TexasCHLforum.com

demosdarker wrote:Yeah, just got off the phone with them and I caught what you said about the special need, I was just stating I couldn't come up with anything, lol.

Anyway, so, I called, spoke with a guy who said that my background checks were complete and......nothing. I asked him what was left in the process and he told me he could check, so he places me on hold and disappears for a minute. He said he couldn't find anyone to ask what happens next and then offers to place me back on hold so he can try and track down a supervisor. I shrug and say why not, I figure someone around there must know.

Well, 5 minutes later he comes back again and said he couldn't find anyone who could help him and reverted back to the "well, it varies from person to person, there's no way to give a specific answer."

I guess he was new?

LOL..It isn't so much that he is new as it is that he has no authority to make a promise. Every time one of the phone reps tells any of us anything, we throw it out on the forum and later it cames back to bite them...LOL. Having your background checks done is a good sign. Mine took about a 2 weeks after the background checks were done. I bet your not far off. Keep your chin up. If after a couple weeks you call them and find it hasn't moved from background checks complete, send an email telling this story to the State Rep. Be sure to put Mark Hey in the subject. I bet something will shake loose at that point.

demosdarker wrote: Well, to be honest, I don't have any special reason to have one, and not having any urgent reason, I don't mind waiting longer if I need to. I just wish there was a way to speed the process up a bit I suppose. That's nothing new I'm sure. Thanks for your advice everyone.

Read my long winded post again. I didn't say you had to have a special reason for having a CHL to get help from them. I said having a special reason might help get you some special attention. Everything else applies regardless.

Have you called the DPS about the two application debacle yet? That would be step one. Step two depends on what they tell you about it.

BigBlueDodge wrote:

demosdarker wrote:Hi guys. I've been lurking on this forum since I started this process, but just never really had a reason to post until now. Now of course, I need advice

So, I completed my course at the start of March, and I sent in my paperwork on 3/16. Well, our instructor told us we could pay online, but the only way I could figure out to do that was to fill out another app online. So I filled the application out online, paid my 140, and began the wait on 3/16.

Well, I sat for about a month and got a notice saying that they needed a signature from me to start my application. Appearantly, when you do the online application they have to have a signature or something to start the process and run the background checks; and when you send both the hard copy application in and do the application online, they go with the first one they receive, so my hardcopy was thrown out in favor of the internet application.

So my timeline goes something like this:

March 3 took the class (119 days ago)
March 16 sent packet in (106 days ago)
March 18 filled out online application and paid (104 days ago)
April 3 Sent the signature (89 days ago)

Now, this entire time I've been on "Processing Application" and have had my Pin. I've even sweet talked my way into status updates about my application. Once when I called, I was told my Federal Background check was complete and they were just waiting on my local checks. Then I got the standard "backlogged" call back next month.

Well, now I'm wondering if I should get my state representative involved. I live in North Dallas, but I don't know who would represent me in this matter. What do you guys think I should do? I mean, I know the waits are horrendous, but everytime I've seen someone get a politician involved, things seem to speed up.

I guess I'm just looking for direction.

Dont' want to sound like the negative guy, but it sounds like you are partially at fault for not understanding the process, and you may have hurt yourself on this. In essence, you sent in TWO different applications rather than one. The application your receive from your CHL class is meant for people who are starting from nothing. You mailed that off, but I'm assuming did not send in payment. Then you decided to complete a SECOND, SEPERATE application via the online process and paid via Credit/Debit card. Using the online process, Austin will mail you a packet with your information pre-populated on the form. You then need to attach your prints, pictures, and notorized statements from your CHL class, and mail that back into Austin.

So looking back, you can see how you messed up the process. Austin received two packets from you, one from your CHL class that contains one set of paperwork, and another application via tha online route. The signature they are asking for is because it sounds like you did not properly fill out the online application. Since you sent in the signature on April 3rd, DPS probably received your application a week later, so let's call it April 10th, which technically means that you are only around 92-93 days at the time I'm posting this, and not 100+ days.

In this case, I think you complicated your own situation by mailing in two seperate application forms.

Oh my...I was typing my post and didn't see this post before hitting submit. This is a mess. Maybe you should call the DPS and esplain all this to them and ask what the affect of this will be before you email Mr. Maddens office. That alone may speed you along.

demosdarker wrote:Well, I'm not sure how much more help our reps are going to be.....

So, I sent the email out and got a weird response from our Exchange server that indicated the email might not have sent. But I really didn't have it in me to write it all again, so I just called the number for my rep. (Jerry Madden for those following along at home)

The lady who answered was nice enough and told me in that tone that meant it was a common, annoying call they got, that the DPS was heavily backlogged and that the reps have made an official request already to speed things up. She said that it was going to take awhile and when I replied that it had been over 100 days already (not sarcastically at all, just as a statement), I was told to "have a little patience."

