All,

At last night’s quarterly Fisheries Advisory Council (FAC) Meeting, DEP officials relayed the latest information on how to get your refund.

First the good news. You will be able to get a credit.

You must use a mail-in form or go to one of the below DEP locations
The only way to get your credit is to purchase your 2011 license using a mail-in form or in person at one of the DEP locations below. Starting on or before December 1, the 2011 licenses will be available at the DEP website and at all of the following DEP locations:
- Hartford
- Old Lyme
- Marlborough
- Harwinton
- Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area (Burlington)

The mail-in form will be also be available on the DEP website and at DEP offices on or before December 1.

There will be some type of list on the DEP website (they haven’t figured out the exact format yet) that will indicate what credit amount you qualify for that can be applied to your 2011 license purchase. Once you have the credit amount, you apply it to the 2011 fee, giving you the reduced total, and then you mail-in the form with payment.

If you go to one of the DEP offices to purchase your 2011 license, you will receive your credit. No form is necessary to obtain the credit if you buy the license there. The forms will be there if you want to give them to other people to use who cannot get to one of the DEP offices.

Now the bad news …

Unfortunately, there is a no way to get your credit if you buy your 2011 license online. Again, you must use the mail-in form or go to one of the DEP offices to purchase your 2011 license and get your credit.

Also, unfortunately, this mail-in method cuts the tackle shops out of the transaction. You cannot pay your fee directly to the tackle shop. However, the shops may have the mail-in forms available for you at their location (that is still TBD).

According to the official I spoke to last night, he assured me that they explored all avenues, but the mail-in form is how they must do this.

If you have any questions, let me know and I’ll do my best to answer. I asked a lot of questions last night. And, I may be getting some official language directly from DEP today.

*** 9/22 update ***
DEP now has information on its website here:
http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2690&Q=458902&depNav_GID=1511

*** 9/24 update ***
There is now an FAQ section on the DEP website regarding getting your refund:
http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2696&Q=466250&depNav_GID=1511

Also, there is a list of names of who is eligible:
http://www.ct.gov/dep/lib/dep/business_forms/CustomerCreditList.pdf

Link to reprint or purchase a license
https://ct.outdoorcentral.net/InternetSales/LicenseSale.aspx

I have to agree with you Blaine . They figure that most of us will forfeit the money because of the inconveniens . TOTAL BS

In this day and age of computerization it seems mighty strange that the state doesnt have the capability or knowledge to issue credits based on the information stored in the system .

When you go to the supermarket and they swipe your customer card the info is stored , tracked , your coupons are generated based on your buying history , future inventory is planned based on demographic tastes , etc....
But the state doesnt have some computer guru who can write a program to issue refunds ?

I know some computer geeks who would be laughing so hard at this they'd be choking on their 00011100010011111's .

Only in CT......

I just hope it doesnt turn into "Nightmare on Elm Street".....

Yep, charge the tackle shops $1800 for the privilege of selling a license and then take the means to actually pay for the equipment away... Freakin' GREAT!

Another detail I just added to the first post:

If you go to one of the DEP offices to purchase your 2011 license, you will receive your credit. No form is necessary to obtain the credit if you buy the license there. The forms will be there if you want to give them to other people to use who cannot get to one of the DEP offices.

And this is just fishiing licenses...... To think how our countries money is run and managed

Ok, the nearest place I can get my credit is Old Lyme. Thats 35.5 miles from my house. Thats 71 miles round trip. My truck gets around 18 mpg. At $2.80/gal that come out to just over $11.00. How much is the credit going to be? I don't care if I wind up loosing money on the trip. I'll be Damned if I'm going to let the state keep it. On top of that, I can't print out as many copies as I want/need. I like to print out copies for each tackle box. In this day and age, the thought that it can't be done on line is ridicules.

Mac the states going to win any way we look at.

Mitch, thanks for posting.

