fingerprint services in Houston?

[B3XD]

Well, I got the " FBI cannot distinguish your fingerprints, need another copy" from Utah BCI. Where do you go to get fingerprints done for this kind of thing? Are the commercial services advertised under fingerprinting acceptible? Do you need a LEO to sign? Utah is apparently not part of the FAST group since FAST doesn't list them as accepting their service? Clues?

[mdek]

Well, I got the " FBI cannot distinguish your fingerprints, need another copy" from Utah BCI. Where do you go to get fingerprints done for this kind of thing? Are the commercial services advertised under fingerprinting acceptible? Do you need a LEO to sign? Utah is apparently not part of the FAST group since FAST doesn't list them as accepting their service? Clues?

You can go to HPD headquarters downtown and get them to do for flat fee of $10 either one or two fingerprint cards. This way, you have a backup if the first gets rejected.

[Charles L. Cotton]

Unfortunately, FBI rejects are on the rise. A friend had his first set of prints on a Texas CHL renewal (FBI card only) rejected, so he had digital prints done by FAST. He just got word that those were rejected also!

Chas.

[roff]

how is it possible for digital prints to be rejected?

[lrb111]

The prints are still "rolled", so all the inconsistencies that can occur still occur. Smudging, not going "edge to edge", etc. They are then printed onto the cards. I see absolutely no advantage to the system. Other than their being an additional database of fingerprints in a civilian agency.

I won't rant on this.

[Liberty]

The prints are still "rolled", so all the inconsistencies that can occur still occur. Smudging, not going "edge to edge", etc. They are then printed onto the cards. I see absolutely no advantage to the system. Other than their being an additional database of fingerprints in a civilian agency.

I won't rant on this.

It was an opportunity to create a brand new business for someone who was politically connected. Paying contributors outright is against the law.

[fingerprintguy]

There are a couple of very good mobile fingerprint services in the Houston Area. Go to an experienced fingerprinter. They will take care of you, if they are operating after Hurricane Ike. Try http://www.houstonfingerprinting.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. Most of the IBT/ F.A.S.T. locations are shut down in areas affected by the storm. And, most of the IBT/ F.A.S.T. locations are staffed by persons that took a one or two day training class in "rolling" fingerprints. IBT/ F.A.S.T. is backed by L1 Identity Solutions and they had the money and ability to set up all over the state and capture the electronic submission contract and now we are stuck with them for up to 6 more years as the only place to go for electronic fingerprints. They did the same thing in about 30 other states too. One day I will save the $15k to buy my own live scan and make them earn their money.

If you had to evacuate to the DFW area, I can roll quality inked prints for you. I've only had one rejection (that I know of) out of the last 500 cards.

Good luck,

David
Fingerprintguy
http://www.applicantfingerprintingservices.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.fingerprintapplicantservicesoftexas.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[brianko]

The prints are still "rolled", so all the inconsistencies that can occur still occur. Smudging, not going "edge to edge", etc. They are then printed onto the cards. I see absolutely no advantage to the system. Other than their being an additional database of fingerprints in a civilian agency.

I won't rant on this.

Having had my PD-rolled prints rejected once by DPS for my renewal, I decided to go the FAST route.

It's rather slick: The prints are graded for quality, and the person who did my prints was very conscientious about getting a score higher than 92 on my prints (most were 95 or better). Some of my fingers have quite a bit of scarring, and the computer picked these areas up as "lower quality" than the remainder of the print. I asked her about whether or not they keep a record of the prints. She said the prints are deleted at the end of each day, so there's no way to get a "reprint" without having your prints rolled again.

Of course, she could have been lying to me. But I'll give her the benefit of the doubt. And it's not as if several gov't agencies don't already have my prints from security clearances, and since much of that is now contracted out, I imagine my prints are with more than one contractor as well.

The day my CHL renewal arrives will be the day I deem the FAST route a success or failure...

[fingerprintguy]

Prints can and are rejected from everybody. It is a fact of life for fingerprinting. DPS is not quite as strict as the FBI but prints still need to be classifiable and it is often hard with persons of advanced age or persons that use their hands for rough work or cleaning. Heck, even paper pushers have trouble with their prints. The key is to get someone to roll your prints that knows what they are doing. Many of the Fingerprint Technicians at the F.A.S.T. locations only have a day or two of training and most instructors that roll their own prints know as much or more than the Techs. F.A.S.T. does have the sole source ability to submit your prints electronically to DPS which will speed up the background process, but they cannot submit to other states at this time. It will happen one day but not yet. The live scans have built in quality checking software that should make a rejection almost obsolete. But as many have learned, this is not always the case.

Just about any law enforcement agency that rolls prints for the public can record your prints for out of state purposes. Private fingerprint agencies can also roll your prints for you, there are a few in the Houston area. Some private fingerprinters are also going digital and use live scans. They can print your fingerprint cards for you instead of using the traditional ink. Anywhere you decide to go should have a policy to reroll your prints at no charge if they are rejected. I know at least one person that chose not to return to a F.A.S.T. location due to the way they were treated.

By policy and contract, the F.A.S.T. locations are only permitted to maintain your information until they receive an acceptence message from DPS. In the event that you take your cards with you (Print and Go Service), your info is deleted at the end of the business day. Private fingerprint agencies may not keep your info for any length of time and info is not maintained in their live scans.

good luck