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I finally received my plastic today!

Hopefully I was one of the last remaining June applicants. I waited until 111 days after DPS received my application before I bothered contacting DPS to inquire about my status. Unfortunately, the person handling my application never returned any of my phone calls, even though I left messages every 3rd day for about 10 days. After growing extremely frustrated with DPS for not returning a single call even though I waited almost 4 months to contact them, I finally resorted to sending out emails to my state rep, senator, and the governor.

My state rep (Beverly Woolley) contacted DPS on my behalf and found out for me that my delay was caused by Harris county. Her office got my application moving through Harris county and I received my plastic 6 days after I initially sent out my frustrated emails.

It's obvious to me from reading these forums that Harris county is dragging their feet on background checks, and anyone who still has their application "pending" who applied in June or earlier should contact their state reps, senators, and even the governor's office (who totally dismissed me when I called them, BTW, unlike others who have reported positive experiences with the governor's office) and politely see if they can get some help on their applications. I have addresses in Harris county and Galveston county, and both of those DPS offices as well as the county courthouses are fully up and running, so there are no more Hurricane Ike excuses. There's something to be said for waiting patiently, but when so many people are getting their plastic in double-digit days, those of us that waited longer than 100 days need to be cleared out of the system.

[deep breath] Okay, I'm better now. I'm happy, but it's a little bitter-sweet knowing that some people who applied even before me are still waiting. To them I say: dont' be shy. Call, email, and write your elected officials and make your voice be heard. It worked quickly for me and I only used that as a last resort when DPS refused to return any phone calls.


Keep the faith, June applicants, your time is almost up.


Jamey

app. accepted at DPS: 06/24/08
1st phone call to DPS: 10/13/08
emails to state reps: 10/23/08
call back from DPS: 10/24/08
plastic received: 10/29/08