UPDATE: TVP FAC/SGC Renewals

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I spoke to Herts the other day, and they said they are processing renewals in order of date expiry, and aim to have all renewals completed, before the FAC expires !

I have always found Herts/Beds, & I believe Cambs have now amalgamated, to be 1st class........
 
Hmmm...not so sure about that. I've now been waiting for five and half months and (as of last night) neither of my referees had been contacted.

TVP have stated that 'What is delaying things is the build up of back ground checks, and whilst all applications are different, grants are taking on average 4/5 months. The new medical procedure is mainly post grant/renewal so no hold up for you there'...

Well, I wish I was 'average' then, but as as an SGC holder and past FAC holder its not as if I'm unknown to them. Even sent them copies of old FAC, copy of written permission, Estate map, DSC1, insurance etc. in the hope it would make it easy for them.

My father (who lives in the next village) submitted his SGC renewal in January has not heard hide nor hair. Upon telephoning to explain that his certificate runs out in the next couple of weeks he was brusquely told 'we're dealing with it', so its S.7 for him, then!
 
Sighthound said:
Hmmm...not so sure about that. I've now been waiting for five and half months and (as of last night) neither of my referees had been contacted.

TVP have stated that 'What is delaying things is the build up of back ground checks, and whilst all applications are different, grants are taking on average 4/5 months. The new medical procedure is mainly post grant/renewal so no hold up for you there'...

Well, I wish I was 'average' then, but as as an SGC holder and past FAC holder its not as if I'm unknown to them. Even sent them copies of old FAC, copy of written permission, Estate map, DSC1, insurance etc. in the hope it would make it easy for them.

My father (who lives in the next village) submitted his SGC renewal in January has not heard hide nor hair. Upon telephoning to explain that his certificate runs out in the next couple of weeks he was brusquely told 'we're dealing with it', so its S.7 for him, then!
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Sadly my comment was pretty much a direct quote from their FEO this morning :(
I, too, hold a SGC and sent them all the information they could possibly need - maps, letters (permission and experience) and a covering letter detailing my reasons for things. All a bit frustrating.

I just don't quite get why it takes so long - if a beat cop can get loads of info about you over his radio, they're not routinely contacting your GP unless they suspect a problem, in some cases they're not contacting referees AND they've already deemed suitability due to you holding a Shotgun cert, surely, all they have to do is briefly run the checks akin to those that a beat cop does over a radio then come out and see you to hear your good reason, have a chat and check security... Therefore, seeing as they can cash a cheque in a week, you would have thought the total work load would be no more than an hour of office time (I'd say that's probably a very long guess) and a 20 min visit plus travelling time.

I know if you multiply these times up and add in renewals/variations it becomes quite a lot but still... struggling to understand.
 
I gather a lot of the experienced FEO's have left over the last few years, and that's across all forces. Sadly as they've come up to retirement or left/transferred of their own accord a lot of experience went with them, and a lot of the work has been handed to less experienced folk which has added to the time taken to process applications while they get up to speed.

One force also had some severe flooding which put them back months - cant recall who that was now but I remember reading about it.

I'm in the same boat as you - I have my SGC already with Hants, submitted my FAC application last November and am waiting at the moment. To be fair to Hampshire every time I've spoken to them they've been polite and helpful, and it must be annoying for them to be so far behind. Most people generally just want to do a good job with whatever they're doing so I don't think for an instant its deliberate on their part!

My SGC took about 5 months I think last year and the way I managed it was sending the form off and then when I chased it up they would say "it'll be another xyz weeks", so I'd stick a reminder in my diary for xyz weeks away and call them up then to see where it was. That way you're not hassling them constantly (which would probably annoy them) but you are keeping the contact with them going and know where you're at.

Other than that its browsing the classifieds, GunTrader and paid stalks while we wait hehe!
 
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stubear said:
I gather a lot of the experienced FEO's have left over the last few years, and that's across all forces. Sadly as they've come up to retirement or left/transferred of their own accord a lot of experience went with them, and a lot of the work has been handed to less experienced folk which has added to the time taken to process applications while they get up to speed.

One force also had some severe flooding which put them back months - cant recall who that was now but I remember reading about it.

I'm in the same boat as you - I have my SGC already with Hants, submitted my FAC application last November and am waiting at the moment. To be fair to Hampshire every time I've spoken to them they've been polite and helpful, and it must be annoying for them to be so far behind. Most people generally just want to do a good job with whatever they're doing so I don't think for an instant its deliberate on their part!

