NCIS check denied!?

[Desk Jockey]

So I took my recalled LeverEvolution ammo back to the gun shop today to see if they could trade me for the same ammo from a different lot. Better to let them deal with Hornady than me, I thought. They were willing to do it, but are sold out and backordered on that ammo.

That wasn't good, but not really a big deal. But what happened next might be a real problem.

While there, I decided to buy the Browning Buckmark that I've thinking about for a while. But the NCIS check came back denied from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation! There's no legitimate reason for this, but obviously, this is something that I'm going to have to get straightened out.

I never had a problem before, as recently as 5 months ago. Haven't even had a speeding ticket since then, but something seems to have been stuck on my record during that time.

Has anyone else had to deal with this? I'm wondering how much time and effort I might be in for in getting erroneous data off of my file.

This hasn't been a good day so far....

 

[stillamarine]

I never had a problem before, as recently as 5 months ago. Haven't even had a speeding ticket since then, but something seems to have been stuck on my record during that time.

Did you pay the speeding ticket? The reason I ask is if not thier may be a bench warrant out for you that would cause a hit.

 

[Superpsy]

ouch. I haven't had to deal with that thankfully...but I definitely think it's in your best interest to straighten it out, no matter the expense or time. Who knows what mistake has been made?

 

[Desk Jockey]

Did you pay the speeding ticket?

No, I said that I haven't had one. No tickets, no court appearances or judgements of any sort. Nothing in 44 years (my entire life) that would put me in the "denied" category, and nothing has changed since the last firearm I purchased 5 months ago. I've passed this check here in Colorado 3 times before today.

I just hope it's a simple mistake that doesn't require a lot of time and attorney's fees to get fixed.

 

[22-rimfire]

Maybe you could go to the local sheriff's office and look into it. They may tell you what happened. If the purchase was denied, I would think that a policeman would have been on the way to pay you a visit.

 

[tuckerdog1]

I'd check into it right away. 1st thing could just be an identity mixup. But if not, there might be something really wrong. Possibly an identity theft. And you'd need to start fixing that kind of problem ASAP.

Hope it works out okay

Tuckerdog1

 

[Finch]

If you havent already found this stuff, here is some information to help you out:

Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

Agent in Charge: Susan J. Kitchen
Phone Number: 303-239-4235
Fax Number: 303-239-5848
Mailing Address 690 Kipling Street, Suite 3000
Denver, CO 80215

If you are denied by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation for the purchase of a Firearm you have the right to appeal the decision. We cannot disclose the reason(s) for your denial over the telephone, nor do we handle appeals in person. In order to appeal you MUST:

In writing, submit your intent to appeal.

Your request must include, the C.B.I. transaction number, your current mailing address, daytime phone number, and evening phone number.

Please mail all submissions to:
P.O. Box 280629
Denver, CO 80228-0629

Once we receive your intent to appeal, we will mail the reasons for your denial, within five business days.

Upon receiving the reasons for your denial, if you choose to continue the appeal process, you must provide certified documentation of the charge(s) noted, showing the final disposition(s) of the noted charge(s). PLEASE SEND ORIGINALS OF ALL DOCUMENTATION, they will be sent back to you.

If you have sent complete and proper certified documentation, showing the disposition(s) of the charge(s), we will issue a Reversal of Denial letter to you in the mail. This letter must be given where the original transaction was denied. If you prefer to purchase a firearm at a different dealer a new background check will be required.

Based on the dispositon(s) received, we will update our records so that the same charge(s) will not affect your future purchases in Colorado. However, we have no authority to update criminal history records from another state.

In the event that additional charges are found during the appeal process, you will be notified and given the opportunity to appeal those charges.

 

[GodLibertyLife]

What to do...

First, contact your FFL dealer. Have him give you the NTN # from the application given to them by NICS. With that go to..

http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cjisd/nics/index.htm

Find the NICS Gun Buyer Resolution Guide, and you can find out why, and how to resolve the issue by filing a NICS Voluntary Appeal.

Good luck

 

[MechAg94]

I just picked up an Ishapore Enfield and a K31 from a dealer today. I have CHL so I don't need the background check. I haven't had to put up with that for 4 years or so.
I only got denied once and that was late Sunday afternoon of a gun show and apparently everyone was getting delayed. They cleared it within a couple days, but it pissed me off since this particular shop was on the other side of Houston and was not open on weekends. It took 2 or 3 weeks to arrange to get over to their shop.

