DMQ to charge AW's

[Turkish]

News letter out today stating that the DMQ are to take all AW's 'in house' and charge them a feed to do so.

news letter below:

Annual Subscription to Continue Acting as a DMQ Approved Witness
Applying the resources to manage AW’s which includes the processing of new
witness applications, the maintenance and updating of the AW list and the
production of newsletters to name but a few of DMQ functions is costly. DMQ does
not intend to profit from any AW management but must try to cover its
administration cost. The results from the AW survey undertaken in September
2017, revealed that 89% of AW’s either make a charge to a candidate for their
witnessing services or would consider doing so. The DMQ Board of Directors have
agreed that at some time during 2019, a small representative annual registration
fee will be levied on all AW’s wishing to act as witnesses for DSC2 candidates.
The fee which has yet to be determined will be kept as low as possible and will
only represent recovery of DMQ’s AW administration and management costs.
When the annual registration fee is implemented, there will also be an initial AW
application fee introduced. This fee will be charged to people applying to become
an AW and will be a 'one off' payment albeit at a higher rate than the annual
registration fee.

 

[Monkey Spanker]

Well that's the first I've heard of that one!
As one of the seemingly 11% that don't charge, I'd probably stop doing them if I'm going to end up out of pocket. All it will do is drive the price up ultimately for the candidates who will undoubtedly bear the brunt of any price hike.
MS

 

[EMcC]

That will certainly stir a few things up.
I am no longer an AW, by choice I might add, but never charged a fee so were I still an AW I would feel that I had to charge to cover not only for fuel but the DMQ charge as well.
Perhaps DMQ ought to set a 'suggested' fee for the AW to charge for witnessing then that would maybe level things out a bit.

 

[Monkey Spanker]

For all the hassle and bad feeling this will create, it would surely have been better just to up the registration fee by a equivalent amount, as it is the candidate that will end up paying more anyway?!
MS

 

[Kalahari]

MS, that is far too sensible a suggestion to ever gain traction!

David.

 

[sikamalc]

Received email this morning from DMQ regarding this. I can see this turning into a can or worms. So they are proposing all AW's pay a registration fee and an annual fee to remain an AW, so DMQ can recover some of their running costs.
As all AWs are volunteers and many do not charge for their time, or at least just cover their costs I can see many jacking it in. I guess time will tell, but I can see myself leaving. My only charge is my usual outing fee, which all clients pay, I do not make any charge for the extra time or trouble. Frankly the word subsidised used by DMQ is rather an insult I feel to Aw's.

I also made the suggestion of raising the application fee for Level 2 in my email. Will wait and see if they bother to respond. I am also refusing to sign the document enclosed until they come back with a fixed fee for their proposal. One wonders if these people ever go stalking and have to ever rely on it to make a living.

 

[SussexFallow]

Glad I resigned as an AW a few months back. Its just become another money spinner with everyone rushing to get it done to "open doors" DSC3 next.

 

[teyhan1]

 

[Uncle Norm]

This would appear to be a classic case of 'biting the hand that feeds'. An own goal if ever there was one. Plain silly.

 

[Monkey Spanker]

I would think this decision may actually break the DSC 2 system. Many are already put-off due to the cost. With only the AW's that are willing to pay fees and charge candidates accordingly, the cost of this qualification could rise significantly!
It would then become very interesting if DSC 2 were made compulsory for grant of an FAC for a condition to shoot deer!
MS

 

[sauer]

I do believe in DSC system ... been level2 since 2006 but I hear people who currently level 1 saying they are not going for level2 now as people have offered to sign off mates etc without relevant skills being shown and tested.
Seems that certain folks are diddling the system and making bit of a mockery of it so the incentive to do it is lacking .....

Lot of volunteers give time to this over years in good spirit to help others progress

But for many it’s just a chance to earn a £

Same as those who shoot anything in sight and straight to game dealers ... don’t eat it or care about it .... just want their hobby subsidized ...
sorry rant other

Paul

 

[sikamalc]

I can see it all self imploding. They have also as usual given 2 weeks notice

Its a joke, they couldn't run a bath. One or two have already bailed out as AW's.

