Struggle with my renewal

[newsatten]

Kent will help you if your not computer savvy,
Who’s you FEO ?
A friend of mine and fellow club member got his FEO to call in and basically done the whole thing for him ,
This was only a few months ago
Don’t miss the deadline though as you’ll have to lodge your guns !

 

[hogey]

Ask for a paper application

Northumbria have sent me a paper application.
They must have taken my old age into account lol

 

[Greenmist]

Northumbria have sent me a paper application.
They must have taken my old age into account lol

They're one of the better ones to deal with

 

[jb1]

Attempt to create an idiot proof system and the universe just invents a better idiot.


Your comment was probably tongue in cheek but Unfortunately it doesn't help anyone at all, not everyone knows everything, many make out they do but we all know what we make of them. There are a large number of license holders older generation that are not renewing due to the hoops that are forever being placed in front of them, the renewal form being one of them. How many males ask for help with anything ? rather say im OK than ask for help, and a fair few would rather say they have shot for long enough and sell up.

 

[mjd237]

Northumbria have sent me a paper application.
They must have taken my old age into account lol

Like wise lol although I am quite tech savvy, they even called me to ask if I wanted a condition added to my ticket when I was thinking of joining a club, when I had them on the phone they mentioned my renewal and they would send out the paperwork 6 months before expiry in December. See how long it takes.

 

[hogey]

They're one of the better ones to deal with

Yes in over 50 years always had good connection with Northumbria

 

[Cyres]

I must say the OP has my sympathy.
Ist issue is that once you start the form you cannot save it and return at a later date .
I am not at all PC savy and have an ancient PC. I found it v difficult to upload my photo but eventually succeed.
My medical form went in separately and I can't remember how I bi passed this section.
Payment was the easiest.
It's not clear from the start exactly what information you need to complete the form in fact had to look in 3 places to find our exactly what A@S needed.
It could be made so much easier if the issuing police force could send you your previous application and you could just amend if needed and re submit a new medical form.
D

 

[Mike1979]

I think the assumption (wrongly) is that these days everyone is tech savvy and can do everything online. Fine if you are in your 20s, 30s and maybe 40s but Im 46 and IT skills was only just being taught at school when I was there. If your not on a computer for your job its easy to forget how to do these things.

 

[jb1]

I think the assumption (wrongly) is that these days everyone is tech savvy and can do everything online. Fine if you are in your 20s, 30s and maybe 40s but Im 46 and IT skills was only just being taught at school when I was there. If your not on a computer for your job its easy to forget how to do these things.

Maybe a good idea for your shooting Org to offer guidance or help out in some way, after all its in their best interest to keep those in the sport.
This post is highlighting a few that have been frustrated with filling in the forms on line, and quite a few unaware that forces do still offer paper options, mainly because they do not show the option.

 

[Mike1979]

Maybe a good idea for your shooting Org to offer guidance or help out in some way, after all its in their best interest to keep those in the sport.
This post is highlighting a few that have been frustrated with filling in the forms on line, and quite a few unaware that forces do still offer paper options, mainly because they do not show the option.

Agreed I tend to be the one helping friends filling the forms in as Im not brilliant on a computer but I'm better then a lot and dont really struggle with forms, photo ID uploads etc etc I found my FAC renewal earlier this year pretty straightforward with Dyfed Powys

 

[Woodwalker1]

I am computer literate (old job) but decided to go down the paper route. Why?
Medical forms were given to me by my doctors in paper form. Only £25 charged by surgery
Written permission was on paper.
Maps of land again on paper etc etc.
I could have scanned everything but it seemed easier not to be rushed filling the online form.
The website allows 90mins of it doesn’t crash first, the firearms department says it should take no more than 20mims.
My coterminous renewal needed a lot of thought. It took a good while to ensure it had no errors or omissions that would delay things.
Photocopied the lot in case ‘lost’ by the PO or firearms department, so it could be easily resent.
I sent it signed for and I phoned them a week later to check it was received.
Woodwalker1

 

[Greenmist]

Maybe a good idea for your shooting Org to offer guidance or help out in some way

Or fight the stupidity of the licensing process

 

[old 30-06]

An update.............. I have just had an E-Mail from the firearms department. They have rejected my forms sent in by E-Mail, and require them submitted electronically on a link they have sent me. I have opened this link, and it takes me to the same place I was before. The little arrow thing just goes round and round and I am unable to progress anywhere. I have E-Mailed them this information, and await a reply.