I ran into Bill Hyatt at a meeting yesterday and he updated me on what's going on. Before that I was under the impression that it was going to be an automatic credit when you buy next year's license. (Sorry for any confusion on other posts where I indicated that it was an automatic credit on next year's license....I was misinformed).

We (DEP) do not run the website that you buy your license from. It's a vendor that handles licenses for a number of different states. When I talked to Bill about it he advised me that the vendor would charge the state a large amount of money to rewrite the program to include the credits for overpayments this year, except it would probably cost more to reprogram than the total amount of license fee credits. Obviously that's not going to work. Apparently it is easy to increase or decrease the license pricing on the computer, but not so much for the credit. So, they are cutting out the vendor for the credits and handling it in-house. That's why you have to go to one of the 5 field offices or if you prefer, you can mail the form in to get your credit.

I know, it's not perfect.....but it doesn't make any sense to pay more for the computer programming than the total amount of credit that is going to be applied.

We (DEP) did not implement the license fee increases last year. That was done by the legislature. The department had been working towards an online licensing system for a number of years and finally got it off the ground and operational....then the increases were thrown in, then they were changed.

And if you come to Harwinton (Western District HQ) to get your credit....and you see the grey Crown Vic in the driveway, stop and say Hi.

Mac, we're frustrated too. We had to pay the increased fees just like you guys....we don't get a break. Even though DEP was not the driving force behind the fee increases we still get the brunt of the criticism. We're trying to come up with the most workable and cost effective method of getting the credits applied to everyone who bought their licenses after the increase and before the decrease. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, this should only be a one time thing. I know it's inconvenient for a lot of people who don't live near one of the 5 field offices, so for all of you I would suggest the mail in form. I'll keep an eye on the DEP website and post the info about the form as soon as it's available.

thats what all those crooks want , or hope at least, !!

I for one will be doing WHATEVER it takes to get that credit. Sounds like a drive to hartford to get some BS "form" . Couldn't they just look at the issue date on they're fancy high tech computer system from any location to tell when you bought it last year.??? NO WAY that'd be the RIGHT THING TO DO!.

total bs..

captain as much as the situation is complete b.s. i and many others appreciate your efforts on getting the info as soon as possible and most importantly cut the red tape and give us the end result

I agree .
This seems to be one of "those things" along the line of the Legislature creating a problem which bit them in the ass , then dropping the ball into the DEP's lap and saying "Fix it" .
I'll be going to Hartford to get my 2011 license , and I'll be greeting the person at the desk with a big grin .
I'll bet that the person I deal with will be nice to me , and things will be easy as pie .

Walk in with an attitude towards someone who had nothing to do with your misery and the whole deal is almost guaranteed to be unpleasant .

Just my $00.02 .

DEP now has information about the credit on its website:

http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2690&Q=458902&depNav_GID=1511

All,

There is now an FAQ section on the DEP website regarding getting your refund:
http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2696&Q=466250&depNav_GID=1511

Also, there is a list of names of who is eligible:
http://www.ct.gov/dep/lib/dep/business_forms/CustomerCreditList.pdf

I'll send a CTF t-shirt to the person with the lowest Conservation ID# on that list. Post here or PM to win. I'll announce the winner on Oct. 15.

My # is 148382

Sweet.

Congrats to Big Al, he's the winner of a CTF t-shirt.

I just got my license down to the Marine Headquarters in Old Lyme.
It was a smooth process. On an impulse buy, I even got my Archery permit for next year ! !

I was in Old Lyme today and grabbed my license at the Marine Headquarters. Quite a bargain over last year!!!!

I went to Old Lyme,.....they are great there,...had a 22.oo credit which paid for my my muzzletags..........took less than 10 minutes to get everything resolved and all new locenses for next year!!

"Mail in option

A form to purchase your license, permit or tags by mail when redeeming a credit will be available on line at www.ct.gov/dep/sportsmensfeereduction after December 1, 2010."

