Ignoring doctors fee?

[rocky]

My FLO is on leave at the moment so I can’t ask him.....

Will not paying into the ****ing scamming ****rd doctors’ drinks fund actually delay my application or make no difference? 

I’ve read on here that it’s not a requirement of the police for an applicant to pay the doctors’ fee as, if they don’t hear anything from the doctors they assume there’s no issue but obviously I don’t want to delay things.  

*anyone traumatised by the excessive use asterisks in this post is welcome to call round for a nice cup of tea and a chat. 

 

[Jonny English]

In Lincolnshire we have to do it, no doctors letter no shotgun cert, regardless of government guidelines.

 

[Sian]

My FLO is on leave at the moment so I can’t ask him.....

Will not paying into the ****ing scamming ****rd doctors’ drinks fund actually delay my application or make no difference? 

I’ve read on here that it’s not a requirement of the police for an applicant to pay the doctors’ fee as, if they don’t hear anything from the doctors they assume there’s no issue but obviously I don’t want to delay things.  

*anyone traumatised by the excessive use asterisks in this post is welcome to call round for a nice cup of tea and a chat. 

There is so much conflicting “advice” out there.  I would ask your particular FLO on their return.  Personally when I renewed last year my doctor didn’t ask for a fee.

 

[MartynB]

Ring your doctor’s surgery , or call in . Ask them to read  to you , or let you see the letter they received . The letter sent by the Police to the practice I use , ended with a sentence something like , “ if we don’t hear to the contrary from you in 28 days we will assume there is no  issue. ... “  

Surely there is more than one FEO to ask as this is a policy matter  ?  Ask for the Manager if your particular contact is not there . 

 

[rocky]

Ring your doctor’s surgery , or call in . Ask them to read  to you , or let you see the letter they received . The letter sent by the Police to the practice I use , ended with a sentence something like , “ if we don’t hear to the contrary from you in 28 days we will assume there is no  issue. ... “  

Surely there is more than one FEO to ask as this is a policy matter  ?  Ask for the Manager if your particular contact is not there . 

Thanks. Well they’re asking for 20 quid but further reading on here some of the extortionate fees people have been charged I’m now thinking maybe just pay it and count myself lucky! 

I have emailed my firearms team (Suffolk) for clarification though, just so I know. 

 

[John Griff]

A lot will depend on what, if any, health related issues you declared on your application. South Wales police won’t accept the lack of GP feedback as an indication to the ‘28 day nothing wrong’ outcome if it relates to any mental health issues.

Contact FAO for clarification, but to be honest £20 isn’t that much to pay in the scheme of things, same as 100 carts really . 

Good luck with the application though.

john.

 

[wynno]

£20 doesn’t seem to be a lot,but in the wider context of things it’s a huge amount. You have already paid the local police authority the fee they stipulate, that should be the end of the matter.  If the police then require a GP to provide a covering letter then they should pay for the letter and the GP’s time ( though this task will be done by an admin assistant and signed by said GP)

Until legislation is passed we should all refuse to pay, that way we will get uniformity of requirements in every police force area.

Just my humble opinion 

 

[MartynB]

A lot will depend on what, if any, health related issues you declared on your application. South Wales police won’t accept the lack of GP feedback as an indication to the ‘28 day nothing wrong’ outcome if it relates to any mental health issues.

Contact FAO for clarification, but to be honest £20 isn’t that much to pay in the scheme of things, same as 100 carts really . 

Good luck with the application though.

john.

You are unlucky John , Letter one is Police to Doc ,  the object of this is for the doctor to place a firearms marker on your records , and tell the police if there are any relevant conditions on your medical record  ,(plenty of people are paying “ just not to upset the apples cart “ , that’s their choice but it’s not what was intended ) .  You should never be charged for letter one , but as you say and the link below will show , certain Forces have taken it upon themselves to make it mandatory  

The police are supposed to check letter one against your declaration on the application and decide if they require any further information , this would be Letter 2 and it is your responsibility to pay for this .  If you have held a certificate  before , and you have previously declared a relevant conditions that are way back  , there is a possibility that the police will not  even ask for letter 2 .

The whole thing is a mess , below is a link to BASC ‘s comments 

https://basc.org.uk/medical-involvement-in-firearms-licensing/

 

[John Griff]

You are unlucky John , Letter one is Police to Doc ,  the object of this is for the doctor to place a firearms marker on your records , and tell the police if there are any relevant conditions on your medical record  ,(plenty of people are paying “ just not to upset the apples cart “ , that’s their choice but it’s not what was intended ) .  You should never be charged for letter one , but as you say and the link below will show , certain Forces have taken it upon themselves to make it mandatory  

The police are supposed to check letter one against your declaration on the application and decide if they require any further information , this would be Letter 2 and it is your responsibility to pay for this .  If you have held a certificate  before , and you have previously declared a relevant conditions that are way back  , there is a possibility that the police will not  even ask for letter 2 .

The whole thing is a mess , below is a link to BASC ‘s comments 

https://basc.org.uk/medical-involvement-in-firearms-licensing/

Cheers MartynB. 

