6 weeks mailed and still "awaiting receipt..."

[MrEd44]

Ok Ladies and Gentlemen. I am in the same boat. Application back in December, Finger Prints January 4th, Class Feb 3rd, emailed all documents Feb 4th. I emailed to check status back towards the end of Feb. Got the standard it takes up to 4 weeks to see status change. Call the phone line, took most of a morning to get through. The gentlemen told me he could see my emailed documents in the system and they were received Feb 16th. Well no status change as of March 18. I call again today, agian most of the morning redialing and on hold. The gentlemen today told me again he could see my documents they were recieved on the 16th of Feb, but the person they were sent to had retired. Can you believe it, retired??? He asked me to fax him my documents and he would get them in the system. I understand the overwhelming amount of new applications, but the State is receiving $140 per application. And if what I've been told there are an additional 10,000 per month currently. To me that says the State is collecting an additional $1,400,000 a month. Tell me we can't simply accknowledge the reciept of the documents? Much less make sure the work of a retiree gets passed on to another worker. Let's take care of the tax paying, fee paying citizens. What do you think?

[paustin]

Ok Ladies and Gentlemen. I am in the same boat. Application back in December, Finger Prints January 4th, Class Feb 3rd, emailed all documents Feb 4th. I emailed to check status back towards the end of Feb. Got the standard it takes up to 4 weeks to see status change. Call the phone line, took most of a morning to get through. The gentlemen told me he could see my emailed documents in the system and they were received Feb 16th. Well no status change as of March 18. I call again today, agian most of the morning redialing and on hold. The gentlemen today told me again he could see my documents they were recieved on the 16th of Feb, but the person they were sent to had retired. Can you believe it, retired??? He asked me to fax him my documents and he would get them in the system. I understand the overwhelming amount of new applications, but the State is receiving $140 per application. And if what I've been told there are an additional 10,000 per month currently. To me that says the State is collecting an additional $1,400,000 a month. Tell me we can't simply accknowledge the reciept of the documents? Much less make sure the work of a retiree gets passed on to another worker. Let's take care of the tax paying, fee paying citizens. What do you think?

IF and I mean IF, the State were smart and would think about it like a business, they would have a preferred $250 fee, which would get you expedited service (whatever that would mean). Hey more money they make maybe they would hire more clerks to process.

[dieharddano24]

It's absolutely nuts. You make a great point. $140.00 per person......aaaaaaaand for what exactly? If you are going to rape us on a fee, at least provide a reasonable service. For that amount of fee x applicants, you should be able to hire 10x the clerks to process apps!

[dieharddano24]

I finally called today - not too much of a phone wait, 15 minutes maybe. First time to try to call 2 minutes earlier said "Too many calls - call back later" (I'm paraphrasing). Anyway, this is how the conversation basically went:
Guy: When did you send it in?
Me: Both me AND my wife sent ours in on Feb 4th
Guy: Hmmm... strange. We are currently 5 weeks behind - processing apps received on March 21, so yours should definetly have been started... probably 2 weeks ago or so
Me: Ok, so.... where's my stuff? My wifes?
Guy: I don't know - maybe lost in the mail. Did you send certified mail?
Me: Uhhh no... didn't think I would have to. Besides, what are the chances that the USPS lost BOTH mine and my wifes which were sent from two different locations?
Guy: I don't know. Here's what I can do: I'll give you my fax number. Send me your CHL-100, CHL-6, and DD-214. I'll walk your app downstairs and get them started on it.
Me: Awesome! So how long should I be looking at now?
Guy: 5 weeks.
Me: What? I've already been waiting 7 - so you're telling me I have to basically start over? You walking it down there only saves me the 2 days it takes my mail to get to Austin?
Guy: Yeah, sorry... hopefully it will get done sooner.
Me: FML. This is ridiculous. What's the fax number?
(END)

So, according to that guy they are 5 weeks behind..... but are apparently losing people's applications. Moral of the story: If it takes more than 5 weeks to see some action, you better be calling.... because they might have lost it. TX CHL/DPS is an absolute nightmare.

[paustin]

I finally called today - not too much of a phone wait, 15 minutes maybe. First time to try to call 2 minutes earlier said "Too many calls - call back later" (I'm paraphrasing). Anyway, this is how the conversation basically went:
Guy: When did you send it in?
Me: Both me AND my wife sent ours in on Feb 4th
Guy: Hmmm... strange. We are currently 5 weeks behind - processing apps received on March 21, so yours should definetly have been started... probably 2 weeks ago or so
Me: Ok, so.... where's my stuff? My wifes?
Guy: I don't know - maybe lost in the mail. Did you send certified mail?
Me: Uhhh no... didn't think I would have to. Besides, what are the chances that the USPS lost BOTH mine and my wifes which were sent from two different locations?
Guy: I don't know. Here's what I can do: I'll give you my fax number. Send me your CHL-100, CHL-6, and DD-214. I'll walk your app downstairs and get them started on it.
Me: Awesome! So how long should I be looking at now?
Guy: 5 weeks.
Me: What? I've already been waiting 7 - so you're telling me I have to basically start over? You walking it down there only saves me the 2 days it takes my mail to get to Austin?
Guy: Yeah, sorry... hopefully it will get done sooner.
Me: FML. This is ridiculous. What's the fax number?
(END)

So, according to that guy they are 5 weeks behind..... but are apparently losing people's applications. Moral of the story: If it takes more than 5 weeks to see some action, you better be calling.... because they might have lost it. TX CHL/DPS is an absolute nightmare.

