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The one problem with writing a check is that you are out that cash for several months. That might not be a financial constraint for you, but could be for others. I agree that credit cards add a whole level of complexity to the process, but for some it works best. I wrote a letter to fish and game and got this response:
The Department of Game and Fish has conducted the drawing for 2006-2007 public antelope, deer, elk, ibex, javelina and bighorn sheep hunting licenses and permits. The results will be posted on June 21 as scheduled.
When the drawing was complete, licenses were awarded to all successful applicants. The next step was to charge the credit card accounts for successful online applicants. The Department received funds from most applicants, but for several applicants the payment requests were returned as declined by the state?s bank and credit card processor.
Given the fact that cards are declined for various procedural and electronic reasons, we recognized that it was incorrect to assume that all declines are due to the actions of a cardholder. There are many steps involved in a credit card charge including two sets of banks and credit card processors.
The Department notified the applicants impacted by the declines by e-mail that they had until midnight Saturday to provide the Department with an alternate means to pay for the license they drew. We also posted information on the website to direct people to the location where they could make credit card changes.
The Department provided this opportunity so we can issue licenses to the hunters who successfully drew them in the random drawing. The Department made this decision to make sure that all applicants are provided the same opportunity to draw a license, regardless of the form of their application. To penalize online applicants by passing them over due to a problem not of their making would not allow for an equitable process.
We thank everyone for their patience and understanding with how we have attended to over 156,000 applicants for the more than 63,000 permit and license documents issued through the drawing.
Marty Frentzel, Chief
Public Information and Outreach
NM Game and Fish
(505) 476-8013/
[email protected]