Thesauce Posted April 2, 2016 Report Share Posted April 2, 2016 I'm looking for a bit of advice as to how to politely chase my grant. I've been waiting 22 weeks now for a co-term grant from Greater Manchester, I've chased a couple of times by email and been advised they have a back log and I would be dealt with in due course. After being quoted 14 weeks at the time of my application 22 weeks is getting a bit ridiculous. Any thoughts anyone ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted April 2, 2016 Report Share Posted April 2, 2016 Ask them again, (politely) what the hold up is, and, if you are a member of BASC, get in touch with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thesauce Posted April 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2016 I'm not, to be honest I'm a worried asking to many times will cause issues with my grant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted April 2, 2016 Report Share Posted April 2, 2016 I'm not, to be honest I'm a worried asking to many times will cause issues with my grant. Asking them why it's taking so long will not cause issues with your application. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Mule Posted April 2, 2016 Report Share Posted April 2, 2016 Your permission is becoming over-run and unless you get on it quick, you could lose it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thesauce Posted April 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2016 I've mailed em this morning saying I may lose my permission as it's taken more than twice as long as they quoted. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted April 3, 2016 Report Share Posted April 3, 2016 Phoning them sometimes helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thesauce Posted April 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2016 Tried to phone them it's automated regardless of what option you pick it just refers you to the website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geordieh Posted April 3, 2016 Report Share Posted April 3, 2016 Put a complaint in to the Chief Constable, Police Commissioner and Head of firearms Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thesauce Posted April 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2016 Is that a feasible option ? How would I go about doing that ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted April 3, 2016 Report Share Posted April 3, 2016 Your permission is becoming over-run and unless you get on it quick, you could lose it. They don't give a monkeys about you and your permission and if you do loose it, that's great, because you might not have good reason. Get it touch with basc and see how much influence they have got. If they had any you'd not be waiting. you have just got to wait. soon the departments are going to be sending out application forms 12 weeks in advance of expiry and if you haven't got the form back in by 8 weeks before expiry date you will be required to lodge the guns with an RFD at your cost until you get a cert issued. Whats being done to challenge that one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thesauce Posted April 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2016 From the info I've got from GMP they are a long long way behind with renewals. They are quoting 12 weeks for a renewal. from my experience it's over 5 months now for a grant. I understand that renewals are far more important than grants but I would like a better response than "it will be dealt with shortly" which has been their standard response for 3 months now. To hear that other forces can grant in less than 2 months from application to cert delivery is ridiculous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted April 3, 2016 Report Share Posted April 3, 2016 (edited) the only ting that might help is if you have a farmer or landowner that really has problems with Agric pests contact the department or feo by email and requests that they get and do something. If everything is the same as last time you might be lucky but you've got to keep calm and be patient. I waited 8 months for co term renewal so you might see something in a few weeks. Have they issued you with a S7 yet? Edited April 3, 2016 by fortune Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thesauce Posted April 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2016 S7? No. The only thing I have is an offer to remove predatory birds from local fishing waters but that expires in a couple of weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted April 3, 2016 Report Share Posted April 3, 2016 If your cert has run out they are required to issue you with a section 7 which is a kind of temporary cert that allows you to be in possession of the guns. the kind of thing that a partner would need in the case of a death or incapacity of the holder. This is why they are saying that the forms have to be in to them by 8 weeks prior to the cert expiry date and if not then you have to lodge the guns with an rfd because you would be in illegal possession of weapons after the expiry date without a current cert. even though it is there fault. this idea has to be tested somehow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted April 3, 2016 Report Share Posted April 3, 2016 S7? No. The only thing I have is an offer to remove predatory birds from local fishing waters but that expires in a couple of weeks. If that is the case then as far as they will be concerned that isn't important and you can wait in line Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thesauce Posted April 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2016 I'll keep waiting, if they'd have said 26 weeks or 34 weeks at the beginning of be happy to wait. I'm just a bit miffed they said 12 weeks 22 weeks ago, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalahari Posted April 3, 2016 Report Share Posted April 3, 2016 Email your crime commissioner with a copy to the chief constable. I am convinced that one of the reasons they take so long is because people are afraid to complain. If you are polite and make your case properly you should get some action. Your shooting body, you do belong to one don't you, should also help. David. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thesauce Posted April 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2016 Thanks for the advice. I don't belong to a shooting body, would you reccomend joining BASC or similar ? I'm new to this side of the sport and all advice is happily taken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted April 4, 2016 Report Share Posted April 4, 2016 It's worth joining one for the insurance, but don't join thinking they will resolve this issue; they can't. You can buy insurance anywhere so shop around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thesauce Posted April 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2016 Thanks for the advice chaps. After chasing again miraculously my certificates are now printed and will be delivered on my home inspection. Strange that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thesauce Posted April 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2016 Just incase anyone is following this thread. I managed to hound a phone number out of the email contact I had. Spoke to a very nice lady, Louise Band, she informed me that the a officer for my area had retired a couple of months ago and they were splitting the load between them. She arrange to come and inspect my cabinet Monday and bring my certificates with her. Alls well that ends well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Mule Posted April 9, 2016 Report Share Posted April 9, 2016 Hope it went well and your wallet is lighter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thesauce Posted April 11, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2016 Had my visit today, the woman brought my certs with her. Very pleasant no tricky questions nice and straight forward. She did inform me GMP have a back log of 11000 applications and renewals that they have estimated will take them 2 years to catch up and get back to a 4 week new grant time scale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted April 11, 2016 Report Share Posted April 11, 2016 (edited) Glad it is sorted. Mine took 7 or 8 months Edited April 11, 2016 by malkiserow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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