Has the FAC Grant / Renewal Process Changed of Late?

[long_range_rob]

Another day, another let down. No contact from FEO.

 

[big bang]

Another day, another let down. No contact from FEO.

That’s not great, especially as they probably got your nerves jangling by asking for an urgent review without giving you a heads up as to what the review was for. Am sure it’ll be fine when you eventually speak to them though

 

[M@tt]

The fact my local police automatically believe they will fail at renewing my coterminous certs in a timely manner is worrying.

I have applied last month for a December expiry date, and they have already been in touch (good sign) to tell me my photo is out of date (bad sign) but just send them a selfy and it'll be good (good sign). Then, "oh, I'll send you Section 28B extension now, print off and keep with your FAC" (bad sign).

So even with nearly 6 months they are saying they will still not get it done in time.

 

[long_range_rob]

Update!

Another 8 week extension on its way today.

Sort of phew

 

[Stalker62]

Another 8 week extension on its way today.

Interesting legal point...

 

[Oracle]

Interesting legal point...

Agreed….the legislation doesn’t allow for a 2nd 8 week extension…got to be a S7 permit.

 

[long_range_rob]

Agreed….the legislation doesn’t allow for a 2nd 8 week extension…got to be a S7 permit.

I will see what lands on the doorstep

 

[M@tt]

Agreed….the legislation doesn’t allow for a 2nd 8 week extension…got to be a S7 permit.

And remember if this happens, the renewed FAC, when it finally arrives, must have the start date of its issue date, not the old expiry date.

 

[Subsistence]

I applied for an initial FAC grant and to renew my SGC and AWL just befor the price went up, this is in Scotland.

I feel like I received a different approach or level of service this time round. However I can't say if it was due to the changes in costs, I think it has a lot more to do with the fact that my FEO had changed from a very down to earth, no nonsense chap, who did a fair bit of shooting himself, to a new person that seemed to want to deny my application from the start. So much so that she didn't even ask me all the questions she should have done at my home visit, and had to call back to ask me them further down the line once I had jumped through her other hoops.

Overall the time things took where on track for the usual Scottish 16 weeks However I moved house during the application and that did add a little extra time, absolutely not the fault of the licencing department.

As stated they did seem a lot more negative and I did get asked, what I thought to be, and others here agreed, irrelevant questions, such as what my lardering and meat storage facilities where. FYI I'm not culling hundreds, just a few for myself and my family/friends.

Got here in the end, still a solid service from the Scotlands licencing department (west) but a bit more faff than usual, probably down to a change in FEO

 

[Greenmist]

And remember if this happens, the renewed FAC, when it finally arrives, must have the start date of its issue date, not the old expiry date.

It probably won't, I had this argument with my FEO, his reply was by having the original date I wasn't without a licence and they had kept me legal, I pointed out the two month extension but it fell on deaf ears. I also pointed out, That I had kept myself legal by having everything in place and documents submitted in plenty of time

 

[long_range_rob]

And remember if this happens, the renewed FAC, when it finally arrives, must have the start date of its issue date, not the old expiry date.

A mates ticket was also backdated to his previous expiration date. Smells a bit coverup’ish to me.

I have an appointment for renewal chat in September so sort of progress I suppose

As for my club, members without rifles cannot shoot until the club ticket is sorted

 

[8x57]

As for my club, members without rifles cannot shoot until the club ticket is sorted

If it's a Home Office approved club those club members without their own rifles can legally still shoot but will be solely reliant on the generosity of other club members allowing them to use their personal rifles, ammo may be more of a problem.
A pretty poor show that they haven't renewed the club FAC on time, unless the fault lies with the club and not with the firearms department.

 

[Keith Edmunds]

This really made me laugh

 

[M@tt]

This really made me laugh

View attachment 433090

You may laugh, but I am storing some firearms for a chap who was waiting for renewal and the FAC/SGC had expired, unfortunately he has since died. He had his statuary 2 months, and then they wouldn't give a s7 permit, so I had them about 6 months before he passed. Still no FAC/SGC, but we are hopeful it'll turn up soon.

Now I have to wait for the probate, etc., before I can do something with them.

 

[M@tt]

It probably won't, I had this argument with my FEO, his reply was by having the original date I wasn't without a licence and they had kept me legal, I pointed out the two month extension but it fell on deaf ears. I also pointed out, That I had kept myself legal by having everything in place and documents submitted in plenty of time

The guidance used to mention that the new FAC will start from the date of expiry if the s28 extension hadn't expired, but must start from the date of issue if issued after the s28 extension had expired.

Any s7 permit (or, worse, you had them in storage) means you do not have the full privileges of an FAC. Therefore, there is no continuity, you have had a brief hiatus from full firearms ownership/use.

 

[Greenmist]

The guidance used to mention that the new FAC will start from the date of expiry if the s28 extension hadn't expired, but must start from the date of issue if issued after the s28 extension had expired.

Any s7 permit (or, worse, you had them in storage) means you do not have the full privileges of an FAC. Therefore, there is no continuity, you have had a brief hiatus from full firearms ownership/use.

I quite agree with you, and that is my take on it, sadly, trying to get that point across to the PTB fell short.
It depends on the wording of the sect7, although I couldn't buy ammo (not an issue as I always stock up before renewal) I had full use of my firearms

 

[M@tt]

The s7 wording is critical. They initially only allowed possession and no use, luckily that has changed. However, using firearms is one thing, being able to buy and acquire firearms and ammo is a totally different thing. That is what having a full FAC allows and the s7 permit doesn't.

A s7 is for those who need to possess without an FAC, such as surviving relatives after an FAC holder dies, or as in this case, when the police have failed to renew an FAC in a timely fashion.

There is an argument that the new FAC can be backdated 8 weeks from its grant and in this example, that will still be starting after the expiry of the old one. Then you will still have 5 years of full FAC use and privilege just with a gap between the first 8 weeks (the s28B extension duration) and the 4 year10 months until expiry. The wording of s28B could be construed this way.

 

[long_range_rob]

S7 received today so that’s me covered for a bit.

 

[eldon]

Well this is my first time go on the online renewal merry go round.
I submitted mid June straight after receiving my GP report.
Firearms licensing sent me a letter stating that there may be a delay so my current licences would be extended 8 weeks.
That was not required ultimately, as the renewed certificates arrived x2 days before my current ones expire.

Yes the total cost has risen, to £245 all in for my scenario, but NORTH YORKS POLICE again provided excellent service, thank you.

A ten week turnaround from submission date to certificate arrival, I feel, is very good service under the new conditions and guidelines especially listening to examples of other forces time to deliver.

 

[timbrayford]

I’m sure there were a few people applying to try and avoid the new fee increase - I know a few who done this. The fee increase alone will not solve any issues in the short term as the licensing departments won’t be able to suddenly take on more staff overnight. But it might help in the long term…

Regarding the FEO questions - You ask 100 license holders you’ll get 100 answers on how they perceive the questions asked. My attitude is that they can ask me all the questions under the sun - If I’ve got no issues then I shouldn’t have a problem answering them. Personally I’d rather them ask a lot of questions if that in some way helps to prevent another shooting, because if that happens we are only going to get further restrictions.

Just my two-penneth on things

I'd be happy if they just stuck by the laws that parliament made rather than adding to and embellishing a few of their own. And no you don't get DSC 1&2 merely for "attending a course".