sorcerer

Ok..there seems to be a lot of people experiencing significant delays with receiving their sia License...not only is it a thread on this forum but also on other security web sites and if you Google 'SIA delays', you'll find a minefield and multitude of disgruntled potential applicants sitting around waiting for their licence for the past few months, yes months , not weeks!

So what realistically can be done? At the moment ..nothing...I have sought telephone advice only from Trading Standards and on-line legal help and technically we can issue a county court summons for loss of earningS etc, however, as yet, no one has done this and so we are unsure if this would be successful. I have my member of parliaments total support with this and he has written to the minister in charge of the SIA. Alas, everyday I sit and wait and check my application status on line to see if its moved up one of the 12 or so notches it has to..but no..their still checking...over 3 months now...I complained formally to the SIA in writing..no reply..I complained by e-mail...no reply...I've telephoned dozens of time..only to never get through, I've taken days out just to call at 'quieter times', no different. It is difficult now to see the political significance in all this and to what extent this government takes the issue of security seriously, I think we know the answer to that..and that certainly reflects in their complacency and arrogance when dealing with our applications.

I seriously feel we need to start an independent pressure group that monitors the failings and of course the successes of the SIA, if at there are any, I'm not entirely sure if this will have any effect but doing nothing is certainly not helping.

Does anyone have any ideas? Suggestions? Advice? Has anyone taken the SIA to court? I am certainly considering it in the next week or so..good idea? Don't bother?

LET ME KNOW!!??

Sorcerer

AVL

Against the sia???

It is a tough one............what you have to remember is that they are the regulators, but the whole process is ultimately a Government Exercise. Sometimes delays are caused by in-accurate information on application forms, errors with exam results being downloaded and the simple reason we are all just a number to them , we are not people. They have no urgency to process anyone.

I did a lot of research on the area for the rationale of CP licensing in the UK for my dissertation last year and I was horrified the experiences some had experienced with the SIA licensing procedure.

However, I do know of a successful case which did challenge the SIA for loss of earnings due to this persons documents being lost for several months.

Who would fund it? maybe an employment solicitor may do it pro-bono, but against the government? If they won, fantastic, if not they may never work again. You need a maverick who will take the challenge and an awful lot of hard factual direct evidence.

Anjee

chris p

Hi,
I have worked in the security industry for a while from door work aviation to lastly head of security for a north east bank and for what its worth I would say this .
sia badges have always taken a long time to come through mine took 3 months . You need to look for a company that is an ACS (APPROVED CONTRACTOR SCHEME).
This allows the company to employ 15% of there staff who have passed all required but are still awaiting the badge.The company will issue a letter that acts like your badge , and lasts for 6-8 wks.
I understand your frustration with the SIA , but they are a Government department and will move at there own speed ,regardless.
Hope all works out but put your efforts into looking for ACS .Any company worth there salt will be an ACS.
Cheers

David Platts

carnt you get a dipenstation note signed by your company saying that they reguard you security cleared and qualified to do the work i did and that covered me to work until i got my badge

dolphinboy

Heard recently that someone was taking the sia to court, he got rejected, then they realised they made a mistake, and told him he would then get it, and 12 months, finally he did. He is taking them to court for loss of earnings and is being backed by a few people as well as coys. Maybe people who have been offered work but haven't been able to take it cos of the SIA delay over months, should get together and have a legal bod deal for all of them. Bottom line is probs proof that they have stopped you getting work. If you have been offered work, or someone has said they're interested in you, and would back it in writing, go for it.

Leon Hart-Clarke

Sorcerer
I have had loads of Drama with trying to get my license... since august last year......they have lost the paper work to my application during the move of offices... it turns out the company they used to use have lost all the paper work and i have to get all the information sent to tem again..... i have a conact number which puts you straught through..... no waiting for at least an hour like usual.... i also have the address to write direct to the compensation board.....Please find the address and conatc number at the bottomof the page...

Security Industry Authority
PO BOX 1293
Liverpool
L69 1AX

02070 254100

Leon Hart-Clarke

with regards to you license call 02070254100 you will get straight through to a girl called shauna, i have had loads of drama with my license, but just got it through on thursday, i sent in paper work that they had lost, i am now sueing them for loss of earnings, bearing in mind i sent off for my license in august last year. The address to write to is Securtiy Industry Authority, PO BOX 1293, Liverpool, L69 1AX. That is the compensation department... hope this helps you out
Regards
Leon

silent

As I put in an earlier post, my local MP is an ex-chairman of the Labour Party and I brought this up with him even though I am not doing sia course just yet. He is aware of it and has asked me to forward on Names, pass dates and application dates to him so he can 'ask the question'.
I dont know if it will do any good but pass on the details to me and when I have half a dozen or so I can pass them on to him. Despite his party he aint too bad a guy and usually follows things through.
Good luck guys n gals, you paid your money now its time you earned your worth without red-tape holding you back.
Silent

Carl Dowd

I think that we are all missing the point here guys. The licensing scheme is a STEALTH TAX which brings the treasury 63 million approx every 3 years. When questioned by me at a road show in Inverness during 2005, the look of embarrassment on their faces when asked what they, the sia would be spending 63 million approx every 3 years was quite amusing. By the way ,the actual Licensing procedure is contracted out to a private contractor. In fact for your info British Telecom. Carl Dowd RTD Group

littlewoman

Its not BT any more, its a company called Liverpool Direct. Has been since November.