Fixing an incorrect handgun registration?

[Elipar]

I registered a pistol in Dec '13 when I moved to CA. I got my letter from the Bureau of Firearms and thought nothing of it. Today I went to interview for a CCW and was told that the serial number I provided does not match the serial number on the DOJ website. It's a simple clerical error (instead of ABA, it was registered as BAB), whose fault I don't know. I called the Bureau of Firearms and was told I would need to send in a new registration and also declare that I no longer had the old one in my possession... the one I never had in the first place... Is that the proper way to do it?

I'm surprised that this wasn't caught earlier. Wouldn't the guy whose serial number I'm "using" have been unable to register his firearm? Hopefully it hasn't been used in a crime... it'd be pretty shocking to have the cops come looking for my non-existent gun!

[Bullitt01]

The DOJ likes to 'spring' things on you...when you least expect it! (i know)
Best of luck with that.

[Mossy Man]

With the way serials work, I wouldn't be surprised if BAB doesn't exist

[plan-b]

Assuming "BAB" was even used by the manufacturer... it's probably in a free state somewhere that doesn't require registration. So the CADOJ wouldn't even know about it.

[Dvrjon]

I registered a pistol in Dec '13 when I moved to CA. I got my letter from the Bureau of Firearms and thought nothing of it. Today I went to interview for a CCW and was told that the serial number I provided does not match the serial number on the DOJ website. It's a simple clerical error (instead of ABA, it was registered as BAB), whose fault I don't know. I called the Bureau of Firearms and was told I would need to send in a new registration and also declare that I no longer had the old one in my possession... the one I never had in the first place... Is that the proper way to do it?

I'm surprised that this wasn't caught earlier. Wouldn't the guy whose serial number I'm "using" have been unable to register his firearm? Hopefully it hasn't been used in a crime... it'd be pretty shocking to have the cops come looking for my non-existent gun!

Hopefully, you kept a copy of the form you sent in so you can show you reported the correct number. Otherwise, you have no way to show DOJ is at fault.

I would send them a short letter asking for the change, along with a "No Longer in Possession" form for the erroneous numbered firearm and a new registration form (without the fee) and see what they do.

Good luck.