Verify a PAL number?

[guntech]

For those of you do check online PAL numbers.. they changed their procedure again.

Previously when I verified an online PAL number they wanted my number, my full name, my full address, my date of birth and my place of birth;(to start the procedure) then they wanted the buyers PAL number and expiry, the buyers full name, the buyers date of birth and the buyers address before they would verify it.

Today, 25 minutes ago when I called to verify a PAL number, they wanted my number, my full name, my full address, my date of birth and my place of birth; (no change in that part of the procedure) then they wanted the buyers PAL number with the version at the end of it, and the expiry date, the first and last name, and the complete address.

She said the procedure often changes and to phone in prior to verifying a number to find out what is required.

 

[Johnn Peterson]

Almost sounds as though they're using changes as a make work program.

 

[VLT79]

So you call the CFC, get put on hold for up to 25 minutes, find out what info they require for the verification. Hang up. Contact the buyer to get that info from him/her. Call the CFC back, get put on hold for up to another 25 minutes, then give them the info you collected so they can confirm the validity of the PAL? That's bureaucracy (read stupidity) in its finest form!

 

[guntech]

I agree... it also could be the anti gun within the RCMP. Make everything to do with legal ownership of firearms as big a hassle as they can...

 

[Far North]

or
Q:Could I see your PAL?
A: Yep
Q: looks real to me.

PAL check done.

 

[RT]

So, when you are verifying the PAL. Do you need to tell them which specific firearm its in regards to as well!

 

[guntech]

or
Q:Could I see your PAL?
A: Yep
Q: looks real to me.

PAL check done.

That's how do it when you can... kind of hard to do that when the PAL and you are 1000 miles apart.

 

[guntech]

So, when you are verifying the PAL. Do you need to tell them which specific firearm its in regards to as well!

They have no interest in that at all... it has never been brought up the times I have verified a PAL... and I would not supply that info if asked.

 

[Calum]

That's how do it when you can... kind of hard to do that when the PAL and you are 1000 miles apart.

Take a pic or scan it and send it via email.

 

[Daver_II]

I must say I spent a good 40 minutes on the phone with a very nice woman from the CFC.

I asked about verifying a buyers licence, (which she did very easily)
I verified some guns to register (quebec)
I even had a nice chat about the future of the LGR in quebec and why things are coming about the way that they are.

She was very helpful, and even though my VZ was initially coming up prohib, she figured it out and found its NR status.

She didn't seem like she was trying to hassle me.

and even when I told her that I had forgotten to register my quebec long gun, she said that it is ok, and helped me through the process.

So THANK YOU, to this woman,

I do not believe that all government employees hate their job, or that the CFC hates gun owners.
And this woman was a pleasure to deal with.

 

[cam1936]

Ridiculous. It should be simple, as in: type PAL# and name into website and it pops up "Valid" or "Not Valid"

 

[guntech]

Take a pic or scan it and send it via email.

Some are not able to do that, and some do not want to do that...

 

[BigUglyMan]

Ridiculous. It should be simple, as in: type PAL# and name into website and it pops up "Valid" or "Not Valid"

You know what they say about "Logic like that" and "an outfit like this"...

 

[guntech]

I must say I spent a good 40 minutes on the phone with a very nice woman from the CFC.

I asked about verifying a buyers licence, (which she did very easily)
I verified some guns to register (quebec)
I even had a nice chat about the future of the LGR in quebec and why things are coming about the way that they are.

She was very helpful, and even though my VZ was initially coming up prohib, she figured it out and found its NR status.

She didn't seem like she was trying to hassle me.

and even when I told her that I had forgotten to register my quebec long gun, she said that it is ok, and helped me through the process.

So THANK YOU, to this woman,

I do not believe that all government employees hate their job, or that the CFC hates gun owners.
And this woman was a pleasure to deal with.

The agent I talked to was very nice as well... no hassle on her part she just was doing what she is instructed to do as nicely as she can... it's the changing policies upstream that not appreciated.

 

[bearkilr]

I often get the feeling there's an elephant in the room when these threads pop up.

I can foresee changes coming in the not too distant future in the regulations regarding transfers and mailing of firearms. Sometimes it's perhaps better to not criticize the current regulations ad nauseam, as new ones certainly won't be better.

A quick phone call isn't all that difficult.

 

[guntech]

A quick phone call isn't all that difficult.

Unless you are a dealer there is no quick phone call. An average "Joe" usually waits 20 minutes to an hour just to actually talk to a person. That has been my experience as well as my friends...

 

[bearkilr]

Unless you are a dealer there is no quick phone call. An average "Joe" usually waits 20 minutes to an hour just to actually talk to a person. That has been my experience as well as my friends...

I have never waited 20 minutes before someone came on the line, 5 max.

Would you prefer that you can only sell/ship to someone with a special firearms license and an RCMP background check would be required? Then have to use DHL or Canpar for shipping to that person, even though he's not the buyer? Sound familiar?

I'm really not sure what your beef is here. How would you like to see things changed?

 

[VLT79]

I have never waited 20 minutes before someone came on the line, 5 max.

Would you prefer that you can only sell/ship to someone with a special firearms license and an RCMP background check would be required? Then have to use DHL or Canpar for shipping to that person, even though he's not the buyer? Sound familiar?

I'm really not sure what your beef is here. How would you like to see things changed?

You must be one lucky SOB or you don't call that often! The longest I've had to wait was 48 minutes and 53 seconds and that was after being disconnected/hung up on at the 13 minute mark, twice!!! I will say that the last 2 calls I made, to transfer a restricted firearm mind you, have involved less than 5 minutes of being put on hold. That's acceptable to me for a transfer but for a license verification it should be something we can do online or even over the phone thru an automated system.

 

[hometownhero]

Depends who you talk to some just ask for the buyers pal #. I have since stopped calling they can piss off with all their questions.

 

[bearkilr]

You must be one lucky SOB or you don't call that often! The longest I've had to wait was 48 minutes and 53 seconds and that was after being disconnected/hung up on at the 13 minute mark, twice!!! I will say that the last 2 calls I made, to transfer a restricted firearm mind you, have involved less than 5 minutes of being put on hold. That's acceptable to me for a transfer but for a license verification it should be something we can do online or even over the phone thru an automated system.

Not lucky, just impatient.
When the recording comes on that says "average wait time XX minutes", I hang up if it's over 5 and call back later. Also, some verification I've done has been via email/text/pictures of the PAL and I do very few restricted transfers,etc.

I imagine the Privacy Act prohibits the average Joe from being able to use an online verification system of sorts.