Do we assume the worst of our FLD?
- Thread starter SimpleSimon
- Start date
dom8328
Well-Known Member
I can only sing the praises of my FLD (North Yorkshire), Essex were buggering around sending my stuff through so they got on to them and it was sorted within 2 weeks including a 1 for 1 variation. Prompt, knowledgeable, friendly and nothing is ever too much hassle with them. They set the benchmark in my eyes.
Dom
Dom
I can only speak as I find but contrary to the horror stories of late regarding Dyfed-Powys FLD my centre fire variation took 8 weeks. I realised a couple of days after i sent the variation in I forgot to ask for expanding ammo so I rang them and they dug out my variation and put it on for me. The FEO doubted I would get "open" condition for the Centre fire, although he was recomending me "open" for rim and centrefire (Thanks to a letter my great shooting mate wrote for me detailing all my fox shooting experience with him using .223 and .243 and a new DSC 1 Qulification) as it was my first centre fire and the boss of the FLD had a "policy" of new centre fire users serving a probationary period before being granted "open" My FAC arrived and it was "open" for everything including the centrefire. So while undoubtedly some FLD's have bad days they also have good ones too.
Well i posted earlier on in this thread a couple of weeks after submitting a variation, having not had any problems with Northants in the past it seems things have drastically changed for the worse!
My variation request went in on the 4th of December and i am still waiting, i had a totally unnecessary FEO interview which was more like a visit for a grant/renewal on the 2nd of February, i entertained the FEO because he was a new guy but made a point of reminding him after every question asked that they already had the answer in my file.
After ringing the licensing department several times and getting an automated reply saying "Firearms licensing is not available" i remembered i had the managers number.
I rang her two weeks ago and asked what the delay was, she asked me were there any issues!! i said you tell me, it seems she had not even talked to my FEO in six weeks, would talk to him and get back to me the next day.
Guess what no return call! not surprised really but not happy at all.
I am now out of ammo, cant buy any bullets for my 17 fireball and dont want to shoot match grade in my 22BR.
I am going to phone again this week but if no joy then a written complaint will be going to the licensing manager, the Chief constable and the Police commisioner, not something i want to do but musts be.
Ian.
My variation request went in on the 4th of December and i am still waiting, i had a totally unnecessary FEO interview which was more like a visit for a grant/renewal on the 2nd of February, i entertained the FEO because he was a new guy but made a point of reminding him after every question asked that they already had the answer in my file.
After ringing the licensing department several times and getting an automated reply saying "Firearms licensing is not available" i remembered i had the managers number.
I rang her two weeks ago and asked what the delay was, she asked me were there any issues!! i said you tell me, it seems she had not even talked to my FEO in six weeks, would talk to him and get back to me the next day.
Guess what no return call! not surprised really but not happy at all.
I am now out of ammo, cant buy any bullets for my 17 fireball and dont want to shoot match grade in my 22BR.
I am going to phone again this week but if no joy then a written complaint will be going to the licensing manager, the Chief constable and the Police commisioner, not something i want to do but musts be.
Ian.
I've found D&C to be fine. I've had some issues trying to get a straight answer out of them on the phone, and there's upwards of 3 months wait for land to be cleared, but I dropped my FAC into them on a Monday with a some proof of qualification and a nice letter stating the reasons why I needed it opened, and it came back to me two days later opened. Happy days.
Ian- I've just had the same with Hampshire. 1-4-1 variation on a 243. Essentially a serial number change. The result was a 10week wait!
Good question Simon. My FEO and the team as a whole are simply outstanding and from some of the comments on this thread, I and we in Wiltshire are clearly extremely fortunate to have such an excellent FEO staff and service.
My particular FEO used the initial interview largely to find out about me and what makes me tick, initiating an excellent and mutually trusting relationship which has been sustained throughout the three years he has looked after me. A former Police firearms instructor, he is extremely knowledgeable, personable and fair and engendered confidence and trust from the outset. He was satisfied from the initial interview to grant centre fire on first application (due to prior firearms experience), to add .243 with a mentoring condition for deer until passed DSC1 and after a reasonable time frame and supported by appropriate and sufficient evidence, open my ticket. He has also been very supportive over my illness (chronic fatigue) and associated medication and has always taken a genuine interest in being provided each stalk diary I have sent to him after each successful outing. Indeed, he commented that the team get very little feedback from 'customers' and it is a delight to see real stories of the results of their service. A little bit of mutual common courtesy and trust goes a long way.
It is also worthy of note that the Wiltshire team as a whole seem to always go out of their way to provide a good service. I have been able to drop by their office in the County Headquarters to have a slot cleared on one occasion and have my ticket opened and additional calibres added on a second occasion (the later clearly via variation and liaising with my FEO throughout via phone and email throughout - responses invariably inside 24-hours), being in and out with the jobs done inside 30-mins on both occasions.
My particular FEO used the initial interview largely to find out about me and what makes me tick, initiating an excellent and mutually trusting relationship which has been sustained throughout the three years he has looked after me. A former Police firearms instructor, he is extremely knowledgeable, personable and fair and engendered confidence and trust from the outset. He was satisfied from the initial interview to grant centre fire on first application (due to prior firearms experience), to add .243 with a mentoring condition for deer until passed DSC1 and after a reasonable time frame and supported by appropriate and sufficient evidence, open my ticket. He has also been very supportive over my illness (chronic fatigue) and associated medication and has always taken a genuine interest in being provided each stalk diary I have sent to him after each successful outing. Indeed, he commented that the team get very little feedback from 'customers' and it is a delight to see real stories of the results of their service. A little bit of mutual common courtesy and trust goes a long way.
It is also worthy of note that the Wiltshire team as a whole seem to always go out of their way to provide a good service. I have been able to drop by their office in the County Headquarters to have a slot cleared on one occasion and have my ticket opened and additional calibres added on a second occasion (the later clearly via variation and liaising with my FEO throughout via phone and email throughout - responses invariably inside 24-hours), being in and out with the jobs done inside 30-mins on both occasions.
I now have my FAC, after a 15 minute phone call with the licensing manager where she basically went through all the questions asked by my FEO when he visited in February, i commenting several times that i already told all this to the FEO and he wrote it all down,
Anyway that was last Monday, she said that my licence will get printed off on Tuesday and posted in the week, i received a phone call on Wednesday asking if i would like to collect my FAC which i did Thursday morning.
Ian
Anyway that was last Monday, she said that my licence will get printed off on Tuesday and posted in the week, i received a phone call on Wednesday asking if i would like to collect my FAC which i did Thursday morning.
Ian
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