BASC says don’t pay medical fee
- Thread starter David63
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8x57
Distinguished Member
Too true mate. Never a truer word spoken.
Brimfire
Well-Known Member
Sounds to me like its the same doctor operating privately separate from the normal GP Surgery for extra cost!
The scheme has merit. Where it starts to get farcical is when the applicant is forced to pay out to confirm that he hasn't lied on his original application and this is supported/encouraged and enforced by the Policing Authorities - however it does appear to be a Catch 22 situation which I can't see a way around. I don't think the BASC can either.
Orion
Well-Known Member
The police FLDs applying the letter of the HO Guidance and processing applications if they do not receive a negative response within 21 days would be a start.
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I agree that the scheme has merit.
The problems is that applicants in Scotland for the grant/renewal of an FAC/SGC are being punished by Police Scotland for not having a GP that wants to comply with the scheme.
It's not the applicant's fault that his/her GP won't play ball, and the HO Guidance anticipates that situation by clearly stating that the applicant should not be disadvantaged in such a situation.
For whatever reason, Police Scotland are ignoring the HO Guidance and applicants in Scotland with unresponsive GPs are having their applications refused.
It's going to take a court case to settle this.
Cheers
Bruce
The problems is that applicants in Scotland for the grant/renewal of an FAC/SGC are being punished by Police Scotland for not having a GP that wants to comply with the scheme.
It's not the applicant's fault that his/her GP won't play ball, and the HO Guidance anticipates that situation by clearly stating that the applicant should not be disadvantaged in such a situation.
For whatever reason, Police Scotland are ignoring the HO Guidance and applicants in Scotland with unresponsive GPs are having their applications refused.
It's going to take a court case to settle this.
Cheers
Bruce
ian67
Well-Known Member
Police Scotland have no money. They have a £17 million short fall coming already. Looks like they are trying to minimise firearms/shotgun users by putting more hurdles in the way. They know come 1st January they will have more work with the useless aigun licensing. They're good for catching people speeding though and maybe the odd chicken crossing the road in Dundee.
It's true that Police Scotland have a very tight budget and that they are always looking to make cost savings, and some of those savings are plain daft - like closing control rooms.
Firearms and SGC fees are set by Westminster and the air weapons fees were set by the Scottish Government on a cost recovery basis with the numbers being provided by Police Scotland - so if they can't handle the cost of air weapons licensing it's their own fault.
Having said that, it appears that many fewer applications for air weapons certificates have been received than were expected. That could be because of a combination of the following:
Some have been handed in in the amnesty
Some people simply don't know that a licence will be required
Some people simply won't apply and keep their air weapon illegally
The estimate of the number of air weapons in Scotland (500,000) is very, very wrong
The system licences the person, not the weapon so it doesn't matter if you have one air weapon or a hundred air weapons it's still a single licence
Cheers
Bruce
Firearms and SGC fees are set by Westminster and the air weapons fees were set by the Scottish Government on a cost recovery basis with the numbers being provided by Police Scotland - so if they can't handle the cost of air weapons licensing it's their own fault.
Having said that, it appears that many fewer applications for air weapons certificates have been received than were expected. That could be because of a combination of the following:
Some have been handed in in the amnesty
Some people simply don't know that a licence will be required
Some people simply won't apply and keep their air weapon illegally
The estimate of the number of air weapons in Scotland (500,000) is very, very wrong
The system licences the person, not the weapon so it doesn't matter if you have one air weapon or a hundred air weapons it's still a single licence
Cheers
Bruce
sikastag270
Well-Known Member
yes to both points
Reynard
Active Member
My Co terminus Cert is due for renewal on the 15th of January. Downloaded all the paper work to complete the renewal. No longer sending out the paper work for you to complete. There was 3 pages that I had to hand to my Doctor. I did hand them to my Doctor. The reaction was not the best one to be honest. Lot of complaining about the Police asking for this, without consulting any General Medical Council. I was told that this could take a while to be sorted before she could fill in the forms. She said she had no issues completing the paperwork in favor of me getting the renewal. The issue was with how much the Practice charges for doing the paper work.