Couldnt agree more, but the FAO dept are very clear that if an applicant declares any health concerns they will only consider processing the application any further upon receipt of a GP letter stating they have no further concerns. It doesn’t sit right at all, not sure what the realistic alternatives are though, other than get a refund and forget about the process?

john 

 

[Mulligan]

Recently submitted my renewal and was told by Cheshire police no letter from doc = no renewal

My letter cost £100 and I have heard of more being charged

 

[rocky]

Recently submitted my renewal and was told by Cheshire police no letter from doc = no renewal

My letter cost £100 and I have heard of more being charged

I’ve since read of £140+ being charged, nearly twice the application fee. Seems it’s a right racket!

 

[Wonko the Sane]

Really unfortunate that gun owners are so powerless that they cannot have definitive regulations put in place.  Why do you have national organizations if they do nothing to promote a proper legal process - which seems to be missing form nearly all of your interactions with enforcement authorities judging from the comments I've seen here over the years.

 

[MartynB]

You’re  right , It should be pretty simple Wonko , but let’s just look a Shotguns as they are by far the largest group of weapons in the U.K. that need certification . There are something in the region of 550, 000 shotgun licences issued in the U.K. The two major shooting organisations:  BASC around 150,000 members , CPSA and other home nation Clay associations around 30,000 members .  There are a few other organisations for gamekeepers etc , but on the face of it only a third of U.K. shotgunners are in an organisation that represents them . Numbers mean political clout , and we’ve  not got a whole lot , only 1 in 3 certificate holders are members of the two biggest organisations. 

As an afterthought , More worryingly that means a greater proportion of shotgunners could be shooting without any liability insurance cover, or  quick access to firearms legal advice .  ( although before anyone tells me off, I do realise there are other ways to get shooting liability insurance, through direct policies , employers etc .  ) 

 

[El Spavo]

Doctor (or rather receptionist) said I needed to pay £20, I asked her so had requested the letter and therefore who wants a reply... said fair enough, literally 3 weeks later first licence drops on my carpet. good old Hampshire constabulary... sh1te for arresting antisocial bellends but great for firearms.

 

[Samr1]

Was my understanding,that like a passport anyone who’s known you for 5 yrs and more and held a senior roll could sign it I’ve a mate who’s a chemist has signed mine for the last 10;years before that it was my old boss ,didn’t have to pay them sounds like every footers on the make ,as usual at the expense of the working man



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Doctor (or rather receptionist) said I needed to pay £20, I asked her so had requested the letter and therefore who wants a reply... said fair enough, literally 3 weeks later first licence drops on my carpet. [emoji106] good old Hampshire constabulary... sh1te for arresting antisocial bellends but great for firearms. [emoji3]

Glad to hear Hampshire have sorted their act out


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[Jonny English]

Was my understanding,that like a passport anyone who’s known you for 5 yrs and more and held a senior roll could sign it I’ve a mate who’s a chemist has signed mine for the last 10;years before that it was my old boss ,didn’t have to pay them sounds like every footers on the make ,as usual at the expense of the working man



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Glad to hear Hampshire have sorted their act out


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Your getting the counter signatory mixed up with a doctor's letter I think. You still need someone to counter sign your application as your old boss or chemist friend has been doing, but they are now also requesting an additional letter from your GP to say that you are fit to hold a SGC.

 

[Samr1]

Your getting the counter signatory mixed up with a doctor's letter I think. You still need someone to counter sign your application as your old boss or chemist friend has been doing, but they are now also requesting an additional letter from your GP to say that you are fit to hold a SGC.

fair enough

 

[Andy51]

This old chestnut..... Doctors are self employed and have a contract with the nhs that defines what services they provide..... SGC applications medical letters are not covered by this contract. Just the same as pilot or scuba licence applications.

if you can afford to shoot you can afford the letter.... you wouldn’t do your job for free so why expect doctors to?

 

[tiptop]

I keep saying what does it say in the "notes".  Some reports "YOU" pay for, some the "POLICE" pay for. The doctors in any case should only be asking for a fee if a "medical report" has been requested.

 Read your own relevant forces notes.  This is the TVP notes.

6. If you have disclosed a relevant medical condition the police may ask you to obtain a medical report from your GP/specialist. You are expected to meet the cost if a fee is charged for this. If further information is required the police may request and pay for a further report.

7. Where no relevant medical conditions are disclosed the police will contact your GP asking if they are aware of any relevant medical conditions or have any concerns about the grant of the firearm or shotgun certificate. Depending on the reply, the police may ask you to obtain a medical report from your GP/specialist. You are expected to meet the cost if a fee is charged for this. If further information is required the police may request and pay for a further report.

8. The police will ask your GP to place an encoded reminder on your patient record to indicate that you have been issued with a firearm or shotgun certificate. The GP is asked to notify the police if, following issue of the certificate, you are diagnosed with or treated for a relevant medical condition (listed in note 5), or if the GP has other concerns about your possession of a certificate that might affect your safe possession of firearms. Following contact from your GP there may be a need for a medical report to be obtained to assist with assessment of your continued suitability to possess a firearm or shotgun certificate. The police will pay if a medical report is required.

9. Following the issue of a firearm or shotgun certificate please note that the declaration you have signed consenting to information sharing between your GP and police applies during the application process and during the validity of any firearm or shotgun certificate, which may be up to five years.

10. You are expected to inform the police if, following issue of the certificate, you are diagnosed with or treated for a relevant medical condition while the certificate remains valid.