Shorten PAL Approval Times

I called 18007314000 plus extension 9530 was told I get to be transferred directly to CFO dealing with my app. So excited!! But wait....on comes voice mail.... Hi this is officer so and so it's Tuesday March 4 I will be out of my office until March 10th... Noooooooooooooo!!!!!!! So apparently if it's been a certain amount of time they will transfer you to the actual officer reviewing your application. I am humbled by this experience and am learning a great deal of patience.
 
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Day 85 : No one still hasn't heard anything, not me nor my references.. If it reaches 100 without any progress, i'm filing a complaint with the Quebec Ombudsman.
Not that i'm in a hurry, but when i pay for a service, and on top of that pay for their salary with my taxes, i kind of expect someone to do their job.
If they had told me : "If you apply for a new R/PAL, it may take up to a year for your request to be completed" then guess what, i'm cool with it, i'll know what to expect. Now this is just ridiculous. I don't care if they're "backed-up" or whatever their reason is, if i pay for a service to be provided, AND pay for your salary, YOU MAKE IT HAPPEN !
 
Had a very interesting experience with an Rpal application in our household.
My Gf and I both did our course together last year, but since she was living in Canada for less than 5 years at the completion of the course held off submitting application until her 5 year residency point (mid Dec) submitted her paperwork by registered mail Dec 20, and early/mid Feb called in to check on status. At that time she was told that they had processed payment, but were not ready for interviews at that point but soon someone would contact her. Got back from vacation last week and in the mailbox is her full Rpal card. No personal interview call, no reference check.
 
tahw said:
Had a very interesting experience with an Rpal application in our household.
My Gf and I both did our course together last year, but since she was living in Canada for less than 5 years at the completion of the course held off submitting application until her 5 year residency point (mid Dec) submitted her paperwork by registered mail Dec 20, and early/mid Feb called in to check on status. At that time she was told that they had processed payment, but were not ready for interviews at that point but soon someone would contact her. Got back from vacation last week and in the mailbox is her full Rpal card. No personal interview call, no reference check.
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You know, it makes perfect sens. Simply because you're not it a retarded province like Quebec ! They received my application on Dec 12th, and yet they still give me the 2-3 week routine (again). If i had a record, bad history with the law enforcement or whatnot, i could understand. I feel like i could change province, change all my papers to become a new resident from that province, re-apply from scratch, get my R/Pal, move back here in Quebec, and be done before they actually move their ass and start doing some actual work lol.
 
Manitoba seems to be on par with Quebec. My app was received Dec. 18th, interviews done on Jan 23rd and passed to the CFO. Where it sat unassigned till March 4, when I was once again interviewed and they again contacted one of my references. Still no change in my application status as of yet. I have no criminal record, nor any history that would cause issue with my application, so frustrating.
 
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JayFlip said:
Jan 20 - Application mailed in priority w/ notification
Jan 23 - Delivered
Jan 28 - Called in, was told that it was not in the system yet, and that there was a 3-week delay in entering applications. Asked for name and birthdate to confirm that it hadn't been entered yet (offered, not requested).
Feb 11 - Same as before, but told it can take 4-6 weeks to enter
Feb 18 - Listed online, with received date of Jan 23. Called in, everything checked out OK, but not ready for interview yet. Encouraged to call in -- "it'll be faster if you call us than if we call you" (sent personal cheque, not shown as cashed yet) - 28 day wait period over on Feb 20
Feb 19 Called in, told not ready but, try again by the end of "next week"
Feb 20 Same, still not ready
Feb 21 Cheque cashed/cleared. Called in, told "an interview is not necessary at this time". Asked about getting references to call in, was told that they would be contacted.
Feb 26 Got a reference to call in. After only one reference PAL was changed to issued online.

Summary: BC PAL/RPAL application. Probably could have gotten it issued right at the 28 day mark, but references didn't have time to call in until 26th due to schedules. No interview for applicant, only one reference required.

Will quote and post when it arrives in the mail.
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Arrived in mail March 7th
 
Finally CC charged today...

