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I've found them very helpful and supportive with these sorts of things.
Let us know what they say!

sclg wrote:I've found them very helpful and supportive with these sorts of things.
Let us know what they say!

Just got off the phone and they advised that I should raise the need for Sect 131 extension if they fail to complete by the expiration date. If they refuse to grant one, then BASC said give them a call back.

Interestingly they said they've not had much if any, negative feedback about our force and are suprised things have taken this long. However, anecdotally from other shooters in the area I know they've had a few hold ups.

Plus it has been the summer holidays and staff will be away That's the excuse that Devon & Cornwall told me on my last variation which took 3 weeks in August but got there in the end clapclap

Plus Devon & Cornwall are now also handling Dorset FAC & Shotgun variation/renewal/applications

Over the years I have slowly learned never do anything legal in the UK in August. House sales, wills, FACs.... everything just stops!

As for taking photo of FAC on your phone, good idea - but I would never carry my firearms without my FAC on my person.

Update on this:

After contacting them (and Basc) last week, they advised I emailed them this week to see if it would be completed in time for expiry and if it wasn't going to be ready request the statutory 8 week extension (as advised here and by basc). The reply came back that I'd submitted my renewal under the 8 week time limit and I'd have to lodge my guns with an RFD.

The date they stated I returned my renewal docs was completely wrong, not only had a submitted them a few weeks before but also the date they stated was 10 weeks before the 8 week limit! Meaning by their very own statement was incorrect and if I had in fact filed the renewal on this date I'd still be eligible for the extension anyway!

My response included screenshots of bank statements with payment dates and of the correspondence with the department when they sent me a reminder letter after I'd submitted my renewal which all happened before the date they said I renewed.

Given the length of time they took to do a 1 for 1 variation and now this, I've not got a lot of faith in my issuing force at the moment. This is my third renewal so surely it can't be that complicated!

JS569 wrote:Update on this:

After contacting them (and Basc) last week, they advised I emailed them this week to see if it would be completed in time for expiry and if it wasn't going to be ready request the statutory 8 week extension (as advised here and by basc). The reply came back that I'd submitted my renewal under the 8 week time limit and I'd have to lodge my guns with an RFD.

The date they stated I returned my renewal docs was completely wrong, not only had a submitted them a few weeks before but also the date they stated was 10 weeks before the 8 week limit! Meaning by their very own statement was incorrect and if I had in fact filed the renewal on this date I'd still be eligible for the extension anyway!

My response included screenshots of bank statements with payment dates and of the correspondence with the department when they sent me a reminder letter after I'd submitted my renewal which all happened before the date they said I renewed.

Given the length of time they took to do a 1 for 1 variation and now this, I've not got a lot of faith in my issuing force at the moment. This is my third renewal so surely it can't be that complicated!

send another letter/email detailing all this and this time copy in the Head of Firearms licencing, your Chief Constable and your local MP, and again ask them if they are going to reimburse you for costs incurred due to their incompetance.

kennyc wrote:

JS569 wrote:Update on this:

After contacting them (and Basc) last week, they advised I emailed them this week to see if it would be completed in time for expiry and if it wasn't going to be ready request the statutory 8 week extension (as advised here and by basc). The reply came back that I'd submitted my renewal under the 8 week time limit and I'd have to lodge my guns with an RFD.

The date they stated I returned my renewal docs was completely wrong, not only had a submitted them a few weeks before but also the date they stated was 10 weeks before the 8 week limit! Meaning by their very own statement was incorrect and if I had in fact filed the renewal on this date I'd still be eligible for the extension anyway!

My response included screenshots of bank statements with payment dates and of the correspondence with the department when they sent me a reminder letter after I'd submitted my renewal which all happened before the date they said I renewed.

Given the length of time they took to do a 1 for 1 variation and now this, I've not got a lot of faith in my issuing force at the moment. This is my third renewal so surely it can't be that complicated!

send another letter/email detailing all this and this time copy in the Head of Firearms licencing, your Chief Constable and your local MP, and again ask them if they are going to reimburse you for costs incurred due to their incompetance.

If you wish to make a complaint don't forget to include your local police and crime commissioner.