ATF doesn't wanna be bothered anymore?

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dullh
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ATF doesn't wanna be bothered anymore?

Post by dullh »

In the past I have been able (like everybody else) to call the NFA branch and get someone to tell me the status of my Form 4. Today I called (304) 616-4500 and was, for the first time ever, greeted with an automated menu. Option 3 lets you check the status of a Form 1 or 4. Upon choosing this option, the recording told me to leave a message if and only if my form has been in process for over 6 months. After that there was no option to speak to a live person. So...are the days of getting live status updates over?
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jdasilva
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Re: ATF doesn't wanna be bothered anymore?

Post by jdasilva »

They're in the middle of a snow storm & there isn't anyone there
HansohnBrothers
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Re: ATF doesn't wanna be bothered anymore?

Post by HansohnBrothers »

The automated system has been online since the beginning of the week. To get status checks, you will have to leave a message and they will call you back. So yes, live updates are history.
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Bendersquint
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Re: ATF doesn't wanna be bothered anymore?

Post by Bendersquint »

I have a customer that brags that he calls EVERY SINGLE DAY about the status........there are many more like him.

Seems to think the more he bugs the faster the processing will go.

I am shocked that people are surprised by this.
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T-Rex
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Re: ATF doesn't wanna be bothered anymore?

Post by T-Rex »

Bendersquint wrote:I have a customer that brags that he calls EVERY SINGLE DAY about the status........there are many more like him.

Seems to think the more he bugs the faster the processing will go.

I am shocked that people are surprised by this.
^^^ makes sense to me
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ThaDoubleJ
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Re: ATF doesn't wanna be bothered anymore?

Post by ThaDoubleJ »

I try my hardest to forget about pending forms, even managed it for a couple weeks once. I wouldn't call unless I was way past the dates showing on the SS tracking page.
Proper grammar is awesome.
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Re: ATF doesn't wanna be bothered anymore?

Post by RJT »

I will call a couple of weeks after check cashes, just to make sure, then wait for SS to email me. It gets easier to wait semi patiently, when it isn't your first one.
You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.
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Re: ATF doesn't wanna be bothered anymore?

Post by QuIet Noob »

I have a form pending since August. I could not get my dealer to respond so I called the NFA number this morning and left message. Sarah Jones herself called me back fairly quickly and said they were shutdown.They are shutdown for a snowstorm and I still got a call. My stamp was mailed in mid December. Called my dealer back and left another message.

What should my next step be if I do not get a call back?
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Bendersquint
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Re: ATF doesn't wanna be bothered anymore?

Post by Bendersquint »

QuIet Noob wrote:I have a form pending since August. I could not get my dealer to respond so I called the NFA number this morning and left message. Sarah Jones herself called me back fairly quickly and said they were shutdown.They are shutdown for a snowstorm and I still got a call. My stamp was mailed in mid December. Called my dealer back and left another message.

What should my next step be if I do not get a call back?
Call again and await a response.

Thats ALL you can do.
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L1A1Rocker
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Re: ATF doesn't wanna be bothered anymore?

Post by L1A1Rocker »

It is good to call to make sure your stuff is received and that your approved stamp did not get lost. (But don't go crazy with the calls, it doesn't make things go faster.) I say this as a prime example of how "things can happen". After waiting a reasonable time I called to check and my approval had been sent out - I just didn't get it. I requested a copy. Now get this, I got my original that supposedly had been sent out already, with an apology note attached. Apparently, rather than sending one of my originals to me, both had been filed in ATF's hard-copy file.

If I had not followed up on this by calling, I would never have received my approval.
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Bendersquint
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Re: ATF doesn't wanna be bothered anymore?

Post by Bendersquint »

L1A1Rocker wrote:It is good to call to make sure your stuff is received and that your approved stamp did not get lost. (But don't go crazy with the calls, it doesn't make things go faster.) I say this as a prime example of how "things can happen". After waiting a reasonable time I called to check and my approval had been sent out - I just didn't get it. I requested a copy. Now get this, I got my original that supposedly had been sent out already, with an apology note attached. Apparently, rather than sending one of my originals to me, both had been filed in ATF's hard-copy file.

If I had not followed up on this by calling, I would never have received my approval.
If the check was cashed then the ATF received it.

As far as the SOT is concerned, all he can do is call him, the ATF will not send a copy of the Form to him as the transfer hasn't been completed yet.
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L1A1Rocker
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Re: ATF doesn't wanna be bothered anymore?

