Well yippee - my licence finally arrived today
- 5 weeks and 3 days after sending off my application.
Have to say the service is pretty pi$$ poor. Tried phoning CAA FCL on 3 occassions last week and after going through their automated switchboard, enduring 20 minutes of awful "muzik" and the "all our 'agents' are busy" message 100 plus times I was unceremoniuosly cut off on the first 2 attempts.
On the 3rd attempt got through to a polite & apologetic chap who said that applications were taking rather longer than they ought to at the moment but I should have it "soon".
Tyro - Standards & proceedures are obviously very variable:-
I sent my application off the day before you did, but mine took 38 days versus your 19.
Your licence was sent Special Delivery, mine 2nd Class ordinary post.
We both included photocopied Passports as proof of ID. Yours was was accepted without question, mine was not and I was asked for an original passport or birth certificate.
Seems that CAA-FCL could do with the Audit Commission having a poke around - "Best Value" principles and all that. Sound ripe for a bit of privatisation to me.
Anyway, enough bitchin' - I've now got my licence, and I'm now as happy as a pig in the proverbial. (Mrs. Wolfie in contrast is looking a little bit off colour at the thought of being my first passenger / (un)willing victim).
Mr. W