I've put in for my FAC renewal – now my GP, in north Oxfordshire, has sent me a letter saying to do the paperwork necessary will cost me £36. I know it's not a lot of money, but I resent paying it! Do I have to? Anyone got any similar experiences re Thames Valley Police - will they just proceed with the renewal if I do nothing? Thanks in advance.
Do I have to pay my GP re FAC renewal in Thames Valley?
- Thread starter pazmino
- Start date
nun_hunter
Well-Known Member
Why not ask TVP? A quick phone call or email will sort it.
gonzo
Well-Known Member
It's all a big bun fight at the mo.
In 2016 the HO changed their mind about the need for the police getting a doctors letter for applicants/renewals where you have not declared a condition. (At the same time as the guidence document was released, so that is out of date.)
The HO guidence to police says that they do not expect there to be a charge (from the doctors to the police) for this letter. But don't seem to have agreed this with the doctors.
So the police are trying to pass on the costs. And will not process the FAC till you do.
The stink is, that no standard fee has been agreed. Some do this for free and some charge a sh.t load, because they can.
It's more messy when you have declared a condition. The police are aloowed to pass the costs for the initial letter. But not for any subsequent reports. And if your doctor says that he/she cannot make a report and you need a specialist. Then a private report from a shrink for example, cound be very high. And the police try and pass this on to you as well, even though they certainly are going against the guidence.
In 2016 the HO changed their mind about the need for the police getting a doctors letter for applicants/renewals where you have not declared a condition. (At the same time as the guidence document was released, so that is out of date.)
The HO guidence to police says that they do not expect there to be a charge (from the doctors to the police) for this letter. But don't seem to have agreed this with the doctors.
So the police are trying to pass on the costs. And will not process the FAC till you do.
The stink is, that no standard fee has been agreed. Some do this for free and some charge a sh.t load, because they can.
It's more messy when you have declared a condition. The police are aloowed to pass the costs for the initial letter. But not for any subsequent reports. And if your doctor says that he/she cannot make a report and you need a specialist. Then a private report from a shrink for example, cound be very high. And the police try and pass this on to you as well, even though they certainly are going against the guidence.
I’m with TVP and just going through renewal. I first of ignored the docs request for £50 but then kind TVP sent me a reminder that I needed to pay the GP or my renewal would be in jeopardy!! I payed I have to say in the end and then things started to move forward.
nun_hunter
Well-Known Member
It's a shame for that just over the border in Surrey a d Sussex they follow the HO guidance and if there is no response from the GP after 21 days they will proceed anyway. Shame other forces are too scared of their own shadow to do this too.
Orion
Well-Known Member
It's not how the police should be operating and this paying for anything upfront if you don't declare a relevant medical condition is still contrary to the HOG Guidance. TVP and some Forces may be working outwith the HOG, but others are applying it correctly.
The HOG is a live document and the latest iteration will be the one here, which still has the flowchart and information that in the absence of any declared medical condition the police issue the FAC and then contact the GP (see Appendix 11, Annex A para.9 and Annex Bi)
It really doesn't make sense to me. The general thing is that you make your application, telling them all about yourself and why you want the firearms. Then the police do what enquiries they need to do to verify what you say and make a decision. They check your criminal record, your permission, your referees, any intelligence on you from various bodies, your guns and security and also your doctor. There is a cost for every one of them. But the only one increasingly the applicant has to pay extra for is the doctor.
In effect, the cost you pay for the certificate is a payment for the enquiries and admin they do to issue your certificate. So why the doctors enquiry is separate is beyond me. If the police say it's too much for them to afford, then why don't they ask Home Office, nationally, simply put another ten or fifteen quid on the price of a certificate and be done with it. I'm not in favour of the price of grants/renewals going up, but at least you'll know where you stand. the police can then send the enquiry to your doctor with a payment of £15 and say (as a certain rabbit says) "What's up Doc?"
I'm sure it's not beyond the wit of Man to come up with a workable system.
In effect, the cost you pay for the certificate is a payment for the enquiries and admin they do to issue your certificate. So why the doctors enquiry is separate is beyond me. If the police say it's too much for them to afford, then why don't they ask Home Office, nationally, simply put another ten or fifteen quid on the price of a certificate and be done with it. I'm not in favour of the price of grants/renewals going up, but at least you'll know where you stand. the police can then send the enquiry to your doctor with a payment of £15 and say (as a certain rabbit says) "What's up Doc?"
I'm sure it's not beyond the wit of Man to come up with a workable system.
AN DU RU FOX
Well-Known Member
Its beyond the scope of the shooting orgs, how can anyone not see when they are being co-ersed into paying money out to have something they in most cases allready own and paid for,its demanding money with menaces!! f---ing joke!!
Extortion - Wikipedia
AN DU RU FOX
Well-Known Member
never in a million yrs! why do you think mods are still on ticket,because further down the line some suit can stand up and say, look at what we won for you no more mods!!! we tried for more but alas it was all we could get over the three yr consultation period.
Also in North Oxfordshire, paid the fee, got the cert back within 8wks of process starting.
My thought was, think of the stress if cert was delayed.
Rifles would have needed temp relocation if temp or renewed cert had not arrived in time.
Also look at prices our fellow stalkers are paying for their Docs to supply medical details.
I think it's wrong but was not prepared to take risk.
My thought was, think of the stress if cert was delayed.
Rifles would have needed temp relocation if temp or renewed cert had not arrived in time.
Also look at prices our fellow stalkers are paying for their Docs to supply medical details.
I think it's wrong but was not prepared to take risk.
Hereford
Well-Known Member
Just out of curiosity - my renewal is going through at the moment in A&S - 5 years ago my doctors didn’t charge etc and in between variations haven’t caused a charge either from them.
Is it just dependent upon the particular surgery or has it deteriorated (particularly in A&S) in the last 3 years (since my last variation)?
Is it just dependent upon the particular surgery or has it deteriorated (particularly in A&S) in the last 3 years (since my last variation)?
Excellent - if everyone did this, this extortion would fail. 10 out of 10 @Chris Rob 
Orion
Well-Known Member
I can’t see anything on the relevant A&S Firearms webpage to indicate that they are deviating from the HOG - same as D&C and other Forces that are applying the correct procedure. From that you shouldn’t have anything to worry about, as even the lack of a response from the GP post-issue of your FAC will not present any problem.
A&S Firearms Licensing
Hereford
Well-Known Member
Many thanks - I’m guessing they don’t reply if there’s nothing relevant so no charge. A&S have cashed the cheque so let’s see
Bridon0320
Well-Known Member
Totally agree when you look at it for 5 years grant as we all have to pay in Scotland it balances out. I do feel that a agreed fee would be better but that's for the big boys to argue about.
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