They always take your money straight away, it's the first thing they do. Your application then sit's in the 'to do' pile until someone from PLD can process it. If it says on the website it's taking 25 days then it means it stay's in the 'to do' pile for 24 days and will be looked at on day 25! No point in phoning to ask either as all they'll say is that your application is received and will be processed in the time stated.