How long?

Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 1:04 pm

I originally thought it was 6 weeks and then you get your license. However, I spoke to someone from the SIA today as I was calling to correct a mistake I made on my application form and they told me it's 6 weeks just to get it onto the system and that they couldn't tell me how long it'd be. A colleague has been waiting for hers since November. I was just wondering how long most peoples' have taken to arrive because I am going to be unable to work even as a steward, for my company, from 12th of June onwards. Sad

Posted: Tue May 30, 2006 11:48 am

Sorry Lauren but how long is a piece of string? Crying or Very sad

Posted: Wed May 31, 2006 1:12 pm

*sighs* I'm able to stay working after all, which is good, but I can only do certain events and duties until my license comes. I am a bit confused as to why, even 2 weeks after I sent off my application, they've not taken payment; how long does it take to open an envelope and enter someone's card details into a machine...I just worry that this means they've not even looked at my forms yet which is just a waste of 2 weeks... Crying or Very sad

Newbie Joined: Feb 19, 2006 Posts: 1

Last week I received my licence card together with the holder and blue neck band. I first started looking for BJT courses on 31 January 2006 for myself and one other.

The excellent courses, from a firm based in Lincoln but held in London: I am in Essex, were attended on 20 to 23 February and 6 to 9 March. Then the waiting started.... It has been about six months!

I think that the SIA are deliberately letting firms and individuals suffer uncertainty so that there is pressure for the current backlog of applications to be made and sorted. To set new appointed dates for the general security licences to apply would only encourage some to be even later with their applications.

To allow the real policing of the industry to begin the SIA must be reasonable and allow most of the 60,000 applications to be processed. The SIA said that they "consulted the industry" but no one consulted or even considered my small operation and their are a lot of small security firms out here.

I have been in general and mobile security work for about 15 years and worked as a sole trader, for the last 12 years, employing up to 6 guards at various times. There was no way I would stop work because the implementation of necessary legislation was being badly implemented. It would have meant loss of business and financial disaster for my staff and I. I talked it over with my son (he works in another industry altogether) and we concluded that the numbers of outstanding applications meant that the SIA were only "barking" and that to apply the letter of the law would cause economic and political problems.

As the song says "don't worry be happy". I am still giving grief to the thieves and "toe rags" and that is what I will keep doing.
Jack

Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2006 10:08 am

I am currently looking into suing the SIA for loss of earnings and anything else while I am at it. They have now sent my stuff back twice with no explanation although there is nothing wrong with my application whatsoever. And I'll have to go through this all over again next time I apply probably. Rolling Eyes