License delay, grant letter issued

2011

Grant letter received for unrestricted firearm. Fee paid, and receipt retained but no license! Have been waiting for almost 3 weeks.

Anyone else experiencing this? Any advice?

Thanks.

Cass

My last renewal. Got the grant, paid for it, waited for nearly 4 weeks and no license. Rang to be told they were so busy they simply hadn't "authorised" the issuing of the license.

Never heard that before because as far as I was aware once it's granted the sending out if the license is a different dept within AGS. Anywho, it arrived a few days later.

So perhaps a call to check up on it status.?

2011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119762015#Comment_119762015

Called already and told to wait another week and call back :(

Cass

D'oh. That'd bring you up to the 4 week mark, same as I waited.

Guess you're out of options, at least for another week.

otmmyboy2

When I was getting my most recent ones granted the FO mentioned there were some "issues" with licences getting sent out, but if I didn't have it within 2 weeks of paying just to contact them and they'd sort it.

Ended up getting it at the 2 week mark but everything with licencing, particularly with some midlands counties, has slowed to an absolute crawl in the past year.

Like 5 months for a new licence. Seemingly because of the amount of renewals etc, that they aren't getting to any licences until about 3 months after they are handed in 🤬

Grizzly 45

Apprently it's been like that all over the 26 this year. It took about 5 months for me to get my EU firearms passport renewed as well.

garrettod

Right or wrong, I'm hearing that the delays are down to the "civilians" doing some of the admin..

I seriously doubt that they've been overrun with renewals this year tbh.

While it's potentially an awkward conversation to have to have, if stopped by the Gardai, before you get your new licence, I think being able to show a copy of the Grant and evidence that you've paid your fee, should be acceptable.

coltmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119763430#Comment_119763430

The longest I waited for a grant letter was 3 weeks except for my ill fated restricted license, but I am on my 7th week now and no sign of it despite it should have been signed off by sup last month. I talked around and there seems to be same issue with lots of others in the area, grant letters have dried up. 2 dealers have confirmed this, is someone on strike?

2011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119763471#Comment_119763471

this is different as I am not waiting on the grand letter. Theoretically this is just an administrative exercise as the decision has been made.

Asus1

I was worried about my licence not arriving after a few weeks even though it had been paid for so I rang the licencing section in the phoneix park and they can see if it's been sent out or if they even have the paperwork for it.Ill look for a number for them as I can't see it online.

016661916 firearms policy unit.Tim or Martin

BattleCorp

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119763931#Comment_119763931

Theoretical question.

I wonder has anybody ever been prosecuted for having an unlicenced firearm where they had a grant letter issued and had paid the fee, but for whatever reason no licence had been issued? Or is that even an offence?

I reckon it would be an offence as legislation dictates that someone in possession of a firearm must have a firearm licence and not a grant letter. T'wud want to be a right ar5ehole to pull you up on it though and I doubt a judge would convict under those circumstances.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119764656#Comment_119764656

Presumably would be treated similar to driving while you waited for a licence to arrive even if the application is accepted?

I’d say it’s best to check with the local Garda station and see what they say or just play it safe and wait. Even if you don’t end up convicted, it’s just unnecessary hassle.

2011

I won’t know if the moderator has been granted or not until I see the license. Also even if I got an answer to this I would have no documentation to support the possession and use of a moderator. It’s all academic as I simply wouldn’t be comfortable having a firearm without having the license in my possession (even though I have the grant letter).

2011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119764126#Comment_119764126

Thank you for this.

They FCU could see that the license fee was paid and have ordered a reprint. They said I will have it within 5 days.

Asus1

Great people in there.I also was granted a moderator for 1 of my rifles but on the licence it was missing the magic "s" so rang them and they can see it's been granted so just ordered a replacement with the s on it.

Good that you're sorted, enjoy the new gun.

2011

I don’t want to count my chickens but hopefully I’m sorted.

Wadi14

Not too sure on the back log theory, after being told by the District FO that she had my substitution application from my local station, and she was sending it to the Super for signature I had my license within a week.

