Renewed, GP Fee, back door tax?

[Richard59]

In renewal process (certificate holder since 1980's so not recent) have been advised that it's going to cost me a further £40 for GP to answer Police enquiry, is this common place now? Not had such before 

 

[MJJ]

Thats cheap - can cost a lot more. Depends what the doctors charge. Another nail in the shooters coffin. How do you get on if you have never seen a doctor in over 5 years?

 

[shortlegs]

Who advised you this Rich ? and why is it going to cost you when the police are asking for the information surely they contact your GP directly you just sign the declaration that you allow them to contact your GP ? or do I have this wrong ? 

 

[Darkside]

Just be glad your GP WILL sign it!!! Lots of people's GP's are refusing to sign it, some because they fear being held accountable if you do something bad, some because they "don't believe in private gun ownership"!!!

 

[Richard59]

Who advised you this Rich ? and why is it going to cost you when the police are asking for the information surely they contact your GP directly you just sign the declaration that you allow them to contact your GP ? or do I have this wrong ? 

On the renewal I had to inform them of my GP details, two weeks later an invoice drops on mat from said GP practice for £40 citing a request for info from Police, oh and quite chest no payment of = no reply, bit if a rock and hard place moment, and to think since 1991 I've not seen same one (GP) twice on the bounce, hardly a regular 

 

[Darkside]

p.s. If your GP refuses to sign, the police CAN NOT process your renewal, once your licence runs out and the GP hasn't signed...your guns must go into storage (or whatever alternative you chose)!!! Two rfd's im friends with are nearly at capacity with stored guns and almost at the point of bolting more cabinets to the wall to secure them!!! 

On the renewal I had to inform them of my GP details, two weeks later an invoice drops on mat from said GP practice for £40 citing a request for info from Police, oh and quite chest no payment of = no reply, bit if a rock and hard place moment, and to think since 1991 I've not seen same one (GP) twice on the bounce, hardly a regular 

I know of a guy like you, GP haven't seen him in 5+ years...full medical and £150 to sign form!!!

 

[Brand New]

Damned stoopid idea to give GPs these powers,they are so militant that they will not work after hours. Gone are the old days when a doctor would come out at night in an emergency. 

 

[ips]

this is incorrect, the feo contact the gp as an initial step before speaking to you or your referee and the gp cannot charge anyone for this service, they are also duty bound to provide the info requested by the feo.

this is how I understand it and I am confident that it is correct.

 

[jasper]

Rich 

Check out basc website. Basically there should be no fee with regard to an initial enquiry from police. Only should  a fee be payable if you have declared a notifiable condition which requires an additional report from doc. The requirement for docs to respond if there is no reason not to grant has been removed. I.E .if there is not a relevant condition , the doc does not need to respond to police. If no response to police from doc within 21 days it is taken that you are OK and a grant should be issued with no fee required.

Also have a look on pigeon watch there are a few threads running on there about this subject.  In particular a thread called shotgun certificate renewal rip off in general shooting matters.this contains a link to basc with their guidance on the subject.

Jasper

 

[Brand New]

Read shooting times last week,page 4 news. The BMA have told doctors that they must co-operate with the police on firearms licensing process. It seems that many GPs who are against private gun ownership have been ignoring police requests for information. I remember reading a shooting sports writer who stated that this would happen once GPs got in on the act. The BMA tells GPs opposed to gun ownership that they must help their patient find another GP who is willing to help. Its a bloody shambles.

My docs a grinning *****,met me once in 5 yrs prescribing pain killers for a damaged knee ligament. So what could he possibly have to say to the police regarding my suitability to own a gun?

 

[Paul120]

On the renewal I had to inform them of my GP details, two weeks later an invoice drops on mat from said GP practice for £40 citing a request for info from Police, oh and quite chest no payment of = no reply, bit if a rock and hard place moment, and to think since 1991 I've not seen same one (GP) twice on the bounce, hardly a regular 

Won't that fall foul of the protection of freedom act? They are taking away one of your legal rights without any regard to you as a person.

Plus.. As the agreement is that it is for no cost as a request from the police. tantamount to extortion. 

 

[ips]

band new

i think its just a case of the gp looking at your historical records and inform feo if anything flags up as a potential concern such as drug abuse, alcoholism, depression etc. They don't necessarily need to know you personally

On the renewal I had to inform them of my GP details, two weeks later an invoice drops on mat from said GP practice for £40 citing a request for info from Police, oh and quite chest no payment of = no reply, bit if a rock and hard place moment, and to think since 1991 I've not seen same one (GP) twice on the bounce, hardly a regular 

this is simple, contact your firearms licensing dept and tell them about the gp request for payment and let them deal with it. I say again the gp is NOT allowed to charge for the info neither are they allowed to refuse to give it. They are not telling the feo that in there opinion you are ok to hold a licence there obligation is to inform the feo of concerns regarding your suitability as I outlined earlier.

sounds like surgery admin is not aware of the new procedure.

 

[Dbac300566]

The procedure agreeded between the home office,police,shooting organisations and BMA is if the police do not hear from the GP within 21 days then they have to process the application.No fee is payable to the GP's.The Scottish Police are flouting the guidance 21 day rule by not processing the application because GP's will not respond to the police request.If an invoice is produce then you do not have to pay.

 

[Darkside]

this is incorrect, the feo contact the gp as an initial step before speaking to you or your referee and the gp cannot charge anyone for this service, they are also duty bound to provide the info requested by the feo.

this is how I understand it and I am confident that it is correct.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!

you ever played chess??? Stalemate...

If your GP doesn't sign...no renewal!!! Police cannot make your GP sign!!!

 

[chippy]

My GP wanted £68 for this in july. They are still wanting.

 

[ips]

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!

you ever played chess??? Stalemate...

If your GP doesn't sign...no renewal!!! Police cannot make your GP sign!!!

aha BUT if they don't respond then the feo consider there is no problem and sign it off. Therefore if there is a problem later on then feo will presumably want to know why the gp was a total arse by not telling them and he will be in deep doo dah for trying to be a smart Alec.

 

[timps]

Just in response to IPS and Darkside… You are both correct depending on which side of the border you live.

The guidance for England and Wales is that after 21 days, if there is no response from the doctor, it will be assumed that there are no medical issues.

Police Scotland take a different view.

6. If the GP does not respond to the Police letter, it cannot be assumed that there are no concerns. This may adversely impact on the applicant and could result in further contact by the applicant and/or by the Police firearms licensing departments because the Police will not have the clinical information they require to complete their checks.

Therefore, depending on which side of the border you live gives you a different answer.
 

 

[ips]

thanks for clarification timps

dark side, my apologies I did not realise Scotland were different on this one. ?

 

[Jan Powell]

In renewal process (certificate holder since 1980's so not recent) have been advised that it's going to cost me a further £40 for GP to answer Police enquiry, is this common place now? Not had such before 

This is wrong. GP's fees are determined by the BMA. They have a band of fees and it is at their discretion how much they charge within the confines of this band. They SHOULD NOT (note, this is not 'MUST NOT') charge for a simple confirmation that the certificate holder does not, in their professional opinion, pose a risk. They are within their rights to charge if more detailed information is required. 

The advice from BASC is not to pay a fee if it is levied. The CPSA, as usual, are saying nothing.