I was told that my Doctor has to call me every 3 month period, to ask how my health is. This is all taking up valuable Doctors time.
Roughly a week after giving her the paper work. I received a letter from the Practice at Peebles Health Center. I thought my Wife was having a Joke when she read out that they would be charging me £200, for to sign the paperwork and the 3 monthly calls. It was no Joke. There is two practices work out of the same Health center. They have both agreed to charge the same amount. Yet another way to try and put people off getting a Certificate. What next?.
I was told that my Doctor has to call me every 3 month period, to ask how my health is. This is all taking up valuable Doctors time.
Roughly a week after giving her the paper work. I received a letter from the Practice at Peebles Health Center. I thought my Wife was having a Joke when she read out that they would be charging me £200, for to sign the paperwork and the 3 monthly calls. It was no Joke. There is two practices work out of the same Health center. They have both agreed to charge the same amount. Yet another way to try and put people off getting a Certificate. What next?.
I wonder whether it now might appear, with hindsight, to any of our organisations that it was a fundamental error to agree to folks paying anyone other than the FLD/Police, and any more than the statutory fees, for matters relating to application or renewal of FAC/SGC?
Reynard
Active Member
Based on Police wanting to lower costs at their end. For them to assume that Doctors would do what they are asking for free. Would be a bit much to ask for.
I think the Police had no intentions of having discussions with Doctors as to costs to the Certificate Holder. That is between the certificate holder and the Doctor in their eyes. If you don't pay, you don't have a certificate.
I think the Police had no intentions of having discussions with Doctors as to costs to the Certificate Holder. That is between the certificate holder and the Doctor in their eyes. If you don't pay, you don't have a certificate.
Reynard,
There's nothing in the form for the grant or renewal of an FAC or SGC which you need to give to your doctor
Once the police have you application form, they send a letter to your doctor which, assuming you don't suffer from any of the medical conditions listed on the letter, means that the doctor ticks 3 boxes, puts the practice stamp on it and send it back to the Police.
Most GP practices don't charge for responding to this letter from the Police - you only pay if there's something wrong with you and the Police want a more detailed medical report
There's nothing in law or the Home Office Guidance about phone calls every 3 months.
Either your GP practice understands nothing about how the new medical rules are applied or they're at it and trying to rip you off.
Cheers
Bruce
There's nothing in the form for the grant or renewal of an FAC or SGC which you need to give to your doctor
Once the police have you application form, they send a letter to your doctor which, assuming you don't suffer from any of the medical conditions listed on the letter, means that the doctor ticks 3 boxes, puts the practice stamp on it and send it back to the Police.
Most GP practices don't charge for responding to this letter from the Police - you only pay if there's something wrong with you and the Police want a more detailed medical report
There's nothing in law or the Home Office Guidance about phone calls every 3 months.
Either your GP practice understands nothing about how the new medical rules are applied or they're at it and trying to rip you off.
Cheers
Bruce
exmarksman9870
Well-Known Member
Any lawyers out there who want to take these idiots to court ?
Reynard
Active Member
Bruce.
I downloaded the paperwork from the web site given in the letter Police Scotland sent me. In the many sheets that I downloaded were 3 sheets that I am told have to be given to my Doctor. I followed the instructions as per the instruction sheet that was also downloaded. I think this is all new as my friend that got his renewed about 10 months ago, He only had to give his consent for the Police to contact his Doctor.
Regards From Elizabeth and I. Have not spoke to you for a wee while.
I downloaded the paperwork from the web site given in the letter Police Scotland sent me. In the many sheets that I downloaded were 3 sheets that I am told have to be given to my Doctor. I followed the instructions as per the instruction sheet that was also downloaded. I think this is all new as my friend that got his renewed about 10 months ago, He only had to give his consent for the Police to contact his Doctor.
Regards From Elizabeth and I. Have not spoke to you for a wee while.
I would say that there are plenty but until the police get awarded costs even when they have miserably lost, or unless you are financially able to fund a case, its not going to happen
Ian
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