NFA Branch and Dealer Questions

[pdsmith505]

The FBI does NOT do background checks on NFA applications. I don't know what they actually do, but I was in an industry where we had real background checks done by the FBI. Your family, friends, former co-workers, etc., are contacted. Your credit history is run. I've purchased multiple cans, and NEVER has anyone let me know the FBI was contacting them. We all let each other know when this happens, so we have an idea of when we are going to get our clearances so we can work. Likewise, the FBI checking your credit will show up in your credit history with the major credit agencies and services like LifeLock. Again, never seen any evidence they are checking credit history.

So I don't know what the FBI is doing, but I know what they aren't doing. My guess is that they are running NICS and maybe checking a few other databases.

You mean to say that because no one has done a TS/SCI-level investigation on me that I couldn't possibly have had a Secret-level investigation done?

I mean surely they only have one kind of background check / investigation. Having more than one process would just be silly.

 

[Havok7416]

Went to the gunshop today. I must have misunderstood what he was telling me on the phone. What he was saying originally was that they had the paperwork back. On his desk was my returned paperwork (something I was adamantly told by the ATF that they don't do). The envelope had the return address of the NFA branch in West Virginia. The paperwork was all there. Stapled to the top was my check. The completed paperwork stack - including the second check - was all sent in the same envelope with the first stack. So why did the ATF return one stack?

 

[Double Naught Spy]

You seem to be having an unusually large amount of trouble with the whole process, much more so that most other folks.

 

[Havok7416]

Considering the first one went through just fine (10 months, 8 days) I tend to agree.

 

[Hoser]

So why did the ATF return one stack?

That is a question for the ATF.

 

[dogtown tom]

Went to the gunshop today. I must have misunderstood what he was telling me on the phone. What he was saying originally was that they had the paperwork back. On his desk was my returned paperwork (something I was adamantly told by the ATF that they don't do). The envelope had the return address of the NFA branch in West Virginia. The paperwork was all there. Stapled to the top was my check. The completed paperwork stack - including the second check - was all sent in the same envelope with the first stack. So why did the ATF return one stack?

The 5 or 6 times ATF has returned a transferees paperwork it had a sheet explaining what the problem was.
Despite giving transferees a checklist and little arrow stickies showing where to sign...…..people don't follow directions.

I'm starting to think your LGS isn't being completely honest with you.

 

[Hoser]

I'm starting to think your LGS isn't being completely honest with you.

Exactly.

I have been selling suppressors and NFA stuff for 10+ years. The guys at the NFA Branch are solid people and know what they are doing.

 

[Havok7416]

Exactly.

I have been selling suppressors and NFA stuff for 10+ years. The guys at the NFA Branch are solid people and know what they are doing.

Then why can't they give me an honest answer? Better yet, if they really know what they are doing, how do they lose track of my paperwork until it arrives back at the store (meanwhile telling me it's in the system)?

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Then why can't they give me an honest answer? Better yet, if they really know what they are doing, how do they lose track of my paperwork until it arrives back at the store (meanwhile telling me it's in the system)?

Time to move on. Nobody here is with the ATF. You aren't going to get any answers that will resolve your particular situation. Cancel payment on the missing check. Write a new check. Resubmit after you verify your paperwork is in order. Don't let the gun shop do it for you. Do it yourself. That is what you can do that is productive. It isn't like you can go to ATF's competition and get a better deal. Consider yourself lucky you didn't try paying with a money order and are just now figuring out something went wrong sometime next year.

 

[Havok7416]

Time to move on. Nobody here is with the ATF. You aren't going to get any answers that will resolve your particular situation. Cancel payment on the missing check. Write a new check. Resubmit after you verify your paperwork is in order. Don't let the gun shop do it for you. Do it yourself. That is what you can do that is productive. It isn't like you can go to ATF's competition and get a better deal. Consider yourself lucky you didn't try paying with a money order and are just now figuring out something went wrong sometime next year.

The check isn't missing. There is no paperwork missing or any information that belongs within it. Everything is on its way back as of yesterday.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Good. Chalk it up to a clerical error and be glad it was caught and resolved early.

 

[dogtown tom]

Then why can't they give me an honest answer? Better yet, if they really know what they are doing, how do they lose track of my paperwork until it arrives back at the store (meanwhile telling me it's in the system)?

1. If "your paperwork" was complete and payment was enclosed …..payment is stripped out by the bank and forwarded to NFA branch.
2. At NFA Branch, the info on the Form 4 is entered in "the system" by a data entry clerk and assigned to an Examiner.
3. If the ATF NFA Branch Examiner returned your paperwork, there IS a reason, and that reason would be on the enclosed error letter.
4. ATF will enter your paperwork into the system, even if there is an error, then return your paperwork for you or your dealer to correct.
5. If your error (could be a typo, missing information, missing signature, etc) is not corrected by the deadline on the error letter.....your Form 4 will be returned as disapproved and you will eventually get a refund.

You keep complaining about not getting an honest answer, but I think they DID give you as much of an answer as they could. ATF will not give out detailed info over the phone about Form 4 status or errors other than "pending", "awaiting result of FBI background check" or "approved". They won't tell you which examiner has your application, which of your RP's is holding up the FBI approval.....none of that, they ain't got time for that! Instead they'll either return the entire packet or just the Form 4 along with an error letter explaining the problem and giving you a deadline (around two weeks) to correct the error.

Sometimes that error letter takes 6-8 months after submission and the check being cashed. That yours was returned so quickly tells me there was a problem at the bank.

I've been doing NFA transfers for ten years and have nothing but great experiences with NFA Branch as far as their professionalism, politeness and competence. That's a little over 1,100 Form 4's. The error letters that have caused delays were:
-I ask the transferee for his trust name written exactly as it appears on the trust. "The DogtownTom Family NFA Gun Trust" is not the same as "DogtownTom Family NFA Gun Trust". Yet guess what happens.
-Transferee sent his packet in but didn't even fill out the check...at all.
-AFTER I had completed my part of the Form 4, the transferee decided to add additional responsible persons to his trust. Guess why that was returned?
-At least three were returned because my transferee chose to use a credit card and either wrote the #'s wrong or BOA in Atlanta mistyped.

 

[Havok7416]

Good. Chalk it up to a clerical error and be glad it was caught and resolved early.

Yeah. Funny thing is they called about the first application (the one that went through) a few days ago and said there was information missing. I provided what was needed and he said he'd take care of the rest. Nice and easy, probably took less than 5 minutes.