TexasCHLforum.com

Update:

As of 06/30/10 DPS online updated to shows wife's CHL as "mailed".

To recap the timeline for her renewal it goes like this:

05/06/10
- Complete packed mailed.

05/08/10 (Day 1)
- USPS Confirmed Delivery.

05/14/10 (Day 7)
- DPS online showed all items "received".
- Prints "pending".

05/24/10 (Day 17)
- DPS online showed prints "complete".
- Background check "under review".

06/21/10 (Day 45)
- Called DPS to inquire about status.
- Told that current processing time for renewals actually 45 days avg (not 21 as indicated on DPS web site).

06/24/10 (Day 48)
- Called DPS again - they offered more excuses.
- Requested to speak with supervisor - was told no supervisor in that day (been out all week in fact).
- Requested supervisor call me back when they came back to work.
- Contacted Alice Tripp with TSRA - requested her assistance.

06/25/10 (Day 49)
- Mrs. Tripp contacted DPS on wife's behalf.
- DPS called me (I was out - missed call).
- Returned call to DPS representative - got her voicemail - left message - no further contact made by or to DPS since this time.

06/26/10 (Day 50)- DPS online status changed to show background check "complete".
- License showed "manufacture pending".

06/30/10 (Day 54)
- DPS online status changed to show license "mailed".


So, with a little luck from the USPS, DPS may actually get her renewal processed and here in less than 60 days!

Two years ago it took them 59 days to process my renewal, and that was before all the great improvements. I am sure glad to see all the changes are working! Oh well, I guess we need to give the new guy a chance to straighten it all out.

Doc

Update on My Wife's renewal:

After my last conversation with the DPS, I contacted Alice Tripp with the TSRA and asked for her help as well. Mrs. Tripp jumped right on the problem, contacting the DPS and urging them to resolve the issue. She advised that I would likely hear directly from the DPS. The following day I received a call from the DPS, but unfortunately I was out at the time and missed the call. Now, I had requested a call back from the supervisor on my last conversation with the DPS, so I am not sure if it was that person calling back or someone calling as a result of Mrs. Tripp's involvement, but either way, I did receive a call. Unfortunately, when I called the person back I got their voicemail (naturally) and they did not return my call that day (Friday) or since. Other than the one attempted phone call, there has been no follow up by the DPS as requested, despite additional calls by me.

Late Friday night I checked the DPS online site for any updates to her status and there were no changes. With that, I figured it would be Monday before I could expect any news or take any further action, but just for the heck of it I decided to check the online site again Saturday night and to our surprise there was a change in her status. It now showed her to be "complete" and CHL "manufacture pending". Go figure....an update on Saturday.

So, other than the wait to actually get her plastic in hand, it appears her renewal is now resolved (thanks in no small part to Mrs. Tripp and the TSRA). Unfortunately, we are leaving on a 3 week trip this Thursday and I seriously doubt her license will arrive before that (which is the main thing we were hoping for). Oh well, the DPS does it to us again.

Nevertheless, hopefully the new people in the CHL division at the DPS will get the bugs worked out by the time one of us had to do this again.

I would like to see the law changed to require automatic issuance of CHL's on the 45th (renewals) and 60th (new) application days, or better yet, go to a Utah style renewal system where the renewal is issued immediately upon receipt of the renewal application and any subsequent background checks are done separately without delaying the issuance of the renewed license. If a disqualifying issue is found during the check, the license is simply revoked. Either of these methods would prevent a person from being denied their right to self protection because of a department screw-up or failure to process an application in a timely manner.

Anyway, our thanks to everyone who offered advice here and especially to Mrs. Tripp and the TSRA.

Doc

OK, UPDATE:

Wife called DPS this morning and was told "they were waiting on one more outside check to be returned". Was told that "it has just barely been 45 days and should not be much longer". When she asked why several other people who were new applicants had all received theirs in 20 to 30 days, she was told "yes, the new applications go much faster". REALLY????

After her call, I called them back and asked for a supervisor. After being on hold for several minutes, the original person came back on line and informed me that "the supervisor was out for the day and had not been in all week". Suppose that might be part of the problem around there?

I pointed out that the DPS had 45 days and if they were waiting on an outside "LOCAL" appointee, as they claim, then the local investigator has a deadline also and it was DPS's job to enforce that. The DPS rep agreed and stated "we are actually working on that".

We ended the call with her promise to document the issue and pass it on to her supervisor and I requested the supervisor call me to discuss the issue when she came back to work. Incidentally, I asked if there was only one supervisor and was told "no, there are others, but this is the only one that can help you with this issue...the rest don't know anything about it". Again, is this a clue to the problem?

So, at the moment we are still waiting on the DPS and I plan to spend the time constructively by chatting with my political representatives. I understand times of increased volume causing delays, but when new apps are having 20 day turn arounds and a renewal is near 50 days, that is not acceptable. I tend to believe someone has dropped the ball. I would even be understanding if they admitted that to be the case and then fixed the problem, but they just blow us off and act like the law does not apply to them.

Doc

dubya wrote:DocNTexas, sorry to hear it. I don't understand; the code states the renewal WILL be issued after 45 days.

You might also contact Alice Tripp, Legislative Director, TSRA you can get her email at https://www.tsra.com/index.php?option=c ... Itemid=117" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

What county are you in?

Good luck, JW

Edit: I wonder if Mr. Cotton or anyone from the TSRA sees this and can respond. Does the DPS not have to follow guidelines and issue the renewal at 45 days as the code requires?
Thanks,
JW

JW, thanks, I converse with Mrs. Tripp fairly regular and have discussed the DPS's failure to comply on several occasions. I do plan to forward this to her as well.

Doc

My wife has been waiting for over 45 days for her renewal application to be processed.

Mailed her completed packet on 05/06/10.
USPS confirmed delivery on 05/08/10.
DPS online showed all received with prints pending 05/14/10.
DPS online showed prints complete 05/24/10.
DPS online has shown packet complete except for "background check pending" since 05/24/10.

Called DPS on 06/20/10, was advised it was currently taking 45 day average for renewals and 60 for new applications. Cited increase in apps as reason for delay. She has nothing that would delay background check.

When asked why everyone else in her class had already received theirs back, including a few new apps we were aware of, there was no answer other than someone else probably delayed it, like the FBI or local check. When asked about 45 day deadline and fact that all else shows to have been completed for 4 weeks, again, no answer other than "we are really busy here".

Seems the DPS is no better now than before. Looks like another call the the congressman is in order. Funny how we can't use the excuse of being "too busy" for not meeting a legal deadline, but the DPS thinks they can.

Doc