FAC wait times.

[Bardot]

I had my interview with Hayley, she was really nice, the interview went well and she said she was happy with everything. In an email i sent after i asked her if i was looking at at least another 9 months from now as she had said at least 12 months from date of application and she said "Hopefully around 9 months, fingers crossed they catch up and it could bee sooner!"

She is one of the team going Friday.

 

[D34n87]

You will have to let me know how you get on and what they say. I am prepared to wait as long as i need to but its a little disapointing when ive not seen anything official that says about the wait times only word of mouth from the FEO.

 

[Bardot]

You will have to let me know how you get on and what they say. I am prepared to wait as long as i need to but its a little disapointing when ive not seen anything official that says about the wait times only word of mouth from the FEO.

A&S do not issue the data re: times etc to the public. Some do but not A&S. Any response you get will always be vague. What is annoying is that as they issue grants based on the chronological order they are received it would take zero effort to tell you a near exact wait time. All they need to do is look when the application for the most recent grant went in and there is the answer. They say the reason they no longer take phone calls regarding grants is they are so busy working on them they don't have the time or man power to answer calls. It's all very frustrating and annoying. They could have a dial in service with a answer machine stating something like ' The most resent grant of a FAC took 18 months to process. This wait time is currently increasing / decreasing ' At least that way you would know where you stood and what service you are getting for your £200.

 

[D34n87]

A&S do not issue the data re: times etc to the public. Some do but not A&S. Any response you get will always be vague. What is annoying is that as they issue grants based on the chronological order they are received it would take zero effort to tell you a near exact wait time. All they need to do is look when the application for the most recent grant went in and there is the answer. They say the reason they no longer take phone calls regarding grants is they are so busy working on them they don't have the time or man power to answer calls. It's all very frustrating and annoying. They could have a dial in service with a answer machine stating something like ' The most resent grant of a FAC took 18 months to process. This wait time is currently increasing / decreasing ' At least that way you would know where you stood and what service you are getting for your £200.

You would also think that with applications all being digital now that you would just be able to log into a website and see your progress or even position in the queue. its a pretty poor system but i do sometimes feel like its deliberately made to be like that.

 

[Bardot]

You would also think that with applications all being digital now that you would just be able to log into a website and see your progress or even position in the queue. its a pretty poor system but i do sometimes feel like its deliberately made to be like that.

Heard that said a lot but find it hard to believe. You are legally entitled to hold a FAC as long as you aren't disqualified and meet the requirements. Anyone found to be deliberately slowing or avoiding this would be on a very sticky wicket.

 

[Mandalorian]

Just enquired how my application from February is doing. Lancashire Police emailed back 14 months from receipt ! That will mean next April for me.

 

[Baksteen]

Just enquired how my application from February is doing. Lancashire Police emailed back 14 months from receipt ! That will mean next April for me.

This is the way

 

[rj1986]

I might be being thick, but you have the interview - they confirm what firearms/ammo you want, and that your security is acceptable.

What is the hold up then? Is it just a case of everything being a queue to have the final paperwork?

 

[Bardot]

I might be being thick, but you have the interview - they confirm what firearms/ammo you want, and that your security is acceptable.

What is the hold up then? Is it just a case of everything being a queue to have the final paperwork?

It then gets passed to officers who do background checking. Making sure you are, who you say you are. Have not changed your name to hide anything. Not a member of any groups that may be of concern, terrorist organisations etc. Ensuring you have no undisclosed criminal record. Looking into your postings on social media and the like to see if you are of concern,. Making sure you don't have ginger hair etc, etc,

 

[rj1986]

Ah, i thought that was done prior to the interview, so then it could be discussed, or not even bother having one if you're part French or something...

 

[Baksteen]

As I understood it, the checks are done prior to your FEO visit, so that if they have any doubts etc., these things can be cleared up during the interview. If you get as far as the visit, it is normally just a formality.
Maybe I was lucky as got mine 4 weeks after visit.
West Mids 2024.

