Need some advice on CFARs for New COE

[Capybara]

Can some of you have have recently negotiated CFARs applying for a new COE chime in on your experience? After wading through the 59 page .pdf of HOW to navigate the ridiculously labyrinth CFARs website, I was able to successfully submit my COE application yesterday. Weird though, I submitted the app, but I never saw any option to put the COE into my shopping cart so I could not checkout and pay for the COE? I just clicked on the submit application button and it took it and my status now says "Application in process".

Did the $106 I paid the Live Scan Operator INCLUDE my COE fee or something? Does the BOF take the app and then slip something into the shopping cart for me to pay later? I did upload my FFL03 number to my profile, updated my old address, put in the ATI number from the LiveScan form on the COE app, uploaded a shot of my REAL ID license, etc. If any of you understand the payment thing, please post here with what you know.

The last time I had a COE was pre-CFARs in 2015 when we just did it by mail and it was immeasurably easier and simpler. The instruction manual just talks about paying for a renewal but not paying for an initial COE.

Thanks fellow COE applicants!

[Spyder]

No, I do not believe the money paid to the Live Scan folks covers it. There should be somewhere to add it to your cart. I just did my renewal recently and CA DOJ will definitely take your money. I don't remember exactly how and can't help other than saying you'll need to go back in and find where you have to pay for it.

[Capybara]

No, I do not believe the money paid to the Live Scan folks covers it. There should be somewhere to add it to your cart. I just did my renewal recently and CA DOJ will definitely take your money. I don't remember exactly how and can't help other than saying you'll need to go back in and find where you have to pay for it.

Thanks for chiming in. I just went back and there doesn't seem to be any way to "add" the previous COE application to my Shopping Cart. I clicked "Report An Issue" so I will post back here once they respond. Weird, on most on-line applications requiring payment, the PHP or web programming wouldn't have let me submit my application without submitting the required payment at the same time or before.

Yeesh, that is some janky programming, I am currently working with a back-end web framework developer in my day job, I am the writer, he is the back-end designer/programmer and the CFARs website is at the design/function level an average web portal was at in about the early to mid 90s. Sad.

[qaa541]

I am also in the process of getting a new COE, filed in Dec 2021. Still not approved yet.

The form does not ask for payment before submitting. My guess is that the cost has been folded into the LiveScan fee or it comes after it is accepted?

I recently got a message to add FFL03 information, which there is no explicit field for. It seems people have been adding it to the comments section of the COE form. I've heard people who put it in their profiles still don't have it be accepted and get asked the same thing via the automated system. I've read others simply respond with "why do you need this info?" responses and also get accepted since there is no statutory requirement for it as far as I can tell.

COE renewals are a different story which makes sense for CFARS to collect it directly since no new livescan is required.

[dfletcher]

Thanks for chiming in. I just went back and there doesn't seem to be any way to "add" the previous COE application to my Shopping Cart. I clicked "Report An Issue" so I will post back here once they respond. Weird, on most on-line applications requiring payment, the PHP or web programming wouldn't have let me submit my application without submitting the required payment at the same time or before.

Yeesh, that is some janky programming, I am currently working with a back-end web framework developer in my day job, I am the writer, he is the back-end designer/programmer and the CFARs website is at the design/function level an average web portal was at in about the early to mid 90s. Sad.

I "reported an issue" about 60 days prior when submitting my renewal. CADOJ responded to me - about 2 weeks AFTER the expiration date. Fortunately I'd already figured out what went wrong.

FWIW based on my experience -

Using Chrome worked best for me. When I submitted CDL it didn't take, but I got a "processing" bounce back anyway, followed two weeks later by "you made a mistake". Resubmitted, OK. Until "you didn't submit your C&R FFL number notice arrived two weeks later.

Also, there was an issue with type of ID submitted. In that the CDL in drop down box disappeared for some reason.

I expect to be aggravated all over again in 6 months. Thank God this is my last one.

[Capybara]

...I expect to be aggravated all over again in 6 months. Thank God this is my last one.

CFARs really does feel as if it only exists because some lawyer told the BOF they had to provide a way to issue COEs and the BOF begrudgingly had their 14 year old neighbor kid "who can build us a website" construct it, it's unbelievably poorly designed and implemented. I miss when we just printed the app out and mailed it in. Sooo much easier. FFL03 was a breeze compared to this. I guess we have to remember than the State of California wants anything having to do with complying with the law and being a law abiding gun owner a punitive act.

[qaa541]

CFARs really does feel as if it only exists because some lawyer told the BOF they had to provide a way to issue COEs and the BOF begrudgingly had their 14 year old neighbor kid "who can build us a website" construct it, it's unbelievably poorly designed and implemented.

I miss when we just printed the app out and mailed it in. Sooo much easier.

If the front end that you see is designed this poorly, just imagine the back end that's actually keeping the data (regardless if you did it via CFARS or mail). It's not going to be a first class operation.