Maybe ringing up to see why my application was sitting in the local station for 5 weeks without any checks being carried out, might have helped lol.

2011

License arrived this am. Thanks to all.

iand220

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119765088#Comment_119765088

I'm in the exact same boat but not waiting as long, hopefully its going to be sorted this week after chatting to the FO and licensing office.

Asus1

Good news,now the fun can begin.

2011

Talked with a friend today In exactly the same situation. AGS told him that they have a major IT issue with the licensing system at present that is causing massive delays across the board.

garrettod

I'm waiting almost 4 weeks, since I paid for my renewals. Not good enough really....

I suspect there's more to this than IT issues, too many people impacted, over far too long a period, imho 😞

Cass

Paid for my latest renewal (grant) Monday just gone. License arrived Thursday morning.

This probably sounds stupid but I'm wondering if the delay had any bearing on the speed of issuing the license. The grant was issued on the 29th of Sept. I only paid for it Monday the 24th of October.

Had I paid for it on the 29th of Sept would I have still received it in 3 days or did the delay between receipt of the grant to paying for it allow for the delay most seem to be having.

If that makes sense?

Asus1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119807031#Comment_119807031

See my post further up with number and give them a buzz next week

BSA International

Any issue with renewal notices? Renewal due mid Jan. Notice should be here soon to allow 3 months for processing?

otmmyboy2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119809817#Comment_119809817

Got my renewal notice 3 days short of 3 months in advance of the licence's expiration, so there doesn't seem to be an issue there.

The renewal itself took 5 months to get back, but that's the other aspect.

garrettod

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119807036#Comment_119807036

Hi Cass,

Our of interest, when did your licence expire, or had it actually expired when you got the new one ?

In my case, my old one has now expired.

Cass

I'm not sure what is causing the delay, my point (if there is actually one) was had I paid for the grant immediately upon receipt of it, would I have been waiting weeks for the license instead of the days it took because I paid the grant so close to the expiry of the grant letter. In other words was the delay "lessened" because of the delay in paying?

My last renewal, before this, I was waiting nearly a month after paying the grant for the license and had to ring up to confirm it was being issued.

As for existing license, with this renewal, it expired months ago. Took over 4 months , just shy of 5 actually, for the renewal to be processed.

Got another In the door Friday so have to do it all over again.

garrettod

Okay, thanks for clarifying.

Prior to this year, I've always had very good service, from start to finish - new licences and "renewals" always done within 2-4 weeks (actually one or two were done in close to a week) , and licenses received within a few days of paying the grant, at the local post office.

coltmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119814296#Comment_119814296

The system in the Phoenix Park was knocked out some how, got back running and went down again. Not sure if printer ran out of ink or server crashed or something else but it is down over 6 weeks in total so there is a massive backlog country wide. This was mentioned above.

garrettod

Mods - Please delete. Tks

garrettod

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119764126#Comment_119764126

I think they've taken the phone off the hook, keeps disconnecting when I try it, this morning 🙄😁

Peppa Cig

Still waiting. Paid licence 6th October 😳

sham58107

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119853771#Comment_119853771

Paid same date, arrived today .

Peppa Cig

Good to know. Thanks 👍

Peppa Cig

Paid 6th October.

licence arrived today.

Sika98k

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119762513#Comment_119762513

5 months to get an EFP renewed is taking the p**s ! I went last month, had a chat. Went over my current licences to see all was in order. The FO went off to find a Cig and returned in ten minutes. Done and dusted in 25 minutes which included a cup of tea in the canteen. I brought the biscuits.

Having said that there have also been times when I am screaming Blue murder about a renewal, substitution, application.

alanmc

Lads,

Are licenses still coming back slowly? I only ask because I'm still waiting on my 3 amended licenses after moving house. I submitted my 3 FCA2s on Nov 3rd.

