I have several friends in the QRP program who have had problems getting their cards in a timely fashion over the years. One year they even ran out of cards ?? for a few months. You can't make this up.
It is just the age old story of the inefficiency of government agencies all over the world. I've been informed that very little is even on computers. There are stories of rooms full of card board boxes full of files. They pull a file and a few papers drop out, well they certainly don't have a very good chance of ending back in the correct file.
I needed what should be a very simple job of getting a new PR stamp in my passport this year. An hour should be sufficient but OK a few days. All my paperwork was in order and I had everything required and more. The standard turnaround is now listed on my receipt as 8 weeks. I did get it in 6 but it took some help. Imagine being "older" in a country without advanced healthcare and they take away your passport for 8 weeks? When I mentioned this they said no worry if you need your passport you can come back and we will give it to you. That really made me feel better when hours could mean the difference between life and death. Well it is done so I shouldn't have to worry about that particular item for 10 years.