DMQ to charge AW's

As an AW I have not received my notification -apparently they cocked up the distribution - no wonder they need to charge for administration if this is a measure of their inefficiency! As I await the notification my resignations as a AW and a member of BASC are already written out!!
 
"DMQ does not intend to profit from any AW management but must try to cover its administration cost."

Funny peculiar that BASC insisted on an audit of the proper costs of firearms licensing to arrive at the recent firearms licence increases. Who shall we trust to audit the admin costs of DMQ. Perhaps they are efficient and costs are cut to the bone already, so the annual subscription will be modest, and the application fee fair. Then again, perhaps not.

If there is to be a fee, and the persuasive case has not been made yet, then let us have some transparency. After all, the BASC should be familiar with transparency.

My instinct tells me that secrecy will prevail. But BASC and BDS being member organisations, along with a few others because they are joint admin of DMQ should fess up, why, as DMQ is a not for profit organisation at 31/12/2017 they had Net Assets of £109K and £88K in the bank. Seems like they have the admin costs already covered nicely. So why the need for fees and subscriptions?
 

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Could it be the cash cow is drying up and less people are registering so charging the AW is the only way of maintaining income? Even if it is a small income.
 
What a surprise! ............ someone somewhere in some organisation always has to put forward a retrograde step, it's the only way to progress the greasy pole. I am happy I made the effort to get to L2, . :shock: .................. at the moment.
 
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.

I've said this for years... bronze badge is level one... silver badge is level two... it doesn't take a brain surgeon to see there's one missing !!
Regards
J
 
So let me get this straight . . Approved Witnesses are at the very heart of the process. Without the AWs the entire process grinds to a stop and the L2 process is no more.

So without any meaningful consultation with the group of people who are pivotal in making the process work, DMQ (read BASC) are set to charge us for the pleasure of being included on the AW list???

Who ever came up with that business model needs their head read.

I have only ever charged candidates expenses, truth be told I've never made a button out of it, in the most part doing it for the enjoyment and accomplishment of seeing someone progress.

Here's a suggestion folks, let's show DMQ the same level of respect that they are currently showing us and refuse to witness any further candidates until such time as this ridiculous policy is given a rethink.
 
So let me get this straight . . Approved Witnesses are at the very heart of the process. Without the AWs the entire process grinds to a stop and the L2 process is no more.

So without any meaningful consultation with the group of people who are pivotal in making the process work, DMQ (read BASC) are set to charge us for the pleasure of being included on the AW list???

Who ever came up with that business model needs their head read.

I have only ever charged candidates expenses, truth be told I've never made a button out of it, in the most part doing it for the enjoyment and accomplishment of seeing someone progress.

Here's a suggestion folks, let's show DMQ the same level of respect that they are currently showing us and refuse to witness any further candidates until such time as this ridiculous policy is given a rethink.

I've just done exactly that! I don't see why I should have to pay for my generosity.
I've witnessed hundreds of stalks all 'free of charge', but I'll not do another on principle.
MS
 
I've just done exactly that! I don't see why I should have to pay for my generosity.
I've witnessed hundreds of stalks all 'free of charge', but I'll not do another on principle.
MS
phew
glad I got mind done ✅ then MS
Don’t blame any AW for this cause of action better to charge slightly more for registration of the candidates which I thought was cheap anyway
norma
 
Am in the highlands stalking with clients but managed to email them on their new address. Still no response.
I have still no idea what their proposed charges will be no price mentioned.
My feeling is that I will not be wasting anymore of my valuable time undertaking level 2 assessments for them in the future.
Their choice of words in the letter is that they have subsidised the AW s. Funny over all the years as an AW I have NEVER been subsidised by them. More the other way round to me. WE have subsidised them.
 
What an absolutely absurd logic to this proposal by penalising individuals who generously give their time and effort to increase the knowledge base to protect its future.

For an organisation that promotes thinking before shooting, you would have thought that they would have had some form of sense check on this before firing out this memo.
 
Having looked at the accounts I find it interesting that a company with a turnover of 85,545 needs nine directors and a Secretary. It would also be good to see a breakdown of the operating costs 28,767 and Admin costs of 53,586. I am sure that any company whose "Overheads" are more than 33% is not an efficiently run one but then they don't usually have so many dining at the table. In accordance with some other AW's the buck is literally stopping here, no more witnessing and resignation if it goes through.
Oh and I haven't had any notification either.
 
That's it then JOHN BOY, I remember when you were a young Copper starting stalking with K en McArthur giving you some of his knowledge. Now you are El supremo of a right mess.
My termination of AW status is winging it's way through the Ether. I have not had a letter, but save ink, rip each A4 into four, perforate the corner and hang in bog for use as A..e Wiper (AW)
 
Whilst there may be a few who make a charge for Level 2, I doubt very much that anyone is going to make a living or get rich quick undertaking Level 2 candidate stalks. All AW's are volunteers, some like me are full time self employed, the majority are experienced recreational stalkers. It will make NO difference to my income or business if I quit from being an AW, probably save me time in the long run.
Still no response to my email, no surprise there...………………….. idiots.
 
Well instead of making it simpler to get into serious deer stalking to reduce deer numbers, the DMQ are going to make it more elitist and bury every one who can't afford to pay for AW fees.
Why does everything connected with stalking/shooting always seem to cost an arm and a leg?
Looks like I'll be stuck on DSC1 for a good while (still recouperating after severe pancreatitis so might not be to bad a thing)
 
I was thinking of signing up to do my 2 very shortly, but then why would I need it?
Would I go stalking on FC land probably in the future.
But I'm currently quite happy to go on cull days and accompanied days so why would I need to bother.
Or am I missing something?
 
So most of the AW’s on this thread have said they don’t charge yet 89% surveyed said they did. Was the survey open to all AW or a select few? Were the questions loaded ones so twisted the results?
where are the 89%?
 
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