Met FAC experience

[Elshad]

Happy to report that I received my FAC in the post yesterday - thought I would share my experience with the Met for those in a similar boat

Applied 11 July 2024
First phone call from FEO on 3 March 2025
Home visit 5 March
Email saying FAC granted on 25 March
Received FAC 24 April

9 months and 13 days in total

 

[VSS]

Pretty appalling, isn't it?

 

[Benelli m2]

Terrible

 

[Sandyb]

So it still took 4 weeks from grant to receipt…

 

[Rogerp]

Only a month longer than my renewal, Herts, Beds & Cambs.

 

[weblyish]

Happy to report that I received my FAC in the post yesterday - thought I would share my experience with the Met for those in a similar boat

Applied 11 July 2024
First phone call from FEO on 3 March 2025
Home visit 5 March
Email saying FAC granted on 25 March
Received FAC 24 April

9 months and 13 days in total

Can I ask
Did you chase/check in at all during the 9 months?

My FAC application is in and I'm already SGC so do know the FEO and could call him direct
(Forget calling any general office the don't offer that any more)

I just know that if someone chased me about something too early I'd make sure it went to the bottom of the pile a few times

 

[Elshad]

Can I ask
Did you chase/check in at all during the 9 months?

My FAC application is in and I'm already SGC so do know the FEO and could call him direct
(Forget calling any general office the don't offer that any more)

I just know that if someone chased me about something too early I'd make sure it went to the bottom of the pile a few times

I chased only once after a few months using the online form and got a generic reply confirming that my application had been received and uploaded to the system, and was awaiting vetting, nothing more.

 

[shakey jake]

Can I ask
Did you chase/check in at all during the 9 months?

My FAC application is in and I'm already SGC so do know the FEO and could call him direct
(Forget calling any general office the don't offer that any more)

I just know that if someone chased me about something too early I'd make sure it went to the bottom of the pile a few times

Great way to treat paying customer that want a decent service.

 

[Shootgun]

Blimey... I got mine back in the day in 19 calendar days...

 

[andrew thoma]

To be fair to the Met, it is clearly stated on their website that it is taking eight months to process new applications and then I guess what ever times it takes to grant or refuse.

Compare that to areas where they are not processing any at all and it seems to me they are doing a good job of managing expectations, delivering as promised and using their limited resources to looks after existing FAC holders at the same time.

The good news is you have it now and can get on with enjoying it.

 

[mattch]

Elshad - can I ask which borough you’re in? I applied nearly 11 months ago and still haven’t heard anything back. I’m in Greenwich.

 

[Apthorpe]

To be fair to the Met, it is clearly stated on their website that it is taking eight months to process new applications and then I guess what ever times it takes to grant or refuse.

Compare that to areas where they are not processing any at all and it seems to me they are doing a good job of managing expectations, delivering as promised and using their limited resources to looks after existing FAC holders at the same time.

Why on earth would anyone compare a case of serious failure to a case of total failure and reach the conclusion that serious failure is "doing a good job" ?

The good news is you have it now and can get on with enjoying it.

 

[Elshad]

Elshad - can I ask which borough you’re in? I applied nearly 11 months ago and still haven’t heard anything back. I’m in Greenwich.

Hi Matt, I’m in Hammersmith and Fulham

 

[Tazz]

Only a month longer than my renewal, Herts, Beds & Cambs.

When it was just Beds and Herts I found them very good ( I am Beds guy) since we merged with Cambridge the time lines seem to have all extended. The issue/solution is funding and staffing but given where the country is with spending issues we will be well down the list of “ problem areas to be resolved” I am not justifying it but we are a niche problem with no popular support even our funded shooting organisations seem to fail to bring any pressure to bear

 

[mattch]

Yep - I understand the pressures the Police are under, and the importance of them getting these decisions right. I’ll try to be patient!

 

[weblyish]

Bit of an old thread but anyone have any recent Met new grant experience?

I've now hit 11 months with no action at all.

I did get a reply to my email last month to say it will likely be another 6 months before they get to it but it did seem a generic copy paste response

 

[mattch]

Hi Weblyish -I have just received my FAC and SGC and I live in Greenwich, London so my application was made to the Met.

• Applied: June 2024
• Interview: September 2025
• Receive FAC and SGC: November 2025

So all in just under a year-and-a-half. I note that, when they reviewed my application, they asked me to get an updated Doctor's letter as it had been more than 1yr since my last one which I did (at my own expense). Hope that's helpful.

 

[weblyish]

Congratulations.

Shame it's such a shambles

And the updated doctor note is adding insult to injury as they know they are not getting through the applications in time to use the proforma but won't accept them without
So it is just a duplicate waste

 

[mattch]

Yes, I agree, but by the time I got to the interview stage I was so relieved I didn't want to do anything to slow it down so I just wen back to my Doctor and paid another £40. Good luck with it, I am afraid it's just a waiting game.

 

[Elshad]

Hi Weblyish -I have just received my FAC and SGC and I live in Greenwich, London so my application was made to the Met.

• Applied: June 2024
• Interview: September 2025
• Receive FAC and SGC: November 2025

So all in just under a year-and-a-half. I note that, when they reviewed my application, they asked me to get an updated Doctor's letter as it had been more than 1yr since my last one which I did (at my own expense). Hope that's helpful.

When was the original doctor’s proforma from? If it was reasonably current at time of application (let’s say less than 1 month old at June 2024) then I would say this is an outrageous thing for the Met to do.