Complain to USPS, not DPS. Good luck and be patient.

[dieharddano24]

I'm going to completely ignore your last response, "Paustin". You either have a great difficulty reading or you are a deliberate troll, neither of which are worth my time.

***UPDATE***

Anyway, 1 day after contacting the DPS and speaking with "Dan", my status has now changed entirely.

"Concealed Handgun License : Print pending completion of application review "

The summary so far (condensed):

Sent in application packet: 2/4/2013
Pring pending app review: 3/25/2013

7 weeks in the works.

[MrEd44]

Good to hear Dano, but 7 weeks is still a long time. I saw your post and earlier called today. After 20 plus minutes on hold. I spoke with Dan also, I had spoken with Dan last week and fax him another copy of the documents I had previously email on the 3rd of Feb. He actually remembered me, and told me he had placed my documents he received last week in line for review. When I questioned him how long for me to see an acknowledgement on the wedsite. He told me I was back in line and it could be another 2 to 3 weeks. I asked if he was kidding, he said no, and passed me to a level 2 person. The lady that he passed me to was helpful and had me send my documents via email to her. 3rd submission of my documents. She has acknowledged reciept via a reply to my email, but the website has not. She also told me the person that had been working the emailed submissions was no longer working for DPS, could be the one I was told retired when I call last week.

I saw on another thread today. they (DPS) are receiving 15,000 to 17,000 new applications a month. I am still wondering where all the additional revenue is going, and why the State cannot hire some people to simple acknowledge reciept of documents. Sure hope the "paustin' guy gets the fact that this has nothing to do with the FBI.

Anyway I would advise anyone who has not seen an update within 3 weeks time to call and check status. It is also funny to me that everyone I have spoken with can see that my documents had arrvied on the date I emailed them orgionally. Even the person I spoke with back in Feb could see the my inital email submission had in fact arrived when I stated, but yet the website was not updated? So, yes they are loosing paperwork. Wonder where the 60 day timeframe law comes into play???

Good luck!

[paustin]

I saw on another thread today. they (DPS) are receiving 15,000 to 17,000 new applications a month. I am still wondering where all the additional revenue is going, and why the State cannot hire some people to simple acknowledge reciept of documents. Sure hope the "paustin' guy gets the fact that this has nothing to do with the FBI.


Good luck!

17K apps speaks for itself--they are busy. May not like the wait, but its a fact. I got mine in 60 days door to door, and that seems to be about average. Some will take longer...yep. The way the State works is not like a private business. When things are busy, they don't hire more FT employees--why, because it's not in their budget. The budgets are set by the Legislature. Nothing to do with FBI.

[dieharddano24]

Good to hear Dano, but 7 weeks is still a long time. I saw your post and earlier called today. After 20 plus minutes on hold. I spoke with Dan also, I had spoken with Dan last week and fax him another copy of the documents I had previously email on the 3rd of Feb. He actually remembered me...

Good luck!

Mr Ed,

Sorry to hear that you have gotten nowhere as of yet. I find it absolutely strange that both you and I spoke to the same person and that you ALSO spoke to him randomly last week. What does that suggest - the DPS for TX has 1 person handling the customer service for the entire state? Seriously? What are the odds that both you (2x) and I got the same guy on the help line? This is very concerning. Again, I'm sorry to hear you have gotten no where. All a citizen can really do at this point now that you have called and re-faxed or emailed is wait. You could keep calling, but you never know what this "Dan" could do to your docs if you annoy or piss him off. I must admit I was very surprised to see a change in my status 24 hours after talking to Dan when he had told me that faxing him the documents was basically like "starting over", but what can I say, ya know? I hope you see some change in your status very quickly. The state needs to be doing a better job of keeping the citizens informed of what's going on. EVERYONE is well aware that the amount of applications has sky-rocketed. However, that's no excuse for leaving all of the law-abiding citizens in the dark on the STATUS of RECEIPT. No one expects the CHL's to be produced in a day but no one should be left wondering 7 weeks later if their materials even arrived. I'm sure you feel the same way I do (and countless other submitters) - we just want to know that our paperwork arrived and that we are in line. That's not too much to ask.

