Thread: Useing the firearms register

My experience, so far, has been some positive, and some very negative.

I had to bite the bullet because of an ‘activating event’.
Knowing that a lot of my “stuff” would not (anecdotally) be presented in their drop-down lists, I elected to register by phone.

First cab off the rank at 8:30 one lovely morning with an almost immediate answer of my call. That’s a good start.
As a collector, you’d better believe it if I say I’ve got a lot of “interesting” stuff!

As we make way through my list, it became abundantly clear that whoever designed the system had not taken the time (ANY time) to sit down with any member/s of the firearm fraternity and input known makes, models etc., etc. into the database. A failure that has led to so much confusion and frustration. And, I suspect, a lot of erroneous entries.

Did I say I had a lot of stuff?
My ‘phone call ended five hours and one minute later. ONE ‘phone call!
So far, so good.

But, there’s also another side to my experience.
More recently I was required to transfer an “endorsed” item to my inventory.
Another ‘phone call.
The respondent to my call went through the preamble BS and then it was down to business.
Type of ‘arm – confirmed. Make – confirmed. Model – confirmed. Serial number – ah, NO. We’ve got a different number here. Oh, really. I tendered the serial number again. Ummm, can you send us a photo. No, I will not send you a photo.
Are there any other numbers on the ‘arm. No, there are not!
I then ask if registry has a copy of the permit to possess. Yes, they have.
I now state that the PTA had the details of the ‘arm verified (actually sighted) by the local AO who duly signed the form as having verified those details.

How has it come to pass that a minion within the oh-so-wonderful registry has entered a serial number that was nothing remotely like the actual?
A further ten-minute pause in the ‘phone call while they consulted with an AO. The outcome – they (I suspect, begrudgingly) accepted that the documented serial number must be correct and that they will accept it as such.
Sure does fill me with confidence. NOT.