 

[Joe7cri]

Same thing happened to my cousin. He had a brain fart and reversed 2 numbers in his SS#. The dealer had to wait 3 days and resubmit, went through without any problems. Maybe it was something similar.

 

[Czar]

reversed 2 numbers in his SS#.

Thats why I leave that line item empty.

If they can't figure out who I am from my DL# then thats their problem... The more forms of ID they have to sort out, the more opportunities it is to F it up.

Good luck in your inquiries with CBI! Hopefully they'll get things in order, although I do think it is bureaucratic BS that they have to do everything via mail and won't deal over the phone. I can understand them not wanting to deal face to face out of an abundance of caution for safety, but geeze, why make the process any slower than it needs to be???

 

[Zero_DgZ]

This is one of those "brother of a friend" stories.

Many moons ago this guy I know tried to buy an AR-15 not long after his 21st birthday. Goes to the gun store, puts down his cash, jumps through the hoops. Denied by NCIS.

He calls the number the gun store gives him to find out why. This is the conversation as he tells it:

Him: "Hi, my name is ... and on this date I was denied a background check and have absolutely no idea why."
Rep: "You were randomly denied."
Him: "I was what?"
Rep: "You were selected to be randomly denied."
Him: "In case I might randomly be a criminal?"
Rep: (Sigh.) "Go pick up your gun, sir."

Your tax dollars at work?

I don't know how true it is, but that's how he says it happened. He's now the owner of an AR-15 and a Beretta M92FS, no problems whatsoever.

 

[mountainclmbr]

You should challenge it. If you are unlucky enough to get a real anti doing the check, they will deny based on a name match to a crimminal and won't check any further. I have a common name and had it happen, randomly, 3 times for about a 30% denial rate. I won all three challenges, but what a PITA! I also had problems with TSA over someone at my company using their credit card to book my business travel and causing me to be on some sort of watch list (a long story) but the NCIS problems happened before that. Don't give up or the antis win!!!

 

[gezzer]

Are you delayed or denied? I see confussion in this thread they are totaly differant.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Are you delayed or denied?

Denied. The FFL gave me the computer printout stating that I was denied, and that all appeals must be in writing, include this info, send to this PO box, etc. I called the CBI number on the form, but of course, they'll only answer on weekdays during business hours. Not that it will matter, they state on the form that they can't give the reason for denial over the phone.

I MUST challenge this and get it straightened out. It has to be either something trivial like a number transposed (I hope), or it's just erroneous info somehow showing up when they run my name and number. Either way, I have to get it fixed ASAP.

Finch, that's a little more info than I had, thanks. It might be difficult for me to provide the requested "certified documentation" since there have never been any charges against me. I did find the CBI web site this evening and paid $6.85 to confirm that they have no arrest records under my name.

Thanks for the comments, gentlemen. I'll post a follow-up when this is resolved. Looks like it will take a minimum of a week, even for the simplest of errors.

 

[Czar]

mountainclmbr-

when I worked for an FFL we saw that alot with common names. Almost any XXX Smith, or XXX Andrews, etc were guarentee'd either a delay, or an hour hold-time for a check. Most of the CBI agents I ever dealt with tried to be as quick as possible. Even with the common names they'd give you the curtosy update "still working..." when on the phone. Granted, this was 4 years ago, and I understand they have a new online system now, so who knows.

Generally speaking, if someone was denied, you found out when the Deputys showed up, asked the customer a few questions, then led them off in cuffs.

Desk Jockey-

Good luck with getting everything fixed... I hope there is some way you can get a refund on your search... I wonder if it could count as a credit/deduction for the IRS?!?!?!

Again, I hope it gets resolved quickly!

 

[mp510]

ZeroDGZ, Did that occur back in Delaware? Interestingly, I read that Delaware has one of the highest denial rates in the country. I wonder if the random denials had anything to do with that?

BTW, nobody was denied a gun purchase by the NCIS system- EVER. The system that gives the magic number is NICS- NCIS is a TV show.

 

[Desk Jockey]

BTW, nobody was denied a gun purchase by the NCIS system- EVER. The system that gives the magic number is NICS- NCIS is a TV show

MP- Good catch! I'm surprised no one noticed my typo earlier (including me). I have a friend who has worked for NCIS in DC for about 10 years. He'll be disappointed to hear that it's just a TV show.

