MedCert

[Cottis]

I have heard lots of bad stuff about Medcert in terms of general tardiness and poor communication.

What is the motivation for using a third party rather than dealing directly with your GP? Is this because some people are finding their local GP unwilling to do the report for them? If that is the case, how common is this?

My renewal has just gone through and it took a handful of days for my doctor to organise the form and make it available to me (for the princely sum of £90) although there was a bit of faffing in terms of their inablilty to undertake some basic administrative duties. However because they are local, I could call them and drive over to deal with it and ensure I had what I needed in good time. It meant I was somewhat in control of the situation. Renewal docs all then sent off and both certs issued and on my doormat within a fortnight of me sending them in. Bizarrely my cheque payment has not cleared my account, so god knows what the police have done with that. I assume they have the same admin disability as my local surgery.

I would normally prefer to do things online but again, i had no faith in their online process which looked dated and timed out a couple of times. I have also failed to be given confirmation emails in the past when updating purchases or serial number transfers. I dislike their systems and have no confidence in them, so I prefer to send hard copies by Special Delivery so I have proof it has gone. I dislike ceding control to people or institutions that have the organisational ability of a giraffe on ice.

 

[hogey]

As far as I am aware you have the right to request your medical history from your GP.

That being the case and you have an up coming renewal would it not be best to well in advance request your records.

Then should you have a problem with your GP on your renewall application you can then send your records to Med Cert or similar company to complete your application

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

Hopefully I’ll get to the bottom of this in the coming days and if I do find that MedCert have been less than honest and/or lacking in their service I will be letting BASC know exactly what is going on and that they need to be asking questions about promoting this particular company and the service ( or lack of ) that they provide . Will update when I have something relevant to add, good luck to all others who are having to wade through this absolute quagmire of a system .

BASC does not endorse or promote MedCert or any other companies providing medical declaration verification services. If you check the MedCert website you will see that BASC is not listed amongst the shooting organisations recommending their services.

BASC do, however, offer the services of its own medical panel, set up in response to police forces in England and Wales requiring medical verification. The panel is comprised members who are Registered Medical Practitioners and have been kind enough to offer their services as a way of putting something back into shooting whilst the current problems with firearms licensing are being resolved.

The charge for the service is currently £50 and it is offered only to BASC members whose GP either refuses to participate, or are making excessive charges.

Firearms medical certificates with ShootCert

BASC works with ShootCert to provide a trusted, quality medical verification service for firearms grant and renewal applicants.

basc.org.uk

Nevertheless, BASC’s advice is always to approach one’s GP in the first instance. With current delays in renewals, it is advisable to start thinking about this process six months in advance of renewal.

 

[slider]

I got on fine with Medcert but that was over a year ago. Perhaps they are a victim of their own success

 

[andyk]

They may also be the victim of policy change, it’s only in the last 6 months or so that the GP letter has become national policy rather than regional, I can only presume this will have increased demand.

I was tempted to use one of these services as I simply don’t want to worry about conscientious objection or the like and so thought it would be simpler. This is making me question that.

 

[garybuilder]

I found medicert to be ok had to ring them several times but we got there. if i were to do this again i would request my medical records from my doctors surgery apparently they have to give them to you by law then send them directly to medicert this would have saved a few weeks. GMP would not accept the application
until i had everything in place (thought maybe they might get on with it whilst i was awaiting on medicert but no) i was told by gmp that no temp. tickets would be issued and i would have to lodge my guns . got everything in to them early jan tickets expire 22-02-22 then they gave me a 3 month extension still not heard anything a now have 2 out of date licences and cant buy any ammo. should i receive some sort of licence from them until i get my new ones ? never had a temp one before.

 

[simon1979]

I contacted my GP a month ago to complete the form, paid the fee. Contacted them recently and there saying it could be another 6 weeks.

Spoke with West mercia fld as my renewal letter stated that my renewal needs to be at least 8 weeks before expiry, they made a note that I'm having issues with GP and I can't submit my renewal without it plus if the GP doesn't complete in time then once fac expires I will need to apply for a grant and won't be able to keep guns while I wait.

 

[omulally]

My GP actually pointed me towards MedCert when I contacted them around a year ago. They claimed to be 'too busy with COVID' to process firearms medical checks.

MedCert were slow. It took around 3-4 months to come back, despite receiving the info from my GP within the first month.

 

[downwind]

After 5 weeks my GP Surgery has finally received the request from MedCert. The surgery has told me it will take "quite a while" to process--it would have been quicker to go direct to them was the suggestion!
Methinks I'm gonna need an extension from D&C constabulary.

 

[Liveonce]

whilst the current problems with firearms licensing are being resolved.

will not hold me breath on that one ! And exactly what is the detailed action plan to resolve the problems and time scale , six months, one, two, three or six years if ever.

still guess one must think positive.

 

[Gd87]

My FAC expires in December 2022. If I apply now to my GP for the necessary paperwork is there a time limit before it expires as my FAC doesn’t expire until December 2022?
Thanks

 

[Liveonce]

My FAC expires in December 2022. If I apply now to my GP for the necessary paperwork is there a time limit before it expires as my FAC doesn’t expire until December 2022?
Thanks

Six months Kent told me.

 

[Gd87]

Six months Kent told me.

I’ll apply around May/June then

 

[Liveonce]

I’ll apply around May/June then

if you have not done so already speak to your GP receptionist ASAP and confirm the practice is willing to complete the form if so then all should be much easier and quicker. If they say no you could consider changing GP practice while you have time to do so assuming that is possible. Otherwise you will need the likes of medcert etc, prepare now to save problems later.

 

[Gd87]

if you have not done so already speak to your GP receptionist ASAP and confirm the practice is willing to complete the form if so then all should be much easier and quicker. If they say no you could consider changing GP practice while you have time to do so assuming that is possible. Otherwise you will need the likes of medcert etc, prepare now to save problems later.

I’ll have to pop in to ask them and see how much.
Sooner I do it the better

 

[hogey]

Ask GP for your medicl records so you do not have any delays if you have to send them to a 3rd party

 

[Klenchblaize]

This has got to be one of the most depressing threads on this site.

K

 

[potshotpat]

Just as an aside, when you get your medical forms back from your doctors with everything signed, double check that they have stamped it with the practice stamp. Telling you from a friend of mine.

 

[Len the dog]

Just got my son's medical form back from our surgery, 8 working days and 25 quid, quite pleased with that.

 

[YoungGun]

I paid for the service in November and am still waiting. All the blame is placed at the feet of the GP by MC. Difficulty getting responses to emails/confirmation of follow up actions.