My story:

Decided to upgrade my current PAL to RPAL; and figured better now than later because of the cheaper fee to upgrade, and the trying times ahead if the liberals make power.
Completed the challenge of the RPAL in the middle of December. Results came in at the end of January, and the whole package was out that week (28th of January).
Nothing up until now, calling in weekly to "ask if they received it" in hopes that someone would just say yes and get the ball rolling.
Was sent regular mail, so I didnt know when they received it. Checked CC statement today, and it has been charged - so that means next week I'll ramp up my calling even more and try to bug them to give me my interview and have my references call in.

Online says it is being processed.
 
For those interested in knowing how much to authorize when upgrading from PAL to RPAL.
I have put $80 on the form as it did not have instructions for the $40 upgrade fee.
On my credit card statement I see that they charged $80 but then immediately reversed it and charged $40. Probably because they noticed I already have a PAL number.

Here is my timeline:

Challenged the RPAL course in Montreal on January 8 2014.
Received results during the last week of January.
Sent my form on January 30 2014.
RCMP website changed status to in progress around March 6. Never got to see the processing status and was checking fairly regularly. Seems like that passed quickly.
CC charged March 7

Now the ball is in Quebec CFO court. Which means I wait for a while. At least I have my rifles to have fun with for now.

In Quebéc we have to go to our local police station to send the RPAL application (no need for non-restricted PAL). The experience was surprisingly pleasant. The police woman at the reception was very helpful and friendly. She made sure that the form was correctly filled out and was even worried that there was only one photo included instead of two. We went online together to confirm that that is the requirement on the RCMP website. Also she attached the photo with a paperclip to the application. I suggest others do it, too. The application instructions can be confusing sometimes. At no point in time did I feel any apprehension or doubt from her that I should be getting a license to own handguns. Quite the opposite. Confirms my thinking that many front-line police officers understand that people like us who jump through all the hoops to get our toys are probably the lowest threat to anyone compared to the average person.
 
Jkerrsy said:
Called in today to check the status, talked to a very polite lady. She informed me they just finished entering my application in to their system today. said I should get a call within the next week or two, if I haven't received one to call back in... The recording prior to speaking to an agent states more than once not to call in, they will call you lol.
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Called in again today, it has been a couple weeks and still no call. Got put through to do my interview after about a 20 minute wait on hold. They gave me a reference number and asked to have my references call in to speed things up. One has already called in and the other will this afternoon. Fingers crossed. Has been exactly 45 days as of today since they received it.
 
Talked with a nice lady today she said my application is still with the BC CFO I asked her how long did she think it was going to take for him to approve she said new applications can take up to 3 months. I asked about calling the CFO directly she said that I should give it a couple more weeks before I do that but also said that if I asked her to transfer me to his office she said that she would.
 
Jkerrsy said:
Called in again today, it has been a couple weeks and still no call. Got put through to do my interview after about a 20 minute wait on hold. They gave me a reference number and asked to have my references call in to speed things up. One has already called in and the other will this afternoon. Fingers crossed. Has been exactly 45 days as of today since they received it.
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Wow, Go Alberta ! Quebec has me waiting since December 12th (89 days today) and still nothing. When i call in to see what's going on, i'm being told that it's still under the normal process and i will get a call in 2-3 weeks (been told that the first time almost 6 weeks ago) and even when i ask them if i could do my interview since i already have'Em on the phone, i get a big "Nop, WE will call you, please stop calling it will not change anything"

Guess what .. if I'M paying for a service, i do reserve the the right to call in 6 times a day if i please.

That being said, glad to see that Alberta is not Retarded :)
 
cpbird91 said:
I'm in Ontario. My PAL/RPAL was received by the RCMP on Jan.21st. On feb16th my credit card was charged. Called in on the 23rd, asked if all was in order, a nice gentleman replied it was and I'd be called in 2 or 3 weeks for my interview. Not 2 minutes after hanging up the same man calls back and asks if I have ten minutes to do my interview. After interview they invite my references to call in. one did two days later, the other one did this morning, and after just checking online my license has been issued! Not nearly as bad a wait as all the horror stories I'd heard!
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to finish off my story, my card came in the mail one week after approval
 
Is it normal to wait 29 days since they received it and still not have my application show up online?

When I check online it used to say no application matching provided information found, but now it is saying operation failed, does that mean anything?

Tried calling in but they are taking "too many calls"
 
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