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Medical Cert charges

Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2020 9:00 pm
by daryldiane
Have heard of two FAC renewal medical certificates costing £90 and £100!
Also rumours that up to £350 has been charged.
The form takes about five minutes to fill in. I realise that GPs are busy but that's ridiculous.
Are any efforts being made to standardise the fee at reasonable level?
A lot of people will be put off renewing.

Re: Medical Cert charges

Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2020 10:29 pm
by Dellboy
check on Basc deal ...

Re: Medical Cert charges

Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 8:14 am
by Christel
daryldiane wrote: A lot of people will be put off renewing.
Yeah but, why do you think the fee is in place...why do you think Lincolnshire is asking for this ridiculous form to be filled in and submitted before the application, then when people have not understood that that is the case, they have to lodge their guns with an RFD because the FAC will be issued late while they wait for the med form.

Meanwhile, Humberside is not asking for this malarkey and BASC can't touch forces who do despite it not being in the firearms act anywhere.

It is the principle I am fuming over, not the form itself.

****

Re: Medical Cert charges

Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 9:01 am
by andy1979
It's a joke that our Firearms governance is a postcode lottery.

Surely someone must eventually see sense and issue a set of guidelines and make every police force follow them instead of making the rules up as they go along.

I'm dreading it when I submit my application as I have declarable medical conditions so i'm in for a right fun game i'm hoping West Midlands police are one of the forces that will process after 28 days as my GP is a joke at the best of times.

Re: Medical Cert charges

Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 9:38 am
by TattooedGun
andy1979 wrote:It's a joke that our Firearms governance is a postcode lottery.

Surely someone must eventually see sense and issue a set of guidelines and make every police force follow them instead of making the rules up as they go along.

I'm dreading it when I submit my application as I have declarable medical conditions so i'm in for a right fun game i'm hoping West Midlands police are one of the forces that will process after 28 days as my GP is a joke at the best of times.
As my wife just had to wait for medical reference from her GP, West Mids were definitely not one of the forces that will process after 28 days regardless...

It cost my wife £50 for a reference letter from her GP. Seemingly on the smaller side of those you've been quoted, still a hard pill to swallow for something that's not required in legislation :(

Re: Medical Cert charges

Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 10:04 am
by 1066
My local GP surgery want £80 - a rather abrupt letter from the surgery manager says the letter/form will not be forwarded to your GP until the fee is paid. Luckily I squeezed my renewal in before the Jan 1st when Sussex/Surrey started implementing the scheme.

Re: Medical Cert charges

Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 10:16 am
by dromia
Dellboy wrote:check on Basc deal ...
So how much is the BASC "deal"?

Re: Medical Cert charges

Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 10:42 am
by andy1979
TattooedGun wrote:
andy1979 wrote:It's a joke that our Firearms governance is a postcode lottery.

Surely someone must eventually see sense and issue a set of guidelines and make every police force follow them instead of making the rules up as they go along.

I'm dreading it when I submit my application as I have declarable medical conditions so i'm in for a right fun game i'm hoping West Midlands police are one of the forces that will process after 28 days as my GP is a joke at the best of times.
As my wife just had to wait for medical reference from her GP, West Mids were definitely not one of the forces that will process after 28 days regardless...

It cost my wife £50 for a reference letter from her GP. Seemingly on the smaller side of those you've been quoted, still a hard pill to swallow for something that's not required in legislation :(

Wonderful not only are West Midlands the worst performing police force I've got to mess about with my GP as well I might get my certificates this year at some point.

They really are trying to make it more hassle than it's worth aren't they.

Re: Medical Cert charges

Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 11:12 am
by redcat
So what does a doctor's letter say? That the last time he saw you, which in my case would be a number of years ago, you were not a raving looney and in his opinion you are OK to have firearms? Doctors make mistakes - I have seen that first hand. What happens when someone gets a doctor's letter, is granted their FAC and subsequently commits firearms crime? Is the doctor liable in any way?

Redcat

Re: Medical Cert charges

Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 11:21 am
by TattooedGun
andy1979 wrote:
TattooedGun wrote:
andy1979 wrote:It's a joke that our Firearms governance is a postcode lottery.

Surely someone must eventually see sense and issue a set of guidelines and make every police force follow them instead of making the rules up as they go along.

I'm dreading it when I submit my application as I have declarable medical conditions so i'm in for a right fun game i'm hoping West Midlands police are one of the forces that will process after 28 days as my GP is a joke at the best of times.
As my wife just had to wait for medical reference from her GP, West Mids were definitely not one of the forces that will process after 28 days regardless...

It cost my wife £50 for a reference letter from her GP. Seemingly on the smaller side of those you've been quoted, still a hard pill to swallow for something that's not required in legislation :(

Wonderful not only are West Midlands the worst performing police force I've got to mess about with my GP as well I might get my certificates this year at some point.

They really are trying to make it more hassle than it's worth aren't they.
You've certainly got to be committed to wanting a licence!

I think the 9 months you've quoted on a lady at your club is excessive and far from the norm. Presumably there is something else going on than a standard application if it's being held up that long.

My wife had her interview this week. The cheque was cashed in September, she should have her certificate, and my updated certificate back within the next 2 weeks.

There was a stall from having to get a letter from GP which would have added at least a month between my wife being told she needed it, calling the surgery and requesting it, chasing up the GP, and having to go and fetch the letter and get it sent.

There was also another stall from my wifes schedule (she works at the NHS) coinciding with the part-time FEO's schedule, this probably cost another couple of weeks at least.

If you're flexible and there are no issues, even at this point I reckon you could get an FAC within 3 months with West Mids.

All I would say is, it's not a race, and as frustrating as it is waiting to get your own firearms, you can still shoot club firearms and enjoy the sport, I'll also drop the same advice I give to anyone whose gettign their first FAC.

For the love of all that is holy do not rush out to buy something as soon as it lands. By all means research and find something you want to buy, do not jump at the first thing that gets offered that fits a slot on your ticket...