One other thing - you mentioned a "3 week window" after submitting that a person should call. Dan told me that they are currently working "5 weeks behind" - in fact, he even knew the exact day of which they were working on applications that were submitted. So, I don't think anyone is going to see any change before 5 weeks. Of course, that was 2 weeks ago - it could be longer now. I would say if you don't see it in 5 weeks, call the VAST customer service department and expect to speak to "Dan". Hang in there man and good luck.

[mike5906]

Boys and Girls... there is a very simple reason why they all show "waiting receipt. THE LAW.

They are required to issue the CHL within 60 days of receiving your completed packet, prints, etc. As long as they haven't "received" if from their mailroom they are in the clear legally to take as long as they want. And they need extra time with all of the extra volume coming in.

I've heard stories of rooms full of mail carts of CHLs waiting to be processed.

[MrEd44]

Hey Dano,

Thanks for the well wishes! After calling Monday and emailing my documents, Tuesday I could seeing updates, and Background check under review. Today All checked and Manufacturing Pending!

Good luck to everyone waiting

[paustin]

Boys and Girls... there is a very simple reason why they all show "waiting receipt. THE LAW.

They are required to issue the CHL within 60 days of receiving your completed packet, prints, etc. As long as they haven't "received" if from their mailroom they are in the clear legally to take as long as they want. And they need extra time with all of the extra volume coming in.

I've heard stories of rooms full of mail carts of CHLs waiting to be processed.

BINGO. EXACTLY WHY.

[dieharddano24]

Got a letter in the mail yesterday requesting disposition information on an arrest of mine from 2007. I have all the required paperwork in the world that would clear me from being denied (legally) and I have prepared that packet and faxed it in today. I am fully aware that "the investigative group" could take from tomorrow to next year, so I probably won't have any updates for a while. However....

My wife, who sent in her application packet complete on Feb 6th, has been sitting on "background check in progress" for almost a month now and has never been arrested in her life. I can understand a person who has been arrested taking a long time, but a person with 0 arrests should come back with a clean report almost instantly. Who knows how long it will take for her.

She is now 2 1/2 months into the process, for the record. I'll post any changes if they come!

[dieharddano24]

I called yesterday and spoke to a very nice and helpful lady. I wanted to inquire as to whether or not my fax had been received even though I was expecting her to tell me "There's no way for us to know that" and leave me in limbo for an indefinite amount of time. Suprisingly, she told me the following: "Your investigators name is Judy. I can transfer you over to her and she may be able to tell you more. If she doesn't answer, you can certainly leave a voicemail". So, I happily accepted the offer and thought I was transferred... but I guess I was put on hold. About 2 minutes later, the lady came back and said "I just spoke with Judy - she told me she did receive your fax - it was 8 pages long". I laughed and said "That's it! Great!" She could provide no estimated date for decision (which I expected) and I was more than happy to simply hear that they received it. I know that there is now basically an indefinite amount of time before they may make a decision, but at least I know it's at the final stage. No more need for calling. As far as my wife's progress, she couldn't tell me anything because of "confidentiality".

So, back to the waiting game. I wish all the people I spoke to at DPS were as nice and helpful as that lady was. I will post any updates that I get.

[nightmare69]

I called yesterday and spoke to a very nice and helpful lady. I wanted to inquire as to whether or not my fax had been received even though I was expecting her to tell me "There's no way for us to know that" and leave me in limbo for an indefinite amount of time. Suprisingly, she told me the following: "Your investigators name is Judy. I can transfer you over to her and she may be able to tell you more. If she doesn't answer, you can certainly leave a voicemail". So, I happily accepted the offer and thought I was transferred... but I guess I was put on hold. About 2 minutes later, the lady came back and said "I just spoke with Judy - she told me she did receive your fax - it was 8 pages long". I laughed and said "That's it! Great!" She could provide no estimated date for decision (which I expected) and I was more than happy to simply hear that they received it. I know that there is now basically an indefinite amount of time before they may make a decision, but at least I know it's at the final stage. No more need for calling. As far as my wife's progress, she couldn't tell me anything because of "confidentiality".

So, back to the waiting game. I wish all the people I spoke to at DPS were as nice and helpful as that lady was. I will post any updates that I get.

Did you do the mail in application? I did the mail in app and its been 50 days since DPS received my mail in app and all other paperwork and Im still not showing up in the system when I try to login, I get the *Error no information found* message.

I called Tuesday and spoke to Rebecca and gave her my tracking number for my full app and packet, she showed to be there but no other information. I asked if they even started on it and she said she didn't know, she said she could not see my status in the system.

I told her I was aware of the 60 day statute that allows them 60 days to complete an application (to either approve or deny you a CHL) from the time they receive it. SHe said that is true but there is no way they would be able to complete my app in that time frame. I understand cause they haven't even started on it yet.

At least I know they have it, just wish they would start on it so I can go schedule my fingerprints.