 

[Greenmist]

An update.............. I have just had an E-Mail from the firearms department. They have rejected my forms sent in by E-Mail, and require them submitted electronically on a link they have sent me. I have opened this link, and it takes me to the same place I was before. The little arrow thing just goes round and round and I am unable to progress anywhere. I have E-Mailed them this information, and await a reply.

Can you request a paper application?

 

[Klenchblaize]

An update.............. I have just had an E-Mail from the firearms department. They have rejected my forms sent in by E-Mail, and require them submitted electronically on a link they have sent me. I have opened this link, and it takes me to the same place I was before. The little arrow thing just goes round and round and I am unable to progress anywhere. I have E-Mailed them this information, and await a reply.

I strongly suspect you have the 'wrong' (incompatible) PC software operating platform.

Perhaps talk to an IT expect.

K

 

[Cyres]

Not helpful as it will be babble talk. My computer is running Windows 7 and is due for imminent replacement. You need the help of a fellow shooter who has an up to date PC.
Do you know some one who can help you?
D

 

[jb1]

I strongly suspect you have the 'wrong' (incompatible) PC software operating platform.

Perhaps talk to an IT expect.

K

Are we really expecting everyone to have the latest IT platforms to complete online forms ? No or seek advice from IT guru's. Would be interesting to know many if the mature shooting people don't renew due to stressful online forms.

 

[Cogswell & Harrison]

Are we really expecting everyone to have the latest IT platforms to complete online forms ? No or seek advice from IT guru's. Would be interesting to know many if the mature shooting people don't renew due to stressful online forms.

70 years old earlier this year but feeling like shooting has knocked thirty years plus off that both physically and mentally.

Everything seems to be getting stressful these days, either by accident or design.

I have two years to run on my current FAC and about another year on my SGC. All things being equal I'll be getting my first reminder in about eighteen months and should the online route be the only option, then it may be adios from me. A shame really, I have come a long way in the last eight years, done my DSC1, had some good & exhilarating mentored and guided stalks, joined a few clubs, had a shedload of help and advice from here and obtained some fantastic permissions but most importantly, (I don't know how), it seems to have made me a better person.

Being retired for nigh on fifteen years gives you a better perspective, you have to time to "hover" over the situation without distractions and you soon know how things are really going. I see a country where nothing works, obstacles at every turn, a society and government that doesn't value it elderly, customer service is a distant memory, authority that exists to serve itself and, if you have the temerity to politely and genuinely question any of this, it's call security! or somesuch.

All things considered I'm still on the right side of upbeat, play a straight bat as best I can while quietly go about my business and staying off society's radar, my only two Damocles Swords are my eye test at 73 and my FAC/SGC renewals.

We'll see

 

[Sinistral]

After going through all this recently I didn't have any difficulty in renewing online. There's only one version of the system which is called 'SOHRS' (Single Online Home Reporting Service) rolled out to all 40 forces so that everyone uses the same one. It's actually quite well designed, and has been tweaked with AI lately. This might appear a problem because of the age demographic of shooters, but it just replicates the old manual system really in a more convenient way for admin purposes.

This is a PDF of the screens which has been chopped into two chunks to get it up on the site. Some of the entry screens like details of each firearm (action/make/calibre/serial number/intended use) are repeated, so the program keeps on looping round until these are all entered. With several rifles to put in I counted 44 screens in all. It took me well over an hour, but as it was all new I was taking screenshots 'before and after' to work out what was going on. This turned out to be a waste of time, but that only dawned on me right at the end.

If a 7yr-old can master a smartphone then using SOHRS should be easy for an adult. The discipline bit is having all the documentation ready, and reading the notes beforehand. That's the change in approach needed for interactive form-filling, and having a bit of patience over the extra time it takes to type everything in. The process itself is simple and straightforward, and ideal for the job it's meant to do which is doing away with all the tedious clerical checking associated with the old blue forms. My renewal came through within 6 months compared to over a year it took for an applicant I know who had submitted his on paper.

I think that for security and cost reasons the system only creates a record when all the entries have been checked, the legal declaration made at the end, and the SEND key pressed. This is no different from signing the old form and posting it. SOHRS sends you back a PDF file by E-Mail displaying everything you've entered straightaway, so there's no argument or misunderstanding. No-one has mentioned this point so far, but it could be important if there's a long delay.

 

[jb1]

@Sinistral

Paragraph 2 and 3 are exactly what the issues are. Paragraph 2 to someone who not computer savy it's all garbage.

The reply to my last post- again the difference is 63 years, a 7 year old brought up with smartphones etc and a 70 year old worlds apart.
You mention SOHRS, worked with PC programs for years never heard of it.