 

[User00025]

So hear we go again DMQ, (AKA Contact us at BASC Marford Mill) are looking for more money. I have been an AW since it first reared it's head and given lectures on various courses helping friends out where necessary. I have never made any charge whatsoever, working on the basis that it helped fellow keepers out (if they did it right) and promoting able people to stalk properly, having proven they could. The performance of anything emanating from Marcot Mill now is very dubious in my opinion as it just seems to be another money spinner for the enterprise zone situated there. As soon as it happens I am afraid I will send them the necessary note telling them to use their notepaper as an A W..er.

 

[Norfolk Horn]

I wonder how long it is before some other organisation comes up with a proof of computants scim.
From what I can see of it, it's like NVQS in the building trade, and CITB certification for plant operation. A lot of that went in house as it got to expensive.
With NVQS as a site manager you kept getting asked to witness young lads training for trades and signing off hours for plant operators and they normally weren't direct employees of the main contractor
While I don't mind helping anyone who is working trying to better them self's there are so many hours in a day?
And who got paid for the extra work not me but the affiliating body's

 

[Ray7756]

Typical get everyone to support getting qualifications, I am in favour of DSC, but only took mine after been shooting stalking for over 25 years, now FC are requiring the qualification to get a lease, and the governing bodies seem to think they are missing out on an oportunity to "Grab some Cash" not content on charging people to obtain the qualification they have the bright idea to turn it into a "Cash Cow" by charging a fee to remain on the list, that they said they would maintain for free, as has been stated before lots of AWs dont charge extra to fill in the forms, as they make their money from leasing stalking on a daily basis, and I think there is a real danger of lots of AWs just not bothering paying to remain on the register , as chances are the fees will increase anually " to keep up with inflation" and then the whole system will implode
Cheers
Ray

 

[SussexFallow]

I was told a few weeks back that Sussex police will know not grant a deer legal calibre purely on the grounds of a level 1 pass. The head honcho went on the course and kyboshed it on his return. Back to mentoring now which I wholeheartedly agree with Ive had some dangerous people out of late that know it all because they passed level 1!

 

[User00014]

Glad I resigned as an AW a few months back. Its just become another money spinner with everyone rushing to get it done to "open doors" DSC3 next.

Could not agree more!

 

[Redleg]

So what does the initial DSC2 registration fee cover if they have to claim admin costs back?

 

[Overlay]

This could be a step backwards for membership of the BDS and BASC, I have my own ( expensive commercial stalking insurance) but each year I join the BASC and BDS to support the cause and as a AW, somewhere in the internal mechanics of being an AW there is I’m sure a “must be a member “ of the BDS and or the BASC thingy

I’ve never charged a fee or asked for any fuel money or anything else, whether it’s mentoring, prep for level 1 or L2 stalks.

whether the DMQ have looked at costs, and the fact that in some quarters that charge for L1 prep, mentoring and L2 stalks or they have seen this as a AW income from a free source and want a slice of the action. - who knows. ???

Not supporting the BDS and the BASC and losing members because of a small cash offering would be a disaster for all stalkers - I hope this pans out ok for all. Deer stalking has its full share of antis as have wildfowling and game shooting - we could do without an enemy within

Lets hope SNH don’t start charging as well.

Anyone got any idea’s on the real reason behind it all, it does seem a bit of cutting off your nose to spite your face

 

[Uncle f]

Strikes me that as always it comes done to the money plain and simply. We all work hard in whatever field we choose to earn money however there are always management bodies, trade associations etc to virtually every occupation and they all want a slice of the cake which is unfair. I just wonder as has been mused if the powers that be in the future require level 1 and or level 2 for fac grant/renewal of deer legal calibres

perhaps this is the grand plan after all and if it is it stinks in my opinion I feel we all pay enough for the sport we choose to partake in and as for all the pro stalking guides etc it’s just another nail in there coffin to try and make a decent honest living from guiding etc