Another Renewal Problem

[VicW]

Nine weeks ago Lincs Firearms office received my renewal paperwork,three months in advance and to date I had heard nothing.

I 'phoned this morning and was told that the hold up was that my Doctor had not returned the medical enquiry paperwork sent to him six weeks ago. The Firearms office lady said she would phone the surgery immediately and chase them up.This she did and called me back straight away.

I have three weeks left on my old certificate and was advised that I will get a Section 7 Permit if it is going to expire before the issue of the new one.

Two comments. It seems that medical checks are becoming the norm,the only thing things on my application medical wise was the medication that I take,none of which refers to any mentally disabling problems. Basically I am just a knackered old fart !

If your Doctor is going to become involved then it would be gratifying if they would turn the paperwork around ASAP. I bet they are worried about who is going to pay for their time.

Vic.

 

[Supercharged]

It seems to becoming a moan from GPs that they seem to be filling in be beaurocratic forms for all and sundry without re numeration .
It dosent help us but I'd rather pay a few quid and not get held up

 

[SteveK]

I had this when my other half and myself applied for our first SG license last year. Both our applications were sent in the same envelope to Lincolnshire Police. We both have 100% clean criminal records and both of us do not have any medical issues either physical or mental. We were both interviewed by the FEO at the same time, yet Max received her licence 4 weeks before I did!

Our doctors insist that anyone over 50 should do a "Well Man" clinic annually. About a week after I received my licence, I had a letter from my doctors saying that due to a firearms enquiry by Lincs Police, they checked my records and I was overdue my check-up. I just wonder if they do medical checks on a random basis.

However, in all fairness, Lincs Police have always been polite and helpful whenever I have had a query. 

 

[VicW]

I have also found Lincs Firearms Licensing very helpful as per today.

The Doctor in question has not approached me for payment,not that he should,it's the Firearms office who should pay if anyone does.

I am well past pensionable age and have never had a  'Well man' check-up offered,no wonder i'm knackered !!

Vic.

 

[FloaterSi]

Lincs are under the control of G4S now if I remember correctly.  Does not sound like privatisation is helping too much.

 

[Jan Powell]

Lincolnshire Firearms Licensing were in a terrible mess. The G4S takeover has just served to complicate things even further.

 

[** Pending Removal **]

Oh.....this is all going 'tits up' rather quicker than I expected.....

Well....if more people got involved...

 

[Salopian]

I have asked BASC Firearms team to investigate.

I thought it would be a good idea rather G4S get paid by the taxpayer for another project that they cannot deliver a service to, like the Olympic Games security farce. Is Sebastian a Director of G4S?

 

[Rob Watts]

Had same thing with avon & som with my wifes licence renewel. sent in three months before expiry date they cashed cheque after a week,not bad i thought will have fao round soon for home visit but nothing happened so i rang firearms office with a week to go to find out what was happening and i was shocked when after a half hour wait i was told it was now down to my local police officer to now do home checks as we have lost our normal fao due to cut backs.it took two days to get someone out and then they came from minehead.
But fair play to avon som they did ring and appoligise and the local copper came round and seen us.
As nic says 'this is all going tits up'

 

[VicW]

I have asked BASC Firearms team to investigate.

Investigate what exactly, Peter ?

My hold-up appears to have been caused by the failure of my Doctor to return the medical enquiry promptly causing a six week delay out of nine weeks in proceedings.

Vic. 

 

[Jonny English]

Lincolnshire Firearms Licensing were in a terrible mess. The G4S takeover has just served to complicate things even further.

Your not wrong, mate of mine has sent his firearms and shotgun in for renewal, its now expired by two weeks now when it was in 3 months early. He rung basc who rang lincs chief on his behalf, response : its on my desk in a big pile, it gets done when it gets done! Now he can't go to scotland with his rifles as he fears the scots come down very hard on these issues with firearms if his license is expired.

 

[Salopian]

VicW,

 To investigate the farce of medical reports which currently is not a requirement in law.

But looking at Johnny English's post it looks like have an incompetent Chief of Police in Lincolnshire, no doubt apply enough pressure and he'll be off on sick leave.

 

[VicW]

VicW,

 To investigate the farce of medical reports which currently is not a requirement in law.

Understood, Peter.

When I renewed last time,five years ago,it was all done and dusted in ten days without an inspection.

That,of course,was before G4S took over.

It should be remembered that when G4s took over the non uniformed departments in Lincs Police the staff remained the same but with a new employer,as per the rules.I thought I read that the boss of the Firearms Licensing office would remain a uniformed post.

G4S have been in place for over a year so they can and may have made changes to staffing levels by now,I don't know.

Vic.

 

[Dog Tyred]

 We both have 100% clean criminal records

Hang on a minute! How can you have a clean criminal record?? You can have a clean record or a criminal record...but not a clean criminal record!!

DT

 

[Gene Holmes]

Hang on a minute! How can you have a clean criminal record?? You can have a clean record or a criminal record...but not a clean criminal record!!

DT

Might have been for money laundering... :crazy:   :crazy:   :crazy:

 

[Jan Powell]

When I renewed last time,five years ago,it was all done and dusted in ten days without an inspection.

That,of course,was before G4S took over.

It should be remembered that when G4s took over the non uniformed departments in Lincs Police the staff remained the same but with a new employer,as per the rules.I thought I read that the boss of the Firearms Licensing office would remain a uniformed post.

G4S have been in place for over a year so they can and may have made changes to staffing levels by now,I don't know.

Only the manager and deputy manager are police employees. The remainder, along with most other civilian employees in the force, transferred to G4S. To say morale is was low (I say was because I don't work for them anymore) is something of an understatement. The staff do their best but are snowed under with work. It's not unknown for them to phone local gunshops to ask who's bought what because records have been misplaced or not amended.

 

[SteveK]

Might have been for money laundering... :crazy:   :crazy:   :crazy:

It would be nice to have some money to launder!

 

[VicW]

The latest in this saga of my certificate renewal is that having been initially asked,in writing,to supply a medical suitability report on me on the 31st July my Doctor has not responded.

The surgery has twice been contacted by the Lincs Firearms Licensing office to hasten the process,the last time being today.

I spoke to the Firearms office today and during the discussion I asked why the need for a medical review and was told that it 'was called for during the processing of my application'.

I was advised to talk to my Doctors surgery myself which I did and was told that my Doctor 'is not very good with paperwork' and the person who deals with such matters would personally take the correspondence to the Doctor and get him to complete it.

I have just over two weeks to expiry date so,assuming the new certificate is not forthcoming, I will be badgering the Firearms office for the  Sect 7 Exemption certificate that I have been promised.

Vic.

 

[** Pending Removal **]

Start asking for the section 7 now.....and make sure it is in writing and not by phone.