Post by L1A1Rocker »

Bendersquint wrote:
L1A1Rocker wrote:It is good to call to make sure your stuff is received and that your approved stamp did not get lost. (But don't go crazy with the calls, it doesn't make things go faster.) I say this as a prime example of how "things can happen". After waiting a reasonable time I called to check and my approval had been sent out - I just didn't get it. I requested a copy. Now get this, I got my original that supposedly had been sent out already, with an apology note attached. Apparently, rather than sending one of my originals to me, both had been filed in ATF's hard-copy file.

If I had not followed up on this by calling, I would never have received my approval.
If the check was cashed then the ATF received it.

As far as the SOT is concerned, all he can do is call him, the ATF will not send a copy of the Form to him as the transfer hasn't been completed yet.
The check is separated from the packet and goes a different direction. The packet then undergoes more handling before it gets to the assigned processor. The check being cashed does not insure the packet was not lost. IIRC we had such a story told here some time ago.
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eastern_hunter
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Re: ATF doesn't wanna be bothered anymore?

Post by eastern_hunter »

I live south of the BATFE facility abt an hour by interstate. We had heavy snow on Monday and another heavy snow today. And flooding conditions in between. Possibly added to the problem or reaching them.
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Wicked
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Re: ATF doesn't wanna be bothered anymore?

Post by Wicked »

Bendersquint wrote:I have a customer that brags that he calls EVERY SINGLE DAY about the status.......
Asshat. Knife-hand to the throat would cure that s--t.

I know you can't pick your customers. I would have a very difficult time doing any business with such an individual. He's GOT to have other 'issues' as well.
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Bendersquint
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Re: ATF doesn't wanna be bothered anymore?

Post by Bendersquint »

Wicked wrote:
Bendersquint wrote:I have a customer that brags that he calls EVERY SINGLE DAY about the status.......
Asshat. Knife-hand to the throat would cure that s--t.

I know you can't pick your customers. I would have a very difficult time doing any business with such an individual. He's GOT to have other 'issues' as well.
He's not the only one, not by far....not by far.
dullh
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Re: ATF doesn't wanna be bothered anymore?

Post by dullh »

If the new system will dissuade people from harassing them every day then I'm all for it.

I call at the three-month mark - that's when my Form 4's are getting approved. I have gotten three back so far, three pending. All three came back in 90-101 days. There's no need to call any sooner than that - six months if you filed as an individual.
AkGun&ammo
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Re: ATF doesn't wanna be bothered anymore?

Post by AkGun&ammo »

me- I don't call.

Check clears bank, good enough.

go about over things till get phone call to pick up

this lastest a little different, but I'm basically on here trying to find current timelines... not bothering our hard working Gov't empoyees..

Heck, I resemble one. (DOD)

my current project is my first intregrel...

chomping at bit to get it back

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Abiqua
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Re: ATF doesn't wanna be bothered anymore?

Post by Abiqua »

The ATF lost one of my Forms 4. I call after a reasonable time so I can find when it was approved so if it is lost I can start the process of getting a replacement.
ericlw
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Re: ATF doesn't wanna be bothered anymore?

Post by ericlw »

I think people get a little over obsessive about calling them. I work customer service and I'm not sure people realize how annoying people calling constantly gets. And I'm talking about the people who call like every week when they just sent in their paperwork. I don't think calling once or twice a month when you know its getting closer to being approved is excessive. And yes they remember who you are if you call a lot.
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Re: ATF doesn't wanna be bothered anymore?

Post by rimshaker »

I'm all for giving the ATF a little slack for once. With wait times down to just 3-4 months for paper forms, should be no reason to call any more just for impatient status updates.

Once your check successfully clears, that's it, forget about it and chill. Be thankful it's not the old 7-10 month timeframes.
Chuck88
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Re: ATF doesn't wanna be bothered anymore?

Post by Chuck88 »

I don't mind as long as the guy who used to be in charge of answering phones is now busy processing my paperwork! :D
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Bendersquint
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Re: ATF doesn't wanna be bothered anymore?

Post by Bendersquint »

Chuck88 wrote:I don't mind as long as the guy who used to be in charge of answering phones is now busy processing my paperwork! :D
Nope, they were contractors that answered the phone....none of the examiners answered the phone for status checks.
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