My last Type rating I added 1 yr ago they didn't charge me till AFTER the process just as it was about to be issued, I only know this as they rang me up as there was an issue with my card, seems like a much better way of doing it rather than paying upfront like some dodgy builder would ask you to do....
8 weeks was the processing time if I remember rightly but they used to say if it was affecting your job prospects then to give them a call and they may whittle it down to 7.5 weeks.