Here in Colorado, the state does the check and it's officially called the "Colorado Instant Criminal Background Check System", or InstaCheck. I thought I'd use the widely-recognized acronym, but couldn't even manage that properly. Think I'll call it a day...

 

[armedandsafe]

My only denial was most interesting. Turns out they were suspicious because I put down the wrong sex, wrong color hair, wrong dob, wrong weight and wrong height. When I asked how that could be, they said Petra Hernandes in Toledo, Ohio was obviously not this skinny caucausian male in Washington State. When I asked how that had anything to do with it, they said she was the latest person with that SSN.

I had not entered the SSN.

Toledo police weren't interested, ICE wasn't interested, FBI wasn't interested, HomeLand Security wasn't interested, Ohio AG wasn't interested, Washington State AG wasn't interested. My local US Congressman made one telephone call and somebody got interested. So far as I know, that lady(?) is still using my SSN and working somewhere in Ohio. Which is interesting, because I'm drawing out just about what she is putting in.

Pops

 

[Frog48]

Sorry to hear that you got improperly denied. Thats gotta be scary to know that the govt has you tagged, despite being a law abiding citizen.

 

[Zero_DgZ]

MP510: Yes, it was in DE. Good guess!

That place is a nightmare. Suffice to say I don't live there anymore...

 

[dracphelan]

they said she was the latest person with that SSN.

You just hit one of many reasons I vehemently object to illegal immigration. Many illegals use random and/or stolen SSN numbers. This is identity theft. The illegals will often apply for credit using that SSN and it can cause people tax problems with the IRS. (Your audited because you didn't report your income from 3 other jobs that show having paid taxes on that SSN).

As to the NICS check for the original poster, definetely dispute it. I have heard of people being denied based on someone with a similar name has a warrant/arrest/conviction. This could have hit their records recently. This is one of the reasons I'm getting a CHL. In Texas, you can show your CHL and skip the check.

 

[witiku]

I hope you can get it straight.

I was delayed trying to but an SG for my kid one christmass (dove and ducks). It was only my second gun purchase. Nearly 10 years apart.

I was a little miffed at being held in that system with no idea why.

My wife bought it for the boy at it was late in the day.

Never been delayed since but I've always been prepared to have to come back.

I felt like a criminal with all those gun shop people looking at me like that. Not how I like to be precieved by others even if it is so random, others cast their eyes on me negatively.

 

[FTF]

I've been denied. It was a valid hit from a youthful indiscretion but nothing that prohibits me from buying a firearm... or should have even lent itself to. This was after quite a few 'proceeds'. I went through the whole appeal process which took 4 1/2 months and finally got to pick up my pistol.

I didn't go through my state like you have to, I went through NICS. I imagine the process is the same. You ask the CBI people for the reason you were denied. They will send you the reason and a fingerprint card and some spiel about if you deny the reason, get these fingerprints taken and send them back to us. THEN, they'll run your fingerprints, see if they actually match the prints on file from the alleged crime. If they match, then you have to provide some sort of proof that it's not disqualifying (court records). If they don't match, then you get a crappy governmental apology and a certificate to take to the FFL. The process for me took 4.5 months, but I dont' know if the state is faster or not.

After my 4.5 month appeal process with the NICS I finally got a proceed. I then entered the Voluntary Appeal File where they keep my info at NICS and they gave me a PIN number to put on the 4473. That took 2 months. If you can enter the VAF, I advise it as soon as possible. If you get consistant delays, you should enter the VAF as well... you just send them a fingerprint card.

Bottom line, if you don't have anything in your history to make you prohibited, then don't worry. It just takes time to straighten out, and they really don't care about denials...you're already guilty in their eyes.

And no, the cops don't come get you for a denial lol. NICS denies like a quarter million purchases a year, I doubt that's high on the agenda of the local PD.

In my experience, and it's only my experience... if the people at NICS can find a good reason to deny you, they will... be it legit or not. Chances are you won't follow up on it. My denial reason wasn't even fuzzy... just government drones having bad days that dont care about our rights in the first place.

good luck

 

[akodo]

random denial = someone pushed the wrong button and doesn't want to admit a screwup