 

[Bardot]

You will have to let me know how you get on and what they say. I am prepared to wait as long as i need to but its a little disapointing when ive not seen anything official that says about the wait times only word of mouth from the FEO.

Ok ! Met up with the FEOs and from our point of view its not great news. There are Nine FEOs that cover the whole A&S area. They are well on top of their rolls with most visits done in a matter of weeks (but some area such as deepest darkest Exmore taking longer). They are totally separate from the office staff who carry out the background checks etc. There are five of those but as it is holiday season often only four or less active and that is where the backlog lies. In the last year the wait for grants has been increasing from a just under a year to now over 15 months and getting worse. As that is outside of the target time (under 12 months) the 'powers that be' have authorised taking on an additional staff member (which they did a couple of weeks back). This will improve things in the long term but as the training period is a couple of months that will take up time from the current staff and in the mid term make things worse. So we can't blame the FEOs it's down to funding for backroom staff mainly.

 

[Captain_Slackbladder]

Ok ! Met up with the FEOs and from our point of view its not great news. There are Nine FEOs that cover the whole A&S area. They are well on top of their rolls with most visits done in a matter of weeks (but some area such as deepest darkest Exmore taking longer). They are totally separate from the office staff who carry out the background checks etc. There are five of those but as it is holiday season often only four or less active and that is where the backlog lies. In the last year the wait for grants has been increasing from a just under a year to now over 15 months and getting worse. As that is outside of the target time (under 12 months) the 'powers that be' have authorised taking on an additional staff member (which they did a couple of weeks back). This will improve things in the long term but as the training period is a couple of months that will take up time from the current staff and in the mid term make things worse. So we can't blame the FEOs it's down to funding for backroom staff mainly.

If that is the case then why don’t the FEO’s muck in and help with the background checks? It’s not rocket science ffs, if any commercial business was run like that it would cease to exist.

 

[Bardot]

If that is the case then why don’t the FEO’s muck in and help with the background checks? It’s not rocket science ffs, if any commercial business was run like that it would cease to exist.

I asked that very question and was told it's a totally different role with no cross over ! I also asked (tongue in check) if the FEOs were so well up to time and the other staff behind why don't the force sack two FEOs and hire two office bods. I was asked if I wanted to wait three years for my ticket ! LOL

 

[D34n87]

Ok ! Met up with the FEOs and from our point of view its not great news. There are Nine FEOs that cover the whole A&S area. They are well on top of their rolls with most visits done in a matter of weeks (but some area such as deepest darkest Exmore taking longer). They are totally separate from the office staff who carry out the background checks etc. There are five of those but as it is holiday season often only four or less active and that is where the backlog lies. In the last year the wait for grants has been increasing from a just under a year to now over 15 months and getting worse. As that is outside of the target time (under 12 months) the 'powers that be' have authorised taking on an additional staff member (which they did a couple of weeks back). This will improve things in the long term but as the training period is a couple of months that will take up time from the current staff and in the mid term make things worse. So we can't blame the FEOs it's down to funding for backroom staff mainly.

It’s disappointing but it’s what I expected to be fair. Just a waiting game.

 

[Widgetdollface]

I’m with BCH for fac and sgc, I had a terrible time initially but now they are definitely on the ball. Put in for a 1 for 1 variation and everything was done in just over a month. Cant fault the hertfordshire feo’s
I hope you are sorted out soon though.

 

[Den]

Got my FAC through the post today applied 17.7.25 received 27.7.26 now gotta decided which rifle .22 air.

 

[Bardot]

Got my FAC through the post today applied 17.7.25 received 27.7.26 now gotta decided which rifle .22 air.

HNFACD

 

[Mammoth200]

Got my FAC through the post today applied 17.7.25 received 27.7.26 now gotta decided which rifle .22 air.

Pleased to hear, gutted I don't live 2 miles further south, as I'd then be in Essex and I'd nearly have my FAC by now, bloody postcode lottery!