Help required.

[Dorset_shooter]

Without wishing to bore anyone to death, I’ve been waiting nearly 9 months now for my firearms application to be completed.

I’ve had appointments cancelled , people refusing to return calls or emails.

I’ve had to arrange transport of a gun & made my last driven day a hassle for my host etc.

My interview was successful (mid Oct) and I’m yet to have anything, I was contacted 3 weeks ago to confirm the ticket was now going to be signed off but was finished there end.

Assuming nothing is going to get done before Christmas now, how long should I expect to wait for it to be signed off?

I’m running out of ideas, complaining doesn’t work, being nice doesn’t work?

I’m due to shoot again early jan, so will have to make yet more expensive arrangements to allow me to do so.

Any ideas anyone? (Apart from wait)

[ovenpaa]

Time to escalate it, drop the office of your county Police Crimes Commissioner an email or even a 'phone call and bring it to his attention. In my experience the PCC is normally very quick to respond, mostly because they are usually keen to get things on track plus they are in an elected office.

[Dorset_shooter]

Time to escalate it, drop the office of your county Police Crimes Commissioner an email or even a 'phone call and bring it to his attention. In my experience the PCC is normally very quick to respond, mostly because they are usually keen to get things on track plus they are in an elected office.

Thanks, I’ll give it a try this afternoon.

[Kungfugerbil]

If it’s not too geographically difficult, turn up at the office of the firearms licensing team. I did when I wanted something doing and they huffed and puffed a little but ultimately did it on the spot.

[Dorset_shooter]

If it’s not too geographically difficult, turn up at the office of the firearms licensing team. I did when I wanted something doing and they huffed and puffed a little but ultimately did it on the spot.

I have been around 20 times over the last few months.

It’s only down the road, still not helpful.

I’ve met different people every time, always empty promises.

The Dorset firearms system is a shambles, absolutely disgraceful.

However I’ll give credit to my Feo who was lovely when I eventually got to meet her.

Even if she forgot my paperwork & didn’t realise it was a firearms interview

[TomH]

I'll play devil's advocate here. I see from the Dorset Firearms Licencing website that they've put their hand up and acknowledged they have a problem and asked for patience while they work through the backlog. Each time you call or on the around 20 times you have visited, you have impacted their work taking them away from that task of clearing the backlog. If everyone in the que was constantly chasing them;as you have, then the system would probably grind to a complete halt. Have you perhaps not prejudiced your case by your approach? I know if I was working in that department, I would give priority to those that were waiting patiently.

[kennyc]

I'll play devil's advocate here. I see from the Dorset Firearms Licencing website that they've put their hand up and acknowledged they have a problem and asked for patience while they work through the backlog. Each time you call or on the around 20 times you have visited, you have impacted their work taking them away from that task of clearing the backlog. If everyone in the que was constantly chasing them;as you have, then the system would probably grind to a complete halt. Have you perhaps not prejudiced your case by your approach? I know if I was working in that department, I would give priority to those that were waiting patiently.

the worry that bothering them will cause your file to migrate down the pile is why a lot of people don't kick up a fuss, however in actuality those that shout loudest get heard most! its not right, and its not how it should be, but being a shrinking violet will just see you put on the back burner!
I had a similar journey with my last renewal, I politely kicked up from the point when my renewal was 5 months in the future right up to getting my renewal through on time, at the same time there were multiple storiers on the forums of people in the same boat who were patiently waiting for their renewals, and waiting,and waiting, into 2 or even 3 temporary certificates!
a Dept that is failing badly can only serve a certain number of customers a month, those that sit and take it, are not a problem to that Dept, those that complain are........guess who gets served first? and if you seriously believe its the quiet ones, I have a bridge in London you might be interested in

[Dorset_shooter]

I'll play devil's advocate here. I see from the Dorset Firearms Licencing website that they've put their hand up and acknowledged they have a problem and asked for patience while they work through the backlog. Each time you call or on the around 20 times you have visited, you have impacted their work taking them away from that task of clearing the backlog. If everyone in the que was constantly chasing them;as you have, then the system would probably grind to a complete halt. Have you perhaps not prejudiced your case by your approach? I know if I was working in that department, I would give priority to those that were waiting patiently.

This wasn’t the case until well over three months into my application, however I agree to an extent.

There attitude is rubbish, I played nice to start with but simple fact is they promised 4 months. Cashed my check after two days and now we are 9months down.

Waiting patiently is all very well but my customers wouldn’t wait 4 hours for a meal they where promised in half an hour, not to mention I don’t make them pay before they get it.

[Hunter87]

I'll play devil's advocate here. I see from the Dorset Firearms Licencing website that they've put their hand up and acknowledged they have a problem and asked for patience while they work through the backlog. Each time you call or on the around 20 times you have visited, you have impacted their work taking them away from that task of clearing the backlog. If everyone in the que was constantly chasing them;as you have, then the system would probably grind to a complete halt. Have you perhaps not prejudiced your case by your approach? I know if I was working in that department, I would give priority to those that were waiting patiently.

Ha ha didn't you read it's been 9 months!!!

[Dorset_shooter]

Finally yesterday it arrived, was just about to ask for my money back!!!

All correct as well, plus upped my .22 ammunition holding