She then said that my timeframe sounded about right and that it normally takes even longer, I advised her that many people get theres well before this point and in under 100 days. I was then asked how I knew that for a fact, so I replied that I knew a group of people (I didn't mention the site for fear of someone from the DPS tapping the call, coming here, and moving everyone's Apps to the "never to be completed" pile), and I knew their timelines. I'm not thinking she liked that too much by the tone of her voice.

I promise I was a complete gentleman and never once got sarcastic or made any comments to provoke these responses. But I'm not sure how helpful they're going to be.

She then took down my address and name....I think she's sending one of those wimmenz from the DPS, the angry one, to my house to take me out . Oh well, at least I held firm under the torture of her voice and gave no one from here away, lol.

Interesting. Jerry Maddens office has helped at least 3 folks I know of for sure. I would think the important part of your email should be the part about not having a pin after more than 100 days while others are getting processed and completed in less than 90 days. I don't know who "lady" is but I can tell you that Maddens office has been quite active on moving the DPS along. I would recommend you send another email. Don't be real long winded about your problem. Tell them that you have been told that they were able to help out with a couple other extreme cases and you were hoping they could help out with yours as you are not even aware of whether or not they have your application. In the subject put.. Attention Mark Hey. They have no idea who "03Lightningrocks" is so name dropping my nick won't help...LOL. Like I said in another post, the number of folks who are sending the State Reps. emails has increased dramatically since being advertised on this forum. The result will be as I said it would...lack of attention. It is starting to look like folks are using them to end around the system. This is what happens when guys decide that at 61 days they are going to cry. It dilutes the significance and leaves folks like you, who deserve special attention, looking like just another impatient constituent. I tried to warn folks this would start happening...but too many, know it alls, diluted my message as well.

By the way...Too late...they (the DPS) have been monitoring this forum for quite a while. We are, after all, their customers and this is a good place for them to judge our sentiments about their service. I would just like to take this moment to say Howdy to Simone..... .

Hope the info in my first paragraph helps ya out. The lady you talked to may or may not be on board with our issues. She might even be tired of answering all the calls about it. It is a level of pettiness for people to cry because they don't have a CHL on day 61. Especially after the DPS has already warned everyone that the 60 day processing is out the window for now.


One more thing. If you have some special reason for needing your CHL, be sure and tell them this also. I know you don't need a special reason for getting a CHL, but having one may give them some motivation for moving you along faster than the others. Don't lie to them and make some garbage up like your scared of your ex wife or something. But if you are a business man who makes large deposits or carry lots of jewelry or something real like that might just help. My neighbors look creepy sounds like paranoia and isn't a good reason...LOL.

agbullet2k1 wrote:How's this for irony...

Literally less than 30 minutes after I wrote the "wait two weeks" comment for handwritten, I got a call from Rep. Larry Talylor's office. I sent the letter out on Friday. So I guess I overestimated.

I'm not expecting the plastic to magically appear in the mail, and all I asked for was a PIN and some sort of info on what's happening. Been over 70 days now...

So what did they say? Did they offer some sort of assistance?

demosdarker wrote:So how long do you guys think I should wait for a response? I know he has a number to call, but that seems really over zealous. It hasn't even been 24 hours yet, but now I'm getting antsy.

Who is your State Representative?

agbullet2k1 wrote:I'd say wait about a week if you emailed, or a couple weeks if you hand wrote them. Most of them have staffers that sort the mail, so it may take a few days once it arrives before they even see it.

+1

KaiserB wrote:

03Lightningrocks wrote: I also agree with what another poster said above about the effectiveness of writing your representative. I bet it is happening so much now that the DPS is beginning to blow it off when they hear from them.

I believe most of these issues go through the DPS Legislative Liaison. Who filters and processes the requests to give a disposition back to the representatives.

If it is just one person who is entrusted to this job, I bet they are swamped in special requests.

agbullet2k1 wrote:Welcome welcome.

Firstly, you should never feel like writing your reps is a hassle to them. They're there to represent you, and I'd say 100 days is long enough to wait. There is some sentiment on here that it's unfair to write because it may put you ahead of others that have been waiting longer, but I don't think many people have been waiting longer than you, so you're good to go.

Use this website to find out who all your representatives are.
http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/

Just to be clear....I don't feel like anyone should hesitate to write their representative and complain. I also didn't see anyone else saying you shouldn't write your representative in "that" thread. That is what your rep is for. My gripe was with the way some of the complaints from representatives were handled at the DPS. I simply didn't and don't feel a person who has been waiting 60 days should be getting pulled ahead of folks that have been waiting 90 days or more. There are definitely situations that call for special attention.

I also agree with what another poster said above about the effectiveness of writing your representative. I bet it is happening so much now that the DPS is beginning to blow it off when they hear from them.