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After hearing about so many problems/delays, just thought I'd share my positive experience.

My FAC expired on 17/1/2017. At the end of Sep I got my renewal pack through. I duly paid the fee (including the new £5 extra Air Weapon Certificate) and handed the form into my GP at the beginning of Oct. The receptionist told me that there may be a fee if my Doc had to make any comments, £15-£20, but it would be FOC if it was purely adding the marker and informing the police.

At the end of Nov I had my FEO visit. He did the usual checks on my guns (9 firearms + 4 shotguns) and ammo. We discussed my request and reasons for an extra 4 slots plus upping my .22 ammo to 1500rnds. He noted the fact that my house had an alarm system covering the 2 entry points, but did say that there may have to be a security check carried out due to the number of firearms. He said that this would be up to his superiors to decide and that I'd be informed. He didn't ask to take any of my certificates and only took my extracts from my Club's attendance register because I had them to hand.

I heard nothing more until my new FAC/SGC/AWC arrived the day before expiry. There were a couple of errors so I sent the FAC back with a covering letter. Less than a week later my amended FAC has arrived.

OK, maybe 3 months from start to finish is a while, but given the pressure/workload on the Licensing Depts., I feel that the process worked pretty well for me.

Donald

Strange how they got you to give the form to your GP rather than them sending it? I thought Police Cowboys, sorry Scotland, had finally adopted the procedure that if your GP doesn't write back in 21 days then that's the end of it? If so you could just not bother to hand the form in....

I received my forms including gp form in early December even though it's not due for renewal till April. Police scotland have dug their heels in over getting the gp form back completed and as you have noted the applicant has to deal with their doctor keeps them out of the problem of wether it gets done or not.The bumf that comes with the forms tells you that the GP form is your problem and without it completed your application /renewal will go no further.

On a practical side and without going down the fees argument, I'd imagine the GP practice will need your signed form to release info. Saves the Licensing Dept time having to get it from you, then send it to your GP if you hand the original in.
I asked the question about what would happen if the GPs didn't respond. I was given to believe that the Licensing Dept will contact your GP if they don't receive notification of the marker having been placed, although that might not be standard practice across all areas and might be as a result of an applicant contacting them as to the progress of the renewal.

This was my first renewal, and as Club Secretary I have been involved with several under the 'old' system. From talking to those members, I don't think that it was any more of a hassle as far as the process goes.

Donald