Shorten PAL Approval Times

After 7+ weeks of my application sitting in a bin somewhere, it was initially processed into the system yesterday. I called in today and was told that my In-Person filing form was not included with my application and they've sent out a letter requesting the same.

This is 100% untrue! I did the in-person filing at my local police station, and I still have the receipt portion of the same form in-hand, and I re-checked all the application components 5 TIMES before sealing the envelope and sending it off what seems like eons ago.

I have no other logical conclusion to make other than they either lost it, or threw it in the trash on purpose. Now I have to repeat this step all over again, waiting on significant mail delays, with additional trips to the local Police station and post offices again.

Has anyone else had this happen, specifically in Quebec? Where an item that you KNOW you sent in the initial envelope is claimed it wasn't??? Like the In-person, or the safety course attestations, or the payment or the photos?

Feels like they're screwing me on purpose just because I called a couple times during the initial 7 weeks of waiting for the darn envelope just to be opened, and they figured they'd screw me a little bit!
 
Still waiting for my PAL with application received Aug 17, 2017 so 149 days and counting.
I called in Nov 17,2017 was told with CFO. Give it a month.
Called back Jan 4, was told my application was flagged for review but was with CFO now so give it a month and call again.
When I noted that was same thing I heard back in November and it's been 6 weeks since then the lady on the phone sorta chuckled while saying we don't know how many applications are in front of yours. Anyhow I asked could I speak with the CFO and was told no as they don't take calls. I'm in Newfoundland, can't believe there are that name applicants in a province with an entire populate of approximately 500,000 people!
 
So our time frames and issues are almost identical. Funny though, I was told to keep calling the fellow in London every other day...I have called twice this week. I may just leave it and wait. On one hand calling repeatedly may be good, or not... But it's funny that the CFO office was the one who told me to keep on top of this....
 
So, I re-did the in-person filing at my local police station a second time, digitized the first and second form submissions, then called the CFP again to ask for an email address to send it to. They say that can only receive by fax, and that it takes a minimum of 5 business days for a fax to get picked up and applied to my file. What a joke. Even back in the 80's and 90's when people used faxes, it didn't take five days to look at the paper it spits out.
Oh, and when I fax to the number they give me, fax machine answers back that out of paper or offline. Call CFP again, get another fax number, same crap.

This entire process has been one colossal frustration in waiting and engineered inefficiencies. When are they going to get their act together, if ever? I'm going to waste so much ammo the first time I take my own gun to the range. Can I print a target sheet with the CFP logo? Or would I get arrested for that?
 
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FarmerDanz said:
Paperwork mailed Sept 12.
Paper work received on Sept 18th
CC charged Oct 27th
Nov 1 Applications has completed initial processing
With BC CFO as of Nov 13th 2017.
Called and asked for updates, provided the ex girlfriends phone number Nov 27th.

(unless you really did end your relationships i suggest considering the relationship as altered and leave this box unchecked. It adds significant delays)

License issued Dec 13th
Updated and issued!
Click to expand...

Lol I figured I would update this.

Its now January 12th, and the license has not arrived in the mail. So just because it says issued doesnt mean the wait is over. Hahahaha. These guys....

Of course when I call to ask, they say to wait another 2 weeks. Hehe, classic.
 
Maritimer67 said:
So our time frames and issues are almost identical. Funny though, I was told to keep calling the fellow in London every other day...I have called twice this week. I may just leave it and wait. On one hand calling repeatedly may be good, or not... But it's funny that the CFO office was the one who told me to keep on top of this....
Click to expand...

I was told to call back in a month. I think that's part of the screening process: your behavior on the phone. As the lady I was speaking with in January was very quick to point out I called Nov 17 (I had said mid Nov). When I said "that's same thing I was told last time" she again was quick to say I realize. Makes me think the conversation is either recorded or entered as text into the system (at least notes are?).

Very frustrating process as I have never been convicted of a crime in my life. I'm with my current partner for 8 years. The only thing I truly think could be holding me up is a current family court case for custody with my son. That's been ongoing for over 3 years though
 
I suppose anything is possible. I think as long as one is honest and polite things should be fine, even if one has to wait. It may be hard for some people to realise that newbies can be quite excited about their new hobby to be, given that firearms are involved, and all the negative press out there. Before I realized I wanted to make this my new hobby, I had gone to a local range 3 times and shot 100s of rounds. After the courses, I did the additional range course right away, even though I knew my RPAL would be a while. After that 2 ½ day course and shooting another 600 or so rounds I realized that this was my new thing. I have had some interesting hobbies in my life, including skydiving X6 years-gave it up when my career changed and I got married, hockey as adult for 10 years & martial arts X7 years; had to give those up due to injuries, so now all I have is the gym...not that exciting....
 
NewfieWabbit said:
Still waiting for my PAL with application received Aug 17, 2017 so 149 days and counting.
I called in Nov 17,2017 was told with CFO. Give it a month.
Called back Jan 4, was told my application was flagged for review but was with CFO now so give it a month and call again.
When I noted that was same thing I heard back in November and it's been 6 weeks since then the lady on the phone sorta chuckled while saying we don't know how many applications are in front of yours. Anyhow I asked could I speak with the CFO and was told no as they don't take calls. I'm in Newfoundland, can't believe there are that name applicants in a province with an entire populate of approximately 500,000 people!
Click to expand...

try this:
Newfoundland
Chief Firearms Office
1-800-731-4000 ext. 5013

Speaking to your provincial CFO may help.
 
Maritimer67 said:
So our time frames and issues are almost identical. Funny though, I was told to keep calling the fellow in London every other day...I have called twice this week. I may just leave it and wait. On one hand calling repeatedly may be good, or not... But it's funny that the CFO office was the one who told me to keep on top of this....
Click to expand...

Is the guy from London name Rob? That's who I dealt with and he was great. He did inform me that new license apps were not his number one priority though, as people with expired licences and other investigations came first. I think my application was with him for five months or so of the nine I waited before he got to it and issued my rpal. I think in any province if your application goes for further review it basically means your in for a long wait
 
No, his name is Paul. And his voice mail states the same thing regarding priorities. I have accepted and at peace knowing I am in for a few months wait. Before I didn't know my app had gone for additional review, and that was annoying me after seeing so many people getting their RPALs so fast. Now that I know my app is assigned, and having left a couple of messages, I am just letting it go. Did he call you or vice versa? I.e., how did you finally connect with him?
 
I called him twice three months apart and then he contacted me once, asked what he wanted to know, and took my wife's cell number, he called her same day. The following day my status was updated online to license issued. Patience is definitely a virtue though, as annoying as it is. Make sure you update when you do receive it.
 
My PAL/R timeline from Ontario
Nov 18/19 did both courses
Nov 22 mailed application(regular mail)
Nov 27 application received
Dec 19 received stamped test results
Jan 11 application appears online, I call in to get fax number and fax stamped results
Jan 12 call in to verify they received my fax, told they received them and are sending photo to be scanned
Jan 15 card issued and mailed

33 days from the time they received til they issued it
 
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