What the heck is behind all the NICCS echeck site changes today?

[Ascension]

I work for a Pawn Shop that deals in new/used guns and when I tried to log in today for a background check things got strange. Logged in as normal until I entered the site then was informed the entire portal had changed including the IP address. Hit the link and got sent to a federal FBI site and had to agree to all sorts of stuff then saw an entirely new and different site. No warning no notice just BAM so ***??

 

[oldbill]

I have not verified this, however, several days ago my LGS told me changes were coming. Part of the change was a "rate increase" for them to access a changed system. He said it's going from $2 to $8 for each attempt.

 

[handejector]

I don't know.

That said, I DO know that lots of high volume websites get adjusted, updated, and patched regularly.
The USPS site comes to mind since I use it a lot.

Vulnerabilities and glitches are discovered that have to be addressed.
Maybe they are simply trying to cope with increased volume.
An IP address changing is no big deal. I'm pretty sure swapping to a new server would do that.

 

[GerSan69]

My FFL said he understood it to be some sort of "improvement." I was his first check on the new system, so he only charged me $5 as a "guinea pig fee." The check part went through in what seemed like the usual time, but he had extra stuff to enter before it was finished. So overall, typical government NON- "improvement"!!!

 

[Ascension]

An update on our situation at the shop. So far for us this has been a "cluster".
The other guy at the shop ( I'm the admin on the echeck and handle all our FFL issues) can't log in to the new system in his ID. He logs in with his id but it now shows it's logged in under my name every time and when he has tried to do an online background check it just logged him right back out. Does the same thing on echeck on me I log in hit the button for a check and it will log me out every time, so we are for now stuck with the call in system. Average time right now on a call in is over an hour and has been over 2 TWICE in the last few days.
I have spent well over an hour and a half on hold 3 times trying to get to a rep with echeck to fix this issue and still have not been able to get through.
Whatever this change was for our shop it's a pure nightmare. Has anybody else had any issues that are this serious with this new system?

 

[Ascension]

I have not verified this, however, several days ago my LGS told me changes were coming. Part of the change was a "rate increase" for them to access a changed system. He said it's going from $2 to $8 for each attempt.

There has never been a charge to us as a FFL dealer to access the NICCS system online or by phone. Your DEALER may be charging for a check but in my experience the feds DON'T!

 

[Rule3]

Always thought it was NICS not NICCS

Anyway here is the new "users" guide
V1.6 dated 8/1/2016

http://www.nicsezcheckfbi.gov/help/ENG/New_NICS_ECheck_User_Guide.pdf

 

[Ascension]

Always thought it was NICS not NICCS

Anyway here is the new "users" guide
V1.6 dated 8/1/2016

http://www.nicsezcheckfbi.gov/help/ENG/New_NICS_ECheck_User_Guide.pdf

Yep I miss-typed.
What is however not a joke is all the changes.
Thanks for the link to the "new" users guide for echeck. I have it printed at work but did not have the link here at home.
The change in IP address and servers screwed us up badly and it has been a fight to get back up on echeck after the changes. There was a 2 page email sent on on the potential issues with the new system for FFL's and we have almost all of them plaguing us. Had a FFL liaison begin telling me how things should stabilize as they get the bugs out and then go into how they were linking all sorts of "data basses " so?? Sounds to me that there may be a move to implement the changes proposed but not passed my Congress through DOJ on the down-lo. That is speculation on my part but fact is we are seeing many more delays and denials suddenly.
Bottom line is something is definitely changing with the Nics system and we need to be diligent on watching all of this!!