My SGC took about 5 months I think last year and the way I managed it was sending the form off and then when I chased it up they would say "it'll be another xyz weeks", so I'd stick a reminder in my diary for xyz weeks away and call them up then to see where it was. That way you're not hassling them constantly (which would probably annoy them) but you are keeping the contact with them going and know where you're at.

Other than that its browsing the classifieds, GunTrader and paid stalks while we wait hehe!
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I think you're definitely right about the retirement aspects, I suppose it demonstrates an inefficient handover but that's probably another matter.

Thames Valley have been as polite and as helpful as they can be in the situation, as you say I'm sure they want to provide a decent service.

Looking at guntrader/classifieds are great but it's always so crushing when you see exactly what you want disappear in front of your eyes because you don't have your ticket yet! Oh well, we will just have to wait our turn and remember that there will always be others who are more unlucky!
 
9 months wait so far for SGC renewal from TVP.

Had a telephone call from FEO on 1st April. Still waiting for ticket to arrive as all paperwork is now with admin.

Do they send out S7 extensions as my temp cert expires in mid July.
 
Just had a chat with a shooting friend who lives in the same village.

He received his new Co-term certificate through the post yesterday. Renewal has taken 9 months and 3 weeks
 
oxfordfowler said:
Just had a chat with a shooting friend who lives in the same village.

He received his new Co-term certificate through the post yesterday. Renewal has taken 9 months and 3 weeks
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F'all obvious progress then... The re-elected PCC for TVP stated before the election that he had put a couple more bodies on the Firearms team at Kidlington (see nico's twitter engagement in previous posts), so hopefully once they are fully up to speed we'll see benefits of the "improved" service that we're now paying more for.
 
oxfordfowler said:
9 months wait so far for SGC renewal from TVP.

Had a telephone call from FEO on 1st April. Still waiting for ticket to arrive as all paperwork is now with admin.

Do they send out S7 extensions as my temp cert expires in mid July.
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I just got my extension sent with a very polite letter, 'although my application was sent well in advance we regrettably inform you that due to...'
 
Just done my shotgun and firearms licence renewals with North York's all done and dusted in under four weeks with no hassle just ten minutes at my house to check serial numbers and that was it. Very good service as usual with North York's.
 
Just seems a bit of a shame, I'm a student currently so with summer exams I'm not at home much (in Oxfordshire where I've applied for my FAC). I thought it might be more efficient and easier for both the FEO and I if we organised my visit well in advance (rather than my SGC one where he phoned up 5 mins away and said "are you around, I'm in the next village"). Just thought it might stop any inefficient chasing around so I emailed TVP perfectly politely and got an equally polite reply saying something along the lines of thanks but we can't do that, grants are taking on average 6 months. Would it not make sense to do this? Probably wrong...
 
kimh said:
I just got my extension sent with a very polite letter, 'although my application was sent well in advance we regrettably inform you that due to...'
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Did you reply with "We regret to inform you that, due to your ineptitude and inability to do your jobs in a timely manner, I have incurred extra costs for the storage of my section 5 ammunition. Please see the attached invoice, to be paid within 21 days"
 
Hi

If ammunition storage charges are to be invoiced to TVP, is there a case for those in the TVP area in stalking syndicates, or carrying out wildlife management functions, that cannot use their firearms during the current extraordinary renewal process, to also invoice for the loss of the opportunity costs pro-rata beyond the 60 working days that TVP standards suggest will be worked towards..........

L
 
Anyone asked their shooting organisation to see what they can do or written to their MP. A very good case for a petition on the internet /facebook. There are orgs, like change.org which will organise and run these, including publicity. Show them up in public and to those with influence and progress will have to improve surely ?
 
kes said:
Anyone asked their shooting organisation to see what they can do or written to their MP. A very good case for a petition on the internet /facebook. There are orgs, like change.org which will organise and run these, including publicity. Show them up in public and to those with influence and progress will have to improve surely ?
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I've just sent an email to BASC asking what I/they can do to help speed things along and whether they are putting any pressure on TVP who are renowned for being slow!
 
Iwanttoshoot said:
I've just sent an email to BASC asking what I/they can do to help speed things along and whether they are putting any pressure on TVP who are renowned for being slow!
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BASC might have other things on their mind at the moment, given the rumour mill going into overdrive
 
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