106]

What could possibly go wrong?

Probably quite a lot knowing your luck with McPlod

[TattooedGun]

Who do we complain to?

This service just isn't good enough and we're paying for it.

Chief constable and/or Police Crime Commissioner. Almost certainly p!$$ing in the wind until after April though and the new budgets are drawn out/first fee price hike has happened.

If I were a cynical man, I'd suggest that things are intentionally being held up as a way to prove that more money is needed to be able to cope with demand, therefore raising the prices under some kind of "transparent" pricing increase statistics.

Remove the staff that know what they're doing, give the job to those who haven't got a clue. that should add some time to each certificate, and time is money, because someones got to pay those wages. Whilst we're at it, we'll use people who are already on payroll, so we can pocket the cash that we would be paying to those full time guys that the current amount of money is earmarked for, and when it comes time for the budget, we'll explain that it's not possible with the amount we get at the minute.

Does that sound about right to anyone?

[bradaz11]

yep