I filled out the form and mailed a check for the balance for my 2011 in on Dec 4. The form said it would take about 10 days so i'm hoping to recieve my new 2011 license before the 1st of the year. Today is day #12 and I'm still waiting...
I don't understand why CT made us waited till Dec 1st for the mail in form? Guys will be goning into 2011 waiting for there new 2011 REFUND License to show up is BS.
Why not online so we could print something out till the license shows up in the mail like most states do?

I haven't heard anyone say it was "easier."

According to a DEP official I spoke to in person, the reason they didn't do it online was because the system doesn't have the functionality to factor in the credit when making a new purchase. It's a new system that an outside vendor set up for them.

Of course, the ability COULD be built in, but it would require time and extra money they'd have to pay to the vendor. Instead of going that route, the mail-in system was the best they could do for now.

Take it for what it's worth. Not the answer we want to hear, but I believe he was being honest.

Thanks for the clarification Mitch, makes sense to me.

Just did the refund by mail and got 58 bucks off. Was'nt to hard. We'll see in 10 days.

I decided to use the mail in method. About 10 days after mailing I received my completed form and a sticky note stating I failed to include a firearms license needed for the other choices I made. To fix the error it said I needed to choose the firearms option and submit another check with the correct amount.

With my contact information on the form (email & phone), I wondered why I wasn't contacted so I could simply purchase the firearms license online and then they could process my request?

I called the DEP and asked the question. The person I spoke with said they didn't have time to contact people with issues and mail them back. Then why bother filling out contact info???

I checked the DEP website today and everything is all set.

I photocopied 4 more, and packing " tape laminated " them just now..
I have a license in my truck, boat, wallet, home and the spare at work.

I went into Hartford today for mine , 5 minutes in and out .
People there were really nice , seems that if you tell them you know it wasnt their doing that they warm up real quick !

You don't have to travel. You can do it via mail.

See this page for details:
http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2696&Q=466250&depNav_GID=1511

After you use the mail-in form, the state isn't going to contact you and they aren't going to mail you a new license. They make you work a bit to get the new license.

Straight from the DEP FAQ page:
http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2696&Q=466250&depNav_GID=1511

How do I get my license if I use the mail-in form?
Seven to ten business days after you mail the form and payment to DEP, the on-line sportsmen’s licensing system will be updated and you can go into the system and print your license. You can also go to any Town Clerk’s office or retail vendor and ask them to print your license.

If you have any questions, call DEP Licensing at 860-424-3105.

Old Lyme HQ is 4 miles from work, I'll go there tomorrow at lunch. Thanks Mitch for all the info!

The mail in method seems to be working well. I sent in my payment on December 30th and my license was ready to print as of January 4th.

You will now be able to buy your 2011 liscenses at 2 upcoming Sportsman Shows and get the credit applied there. See the site for more details:



http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2690&Q=458902&depNav_GID=1511

Posted this in the DEP thread too, but wanted to see if anyone is having this same issue:

Sent in my license renewal form to DEP along with the refund difference for an "All Waters License". The DEP cashed my check on Dec. 23 but I'm still waiting for a license.

Do they mail them to the angler or do I have to pick up at a DEP location or tackle shop?

Okay- I want to make sure that it shows that I'm "paid", and I just need to print it.

I'll punch in my angler ID # and see what happens. Thanks.

My check has cleared, but I can't reprint the license, it wants
to charge me another $32..............WTF
I did it by mail so I wouldn't have to go to down town Hartford........

I'll keep trying, but why don't they just mail out the licenses????

and if you notice the hours you can "visit" the offices, 8:30 to 4:00 M-F, WTF, does anyone have to work? SUCH F-IN BULLSHIP

Not that fast this year! I'll wait to last day in case if they come with another great idea how to ***** my money again

Picked up my licence today, in and out in roughly 5 minutes (including discount). DEP main office in Hebron, nice place and nice people, very friendly and courteous.