I just wanted to come on here as I have read a couple of people on here saying that it had taken them a long time to receive their practising licenses from the ICB. I just wanted to add that I have had a positive experience with mine. Within four days of posting off the application form and payment, I could access the self employed section of their website and this morning, my practising licence arrived which has taken two weeks so I am really impressed.
I would like to add, I too have always had a positive response from the ICB, I received my renewed Practice Licence within a few days of applying. I did have a slight hiccup with my membership upgrade; I didn't receive a replacement card but after a couple of emails, it did arrive and the staff involved were always polite and helpfull.
Small thing but I requested some past exam papers from ICB and some other information. I too was impressed by how quickly I received the papers and how efficiently my enquiries were dealt with. Unfortunately, due to the way I am now going with training I am not likely to end up with ICB - more likely IAB which is a shame in that it is in no way a bad reflection on ICB.
Is there any likliehood of some sort of eventual amalgamation of the two bodies. My experience is of the property profession where there were a lot of amalgamations over the years ending up with most people coming under the RICS umbrella. Maybe not, if we look at accountancy still with various bodies.
I have had my problems with ICB but they have always handled my grievances well, so I too have no issues with ICB - always helpful and anything that comes or goes in the post only takes a few days, even with the postal strikes of late!
I had great trouble with ICB and are so happy I have now changed to the IAB and have no problems at all with them. I paid for past exam paper late Friday to IAB towards end October asking to have past paper emailed because wanted to decide whether I would be ready for exam in January 2010 (would have to have paid by 31st October for exam sitting) or June 2010 and first thing Monday morning I received the email with the past papers, had few questions stemming from receiving that and had fast replies unlike with ICB where they ignored quite a few email queries.