Thanks,

Alan.

freddieot

Alan

I recently waited 3 weeks past the renewal date, and after I had received the Grant Letter. I rang the local station and the FO must have got onto THEM as it turned up a couple of days later. However, on the new application I sent in for my new Ruger, I had the grant letter and cert in 2 weeks or so, end to end. It seems like they are processing them in AGS without much delay and maybe there is some blockages further down the line (HQ or printing stage etc.) . If it has been a good while then I suggest you give your FO a shout. Can't have that new house without any firearms 😁

Scalachi

My recent experience was great :)

Submitted a renewal for a restricted shotgun on the 8th of November.

Grant Letter received on the 14th of November.

License in hand on the 18th - 10 days end to end.

It was my quickest restricted license ever, did manage to get a non restricted a bit quicker a few years ago, but credit where its due 10 days is much better than you could really hope for or expect!

EFP amendments/renewals/changes are normally 24 hours as well.

coltmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119902502#Comment_119902502

I submitted mine 1st week in Sept, still no word back on substitution. Met sup outside and said it was processed ok. Know another guy who did it the same week and got his last week. So annoying.

Cass

I've been informed that the average processing time for my area is 8 weeks.

There are also problems with people not returning their FCR forms in time. By that I mean it's sent out 3 months before the expiry of the current license, and people are not returning them in a timely manner so 4,5,6 even 10 weeks are going by before the FCR is returned. Meaning if the FCR is not processed immediately, and given the 8 week processing time, that people will be unlicensed for up to 6 weeks.

While there is no queue jumping AGS are trying to process those "late" applications first which only serves to delay the applications that were submitted on time

So some people, and I cast no dispersions on anyone, are waiting 5 or even 6 months (possibly more) due to this.

Grow up

I applied for a PCP licence 25th July....still no word back. Ive had firearms for 20 yrs with no hassle or refusals. I contacted my FO to be told she had forwarded it on to their head station that day and she had not received any queries about it, this is what she told me last month when I left in another licence for a .308. She gave me the name of the garda dealing with the licenses and told me to contact the station she is based in and ask to speak to her. I rang that day to be told she was on sick leave till the Monday, I rang back Monday to be told she was off till the Wednesday, I rang the Wednesday and spoke to her directly, she asked for my name and phone number and told me she would ring me back with an update when she found it in the file.....over 1 month later and no phone call. So at the 4 month mark i wrote a letter to the station superintendent asking for an update and explaining what had happened as above and left it into the station Wednesday of last week and no word on anything yet.

Vizzy

^^^^^^

"Simple letter to the Super asking him to confirm that your application has not been lost as you are very concerned from a GDPR perspective that if the application has been lost, then, persons unknown may be in possession of all your details and will also be aware that you have firearms.

A very serious situation from a security point of view"

I reckon that your application will be found and dealt with fairly sharpish.

alanmc

Bit of a pain in the ar$e waiting for my licenses with my new address. I use buy ammo online and have it shipped to me ... the address on my license that is.

5 weeks now and counting. Tried ringing the Firearms Policy Unit on the number above. No answer. Guess they're sick of us license holders complaining 🙄.

Grizzly 45

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119923081#Comment_119923081

Not to mind a seriously reportable incident to the Data protection commissioner by you for such a gross neglect of keeping some extremely critical private data secure by a Govt body.

Grow up

3 weeks now since I handed in the letter for the superintendent into his station....not so much as a phone call or a letter yet. Do you think I would get away with something if a letter was sent to me requesting something from the superintendent? F*@king sure I wouldn't.

Cass

Got the grant for my latest renewal this morning after using the local , now reopened, station.

Just over three weeks from submitting to receipt of grant letter. Delighted with that.

coltmaster

Onto my 4th month now waiting on my substitution, was talking to the Sup and he is going to look into it (says no delay from his side). I know there will be an elaborate story to tell yous next week...

ace86

I’m going into my 6th month waiting on my substitution have rang my own local station for an update but just keep getting the run around. I rang the NARGC to look into it for me I’m fed up with it never had to deal with such delays and absolute frustration to get a fellow to sign some paper!!!.

itisnotgrand

4/5 months waiting.. Told by the office lately and I quote “this time of year with alll the renewals“ and I’m “on the list”. The heading must read “list of fuckers we need to put off licensing”